Spearheaded by experienced Samoa international Abigail Latu-Meafou, the Firebirds training partner contingent for 2025 also includes goalers Elsa Sif-Sandholt and Kirra Tappenden, midcourters Maddi Ridley and Sasha Flegler as well as defensive duo Lily Gribble and Lillyana Rennie.
Latu-Meafou, 27, made her SSN debut as an injury replacement for the Firebirds in 2017 and has also had stints with the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand.
The goaler will be joined by fellow TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets players Sif-Sandholt and Gribble – both part of the Jets’ dominant 2024 HART Premier League Sapphire Division premiership.
Born in Iceland, Gold Coast product Sif-Sandholt is a current Australia 21/U squad member and has been a dominant shooter in the HART Premier League Sapphire Division for multiple seasons.
Gribble, the daughter of former professional basketballer Luke Gribble, has represented Queensland at five different underage levels and is coming off the back of a stellar 2024 season where she starred for the Jets and the Firebirds Futures in the Super Netball Reserves.
Rennie and Flegler will be heading into their second season as Firebirds training partners after being part of the squad for the 2024 SSN campaign.
Defender Rennie, also a member of the Australian 21U squad, and Flegler both took to the court for the Firebirds in last year’s Suncorp Team Girls Cup in Sydney and will be out to continue their development across 2025.
Another familiar face is Ridley, the Melbourne-born midcourter and sister of AFL player Jordan Ridley, who made her SSN debut midway through the 2024 season becoming Firebird No.113 when she took to the court against the Melbourne Mavericks at John Cain Arena.
Completing the list for 2025 is rising star Kirra Tappenden.
A part of the gold-medal winning Queensland 17 and Under team from the 2023 National Netball Championships alongside Flegler, Tappenden is a product of Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast where former Firebird Lauren Brown is the school’s elite athlete program director.
“We’re pleased to have two of our 2024 squad members continuing with our program this year in Lillyana and Sasha and we’re excited to be welcoming some new faces as well,” Firebirds Head Coach Kiri Wills said.
“Each athlete brings something different to our group and they’ve all demonstrated their talent through the HART Premier League and Netball Queensland’s pathway programs.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how each of our squad members continue to develop in the high-performance environment while playing a crucial role supporting and challenging our Firebirds group building into the 2025 season.”
2025 TRAINING PARTNERS
Abigail Latu-Meafou
Elsa Sif-Sandholt
Kirra Tappenden
Sasha Flegler
Maddi Ridley
Lillyana Rennie
Lily Gribble
