Rookie Rhind completes Titans U16s side ahead of Nissan State Titles
A niece of an international netball legend and Titans prodigy headlines the star-studded sides set to compete at the under-16 Nissan State Titles. Discover the top players here.
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Roxanne Rhind is one of the brightest young netball stars at the Gold Coast Titans, and her biggest idol is an international legend of the game.
The New Zealand-born teen is the niece of Silver Ferns legend Cat Tuivaiti, who donned the New Zealand colours and won silver at the 2011 World Netball Series before most recently representing Tonga in the 2023 Netball World Cup.
While she’s been in and around the professional netball scene since 2005, Tuivaiti’s recent eight-week stint at the Titans put her on the same court as Rhind for the first time.
“Ever since she came to play for the team … she’d help me train,” Rhind said.
“Which was really good.”
The family connection and idol factor was a push in the right direction for Rhind, who is making a name for herself in the Titans Academy as a promising up-and-coming talent.
The teen is yet to celebrate her 16th birthday, but has already debuted in the HART Ruby Series for the Gold Coast Titans, making her the youngest to do so in the competition for the 2023 season.
She took to court for the first time on June 30 against the Brisbane South Wildcats for round 13 (First Nations round), where Titans triumphed 59-30 at home.
The young star says the family environment at Titans along with constant mentoring from experienced teammates has helped her grow through the season.
“It‘s so good because all the older girls help us train.
“They’re like extra coaches,” Rhind said.
“I really like Shanae (Grant) … she’s probably my toughest opponent to play.”
Despite pre-games jitters, Rhind said getting her first shot took away all the nerves and made room for excitement.
“It felt really amazing when I was running out of those fireworks … seeing all my family and everyone supporting me and jumping up.
“After my shot I was dancing.”
It may have been the support from her family, who piled into Carrara Stadium, which added to the atmosphere.
“I didn’t know that much of my family was coming out to support me but it felt so good.
“Everyone’s been backing me, especially all my family,” she said.
Even those who couldn’t make it in-person tuned in to watch her debut via the KommunityTV live stream.
With the HSS box now ticked on her resume, Rhind’s sights are set on the 2023 Nissan State Titles, scheduled for mid-September.
The goal? To be named in the Queensland under-17s state squad.
NOTE: The under-17s and under-19s Queensland squads will be selected on the player’s age in 2024. Athletes born in 2008/07 currently in the under-16s age group will be eligible for under-17s selection. Athletes born in 2006/05 currently in the under-18s age group will be eligible for under-19s selection.
2022 marked a successful campaign in the side’s inaugural year of Nissan State Titles, and with Rhind returning to their ranks, there are high hopes Titans will bring home gold this time around.
It’s no secret the club is a step ahead when it comes to developing young talent, and Rhind is the perfect example.
She will be joined by her twin sister Madison and a crop of Titans Academy athletes including Summer Woods, Tyra Faifai and Deja-Maree Waitere-Patterson.
The star-studded line-up that also boasts Met East schoolgirl Eden Ah Toon, is eager to go further than their last campaign, which ended in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, the under-18s Titans side that secured gold in 2022 will look to defend their title and are close favourites to do so.
Along with Firebirds Futures training partner and Sapphire goal attack Talitah Faifai, the Titans have secured Queensland under-17s goal shooter Tia Crombie, who moves from the Carina Leagues Club Tigers for a change of scenery.
The shooting duo will be joined by the likes of Ruby Titan Brooke Marchant and Tigers Ruby training partner Losehina Mulligan.
It will not be an easy feat to go back-to-back.
Several clubs have revealed their squad lists this month with Queensland and Australian representatives scattered through their ranks, some for their fourth Nissan State Titles.
GOLD COAST TITANS
U18s
Ainsley Harlow
Brooke Marchant
Charli Pearse
Charlize Ratu
Jasper Fitzgerald
Losehina Mulligan
Madison Peisley
Talitah Faifai
Tia Crombie
Tobi Chapman
Trinity Toia
U16s
Asha Thomson
Deja-Maree Waitere-Patterson
Eden Ah Toon
Fallon Twindley
Isabella Lyons
Jada Kemp
Madison Rhind
Riley-Jay Henrypurcell
Roxanne Rhind
Sophia Mattar
Summer Woods
Tyra Faifai
BRISBANE SOUTH WILDCATS
Sapphire Series player Tahlia Evans will be at the forefront of the Wildcats U18s side, having recently been named in the Firebirds Futures squad as a training partner.
She will be joined by Wildcats Ruby players Siana Matavalea, Suapo Toelieu and Kydan Tuapou
U18s
Brooke Davidson
Tahlia Evans
Brook Lacey
Gloria Mata’utia
Siana Matavalea
Sovika Pousini
Lilli Pryor
Jessamy Redmond
Ngahuia Te Rure
Suapo Toelieu
Kydan Taupou
Mel Vernyk
U16s
Charlotte Bloom
Abby Conner
Tegan Hamilton
Harmony Letoa
Harmony Topeto
Mia Shalhoub
Taylah Tesch
Julianna Tamala
Brookelyn Toalima
Isobel Wright
Alicia Vega
Zoe Viero
TAE IPSWICH JETS
The Ipswich Jets came close to U18s gold in 2022, but were outplayed by the newly introduced Gold Coast Titans.
This year, the familiar face of Ruby player Kirsten-Lupe Tanielu will front the attack end, while basketball convert Tiana Apelu minds the defence.
In the U16s, Tiana’s sister Amarni will make her presence known.
U18s
Kirsten-Lupe Tanielu
Sienna Linnan
Emily Jones
Lily Harms
Kiana Henare
Tahlia Wylie
Carter Gregory
Imogen Smith
Molly Green
Tiana Apelu
Tilly Fawcett
Vienna Tran Milly Thomas
Ava Jenkins
Lauren Cocks
U16s (squad)
Willow Peterson
Mia Hayes
Indiana Richter
Amarni Apelu
Zoe Logo
Makayla Cubby
Kya Horridge
Amelia Ruthenberg
Lucia Andrews
Leilani Fatialofa
Jasmine Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow
Alexandra Jolly
Latreia Fainga’a
Lily Holt
Isobel Luxton
Molly Maher
Michael Diviwelagi
BOND UNIVERSITY BULL SHARKS
The Bull Sharks return in 2023 with hopes of a better season, as they are led by Sapphire trio Ocean Karekare, Dakota Newson and Kaylin Van Greunen.
Ruby talents Joesi Gisinger and Elka Macauley will complete the line-up.
U18s
Kalani Ellis
Joesi Gisinger
Tehya Hyssett
Ocean Karekare
Elka Macauley
Olivia Mallard
Xanthe Maxwell
Dakota Newson
Ruby Partridge
Kaylin Van Greunen
U16s
Amelia Bailey
Amelia Cotton
Ava Hoffmann
Sienna Hyssett
Mia Monteret
Ella Norton
Hanna Percival
Bridie Stewart
Evie Stower
Roma Talaapitaga
Fa’agase Tupuola-Palale
Kendal Urquhart
CAPRICORN CLAWS
U18s and U16s teams yet to be published.
DARLING DOWNS PANTHERS
The Panthers may be underdogs, but the schoolgirls duo of Lara Fitzgerald, and Emily Stapleton along with Downlands College’s Molly Gore makes for a competitive defensive line-up.
U18s
Amy Williams
Savannah Worship
Hayley McAuliffe
Lara Fitzgerald
Tanahya Esler
Aldora Tuilaepa
Molly Gore
Emily Stapleton
Halle Wedster
Aroha Tipiwai-Power
U16s
Simone Botha
Isla Epitropakis
Sophie Jensen
Tayla Kauter
Anna Saal
Chloe Anoleck
Kenzie Van Zanbergen
Jada Gouk
Eadi Bruton
Pypah Ferguson
Lucia Luhrs
ACU BRISBANE NORTH COUGARS
Gemma Hutchings returns from a stint at the Youth Commonwealth Games to be a powerhouse of the Cougars U8s side.
She will play alongside the likes of fellow returning State Titles stars Jayden Molo, Yasmin Mayall, and Emmisyn Wynyard.
U18s
Jade Eckerseley
Bronte Flook
Gemma Hutchings
Jessica Mahoney
Jayden Molo
Yasmin Mayall
Lauren Packer
Sienna Small
Zoe Sturmer
Zara Van Gorp
Madison Waugh
Emmisyn Wynyard
U16s
Charlotte Blain
Marley Burns
Rio Burns
Sienna Jones
Meisha Harle
Mahlia Henare
Thessalonica Ikitau
Ella McCartney
Tia Molo
Amelia Nemcansky
Ariana Ransfield
Embah Tait
SUNSHINE COAST THUNDER
The exciting trio of Baylee Boyd, Ellie Brice and Kirra Tappenden will make Thunder a strong contender for finals success in 2023, while the U16s side is littered with young schoolgirls talent including Samaya Cook and Ava Guthrie.
U18s
Baylee Boyd
Ellie Brice
Yves Chee
Quincy Cormack
Isabella Ivey
Janae Kerr
M’Lea Michael
Kiesha Muckan
Zoe Regetz
Kirra Tappenden
Jennifer Tongotongo
Sophie Wall
U16s
Samaya Cook
Charlie Corlett
Monique Corrigan
Taisha Eketone
Georgia Frohmuller
Liberty Grohn
Ava Guthrie
Charlie Harris
Talia Marshall
Edan McCosker
Tahira Muckan
Katelyn Reff
CARINA LEAGUES CLUB TIGERS
Sophia Dobson and Aaliyah Sheppard return for their fourth Nissan State Titles in Tigers colours, with the pair to join Ruby squadmates Holly Comyns, Jaide Cambourne, Kiera Heffernan and Amber Yeates.
The U16s team is yet to be reduced from a full squad which includes the well-known known faces of Kaylee Tamala and Sarah Joyce, who return for their second and final year in the U16s competition.
U18s
Jaide Cambourne
Alysha Carrick
Holly Comyns
Sophia Dobson
Chloe Enever
Kiera Heffernan
Emma Humphrey’s
Edie Lenarduzzi
Renee Marchant
Aaliyah Sheppard
Ava Stevens
Amber Yeates
U16s (squad)
Keilani Bowler
Lila Chapman
Abbey Dobson
Latreia Fainga’a
Holly Hand
Imogen Hughes
Sarah Joyce
Monika Lange
Bridie McInnes
Erin Plowman
Stella Raynor
Indiana Richter
Kaylee Tamala
Jorja Thomas
Molly Vandermeer
Gia Vukona
Chiara Wise
MENDI RAYS (U18s and 16s South, Central and North)
Teams yet to be published.
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