HAVING taken the long road to don a purple dress, Saturday’s Suncorp Spirit Cup in Mackay couldn’t have gone any better for Queensland Firebirds defender Remi Kamo.
The Firebirds claimed the inaugural Suncorp Spirit Cup with a 56-46 win over Sunshine Coast Lightning on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Mackay Multisports Stadium.
A former under-17, under-19 and under-21 representative for Queensland, the pre-season clash was 29-year-old Kamo’s first chance to take the court for the Firebirds after finally landing her first Suncorp Super Netball contract in July.
“It was wonderful. It was all I imagined,” Kamo said of her first taste of action as a Firebird.
“It was so fun. It was so tough.
“Lightning really brought it to us and it was so epic to play against Charlie Bell after being her teammate last year and she played like an absolute legend.
“I’m really, really proud.”
Kamo took to the court alongside current and former ACU Brisbane North Cougars teammates Macy Gardner, Mia Stower and Ruby Bakewell-Doran for the Firebirds.
Having watched Bakewell-Doran end a breakout 2022 season with a debut for Australia in October’s Constellation Cup against New Zealand, Kamo said it was one of the highlights of Saturday’s game to reunite their on-court defensive partnership.
“It’s so good to be back with Rubes,” she said.
“I’m really proud of her achievements last year and representing Australia.
“She’s got a lot of teach me, even though I’m the old dog, so I absolutely adore being out there with her and can’t wait for what’s to come.”
Defeating the Lightning capped a big weekend for Kamo and her teammates in Mackay which included celebrating her 29th birthday at a special Night with the Firebirds event on Friday and a regional clinic with local youngsters.
“How good is Mackay? The struggle is real with the heat but the people just make it all worth it,” Kamo said.
“It was wonderful getting to see so many different young athletes at the clinic, catching up with Mackay Netball Association and seeing what they’re all about.
“It was really, really hot but it was worth it.”
