Adelaide Thunderbirds have seniors roaring in the isles Adelaide Thunderbird Renae Hallinan, left, with Natalie von Bertouch and Bec Bulley, has a particularly big fan up in Queensland. SUPPORT for the Adelaide Thunderbirds has spread to a group of senior citizens on Bribie Island in Queensland. So passionate are the elderly folk from the town of Bongaree, they have teamed up to buy a Foxtel package to ensure they see all the T-Birds' ANZ Championship games. Their interest in the team started when one of the men in the group, Bill, was teased about watching a female sport. He challenged his male friends to watch a game and they have been hooked ever since. The Thunderbirds sent Bill a poster signed by all the players that has pride of place in his unit. Renae Hallinan has a fan in Bill's mate, Don, 86, who reckons she is the most beautiful lady he has ever seen. THE goal shooter issues in New Zealand have stretched into another round. Northern Mystics and Silver Ferns star Cathrine Latu failed to get court time in the loss to the Southern Steel in Auckland on Sunday. Her form has been a major issue and her attitude has been questioned. Champion Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic goal shooter Irene van Dyk was benched last week against the Thunderbirds and shot only 21 goals from 22 attempts in the win over the Central Pulse on Monday night. It is rare that van Dyk is outscored by a teammate but Ellen Halpenny nailed 32 from 40 THE Queensland Firebirds could be without captain Laura Geitz for the big game against the Melbourne Vixens in Melbourne on Sunday following the death of her father. Geitz flew to Christchurch for the game against the Canterbury Tactix on Saturday but rushed back to Brisbane and missed the contest. THE Pulse has no one but itself to blame if it misses the finals. The team has had the Firebirds, Mystics and Magic at its mercy, only to be overrun. They were also well and truly in the games against the Thunderbirds and Vixens at half-time. IN all previous five seasons of the ANZ Championship there has been a final in NZ. That trend may alter this year though with the Thunderbirds, Vixens and Firebirds favoured to fill the top three spots on the ladder. A Kiwi team is expected to finish fourth, meaning it must travel to Australia for any finals.