Ultimate Sapphire Series guide: Squad lists, key signings, players to watch and season predictions (Sapphire Series & Ruby Series)
The 2023 HART Sapphire Series starts today - and KommunityTV has a real treat first up. But before the Jets play the Wildcats, see each club’s squad, star signings and players to watch.
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Welcome to your comprehensive Sapphire Series guide for season 2023.
Every coach has revealed their top recruits, new combinations, young stars on the rise, along with season predictions including their finals picks for this season.
SCROLL DOWN FOR A FULL SEASON SCHEDULE AND LINKS TO EVERY MATCH
The 2023 season kicks off on April 22, with KommunityTV’s exclusive live stream of the Sapphire and Ruby Match of the Round the only way to catch the action all season long.
The coverage begins with a cracking contest between TAE Aerospace Jets and Wildcats on Saturday night.
Before you strap yourself in to watch a rollercoaster season of action, we have dissected all the off-season movements, players to watch and coaches predictions.
Check out everything you need to know about the Sapphire Series below.
Brisbane North Cougars
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Liz White
Captain: Leesa Mimi
Team list: Leesa Mi Mi (C),Lia Woolnough (VC), Lilyanna Rennie, Olivia Coughlan (eventual return from meniscus injury), Emily Nesbitt, Losa Niumata, Jada Gafa, Larika Malagaoma, Rylee Burns, Olivia Dijkstra, Charlie Bell (returning after Super Netball Season)
The ACU Brisbane North Cougars come with a hard-earned reputation of success. They’re back-to-back-to-back premiers, haven’t dropped a game in seasons, and are known around the netball community as the unofficial feeder club into the Super Netball. It would be foolish to assume the Cougars won’t be there on July 30 in the grand final.
Their line-up in 2023 is a mix of their remaining core group and some exciting new signings in ex-Wildcat Lilyanna Rennie, ex-Tiger Jada Gafa and ex-Titan Olivia Dijkstra, along with the possible return of Sunshine Coast Lightning permanent replacement player Charlie Bell after the conclusion of the Super Netball season.
But regardless of the seven lining up in red, coach Liz White said the goal remains the same.
“I would hope (we could become three-peat premiers), that is what we want and what we will be working towards and every team out there will be out to prevent that from happening,” White said.
“We will work hard, we will get there, it might not be as easy and we might drop a game here or there, but they don’t like losing. We will make sure we leave no base unturned.
“I don’t think there’s one weak team in the competition ever, I analyse them all and I fully expect on any given day that they could beat us.
“There’s no excuse for anyone to not do their job.”
Player to watch: Emily Nesbitt. The tall circle defender has come across to the Sapphire Series from Sydney, where she played with Firebird Emily Moore at North Shore United.
Biggest win: Signings. Like most years, the Cougars have managed to snare some of the best young Queensland talent, along with experienced midcourter Gafa to balance the young guns out.
Players lost: Macy Gardner (Firebirds), Ash Unie (Firebirds), Remi Kamo (Firebirds)
2023 season prediction:
Runners-up. Losing their three best players to the Firebirds, along with Charlie Bell for part of the season to the Lightning will be tough to cover for the Cougars, but knowing Liz White’s history of bringing together premiership winning sides, one couldn’t discount the Cougars in 2023.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Cougars, Titans, Thunder, Jets. Bolter will be Tigers
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal?: Cat Tuivaiti
RUBY
Squad list: Tiarni Fennell, Freya Peacock, Tia Molo, Jayden Molo, Emily Latter, Yasmin Mayall, Sienna Jones, Georgina Roy, Gemma Hutchings, Alisha Perisic
Biggest takeaway: Young team but plenty of big names coming through the Queensland teams
Best up-and-coming players: Jayden Molo in the midcourt, Freya Peacock shooter and defensively Gemma Hutchings
TAE Ipswich Jets
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Paula Stuart
Captain: Hulita Veve
Team list: Hulita Veve (C), Steph O’Brien (VC), Elsa Sandholt, Maddie Grant, Naomi Solomona, Chloe Litherland, Lily Gribble, Danielle Taylor, Abigail Latu-Meafou, Nora Misa, Aleesha Adams (pregnancy)
In 2023, the Ipswich Jets are a new look team, but one that will feel awfully familiar for existing fans.
After the exit of QUT, a majority of players including captain Hulita Veve, Chloe Litherland, Maddie Grant, Danielle Taylor, Lily Gribble, and head coach Paula Stuart headed down the M7 to the Ipswich Jets.
The ex-QUT cohort will be joined by the best of the existing Jets, including Steph O’Brien, Elsa Sandholt and Naomi Solomona. Before her elevation to the Sunshine Coast Lightning, the Jets had signed Ash Ervin, who now will likely be replaced by former QUT player Nora Misa as she recovers from a third knee reconstruction.
While she was initially signed, 194cm tall goal shooter Aleesha Adams will also miss the 2023 season through pregnancy, but in an unexpected return, will be replaced by former Titan Abigail Latu-Meafou. Latu-Meafou had initially decided to take the year off netball, but after spending some time casually training with the Jets in her hometown has decided to return and will play a key role in Stuart’s mission to make finals.
“I always tackle the season, always looking at game by game,” Stuart said.
“Our aim is to reach the top four, after that we go from there.
Player to watch: Elsa Sandholt. One of the fewer existing squad members to remain with the Jets Sapphire team, the U19 Aussie squad member will be primed for a massive season. Stuart said she plans to develop Sandholt as a goal attack as well as her usual shooter role.
Biggest win: Signing on an experience cohort of players who already know each other. The Jets have always been there and abouts, but combining the best of QUT and Jets should look pretty magical on court. Veve, Litherland and O’Brien in the centrecourt will be a machine hard to stop.
Players lost: Maddi Ridley (Tigers), Lily Cubby (Titans)
2023 season prediction
Third. The Jets possess a mature, experienced list of state league players, but a few of fresh faces are going to be gelling together for the first team, particularly in the attacking third, along with a new coach to the club.
Stuart’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Jets, Cougars, Thunder, Titans
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal?: Hulita Veve. Outstanding – needs to move up to the SSN. Out for grand final because of the World Cup.
RUBY
Squad list: Armani Apelu, Kristen-Lupe Tanielu, Sam Ryan, Renae Pollock, Renee Cubby, Rachel Faanana, Kiri Lingman, Lisa Makaohi, Kiara Condon, Kate Underwood
Biggest takeaway: They’ve had a lot of big chances in the squad, but have some very excited talent there. Most notably is Kiri Lingman, a former Wallaroo whose strength and athleticism will bring a massive presence to the court.
Best up-and-coming players: Kiara Condon from the 19s Queensland side will be one Stuart will no doubt look to bring up when possible, along with midcourter Sam Ryan who possess a great netball IQ.
Gold Coast Titans
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Temepara Bailey
Captain: Bryah Gafa
Team list: Talitah Faifai, Peta Coles, Bryah Gafa, Emily Gilbert, Jess Milne, Josie Bingham, Keisha Grant, Kourtnee Baird, Jordan Ngarimu, Cat Tuivaiti, Kristen Oxenford (11th signing through Super Netball Draft)
Coming into their second season of the Sapphire Series, the Titans have won the off-season signing battle, adding former Silver Fern Cat Tuivaiti, ANZ Championship player Keisha Grant, and experienced state league players Josie Bingham and Journee Baird to their existing mix of Titans talent.
Existing players from the Titans camp include Talitah Faifai, Peta Coles, Bryah Gafa, Emily Gilbert, Jess Milne, Jordan Ngarimu, and the eventual return of former captain Kristen Oxenford (pregnancy).
The question will remain around their connections, and ultimately how much time Tuivaiti spends on the court building what could be a deadly connection with Grant in the wing.
“Pre-season has been awesome, it’s been great to have that 6 week block leading into the year, the girls appreciated it both on and off the court,” Bailey said.
“I think there’s still niggles and kinks, but it feels a lot better in terms of out planning, having time together as a team has been massive understanding who we are as a club.
“The big thing for us as the start of pre-season was getting out fitness base up, just to enable the girls to get out on court and simply what they can do, and also for the coaching staff to implement different styles of play and having players fit enough to put that out on court.”
Player to watch: Cat Tuivaiti. This one is self explanatory. As per her Instagram, Tuivaiti is known as “netball NZ’s biggest mouth”, and it will be exciting to watch her return to Aussie shores under former teammate Bailey. Most recently, Tuivaiti comes from the Vitality Netball Super League where she was head coach at the Wasps in 2022.
Biggest win: See above.
Players lost: Dakota Newson (Bond), Annie Lawrie (year off), Abigail Meafou-Latu (Jets)
2023 season prediction
Premiers. If squad availability can go their way, the Titans are the dark horse for the premiership. Their signings mix experience at the highest level with young, raw talent that should create an unpredictable team to play against.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Titans, but unsure on the others.
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal?: Unsure
RUBY
Squad list: Stella Atkinson, Lily Gray, Lily Cubby, Bayley d’Hotman de Villiers, Jessyka Ngauamo, Shenae Grant, Angelica Heighway, Alorna Ngatokorua, Hayley Matthew, Brooke Marchant
Biggest takeaway: Bailey is predicting a strong side this year, particularly with several former Sapphire players moving down to the Ruby in Gray, Cubby, d’Hotman de Villier and Grant.
Best up-and-coming player: Ngauamo is one to watch. The former Australian beach volleyball representative has an enormous jump height and can take an intercept out of nowhere.
Bond University
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Rebecca Stower
Captain: Hannah Le Sage
Team list: Hannah Le Sage (C), Kaylin Van Greunan, Natasha Robinson, Dakota Newson, Ocean Karekare, Monique Piunti, Alannah Penny, Abigail Houston, Ella Spencer, Maddie Ryan
Bond University possess a young side with a lot of upside. Their list includes some of the best junior players in the state in the likes of current U19 QLD players Dakota Newson and Kaylin Van Greunan, along with recent Queensland representatives Ocean Karakare and Abigail Houston.
Like many of the clubs, fitness was a focus in the off-season with coach Bec Stower thoroughly impressed with their testings.
“It’s been excellent, the girls have wholeheartedly committed to everything the team has set up for them, we’ve done our fitness testing and their improvements have been phenomenal,” Stower said.
“On court, being a relatively new team we’ve had to build our strategies from scratch and use our players strengths.
“I think our first goal is to make the top four, definitely. We’d like to use the words rebuilding, but at the end of the day we want to build games and be successful. We won’t win every game, that would be unrealistic, but we want to analyse each opposing team and give it red hot crack.”
Player to watch: Hannah Le Sage. A former Cougar and QUT player, Le Sage will be looking to go to the next level in 2023, both as captain and as the likely starting goal attack. She’s a former Queensland beach volleyball representative and has been working hard on her fitness in the off-season, tackling triathlons in her spare time. She will be striving for Australian National Championships (ANC) selection.
Biggest win: Bringing in Rebecca Stower and Kim Boland (Ruby coach) has been excellent for Bond. The pair have completely revitalised the program and are specialists at developing emerging talent.
Players lost: NA
2023 season prediction
Sixth. They have a young side with plenty of talent, but what they might lack is some older heads to steer the ship in more pressure moments.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Cougars, Jets, Bond, Titans
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal?: Hulita Veve
RUBY
Squad list: Abby Boland, Elka Macaulay, Chloe Arnold, Olivia Mallard, Molly Parry, Lily Phillips, Joesi Gisinger, Harriet Nicholson, Tehya Hyssett, Holly Buckley
Biggest takeaway: According to Stower, the Ruby teams structure is coming along nicely, and fitness has been a big focus.
Best up-and-coming players: Shooter Abby Boland has come off a nice run after winning the U18 Champs with her former side Titans late last year, and her recent experience as a training partner in the U19 Queensland team. In defence, Harriet Nicholson will be one to watch, as a previous Panthers and Wildcats player on the cusp of playing Sapphire.
Sunshine Coast Thunder
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Simone Nalatu
Captain: Bridey Condren
Team list: Bridey Condren (C), Annika Lee-Jones, Leilani Rohweder, Lily McClure, Jada Delaney, Baylee Boyd, Natalie Sligar, Brianna Martyn, Ava Black, Emma Walters (recovering from ACL)
Coached by former Queensland Firebirds and Thunder assistant coach Simone Nalatu, the Thunder have managed to retain a majority of their core group from season 2022.
Nalatu admitted the group hadn’t had as much time together in the pre-season as they would have liked, with four of their players spending time training with the Lightning in the Super Netball environment, but felt secure knowing the majority of the team had 2022 to make connections.
“We’ve been really focused on just using the time we’ve had, there’s been no excuse that we haven’t had a lot of time together.”
Player to watch: Ava Black. The quick midcourter is coming fresh off a Super Netball debut with the Lightning, and is tipped to be looking fitter than ever. Black was also the 2021 Katie Walker medallist.
Biggest win: Bringing over Nat Sligar from the Giants Netball program will give the Thunder that extra bit of toughness in the midcourt.
Players lost: Annie Lawrie (year off netball), Martina Reekers (year off netball)
2023 season prediction: Fifth. The Thunder will be a slick unit with Lee-Jones in shooter, combined with recruit Sligar and centre Ava Black. They might struggler earlier in the season due to limited training time, but expect them to be firing come finals.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Thunder, Cougars, Titans, Tigers
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal? Ava Black
RUBY
Squad list: Courtney Murphy, Ellie Brice, Yasmin Richters, Bailey Grigg, Kirra Tappenden, Tiarna Brooker, Sophie Wall, Nakita Single, Yves Chee, Keisha Muckan
Biggest takeaway: Thunder are a young side in 2023. There’s plenty of raw talent to work with, but it might take them a season together to gel properly.
Best up-and-coming players: Ellie Brice, wing defence and captain of the Queensland U17s side, and goaler Kirra Tappenden will be gunning for a spot at Sapphire level when the time arrives.
Brisbane South Wildcats
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Megan Lynch
Captain: Brittany Gagel (nee Mould)
Team list: Maddie Davies, Georgia Feeney, Nalani Makunde, Kayla Anderson, Coco Smith, Tahlia Evans, Brittany Gagel, Courtney Jones, Halle Geyer, Chloe Williams
The Wildcats will be a relatively unknown side until they hit the court for the first time on April 22.
Their squad includes plenty of familiar names to both the Sapphire and Ruby leagues, with several players making the move to the Wildcats in 2023 in the hope to secure more court time.
Midcourter Maddie Davies comes across from QUT and previously the Cougars, where Georgia Feeney had become a mainstay in the Cougars’ Ruby line-up. Holding onto Queensland U17 shooter Kayla Anderson has been a massive plus for the Wildcats, after losing fellow Queensland defender Lillyana Rennie to the Cougars.
Coach Megan Lynch said she wasn’t putting too much out there ahead of the season, but had been really impressive by the culture her squad had built so far.
“I’m really happy with our pre-season, and I’ve got a really different looking team.” she said.
“It’s an amazing group of young girls that have developed the best culture that I’ve had in a long time. They’re always learning and there’s been lots of positives to come out of pre-season.
“We want to demand more from ourselves. I’m trying to knock the niceness out a bit — but not the sportsmanship. I would love to make top four. My goal is to make the top four, and then anything is possible. “
Player to watch: Georgia Feeney. She’s been in the Cougars Ruby program for many years, but hadn’t been able to crack their Sapphire side. Expect great things from her as she plies her trade in the top league.
Biggest win: Former QUT midcourter Maddie Davies showed plenty of brilliant moments for the former side in previous years. Her speed and experience will fit nicely into the Wildcats line-up.
Players lost: Lillyana Rennie (Cougars)
2023 season prediction: Seventh. With only seven teams in the competition, it’s going to be tougher than ever this season. Expect a very close bottom end of the competition, with the final result going back to percentages.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023?: Wildcats, Jets, Cougars, Titans
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal?: Hulita Veve
RUBY
Squad list: Paris Dunkley, Keara Fitzgerald, Manaia Hutana, Siana Matavelea, Laura Morton, Jess Price, Ngahuia Te Rure, Saupo Toelieu, Kydan Tuapou, Alecia Vega
Biggest takeaway: Lynch believes the biggest upside of her Ruby squad is the amount of players capable of playing up in Sapphire when the time comes.
Best up-and-coming players: Defender Alicia Vega, wing attack goal attack Kydan Tuapou and goal shooter Ngahuia Te Rure.
Carina Leagues Club Tigers
SAPPHIRE
Head coach: Jo Morgan
Captain: Amy Somerville
Team list: Amy Somerville (C), Chloe Bingham, Siobhan Thompson, Jessica Laga‘aia, Ariana Luamanu, Ally McCloud, Maddi Ridley, Rianah Childs, Sophia Dobson, Isabelle Shearer
The Tigers come into 2023 with a strong line-up of experienced players, headed up by stalwart Amy Sommerville. Add in recruits Chloe Bingham under the post and Firebirds training partner Isabelle Shearer, and they should be balanced across the court.
Other recruits include Ariana Luamanu, a Samoan national squad member and former Victorian player, and Maddi Ridley, a Queensland representative formerly with the Jets.
“It’s been a long pre-season for us, being a new coach wanting to set the tone and the culture,” Morgan said.
“I’ve been so impressed with them, we came together in November but they set the tone in that period and just stepped up in January ready to go. Looking at our testing data, I’ve got nothing but amazing things to say to them.”
Player to watch: Jessica Laga‘aia. She was knocking on the door of the Giants environment in Sydney before moving over to the Sunshine state, where she got into the ANL squad for the Queensland Sapphires last year. Laga‘aia is also a Samoan national team member.
Biggest win: Bringing over Ridley and Shearer to combine with existing defender and Queensland representative Dobson, the Tigers will have one of the most exciting up-and-coming units in the competition.
2023 season prediction: Fourth. Anywhere between fourth and seventh is going to be near impossible to predict in 2023, but the Tigers should certainly have the team members go push for that finals spot. Their squad has a great blend of experienced heads like Somerville and McLeod, with young talent that are pushing to take their netball to the elite level one day.
Coach’s predictions
Who makes finals in 2023? Tigers, Cougars, Thunder, Titans
Who wins the Katie Walker Medal? Unsure
RUBY
Squad list: TBA
Biggest takeaway: The reigning premiers have managed to retain the basis of their premiership winning side from last year.
Best up-and-coming player: Tia Crombie. The towering shooter could probably play Sapphire level already, but another year in the Ruby will help develop her game even more. Expect to see Crombie move up if the time comes throughout the season.
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Originally published as Ultimate Sapphire Series guide: Squad lists, key signings, players to watch and season predictions (Sapphire Series & Ruby Series)
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