A HUGE month of 2022 Suncorp Super Netball signing action is done and dusted, with all eight 10-player teams confirmed for the upcoming season and some intriguing changes amongst the ranks. It is time to run through each of the 2022 team lists, and next up is the improving Queensland Firebirds.

After a couple of trying seasons, the Firebirds will look to really assert themselves in 2022 with their rebuild just about done. However, the Firebirds’ signing period was nothing short of brutal, with a trio of departures – two expected in Tippah Dwan and Rudi Ellis and one highly unexpected in Tara Hinchliffe – making things tough for the Firebirds who presumably intended to keep Hinchliffe despite a late-season anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. While the loss of non-starters Dwan and Ellis paved the way for a couple of emerging talents to earn elevations to the main squad, the loss of Hinchliffe appeared to put the Firebirds in a spin with no goal keeper on hand. A huge international acquisition will certainly help them to achieve success in 2022, although the question will be about the side’s consistency and connection with its new faces hoping to provide a point of difference to the bench players over the past few seasons.

Newcomers:

Eboni Usoro-Brown (GK)

England international and goal keeper Usoro-Brown is a huge acquisition for the Firebirds, coming from Team Bath and boasting plenty of explosiveness, strength and excellent evasiveness. She is the only incoming international player for season 2022, and will steady the ship well for the Firebirds with her calm and composed nature in the last line of defence.

Mia Stower (GA/GS)

Emerging goaler Stower has been elevated to the main list after a couple of seasons as a training partner, and will look to step up her game to become a reliable third goaler in the Firebirds attack. While she has had little court time at SSN level, she has the workrate and determination to get there and consistently impact inside the goal circle with her innate timing and rate of development.

Ruby Bakewell-Doran (GD/GK)

Another elevated training partner, Bakewell-Doran has taken every limited chance that has come her way thus far in her career and is sure to grasp onto this opportunity with both hands. A classy young defender with great footwork and anticipation, Bakewell-Doran will look to continue learning off the likes of her experienced peers and build on her smarts to have a real impact on court.

2022 SQUAD

Attack:

Gretel Bueta

Romelda Aiken

Mia Stower

Midcourt:

Kim Ravaillion

Gabi Simpson

Lara Dunkley

Jemma Mi Mi

Defence:

Kim Jenner

Eboni Usoro-Brown

Ruby Bakewell-Doran

Picture credit: Suncorp Super Netball