Revealed: Stars on display at Vicki Wilson Cup and Open Boys Championships as Cairns, Brisbane schools claim gold
Smithfield State High School and St Peter’s Lutheran College have taken out the Vicki Wilson Cup (girls) and Boys Open Championships for 2024, now we reveal the top players from both senior divisions - from far North Queensland to the southeast corner.
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Smithfield State High School, Cairns and St Peter’s Lutheran College, Indooroopilly have taken out the Vicki Wilson Cup (girls) and Boys Open Championships for 2024.
In a dramatic turn, Cup favourites Canterbury College were knocked out by Mudgeeraba’s Somerset College 30-31 in the semi-final, who had dropped a game against Matthew Flinders Anglican College (Sunshine Coast) in the rounds.
Somerset came agonisingly close to claiming gold, but fell short 26-19
Glenala State High School were seeded fourth heading into the Boys finals, but upset both Kedron State High School and Marsden High School to reach the grand final against Smithfield, where they went down 14-26.
With stars on display across the courts, we reveal the top players from both senior divisions - from far North Queensland to the southeast corner.
CUP
Matthew Flinders Anglican College
GA/ GS - Kirra Tappenden
Comment: An experienced shooter and natural leader of Matthew Flinders, Tappenden works smart and hard outside the circle to make her life once at the post. She’s a clear option to feed to and reliable under pressure.
WA/ C - Liberty Grohn
Comment: Broke the scene at Nissan State Titles in 2023 and has become a reliable, consistent midcourter for the Sunny Coast school both at QISSN and Vicki Wilson. She’s worked hard on footwork and on-the-go decision making which is clearly paying off.
Somerset College
GK/ GD - Maddy Rhind
Comment: A clean circle defender who can work both holding and moving shooters. She makes up one half of Somerset’s Rhind affair and has made leaps and bounds in the past 12 months under the Titans Netball banner.
GS - Roxy Rhind
Comment: Maddy’s other half, Rhind is one of the most promising up-and-coming goal shooters in Queensland. She made her Queensland debut in Under-17s this year and shows no sign of slowing progress as a strong holding target.
GA/ GS - Marley Burns
Comment: Another member of the Somerset sister trend, Burns adds to the coastal school’s starting shooting lineup. She boasts an incredible range and isn’t afraid to start long to make a statement.
WD/ WA - Rio Burns
Comment: The fourth and final twin in Somerset’s roster, Burns is currently on her return from a foot injury. She is a tenacious and hard working wing who is versatile enough to take on both the attacking and defensive role.
WA/ C - Ariana Ransfield
Comment: Ransfield completes Somerset’s star-studded attacking lineup. She offers clean drives, a strong shoulder and has no fear when it comes to taking a risk for reward.
Canterbury College
GD/ GK - Jayda Penitani
Comment: She is one of Canterbury’s youngest Cup players, but you wouldn’t know it. Penitani has made leaps and bounds in progress over the past 12 months since graduating from the Vicki Wilson Shield division and makes for a nagging circle defence.
C/ WA - Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard
Comment: In her final year of school sport, Frescon-Sheppard has proved herself a versatile star. She owns the centre bib but at times has donned the wings, goal defence and even goal attack. It’s all thanks to her speed, endurance and ability to turn ball over when it counts.
WD/ WA - Julianna Tamala
Comment: An unassuming wing who can pluck an intercept out of nowhere. She’s got another year left in the competition.
GA - Kaylee Tamala
Comment: The elder sister of Julianna and one of four Canterbury seniors, Tamala is a household name in Queensland’s netball world. She made her Sapphire Series debut for the Tigers this season.
GS/ GA - Harmony O’Brien
Comment: Another year 10 in the mix, O’Brien has stepped up to the challenge this year as Canterbury’s star goal shooter. She’s an agile, versatile option under the post.
Kirwin State High School
GD/ GK - Tealoah Apete
Comment: Long limbed and agile, she’s a menace under the post and will chase down a loose ball at every chance. Miss a shot? Consider it gone for good. Apete is only year 9 this year, meaning she has another three campaigns in the Cup series.
St Pat’s College
C/ WA - Tayla Lucas
Comment: With speed to burn and a precise feed, Lucas is a stand out of St Pat’s lineup.
GD/ WD - Tahlia Anderson
Comment: It’s a tough gig defending some of Queensland’s best inter-school shooters, but as the unassuming, she gets it done. She tracks from the start and won’t let a ball in easy, so beware of the handsover pressure.
King’s Christian College
GA/ GS - Alyr Hogarth
Comment: Breaking onto the scene this year, she is a quick and mobile shooter who can adjust to the GS and GA bib according to her team’s needs. Accuracy is a bonus in particularly close games.
GD/ GK - Harlow Faaee
Comment: Faaee plays clean and precise netball which converts to a long stat sheet of tips and turnovers. She is a star on the rise and currently Titans colours in the southeast’s Premier League competition.
WD/ GD - Charlize Ratu
Comment: An Australian Rugby 7s representative, Ratu has been on the scene for years and 2024 is her senior farewell. She is a strong body-on defender who sees bal and goes for it.
Moreton Bay College
GS/ GA - Amber Yeates
Comment: Named the Ruby Series Player of the Grand Final for CLC Tigers, Yeates is becoming a well-known name around the courts for her shot into the spotlight. Her performance at Vicki Wilson strengthened her case as an up-and-coming star of the southeast.
WA/ GA - Brooke Marchant
Comment: A Brisbane schoolgirl who plays for Gold Coast Titans in the Ruby Series, Marchant can cover both the circle and wings. She is able to adapt as a shooter if not playing her typical GA role, and is a handy extra body on defensive transition.
WA/ C - Sarah Joyce
Comment: The glue of MBC’s midcourt, Joyce is a zippy centre-come wing attack. She represented Queensland for the first time in 2024 and earned her second Ruby Series premiership with the CLC Tigers just last month.
WD/ GD - Abby Dobson
Comment: The younger sister of Queensland representative Sophia, Dobson is making waves of her own. She is a work horse on the transverse line and makes getting the first ball a difficult feat for her attackers.
St Peter’s Lutheran College
GA/ GS/ WA - Ella Macartney
Comment: An accurate shot and valuable third feeder to her shooting partner. Macartney had a cracking maiden nationals earlier this year and has brought that experience with her through to the Vicki Wilson stage.
WA/ C - Tia Molo
Comment: A strong midcourt player who can shift between both wings and centre when needed. Molo plays a similar game to her graduated sister Jayden and is likely to continue on the path towards Aussie representation - having been named in the green and gold Under-17s squad in April this year.
GD/ GK - Leilani Fatialofa
Comment: A versatile circle defender whose work ethic is unmatched. She shuts the ball deown before it can reach the circle’s edge. It’s no surprise she’s already cracked the Queensland underaged ranks.
Fairholme College
GS - Simone Botha
Comment: Considered Toowoomba’s most promising young netball talent, Botha returns to the Vicki Wilson stage after her maiden
Siena College
GA/ WA - M’Lea Michael
Comment: A versatile attacking player who can produce magic. Michael balances speed with patience to be a reliable option every time. Her accuracy under pressure is what tops it off.
GK/ GD - Quincy Cormack
Comment: A tall, nagging circle defender who can turn possession in moments that matter. She is agile for her height which bodes well for the Sunny Coast school.
Southern Cross Catholic College
GD - Siena Jones
Comment: Tracks well to keep her shooter out of contention, and when they do get the ball, her handsover pressure makes things even harder.
BOYS
Smithfield State High School
C - Julius Johnson
Comment: Speedy but can control his footwork and ensure possession is safe. His pocket drives are admirable and key to Smithfield’s transition off both a turnover or standard centre pass.
GS - Dustin Baxter
Comment: Knows how to work a ball closer to the post and provide an easy shot for himself. Using size as advantage against difficult defence and provides an offer from circles edge every time.
GK/ GD - Dylan Targett
Comment: Sets up well on a holding shooter to deny the easy feed and transitions seamlessly into attack following a turnover. He is also smart in drawing the contact when stuck in a tussle with his player.
Somerset College
WA/ C - Cru Scott
Comment: Smart decision making from the centre pass and second phase which translates to helping his shooters set up early. Gets involved in defence.
GD - Tremayne Patelesio
Comment: A coachable and quick learning defender who flourishes in the circle. He has laser eyes for his player and will pounce on a loose ball.
Sunshine Coast Grammar
GS - Sam Whitfort
Comment: Isn’t the tallest shooter of the pack but certainly acts like it, able to jump shot over difficult hands and knows the value of finding the post before taking a long bomb attempt.
GD/ GK - Charles Lansaey
Comment: With go-go gadget arms and speed to burn, this tall timber defender is the ultimate netball package of raw talent. Unlike many newbies, he engages with all aspects of play and provides a useful reset option on offence.
Marsden State High School
GA - Drayson Fainu
Comment: Offers great vision for shooter-to-shooter passes and knows the value of safe options on goal. He’s got tricks up his sleeves which allow him to weave between defence and be a reliable offer to his feeders.
GD - Isikeli Kaufusi
Comment: Phenomenal read of the play during fast-paced games which converts to turnovers out of nowhere.
Chanel College
GD - Alex Rix
Comment: A high-energy and high-work rate circle defender who prevents his goal attack from getting ball outside the circle. His tracking is top tier as is his ability to know when to hunt versus when to focus on second phase.
GK/ WD - Billy Price
Comment: He’s the ultimate lead from the back goal keeper and skipper for Chanel who isn’t afraid to put his body on the line for a miracle intercept.
C - Richard Meiring
Comment: One of two Meiring brothers in the Chanel lineup, he’s quick, agile and unpredictable. You may think you’re in the clear, but this midcourt zipster will have you paying for complacency.
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