Highlighted by Queensland Firebirds training partners Rylee Burns, Sasha Flegler and Lillyana Rennie, the Firebirds Futures team will participate in the new pilot program confirmed by Netball Australia on Friday.
The team has been drawn from leading talent across the HART Sapphire Series, Netball Queensland’s elite state netball competition, with six of the competition’s seven clubs represented.
Netball Queensland General Manager – High Performance Adrian Thompson said the Super Netball Reserves presented a great opportunity to boost netball’s depth of talent and allow athletes increased exposure at elite levels.
“Super Netball Reserves is a great first step in developing a long term, sustainable underpinning competition to Suncorp Super Netball,” Thompson said.
“It gives players and coaches an opportunity to experience elements of what professional players do on a weekly basis.
“It’s also an opportunity for Firebirds Head Coach Bec Bulley to see our next generation of players against similarly talented athletes.”
Developed in consultation with Member Organisations and Suncorp Super Netball teams and supported by the Australian Netball Players’ Association, Super Netball Reserves will run over five weeks from June 1 to July 7.
Seven Suncorp Super Netball teams will participate in the advanced match play pilot program, which will be open for fans to attend.
The Melbourne Mavericks expressed interest but will not participate in 2024 as they prioritise setting up a new team and high-performance program for their inaugural Suncorp Super Netball season.
The Firebirds Futures will open the Super Netball Reserves with a weekend double-header at Nissan Arena, against the Fever on June 1 and the Thunderbirds on June 2.
The final match of the Firebirds Futures program will be against the Lightning on July 6 as a curtain-raiser for the Suncorp Super Netball derby between the Firebirds and Lightning at Nissan Arena later that evening.
FIREBIRDS FUTURES
Rylee Burns (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Elsa Sif Sandholt (TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets), Lily Cubby (TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets), Nalani Makunde (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Losa Niumata (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Sasha Flegler (Bond University Bull Sharks), Jessica Laga’aia (Carina Leagues Club Tigers), Maddison Ridley (Carina Leagues Club Tigers), Chaise Vassallo (Brisbane South Wildcats), Jayden Molo (Bond University Bull Sharks), Jessica Milne (Gold Coast Titans), Lillyana Rennie (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Ashlee Barnett (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Lily Gribble (TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets), Holly Comyns (Carina Leagues Club Tigers), Gemma Hutchings (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Ellie Brice (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Kaylin van Greunen (Bond University Bull Sharks).
