New rules, new teams, new look: Netball Queensland reveals mega revamp for 2024

Netball Queensland has released ambitious expansion plans that will turn the state’s top competition on its head, and new clubs are just the beginning. Find out everything you need to know about the new entities, rules and junior pathway programs

Netball Queensland is set to expand its top competitions and overhaul its junior player pathway programs in the northern region of the state as part of sweeping changes.

New Sapphire Series and Ruby clubs are just the beginning, with the organisation planning a huge revamp of netball in the northern region plus a whole new look for those with a goal shooter bib.

Find out everything you need to know about the new entities, new rules, and new programs getting underway in 2024 and 2025.

EXPANSION: Everything you need to know

General Manager Glenn Dennis said Netball Queensland are looking at sustainability and community engagement as two of the biggest factors for an expansion.

An expression of interest will be released prior to the end of 2023, with an approximate 12-week window before the Sapphire Series entities are named early in 2024.

The proposed timeline will ensure successful new clubs can engage in the competition throughout 2024, ready for a 2025 start.

Donnell Wallam of the Firebirds shoots as Ashleigh Ervin of the Lightning defends the shot. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“The most important thing for us is that any expansion we look at needs to be inherently sustainable,” Dennis said.

“Running teams at this state level isn’t a small undertaking and we want to set new teams up for success.

“We want to run a thorough expression of interest process and establish entities with the right runways into the competition ready for a 2025 season start.”

The Ruby competition, with eight teams currently, will see two new clubs introduced. The Sapphire competition will grow from seven to eight.

“We want entities to be able to stand on their own two feet and develop connections and fundamentally become valued assets of the netball community.

“The talent pool in Queensland is deep enough to sustain the growth that we’ve proposed.”

Sapphire Series netball Round 1 - Brisbane South Wildcats Vs Ipswich Jets (green) = jets goal defence Kiri Lingman Nathan Saturday 22nd April 2023 Picture David Clark

While speculation of who is interested continues, Dennis said no communication has been had between Netball Queensland and potential clubs.

“There are certainly frequent inquiries, but since we have made the announcement we haven’t had any formal conversation with anyone yet.”

In previous years the competition has seen QUT flourish in both divisions, and in 2020, a Redcliffe-based club expressed interest in joining the league but was unsuccessful.

One club based in the Logan region expressed interest for a licence in 2024, and is expected to apply through the formal EOI when released.

One thing is known: Netball Queensland are aware of the success for clubs with existing sporting codes attached.

“We have seen great success working with the likes of Gold Coast Titans and the Ipswich Jets who have sporting clubs participating in multiple codes,” Dennis said.

“It is a model for success … when existing sporting clubs look to branch into new codes.”

Titans netball HART Sapphire Series. Pictured: Jess Milne

The expansion of both leagues will benefit more than just the athletes. It will provide bench officials, umpires, coaches and alike the opportunity to reach the highest level.

“We want to be the strongest state league in country and for that we need to have a high calibre clubs to join what is already in existence.

“The objective is creating better opportunities.”

Sapphires see Super Shot in 2024

A meeting with all clubs was held in August 2023 to discuss introducing the Super Shot into the HART Sapphire and Ruby series in 2024.

It was unanimously decided at that meeting to give the green light for both competitions, with clubs agreeing it would drastically improve the chances for athletes to be signed with Suncorp Super Netball clubs.

The rules would follow an identical structure to that already seen in SSN: goal attacks and goal shooters can score two-point goals by shooting from a 1.9m designated zone within the goal circle, active in the final five minutes of each quarter.

Tara Hinchliffe of the Lightning looks to pass during the round 11 Super Netball match between Queensland Firebirds and Sunshine Coast Lightning at Nissan Arena, on May 21, 2022, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Firebirds Futures Academy

In 2023, Netball Queensland General Manager Glenn Dennis, CEO Kate Davies and Head of Pathways Roselee Jencke completed a tour of regional Queensland (Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns).

“The purpose was to deeply understand the aspirations of netball stakeholders in those regions and to talk about a better pathway for athletes moving forward,” Dennis said.

Two key takeaways from the tour were: A need for higher standards of competition which are both accessible and sustainable, and high quality coaching and administration that can wrap around established and future programs.

“As a result of that consultation, we announced that we will be pursuing a Ruby North competition to be launched.”

Steph Wood of the Lightning shoots as Remi Kamo of the Firebirds defends her shot. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The competition will provide opportunities for regional athletes without the expectation of flying to southeast Queensland each week, as seen in previous cases.

The Emerging Country Athlete Program and Emerging Athletes Program have been merged and rebadged as the Firebirds Futures Academy, with satellite locations to be established in the four above regions.

“Any identified talented athletes will have the opportunity to participate in the same program that athletes in SEQ participate in.

“We are trying to build a strong connection to the Firebirds club and give high quality opportunities to athletes no matter where they live.”

RUBY NORTH: How will it work?

Four teams: Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns

2025 inaugural season

Note: While the regions have been identified, Netball Queensland are yet to establish which organisation will be the face of each region. This could mean an existing club, a conglomerate of clubs, or an entirely new entity.

There would be no home and away fixture. Instead, each team would host a cluster weekend, where every team versus one another in round-robin style. There would be four of these cluster events held.

Hart Sapphire Series; Former club the Northern Rays were forced to withdraw from the competition in 2023 due to cost and accessibility. Picture: Alix Sweeney

While those weekends are running, Netball Queensland aim to facilitate the opportunity for SEQ Ruby and Sapphire head coaches or representatives to travel and observe the talents on show and build future connections.

There would be no minimal or maximum guideline for said representatives to reach out to athletes.

“What we want is for the best players in Queensland to get the right opportunities,” Dennis said.

“With that in mind, we would not go about setting quotas for clubs.

“We would trust they want to get the best players they possibly could.”

Originally published as New rules, new teams, new look: Netball Queensland reveals mega revamp for 2024