Last year’s event was Ashleigh’s first real taste of the high-performance pathway.
Since then, the Carina Leagues Club Tigers talent has represented Queensland at the National Netball Championships, earned national recognition with selection in the 2026 National 17/U Squad and produced a breakout maiden HART Premier Netball League Ruby Division season that has seen her named a finalist for the competition’s MVP award.
Now, she returns to State Titles with the same club that helped spark her rise, but with greater confidence, stronger experience and a clearer understanding of what the moment demands.
“Last year was my first experience in the higher-performance competition, so it was a really good opportunity for me,” Ashleigh said.
“I was grateful for the start in the Ruby competition. I loved the challenge and the experience I received from playing with the older age groups. It really has been an enjoyable and exciting experience."
The past 12 months have been a whirlwind, but Ashleigh is not losing sight of where it all began.
For the Moreton Bay College student, coming back to State Titles feels like a chance to reflect as much as compete, and rather than arriving with extra pressure, she says this year is about embracing the event more freely.
“Last year I was a bit stressed and nervous more than excited,” she said.
“But I think this year I want to relax more and take the opportunity to enjoy the experience by taking it all in and to have fun with my friends, because that’s what it’s all about - just having fun with my friends and playing netball.”
That maturity has been sharpened by a demanding 2026 season, with Ashleigh balancing Ruby commitments, school netball and an increasing workload in the classroom as she moves through Year 11 and prepares for the jump into Year 12.
She admits the adjustment has not always been easy.
“The training schedules have been insane, going in and out of different teams, and trying to balance my workloads,” she said.
“But I’ve worked through it with my school and my parents, in working out a plan so I think I’m starting to manage things better.”
If there has been one constant through her rise, it has been family.
Ashleigh comes from a strong netball lineage, with her mother Kerri and grandmother Sandra both playing important roles in her development. Sandra’s experience in high-level coaching and her close eye for detail have made her an especially trusted voice, while the wider family support network has helped Ashleigh navigate the busiest period of her young career.
“It’s been great to have that experience behind me,” she said.
“After all my games, I get a text from my nanna about what I’ve done, what I need to do, what I need to get better at.
“They’re fully supportive, and my mum’s experience is so great with all the things she did. She’s good at guiding me through.”
There is also the unique bond she shares with twin sister Olivia, who is carving out her own netball journey as a shooter through Moreton Bay College and representative teams. Ashleigh patrols one end of the court, Olivia the other, and together they have shared some of the biggest moments of the past year.
“She’s at the opposite end. She’s a shooter,” Ashleigh said.
“I can defend her while she shoots (at home). It works out pretty well.”
That blend of family support and competitive drive has helped Ashleigh make the most of every opportunity, including her first season in Ruby with the Tigers. Stepping straight into that level and earning recognition among the competition’s best has only added to the sense that her game is moving quickly.
Even so, she knows nothing will be handed to her when State Titles begin.
“Anything can happen. I still have to play my best and earn everything” she said.
“I can’t go in there thinking I’m better than everyone.
“I know that they’ve seen me, but I still have to perform and show them what I can do because obviously there are girls gunning for the same spot, so I just have to go out there and show them what I can do and try my best.”
As a top-age 17/U player this year, Ashleigh will also have a leadership role to play for the Tigers, particularly for younger teammates stepping into the same environment she encountered 12 months ago.
“There’s definitely going to be some girls in my team that are a bit nervous, like I was last year, and I’ve been in that exact same spot,” she said.
“It’s all fun at the end of the day and whatever happens, happens. You’ve just got to try your best.”
That outlook says plenty about how far she has come.
Netball Queensland’s annual State Titles competition is designed to showcase the rising talent of Queensland netballers in a high-performance environment. The event will be held at Nissan Arena in Brisbane from September 20 to 22. More information is available via the competition hub: https://qld.netball.com.au/state-titles
