Wildcats journey to PNG as part of PacificAus partnership, key signing rumoured
The rumour mill is churning a mere three months post-2024 Sapphire Series grand final. While players reveal their new colours, coaches are getting a look at what their squads can achieve in 2025. Full story and transfers hub inside:
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The Brisbane South Wildcats will journey to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in late November for a three match friendly series against the PNG Pepes.
It marks the first time Wildcats have travelled to PNG, having hosted the Pepes in Australia for practice matches in their lead up to international tournaments including the PacificAus Sports Netball Series.
Netball PNG will be looking to utilise the friendly series as selection and preparation for Pepes international calendar and tournaments in 2025.
In additon to the scheduled games, the Wildcats will deliver a clinic for the PNG youth squad and take part in team bonding activities.
Approximately 10 athletes and four team officials from the club are set to travel from Thursday November 28 to Monday December 2, with the friendly Series will take place from the Friday to Sunday.
Through the support of Netball Australia and PacificAus Sports, two Australian umpires will support to officiate the matches and deliver Umpire Education and Training.
“Since 2021, Netball PNG has partnered with Netball Australia under the Australian Governments PacificAus Sports program,” a spokesperson from Netball Australia said.
“The program creates new opportunities for athletes, coaches and administrators to train, play and grow together.”
The friendly series will also serve as key preseason prep with a new coaching group in charge, former Carina League Club Tigers Ruby coach Joeanne Hope to see her Sapphire lineup in action for the first time.
It is rumoured 2-point shot specialist Lily Cubby, who was named Netball Queensland First Nations Player of the Year in 2024, has signed with the club after donning Jets colours in 2024 where she won a premiership.
Cubby is no stranger to the Wildcats region, and her return promises to bring a boost to the shooting circle in 2025.
Former Wildcats coach ‘loving’ new role with premiership side in wake of predecessor’s Super Netball call-up
Former Brisbane South Wildcats head coach Megan Lynch said she was loving her new role with the premiership-winning TAE Aerospace Jets, her eyes already set on defending the title in 2025.
Lynch took the reigns at Jets post-season, following the departure of long-time coach Paula Stuart who joined the Queensland Firebirds as assistant coach.
“It’s really exciting,” Lynch said.
“Lots of exciting opportunities and things have opened up which is good and we’ve got the Sunshine Challenge* in February.”
Having coached alongside Stuart at the Golden South Jaguars (Queensland State Netball League, mid-late 2010s) Lynch has nothing but respect for her predecessor.
“I know how Paula works ... her culture and the way she treats her players is very much aligned to myself so coming in has been very smooth because we both have high standards,” she said.
“I’ve known (her) for a very long time and she’s worked hard in Queensland to develop her coaching and players.
“It’s very exciting for her to be Firebirds assistant coach and nice to see someone who’s been pushing kids through our pathways for such a long time.”
While Jets had mostly sorted their Sapphire roster, over 100 athletes registered to trial for the Ruby and Emerald league teams.
“(The team) had a great year ... and we’ve been able to keep the majority of our girls,” Lynch said.
“We’re looking forward to next year with just a couple of tweaks here and there.”
Those three squads will be announced in the New Year, Lynch hoping the timing will benefit her players’ off season preparations.
“If we announce it now, that’s still nine months until the season starts.
“We don’t have too many changes.”
TRANSFERS HUB
The Gold Coast Titans are the first club to release its 2025 Sapphire and Ruby Series squads with 28 athletes making the initial cut of 15 and 13 respectively.
Final cuts will be made closer to the season’s start date, five to shuffle from Sapphire to Ruby and eight of those moving down to EPL (Elite Premier League).
Among the list of returning names is the partner of Titans NRL skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Jordan Ngarimu.
Ngarimu, a midcourt sensation, was forced to withdraw from the 2024 Sapphire season after announcing her pregnancy during pre-season.
She joins 2024 midcourt returnees Kourtnee Baird and Lily Gray alongside Ruby stars Stellar Atkinson, Brooke Marchant and Aaliyah Sheppard.
*The Sunshine Challenge, a new competition announced this November, will combine the top two state league teams from every state and territory (invitational) for a national tournament.
It will run from February 28 to March 2 at Nissan Arena, featuring Premier Women’s, Premier Men’s and Community Women’s (Association level representative teams, 16 years and over including Greater Brisbane Netball League, Suncoast Premier League and Elite Premier League) divisions.
Jets will be joined by fellow Sapphire Grand Finalists the Gold Coast Titans in the Premier Women’s division, while those in other divisions are yet to be announced.
“All players will get a taste of Suncorp Super Netball action with the inclusion of the two-point Super Shot, which has already been introduced to great success in Queensland,” Netball Queensland wrote in its statement.
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