THE 2024 Netball Super League season is almost upon us, and to celebrate the build up to the season, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the 10 competing teams and seeing how this year might unfold for them.

Today’s penultimate preview is on the Surrey Storm.

Overall, 2023 was a year of progress for the Surrey Storm despite how the year ultimately finished.

After only finishing seventh the year prior, they rose to fourth in 2023 and made finals. They did not win either of those finals, but it is still an improvement on season 2022.

Looking at their 2024 squad, and their shooting quartet has not had change.

2023’s first choice combination of Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Proscovia Peace are still at the club, but with Peace still on the return path from injury, they may use Frankie Wells in the early parts of the season. Ellie Gibbons is also still at the club, but as a goal attack/wing attack, she might struggle to get some court time ahead of the likes of Drakeford-Lewis and others.

Moving through to the midcourt, and this is arguably the most experienced subgroup of the Storm’s squad. Led from the core by playing coach Mikki Austin, she is once again joined by Amy Flanagan and they will be joined by two new faces in Bethany Dix and Leah Goss. Dix brings a fair bit of experience to the group, and is likely to be the one to take the vacant starting wing attack role left open by Yasmin Parsons.

Despite the lack of change in some of the other areas of the court for the Storm, the same cannot be said for the defence end. Layla Guscoth and Leah Middleton in particular will be big losses, but the team have brought in four defenders from a wide variety of sources. All four defenders are either new to the competition or new to the Storm.

Rachael Fee comes across from the Stars, and will provide plenty of height to her new team.

Anya Wood has come through the Storm pathway system and will provide some youthful energy to the side, while Amy Howell will no doubt provide plenty of discipline after coming across from the British Army team.

This just leaves Hanisha Muhameed, with the Ugandan She Crane providing the rare versatility of being able to play both goal shooter and goal keeper. It is not likely to be a skillset coach Austin utilises with the depth of her full time shooters, but it may be something she needs later down the track.

Surrey Storm 2024 Squad

Amy Flanagan, Frankie Wells, Mikki Austin, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Beth Dix, Anya Wood, Amy Howell, Rachael Fee, Ellie Gibbons, Leah Goss, Proscovia Peace, Haniisha Muhammed