‘Set the benchmark’: Canterbury, St James claim QISSN honours in history-making grand finals
Two of SEQ’s top netball schools have made QISSN history this week, taking home the prestigious division one honours for a third consecutive year. Full story and pictures inside:
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Canterbury College, Waterford and St James College, Brisbane made QISSN history this week after taking home division one honours for a third consecutive year.
The Queensland independent Secondary Schools Netball tournament, held alongside the rugby league Confraternity Cup on Townsville soil, attracted 64 girls teams and 11 boys teams from across the state for five days of intense competition.
As the first schools to ever claim three-peat titles, let alone in division one, the southeast duo have written themselves into QISSN history.
“We always know that QISSN is a challenging tournament and games can go any way. We were thrilled to be able to take out the win,” Canterbury College head coach Deanne Hamilton said.
“It’s a testament to our current playing group but also to the players who have set the benchmark for the ones coming through.”
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How it happened
St James, Brisbane def. Carmel College, Thornlands (boys) 41-37
St James were met by old rivals Carmel in their grand final - a familiar sight having played the same team in the 2023 Vicki Wilson Boys Open big dance at Nissan Arena.
An early 10-goal lead quickly diminished to a level playing field at 21-all by halftime; Carmel’s shooting circle fierce from mid range while turning over ball through the midcourt.
Carmel captain Haydn Crossley was a pivotal force on transition, named Player of the Grand Final despite his side’s eventual loss.
Still tied at the third quarter break, St James made a break with two converted centre turnovers in the closing five minutes to gain their four-point advantage.
Antonio Rees stepped up to the challenge for St James in his first year as a starting shooter, proving calm and collected under pressure and sinking crucial shots.
Co-captain Kon Guet continued his top form from throughout the week which earned him the title of Player of the Tournament (boys) and Most Valuable Playe as voted by opposition coaches.
Canterbury College, Waterford def. Somerset College, Mudgeeraba (girls) 54-45
For a third straight year, Canterbury and Somerset walked on court for their QISSN grand final head-to-head with bragging rights on the line.
The South Coast School Sport rivals were hot favourites heading into the competition and proved no surprise as the last standing.
“As a staff and coach in the South Coast region, it’s just so exciting to see the depth of talent and we always love taking on Somerset,” Hamilton said.
Seven HART Sapphire and Ruby players littered the team sheets: four Gold Coast Titans, one Brisbane East Tiger, and two Brisbane North Cougars including Queensland under-17 stars Marley Burns and Roxy Rhind (Somerset).
Canterbury held the upper hand on paper, having claimed victory in all their past four meetings (2022 and 2023 Vicki Wilson Cup and QISSN division one grand finals).
It was a toss-and-turn first quarter before Canterbury extended to a comfortable lead by halftime, at one point 14 goals ahead.
The final quarter was perhaps the most exciting, neither side making a run until Canterbury broke centre pass to seal the deal on a nine-goal win.
With three-peats secured, Canterbury and St James will look to push boundaries further in 2025 with QISSN set to be hosted by Shalom College in Bundaberg.
For some, that means farewelling senior players and welcoming the up-and-comers.
“It’s just so good to see that even with graduating year 12s, there is such great talent coming through,” Hamilton said.
Harmony O’Brien and Kaylee Tamala shot at a stunning 100% in the first for Canterbury, with Tamala earning Player of the Grand Final for her through-court performance.
Somerset then came out firing in the second half, closing the gap to just six points and showing no sign of slowing down.
Efforts from the Rhind twins Maddy (GK) and Roxy (GS) kept things ticking for the underdogs; turnover conversion high in the second half while the centre court contest between Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard (Canterbury) and Ariana Ransfield (Somerset) heated up.
Notable awards
Player of the Grand Final (boys) Haydn Crossley, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Player of the Grand Final (girls) Kaylee Tamala, Canterbury College (Waterford)
Player of the Tournament (boys) Kon Guet, St James College (Brisbane)
Player of the Tournament (girls) Kirra Tappenden, Matthew Flinders Anglican College (Sunshine Coast)
Spirit Award (team) Saint Mary’s Catholic College (Kingaroy)
All Stars Team
Girls
Kirra Tappenden, Matthew Flinders Anglican College (Buderim)
Kaylee Tamala, Canterbury College (Waterford)
Aaliyah Frescon-Sheppard, Canterbury College (Waterford)
Marley Burns, Somerset College (Mudgeeraba)
Roxy Rhind, Somerset College (Mudgeeraba)
Maddy Rhind, Somerset College (Mudgeeraba)
Mahlia Henare, St James College (Brisbane)
Chelsea O’Neil, St Margaret Mary’s College (Townsville)
Kaitlyn Iva, Canterbury College (Waterford)
Charlotte Jonsen, St Mary’s Catholic College (Cairns)
Shaylah Pershouse, St Patrick’s College (Mackay)
Lauren Packer, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School (Ascot)
Boys
Kon Guet, St James College (Brisbane)
Jett Bradshaw, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Antonio Rees, St James College (Brisbane)
Chase Martin, Shalom College (Bundaberg)
Haydn Crossley, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Marly Solomona, Ryan Catholic College (Townsville)
CJ Lepasteur, St James College (Brisbane)
Jayden Mule, St James College (Brisbane)
Lincoln Hunnisett, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Benji Whalan, Saint Mary’s Catholic College (Kingaroy)
Malakai Byrne, St James College (Brisbane)
Rye Henderson, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Rising Stars Team
Girls
Libby Richardson, St Augustine’s College (Augustine Heights)
Brooke Davidson, Trinity College (Beenleigh)
Melaine Vernyik, Clairvaux MacKillop College (Mt Gravatt)
Harmony O’Brien, Canterbury College (Waterford)
Jade Eckersley, Southern Cross Catholic College (Scarborough)
Summer Wilson, Xavier Catholic College (Hervey Bay)
Chloe Couper, St Ursula’s (Yeppoon)
Quincy Cormack, Siena Catholic College (Sippy Downs)
Tia Shaw, Chisholm Catholic College (Cornubia)
Ella Maxwell, Downlands College (Toowoomba)
Sophie Boyd, Matthew Flinders Anglican College (Buderim)
Ariana Ransfield, Somerset College (Mudgeeraba)
Boys
Jace Brammer, Chanel College (Gladstone)
Tyrone Guce, St James College (Brisbane)
Harry Rayner, Xavier Catholic College (Hervey Bay)
Koby Marki, St Thomas More College (Sunnybank)
Sean Taylor, St Catherine’s Catholic College (Whitsundays)
Brandon Shailer, Carmel College (Thornlands)
Lincoln Lee, Shalom College (Bundaberg)
Finn Barry, Xavier Catholic College (Hervey Bay)
Brad Malan, Southern Cross Catholic College (Scarborough)
Kevin Cook, St Thomas More College (Sunnybank)
Fred Goodwin, Mt Maria College (Mitchelton)
Billy Price, Chanel College (Gladstone)
Originally published as ‘Set the benchmark’: Canterbury, St James claim QISSN honours in history-making grand finals
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