A return flight home from underage nationals in Darwin is behind one of Queensland’s most formidable partnerships on the netball court.
For almost two years, Bond University Bull Sharks has been anchored by the shooting duo of Kirra Tappenden and Kaylin Van Greunen.
Van Greunen arrived on the Gold Coast some three years ago from Toowoomba, followed 12 months later by Tappenden, who had relocated from the Sunshine Coast.
The pair were aware of each other, having already met while representing Queensland at underage nationals.
"Funnily, the first time I met Kaylin, I was in the under-17 Queensland team and she was in the under-19s, and both of us were coming home from nationals in Darwin," Tappenden said.
"We were put together on the flight home and I think she thought I was really weird. I was joking around. I can be pretty outgoing as a first impression. We then both made underage Aussie squads later that year and trained together to prepare for that."
They went on to line up in the same under-19 Queensland team the following year, but it wasn’t until Tappenden signed to play for the Bull Sharks in the HART Premier Netball League Sapphire side that the pair became almost inseparable.
"I moved here at the start of last year, and Kaylin was the only one of all the girls in the house that I knew," Tappenden said.
The housemates quickly bonded both on the court and off it, as major contributors to the Bull Sharks' historic 61-60 Sapphire grand final victory in 2025.
"I love it so much," Tappenden said.
"Everyone on the team is so welcoming, especially last year, being new, and by the grand final we were definitely close as friends. The pressure moments just make you closer, and this year I feel like we’re stepping up another level with how close we are as a team."
Tappenden partially credits her recent successes, both with the Bull Sharks and Firebirds Futures, to her happiness away from the game.
"We basically do everything together," she said of Van Greunen.
"She’s like a sister to me at this point. Obviously we also drive to Brisbane multiple times a week together, so we spend a lot of time in each other’s company. One thing about us is that we take the game seriously, but we can joke around which lifts each other up. If either of us makes a mistake, we don’t get mad at each other, but make a positive comment and move on."
The Bull Sharks are heading into this season’s second double-header weekend positioned third on the HPNL Sapphire ladder, only one win behind the Kedron-Wavell Cougars and ICare Group Australia Ipswich Jets.
"I think so far we are happy with our performances, and are still making those connections," Tappenden said.
"We never want to reach our peak mid-season, so it’s game by game and trying to hit standards. As much as we’re really encouraging, we also hold everyone accountable, which helps us all achieve our best. It’s a good, honest environment and we are really enjoying playing netball together."
The Bull Sharks' Round 10 clash this Saturday afternoon is against the Carina Leagues Club Tigers at Nissan Arena, before a massive Round 11 derby sees them hosting the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday evening.
Netball Queensland's NetballQ TV, the home of community netball in Queensland, is delivering live and free coverage of the state’s most exciting grassroots and pathways competitions, including the HART Premier Netball League Sapphire and Ruby Series. Click here to access NetballQ TV.
