45 schools, 600 kids: Gold Coast Titans Netball launch mega schools comp driving Super Netball bid

The Gold Coast Titans have taken a major step towards the club gaining a Super Netball licence which involves school kids from throughout the region. Full details:

Gold Coast Titans Netball launch schools competition. Pictured (L-R): Steve Mitchell, Lily Gray, Temepara Bailey

The Gold Coast Titans have taken the next step to develop their growing netball program, with the launch of the club’s first schools competition announced on Tuesday.

More than 600 student athletes are set to take part in the inaugural instalment which will be played at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre at Carrara on Monday 29th April.

Titans CEO Steve Mitchell said the launch of this competition was a step in the right direction towards the Titans’ ultimate goal of having a Suncorp Super Netball side.

“We’ve run this program like it’s a Super (Netball) side from day one,” he said.

“We put a lot of effort into our game day experience, socials and connections with our six affiliations on the coast.

“Like any franchise, if you’ve got the community engagement your consumer set is going to grow.”

Gold Coast Titans Netball launch schools competition. Pictured (L-R): Steve Mitchell, Lily Gray, Temepara Bailey.

Spread between Carrara and the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, 12 single-day carnivals will run across the school year and have been split into four divisions of year 7/8, year 9/10, open boys and open girls.

Titans Netball Head Coach Temepara Bailey said the competition was about giving young athletes the chance to further develop their game.

“The purpose of our club is to make our communities proud and to have opportunities for these young athletes to aspire to make the top grade,” she said.

“It’s also great for us as Titans to see all of the talent in one place.

“We’ve got five boys teams in the first round of competition ... so that’s also very exciting.”

The Titans initiated this new format in response to feedback from local schools craving more opportunities to play in a competitive space.

“We have four competitions a term, so 12 throughout the year and we’ve got about 45 schools registered (so far),” Bailey said.

HART Sapphire Series round 1 2024, Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane South Wildcats. Sapphire Series captain Kristen Oxenford

Schools from as far north as Rockhampton have registered for the competition, alongside schools from the Logan, Ipswich, Brisbane and Northern NSW regions.

Gold Coast-based schools competing in the first instalment include Helensvale State High, Nerang State High, Palm Beach Currumbin State High, Somerset College, Windaroo Valley State High, Marsden State High, Mabel Park State High, Kings College, Emmanuel College, Robina State High, Hillcrest Christian College, Calvary Christian College, St Andrew’s Lutheran College, Trinity College and St Joseph’s College Coomera.

Mitchell said the education system on the Gold Coast, including Brisbane and the Northern Rivers catchment, was a vital part of the club’s community build.

Gold Coast Titans Netball launch schools competition. Pictured Temepara Bailey (second from left) with three student athletes.

“To be able to launch a netball competition like this that will have almost 600 participants when it launches is something I’m very excited about.

“The Titans Schools League rugby league version now has about 2600 participants in it and Temepara has jumped out of the gate with 600 which is a really strong start,” he said.

“Schools are really excited, the department is really excited and we can’t wait to get these kids out and about.”

Originally published as 45 schools, 600 kids: Gold Coast Titans Netball launch mega schools comp driving Super Netball bid