Third time the charm for Townsville Fire

TOWNSVILLE (WNBL) - It's a good day to be a Townsville Fire fan.

And it's an awesome day for the players like Mia Newley, Suzy Batkovic and Cayla Francis.

After falling short at the last hurdle the past two seasons against the Bendigo Spirit, Townsville were a third time lucky over the weekend when they beat their nemesis in the Australian WNBL Grand Final, 75-65.

The championship triumph was the first for Townsville.

Newley, the veteran who is gunning for a place in Australia's squad that will take on New Zealand later this year in the FIBA Oceania Championship for Women, strengthened her CV with a 23-point, 7-rebound and 3-assist performance in the home triumph over the Spirit.

She was named the Grand Final MVP.

"It’s unreal," Newley said.

"It was great to get over the line.

Our team's worked so hard this year so it's such elation to get it done - Newley

Another player coach Brendan Joyce recently named in the Opals' 34-strong squad, three-time Olympian Batkovic, had 22 points and 11 rebounds and three blocks.

There was also a strong performance by a player who was a part of the Opals squad that reached the podium at last year's FIBA World Championship for Women.

Francis, who hurt teams in a myriad of ways at Turkey 2014, including with her three-point shooting, had seven rebounds and five swats to go with her seven points for Townsville in the Grand Final.

Stephanie Cumming also poured in 12 points.

Francis and Cumming are also players named in the Opals squad.

Right now, all of them are savoring a special moment in their careers.

They are champions of Australia.

"We've said all year when we win is when we get multiple people in double figures and a number of contributors, and everyone came in and played their role, that was the best part," Newley said.

FIBA