Captains name Shamera Sterling-Humphrey as comp’s best ahead of Suncorp Super Netball 2025
An Adelaide Thunderbirds star has been named by rival captains as Suncorp Super Netball’s best player and a Giants young gun has also caught the eye of her peers, as the eight skippers nominate who they believe is the team to beat in 2025.
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An Adelaide Thunderbirds star has emerged as the popular pick among rival captains for Super Netball’s best player in 2025.
Dominant defender Shamera Sterling-Humphrey has been touted as the competition’s top star as her Thunderbirds aim for a third consecutive premiership this year.
Asked to pick their top player from a rival team heading into this season, five out of eight captains picked the 29-year-old.
One of the three to not pick Sterling-Humphrey was Thunderbirds captain Hannah Petty, who was forced to pick from a rival club and decided on Giants captain Jaimie-Lee Price.
Melbourne Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter also picked Price, while Firebirds’ Ruby Bakewell-Doran chose Vixens gun Kiera Austin.
Price, the second most popular selection, said it was too hard to go past Sterling-Humphrey.
“Every year she’s getting better and better,” she said.
“She’s such a formidable defender.”
Vixens leader Kate Moloney, who went down to the Thunderbirds in last season’s grand final, also sung the Adelaide star’s praises.
“It’s hard to go past her as the best player,” Moloney said.
“The amount of balls she can get to defensively is incredible and she’s an amazing athlete.”
Another player who had caught the attention of her rivals was new Giants young gun Hope White.
The 18-year-old academy product recently signed a full-time contract with the Giants and was picked by five captains as the rising star to watch in 2025.
Thunderbirds champion Hannah Petty said she had been impressed by the young Wing Attack in the pre-season.
“We played her on the weekend and she was impressive,” Petty said.
“I think she has a bright future ahead of her.”
Melbourne Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter said she was excited to play against White.
“Hope is definitely going to be one to watch.
“As a fellow NSW girl I’m really excited to see what she can do with more time on the court.”
SWIFTS TO CLOSE IN ON THUNDERBIRDS, VIXENS
While the majority of the eight captains polled picked the Thunderbirds and Vixens as teams to beat this year, the Swifts have emerged as another team opposition leaders are weary of.
The club finished sixth last season but has added star New Zealand shooter Grace Nweke, a move which put the league on notice.
“I think they’re going to be really tough with Grace now joining,” Vixens captain Kate Moloney said.
“They have a complete team.”
Lightning captain Steph Fretwell and Giants captain Jamie-Lee Price also believed the Swifts would make a strong push this year.
“They’ve recruited well,” Price said.
“They’ve now got a really good mixture of experience and some promising talent.”
Back-to-back premier Adelaide still had the respect of its rivals however, with many predicting the Thunderbirds would be among the top sides in 2025.
“I feel like the Thunderbirds are still the team to beat,” Swifts captain Maddy Turner said.
“Everyone is chasing them now, especially with them going for three in a row.
“I’m looking forward to going up against them, as an Adelaide girl it’s always nice to try and beat the Adelaide side.”
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Originally published as Captains name Shamera Sterling-Humphrey as comp’s best ahead of Suncorp Super Netball 2025
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