The excitement continues to build ahead of the National Netball Championships in Hobart next month, with the Queensland state teams selecting their final 12-player squads.
After months of trialling for a bid to travel to Tasmania to represent Queensland on the big stage, the tough decisions have now been made with the selectors trimming down the lists.
Netball Queensland’s Head of Elite Netball Rose Jencke said the selection process highlighted the depth of talent in our pathways across Queensland.
“We are very excited to announce the 2022 Queensland State Teams following two years of interrupted netball,” Jencke said.
“The level of talent displayed during the squad training phase was exciting to see, with competition for places in the final 12 fierce.
“The two teams will go straight in their final block of training on Sundays to prepare for the National Netball Championships in Hobart in April”.
The Queensland 19-under squad is bolstered by two Suncorp Super Netball training partners in Queensland Firebirds defender Ash Ervin and Sunshine Coast Lightning midcourter Ava Black.
The duo is well supported with several other players with representative experience along with some new emerging talent, setting the side up for a strong chance of success.
“They are a well-rounded team and all 12 athletes have been selected for their versatility and consistency,” Queensland coach Simone Nalatu explained.
“We have three athletes that have experienced a Nationals campaign before (Ervin, Black and Sarah Harris) and two athletes returning from the 2021 Queensland 19's team.”
Coach of the Queensland 17-under team, Bec Stower, said the past two months working with the competing athletes was a privilege, but the task of selecting just 12 was extremely difficult.
Once again named to represent their state was Baylee Boyd and Kaylin van Greunen, though the pair and their teammates are yet to take to the court at the National Championships.
Though according to their coach, they are determined to make their first outing one to remember.
“This Queensland team has great bones, and our coaching team is excited to continue building in the strategies and cohesion to make our mark in Tasmania,” Stower said.
“The sheer excitement and pride in the voices of the players named in the final roster to compete in Tasmania and wear the maroon dress was the highlight for me so far.”
Queensland 19U State Team
- Ava Black
- Rianah Childs
- Ashleigh Ervin
- Poppy Gatfield
- Sarah Harris
- Larika Malagaoma
- Lily Mcclure
- Estel Mocelutu
- Lillyana Rennie
- Georgina Roy
- Elsa Sif Sandholt
- Naomi Solomona
Training Partners
- Kiara Condon
- Erin Joyce
- Hayley McGruther
- Isabelle Shearer
Queensland 17U State Team
- Baylee Boyd
- Tia Crombie
- Darcie Davies
- Jada Delaney
- Sophia Dobson
- Talitah Faifai
- Gemma Hutchings
- Ocean Karekare
- Jayden Molo
- Dakota Newson
- Kirsten-Lupe Tanielu
- Kaylin Van Greunen
Training Partners
- Tahlia Evans
- Grace Gabriel
- Yasmin Mayall
- Gypsy Mccormack
