Named: Titans Netball Academy players

Titans Netball have announced a new Academy for the best emerging netballers on the Gold Coast. See the full squad here.

Hannah Davies

2 min read

December 15, 2022 - 2:53PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Bond University and Titans Netball twins. Photo: Tim Delmastro/Bond University.

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The Gold Coast Titans have snared one of the state’s best development coaches to head their new Netball Academy, which will foster the growth of the region’s up-and-coming players.

The Academy, which will feature players aged 14 and above, will act as the pathway for local association athletes from Hinterland and Districts, Southport Carrara, Northern Gold Coast, South Coast and Tweed to reach the Sapphire and Ruby Series.

The program will be led by former Carina Leagues Club Tigers Ruby premiership coach and Sapphire coach Erin Byrnes, who will join head Sapphire coach Temepara Bailey in overseeing the program.

Byrnes said she was excited to begin a fresh start at the Titans after a tough few years at the Tigers, who struggled to win games as the Sapphire Series expanded with new franchises.

“I was at the Tigers for a long time, and I really enjoyed my time there, but I was ready for a change and the opportunity to work with Temepara came up and it was too hard to turn down,” Byrnes said.

“I think it’s just about getting back to what I enjoy, which is that development age.

“I think at this age level you see that improvement really quickly and I think that’s something I’m good at, and I can do a lot of good work at the Titans in building depth within their club.

“I really loved my time in Ruby, but that didn’t start of easy as well, we started at the bottom of the ladder when I started and we built to that grand final win.

“I’d love to be able to start that here at the Titans and really build to something special so that player selections for the Sapphire Series come straight from the Titans Academy. We won’t need to look elsewhere.”

18-year-old defender Jade Karadag will be part of the Academy after coming through the local association pathway as a South Coast representative.

Karadag said she was excited the Gold Coast’s pathway was becoming stronger, after she herself began driving to Brisbane in seek of a higher level of competition.

“It’s a long drive (to Brisbane) a couple times a week, so it’ll very good to travel short distances, I’m about 20 minutes from our new training ground,” Karadag said.

“I just want to get better and improve my own game, hopefully make Ruby next year and see where I can go from there.”

The Titans Academy will no doubt further the club’s pursuit of joining the Super Netball in coming years.