Netball Queensland are thrilled to announce the appointment of the State Team management group to lead Queensland’s 17 & Under and 19 & Under teams at the 2021 National Netball Championships in Hobart this July.
Former Queensland Firebird and Fiji International Simone Nalatu will guide the 19 & Under team as Head Coach, supported by Assistant Coaches Joanne Morgan and Kerrianne Farrelly.
Taking the reins for the 17 & Under group is Lauren Forbes, assisted by Amanda Kelly and former Firebird and HART Sapphire Series stalwart Beryl Friday.
Ashley Naugamo from the Carina Leagues Club Tigers will coordinate operations as Manager for the 19 & Under side, with former USC Thunder Operations Manager Emma Wakefield returning from Maternity Leave to manage the 17 & Under group.
Netball Queensland High Performance Director, Demelza Fellowes, expressed the organisation’s pride in the fact both management groups strongly represent the emerging talent in the coaching ranks for Queensland.
“After the disappointment of the 2020 National Netball Championships cancellation, we are thrilled to be able to reappoint the management groups for our Underage State Teams in 2021” Fellowes said.
“Both Simone and Lauren have built an outstanding relationship with their management teams and selectors and it is exciting to see pathway players emerging now as our High Performance coaches.”
“The Coaches have been tasked with the vital job of exposing our young talent to a high performance training environment as they step into their elite netball journey and we look forward to watching the squads come together and the players progress across the campaign.”
The National Netball Championships are historically held in the April / May school holidays, however in lieu of the 2020 cancellation, this year’s tournament takes place from July 3rd to 11th in Hobart, Tasmania.
The State Squads have been participating in a three-month train to trial camp environment, with the 32 player squads being cut to a final 16 at the end of March.
