Several players from Queensland’s championship-winning 17 and Under team last year in Darwin have been named to make the step up to the 19s in 2024, including prolific goal shooter Tia Crombie and Australian Youth Commonwealth Games representatives Jada Delaney, Gemma Hutchings and Sasha-May Flegler.
Flegler, Delaney and Baylee Boyd have all recently been announced as training partners with Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) clubs the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning for 2024.
“Our roster emerges as a formidable fusion, boasting the championship prowess of the 2023 17 and Under national champions and the tenacity of our 2022 bronze medallists,” 19U Head Coach Rebecca Stower said.
“Comprising a group of exceptional NA (Netball Australia) categorised athletes and SSN training partners, the future of Queensland shines brightly.”
The new-look 17U team, led by Head Coach Anna Young, includes twin sisters Marley and Rio Burns – the younger siblings of Firebirds training partner Rylee Burns – and regional athletes in Cairns duo Charlotte Jonsen and Ciarn McBride as well as Toowoomba’s Simone’ Botha.
“It is exciting to have regional Queensland well represented with two athletes from Cairns and one athlete from Toowoomba earning selection in the team to attend nationals,” Young said.
“They have joined the south-east Queensland athletes well and are quickly forming a close bond and supportive relationships within the group.
“The next phase of preparation for nationals will see the athletes fine tuning their court connections with each other, learning how to use and take advantage of each other’s strengths, and consolidate strategies to combat the different styles of play they will encounter at nationals.
“The program is lucky to have the support of the HART Sapphire Series clubs and the Queensland Suns to provide the much-needed variety in match play required.”
Both teams have selected four training partners each including Mackay product Shaylah Pershouse.
“NQ has immense netball talent as evidenced during the final selection weekend to select the final 12 athletes from the 17U and 19U age groups with final match play providing plenty of scenario discussions between selectors,” NQ Head of Pathways Roselee Jencke said.
“The 19s selection was extremely tight and all athletes competed hard. The athletes named provide Rebecca Stower with a versatile and flexible team to be able to adapt to any opposition.
“The 17s have only two athletes returning from the successful 2023 Championship team in Tia Molo and Sarah Joyce but are an exciting blend of south-east region netballers and far north Queensland products.”
The 2024 NNC will be held from April 9-14 at the newly-opened Jubilee Park Stadium in Frankston with tickets to go on sale from Wednesday, 28 February.
QLD 19U
Baylee Boyd (Sunshine Coast Thunder)
Ellie Brice (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Holly Comyns (Carina Leagues Club Tigers)
Tia Crombie (Gold Coast Titans)
Jada Delaney (Sunshine Coast Thunder)
Talitah Faifai (Gold Coast Titans)
Sasha-May Flegler (Bond University Bull Sharks)
Gemma Hutchings (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Brook Lacey (Brisbane South Wildcats)
Jayden Molo (Bond University Bull Sharks)
Kirra Tappenden (Sunshine Coast Thunder)
Kaylin van Gruenen (Bond University Bull Sharks)
Training Partners: Sophia Dobson (Carina Leagues Club Tigers), Yasmin Mayall (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Dakota Newson (Bond University Bull Sharks), Kydan Taupou (Brisbane South Wildcats).
QLD 17U
Simone’ Botha (Darling Downs Panthers)
Marley Burns (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Rio Burns (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Leilani Fatialofa (TAE Ipswich Jets)
Ava Guthrie (Sunshine Coast Thunder)
Sienna Jones (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Charlotte Jonsen (Cairns)
Sarah Joyce (Carina Leagues Club Tigers)
Ella Macartney (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Ciarn McBride (Cairns)
Tia Molo (ACU Brisbane North Cougars)
Roxanne Rhind (Gold Coast Titans)
Training Partners: Samaya Cook (Sunshine Coast Thunder), Liberty Grohn (Sunshine Coast Thunder), Amelia Nemcansky (ACU Brisbane North Cougars), Shaylah Pershouse (Mackay).
