WITH the Australian Netball Championships forced into state-based models due to continued COVID-19 disruptions, Netball Queensland, in collaboration with Sunshine Coast Lightning, Queensland Suns and the Pacific AusSport partnership, has confirmed today that a Queensland-based ‘Born to Shine’ mini-series will take its place. Purely focusing on the depth of Queensland talent and with just a few weeks preparation, the eight-match mini-series will tour the south-east quarter playing matches at the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast.

The four teams will see Sunshine Coast Lightning’s ANC affiliate squad joined by Queensland Sapphires, a Pacific-based squad and the Queensland Suns men’s team. The Pacific team will be coached by Fijian Pearls Head Coach and former Firebirds Assistant Coach Jenny Brazel with the goal to develop an exciting squad of rising Pasifika athletes, including two national Fijian team members, while the men’s squad has also missed vital matches this season following the cancellation of the Men’s and Mixed National Championships earlier this year.

Both the Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning will field a host of pathways talent across the four sides, playing alongside the top developing prospects from the state’s Sapphire Series competition. Firebirds training partners Mia Stower, Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Macy Gardner, Hulita Veve and Reilley Batcheldor (Queensland Sapphires) and Lightning’s Annabelle Lawrie, Maddie Hinchliffe and Sienna Allen (SCL) are set to pull on the bibs for their respective clubs.

Netball Queensland High Performance Director, Demelza Fellowes said the series will prove just how much depth the state has, with a great opportunity to showcase the rich netballing talent Queensland has to offer.

“The Born to Shine series is a showcase of everything netball in Queensland has to offer, collaboration between passionate netball communities, diversity, excellence, flair and fun and we can’t wait to see what plays out on court,” she said.

“For the last two years the COVID pandemic has caused the cancellation of all national championships impacting the development of our next generation of high performance netballers.”

“Therefore, the Born to Shine Series aims to provide our players and coaches the opportunity to gain some invaluable tour style experience and top quality competition which will be a feast for fans.”

Lightning pathways head coach Chris Voge said the tour is an excellent development opportunity for the newly formed Lightning ANC team and the regular game time will provide a solid foundation for growth.

“While disappointed the ANC competition is not able to take place in its original form, we are pleased that we can still provide these athletes with an elite environment to train and compete,” Voge said.

“We believe we have hand-picked a group of quality athletes who will benefit long term from this experience and the intensive tournament format will allow us to see real advancement both as individuals and a team.

“Any opportunity to play in front of a Sunshine Coast crowd is something we welcome, and to then travel to Toowoomba and Gold Coast and engage with new audiences is a great result.”

Match Schedule (Times subject to change)

Round 1, Monday 13 September (USC Stadium Sippy Downs)

3.00pm – SCL V QLD Sapphires
5.00pm – Pacific v QLD Suns

Round 2, Tuesday 14 September (USC Stadium Sippy Downs)

5.00pm – Pacific v QLD Sapphires
7.00pm – SCL V QLD Suns

Round 3, Thursday 16 September (Clive Berghofer Arena, Toowoomba)

4pm – SCL v Pacific
6pm – QLD Sapphires v QLD Suns

Round 4, Saturday 18 September (Coomera)

2pm – QLD Suns V Pacific
4pm – Sapphires v SCL

Picture credit: Sunshine Coast Lightning