AFTER taking some time to dry off from four days of soggy but enthusiastic netball action, Netball Queensland’s festival of netball, the inaugural Junior Nissan State Age, has been deemed a wonderful success.
This major participation competition is for players aged 12 to 14 years, many of whom are proudly playing for their NQ member Association for the very first time.
For thousands of these young netballers, State Age is the stage upon which fond memories are made and marks the beginning of many lifelong friendships.
Pine Rivers Netball Association had the honour of being the first to host the JNSA, welcoming more than 2000 players from 50 Associations to its Les Hughes Sporting Complex at Lawnton on Saturday, July 2 to Tuesday, July 5.
Competitions Lead of Netball Queensland, Luke Asi, said despite the wet weather, Netball Queensland’s largest participation event ran extremely well.
“It went really smoothly from both an event and competition perspective,” Asi said.
“A total of 205 teams competed at Nissan Junior State Age, that’s 2050 athletes playing more than 1400 matches across the four days.”
Having reached capacity last year in regards to player numbers, NQ made the decision to split the Nissan State Age into junior (12-14) and senior (15-17) carnivals the first time in 2022.
By doing so, this provided an opportunity for an extra approximately 3500 players to represent their Association and be a part of this festival of netball.
The numbers combined from both Nissan Junior and Nissan Senior State Age carnivals are staggering and include a total of 342 teams, with 2375 games played across the two events over seven days.
It’s also estimated, across both junior and senior carnivals, more than 35,000 spectators attended over the combined seven days of competition to enjoy not just the netball but plenty of off-court action including a chill-out zone, food trucks and much more.
“After a number of seasons which have been disrupted by Covid, it is incredible to see the netball community turn up to be a part of this event in such astonishing numbers,” Netball Queensland’s General Manager - Netball, Glenn Dennis said.
“The strong engagement in the State Age competition across the state is a clear message that there’s still immense pride and value in representing your local association. It was particularly pleasing to see not only that boys were participating in the competition, but how wonderfully they were included into the competition precinct by other teams. There is a growing interest in boys netball and this event was a great case study on how inclusion can complement the experience of others rather than detract from it.”
Asi was also quick to highlight the welcome participation from players not usually present at Nissan State Age.
“It is exciting to see so many boys teams compete at that junior level,” Asi said.
“It showcases the opportunity for growth of boys and men in our game. It was also exciting to see teams from our regional Associations, with Clermont competing for the first time and Gayndah returning after a few years’ hiatus.”
Netball Queensland wishes to extend a special thanks to Moreton Bay Regional Council for its support of netball, and to hosts Pine Rivers Netball Association.
We want to hear your stories from Nissan State Age!
Help inspire others to get involved in our wonderful game by sharing your videos, photos and memories of your Nissan State Age experience.
Post them on social media using the hashtag #NETBALLUNITED
For the full list of winners at the 2022 Junior Nissan State Age, see below:
12 Years
1st – Cornubia Park Netball Association 12 Navy
2nd – Metropolitan Districts Netball Association 12.1
13 Challenge
1st – Northern Gold Coast Netball Association 13B
2nd – Bundaberg Netball Association
13 Championship
1st – Southport Carrara Netball Association 13 Blue
2nd –Cornubia Park Netball Association 13 Navy
14 Challenge
1st – Northern Gold Coast Netball Association 14B
2nd – Metropolitan Districts Netball Association 14.2
14 Championship
1st – Downey Park Netball Association 14 Red
2nd – Underwood Park Netball Association 14 Black
Boys
1st - Ignite
2nd – Murri Taipans
Performance Award – QC Netball Association
Champion Association – Metropolitan Districts Netball Association
