Borroloola to Brissie: Townsville netballer Sonnyanne Raggett’s unique journey to QLD squad

Sonnyanne Raggett didn’t even know netball was a sport three years ago. Now she’s on the cusp of greatness after being included in Queensland’s 19U squad. Read why former Australian Diamond Sharon Finnan-White thinks she can go all the way.

Townsville netballer Sonnyanne Raggett has just been selected for Queensland'€™s 19U squad after a stellar showing for North Queensland at the state titles in Brisbane. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Sonnyanne Raggett hasn’t followed the conventional route to chase her netball dreams.

The 16-year-old athlete comes from a tiny Northern Territory community with a population of less than 1000, but she has already been earmarked as a star of the future by a former Diamond.

Before she moved from Borroloola to Townsville three years ago she didn’t even know netball was a sport.

This week she was selected for Queensland’s 19U squad after a stellar showing for North Queensland at the state titles in Brisbane.

It’s just the latest step in a journey that Sharon Finnan-White, who is one of just three Indigenous women to play for the Australian Diamonds, believes will include a green and gold dress.

First Nations Academy of Excellence GS Sonnyanne Raggett during Premier League netball in Townsville. Picture: Shaantel Hampson / TCNAI

“They sky is the limit for Sonnyanne, honestly I think in maybe five or six years’ time we could see her playing up in Australian squads,” Finnan-White declared.

“I believe that she’s definitely capable of that. She’s embraced all the skills that we’ve taught her through the academy and she just puts it all out there on the court without fuss.

“I think that’s what selectors like about her – she’s dynamic and she makes an impact when she’s on the court.

“Now it’s about helping her not to become too overwhelmed with everything. Because I know that’s something that can happen when you’re so young and you’ve got this rapid rise happening.”

First Nations Academy of Excellence coach Sharon Finnan-White. Picture: Shaantel Hampson / TCNAI

Raggett has been an instant hit since taking up the sport.

Last year she was crowned Townsville’s senior netballer of the year as well as the Premier League’s MVP, going on to play for the Northern Rays under-16s and earn a place in the Firebirds Futures Academy.

The Heatley Secondary College student said her netball journey began after moving to Townsville to live with her grandmother when she followed her big sister to a training session and was promptly discovered by Finnan-White.

“I never even knew netball was a sport. Borroloola is such a small community and they mostly play soccer but I’m not really a soccer girl,” Raggett said.

“I was playing here with a lady named Kylie McCartney, who is now the manager of the FNAE Roos, and she helped me play outdoor for the first time with the Phoenix club.

“Then I saw my sister trial for the SCALA team, which was the other team that Sharon trained, and then I trailed for that team and got picked.

“Sharon saw potential in me, and so I’ve been trailing and training under her supervision ever since.”

Sharon Finnan-White's First Nations Academy of Excellence Roos won their first game of Premier League netball in Townsville, beating Neptunes 52-39 after the team's predecessor went winless in 2023. Picture: Patrick Woods

Finnan-White, who runs the First Nations Academy of Excellence (FNAE), said it was clear that the young netballer had the potential to pursue a professional career.

“She was only 14 at the time and we noticed her skill straight away and the amazing talent that she had,” Finnan-White said.

“We said she’d have to wait until she was a little bit older to join our team and I think it was the next year she came in. She’s just been growing and growing ever since under our program.”

Raggett was one of 32 athletes selected for Queensland’s 19U squad, and she will train with them until mid-October before a quad of 16 is selected for next year’s nationals.

She said she couldn’t wait to continue developing under some of the state’s top coaches.

“I’m pretty excited for it, I’m looking forward to training,” Raggett said.

“The short-term goal with the Queensland squad is to keep getting recognised by the big coaches out there and hopefully to get picked for the final Queensland team.”

Sasha-May Flegler of the Queensland Firebirds regains possession during the 2024 Suncorp Team Girls Cup match between the Thunderbirds and the Firebirds at Ken Rosewall Arena on March 24, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Netball Australia)

Tully junior and Townsville Grammar School graduate Sasha-May Flegler was also selected for the 19U squad, while Saints mid-courter Chelsea O’Neill was selected in the 16U squad.

Finnan-White said it was testament to the level of coaching available in the region.

“It’s great to see and I’d also like to give some credit to Jillian Joyce, who runs the North Queensland Netball Academy,” Finnan-White said.

“Having coaches in the region that are working with these young athletes as that high performance level means they don’t have to go to Brisbane so soon.

“They can stay in the region and until they get that Firebirds call-up, or reserves Firebirds or Lightning or what have you, and continue to develop here.”

Originally published as Borroloola to Brissie: Townsville netballer Sonnyanne Raggett’s unique journey to QLD squad