There was no way Rush was going to let this game slip – you could see the determination in players’ eyes.

Rush coach Peter Cunningham said this this transformation started to take shape in Hobart, on the road late last month and had sharpening since. Players get another crack at Hobart, too, when they host the Lady Chargers then tested a few days later for a mid-week bout against Geelong.

They face the next two games without Olivia Thompson, due to World University Games – but Rush beat Brisbane with Thompson cheering from the bench.

“It’s one thing to say other players get opportunity because we’ve got a key player out, but it’s another thing to a player can you stand up and take advantage of this opportunity,” Cunningham said. “All the girls stepped up.”

Rush hit Brisbane hard in a 27-16 opening quarter that featured eight assists, 13 rebounds to Brisbane’s three, and three huge three-pointers from co-captain Abbey Wehrung. Their challenge was in riding out a Brisbane surge back – so Rush tweaked its defence and started trapping a frustrated Brisbane.

Cunningham said his team did the little things right.