‘The stats don’t lie’: Queensland First Nations coach Sharon Finnan-White exposes glaring netball anomaly
Queensland First Nations netball coach Sharon Finnan-White believes Indigenous players around Australia are still facing unique barriers to reach the elite level. Find out what she had to say and read more about the 2025 squad.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Townsville netballer Charlie Duke has been named in Queensland’s First Nations team ahead of the 2025 Netball Australia First Nations Tournament in August.
Queensland has named the 10 players and six training partners set to defend the national title won at the inaugural tournament in 2024, with five Townsville connections within the group.
First Nations Academy of Excellence Roos players Savanna Beale and Tarna Stewart are both among the training partners, while Roos coach Sharon Finnan-White will coach the side again. Kylie McCartney is the team’s cultural liaison.
Duke is one of four new players in the Queensland squad, alongside Brianna Martyn, Aaliyah Sheppard and Makayla Cubby.
The Marian Vixens defender and Kamilaroi woman has been enjoying another sensational Premier League campaign, helping the Mixens turn around their fortunes to sit comfortable in the top two.
Finnan-White said the tall and strong GK would add a calm presence to the squad.
“I love watching her play in the Townsville League. She’s just an Amazon,” Finnan-White said.
“She’s got presence on court. She’s a leader, and she helps direct play out on court.
“She’s an older head as well, so a lot more experienced, and she trialled really well too and really mixed in well with the other Sapphire Series defenders down there.
“So I think just having her on-court presence and the experience that she brings will really add a lot of value to the team this year.”
Five players who are part of the national Black Swans squad add great top-level experience to the team: Lily Cubby, Kiesha Muckan, Jayden Molo, Brooke Lacey and Martyn.
INDIGENOUS NETBALLERS STILL FACE UNIQUE BARRIERS
Finnan-White said the inaugural competition last year was a pivotal moment for representation in a sport where First Nations players still face barriers to reach to elite level.
“Pure elation, and that’s not just because of the win,” Finnan-White said.
“The win was awesome, but that was just the icing on the cake. This tournament has been in the making for over three decades.
“It’s something that’s been spoken about by myself, and also other First Nations leaders in netball, to Netball Australia, that we need to have an Indigenous nationals. A culturally safe pathway for our players.
“Because clearly there’s still a big gap in terms of our girls making it through to the elite level, and even to this day, we see one contracted player in SSN (Suncorp Super Netball): Leesa Mi Mi.
“So this tournament’s really starting to bridge the gap between the grassroots and elite level.”
The Australian Diamond No.105 is still one of only three Aboriginal women to play for Australia’s national team, which played its first international game in 1938.
Besides the obvious barrier of costs, travel and limited opportunities for regional athletes, Finnan-White said Indigenous netballers faced a number of challenges unique to the sport.
“Typically we have fairly large families all playing sports, so it’s quite expensive, but I think one of the main things – and things are starting to change – but I still think there are a lot of cultural barriers for our girls,” Finnan-White said.
“It can be non-Indigenous coaches not understanding our culture. We need people to be a little bit more understanding and have a bit more education, getting to know the players and their families, and just getting a better understanding where they’re coming from.
“I’m loving what I’m seeing now, what Netball Queensland are doing in terms of having their First Nations advisory group. They’ve had consultations with the Ruby Sapphire players in terms of what they’d like to see happen as well.
“Because I do get asked that question, ‘Why? Why do we need specific Indigenous programs and pathways?’
“And I think it’s because the stats don’t lie. There has still only been three Aboriginal women play for Australia in the history of the sport, so obviously there are barriers.
“Obviously our population isn’t as large as the non the non-Indigenous population, but still, we all know the talent is out there.”
DREAM COME TRUE FOR TOOWOOMBA NETBALLER
Being named in last year’s squad was the realisation of a dream Toowoomba netballer Georgia Lindsay never thought would come true.
“It was the first time I ever represented Queensland. I never really thought that would happen, being a First Nations made it all the more special as well,” Lindsay said.
“It also helped me fall in love with netball again. At the time I’d just come off a pretty tough season as the Darling Downs Panthers captain.
“I had pretty much decided I wasn’t going to play next season (2025) but playing in the tournament, it sparked something.
“It was an amazing experience, from the very first training session I felt connected to all the girls. Being part of the team helped me connect to my past, my mob which has been very special.”
Lindsay’s performances caught the eye of Brisbane South Wildcats Sapphire coach Joeanne Hope and the goalshooter swapped Toowoomba for Brisbane this season.
Back in the squad this year Lindsay is confident Queensland have the team to defend the title they won in 2024.
“I think we have a stronger team than last year,” she said.
“There are lot more Sapphire Series girls in the squad, more experience and strength.
“Even though we’re trying to defend our title I don’t think there is any added pressure being felt in the group.
“It’s more exciting if anything.”
2025 QUEENSLAND FIRST NATIONS TEAM
Lily Cubby (Murrawarri)
Makayla Cubby (Murrawarri)
Charlie Duke (Kamilaroi)
Brook Lacey (Ewamian)
Georgia Lindsay (Gudjal)
Brianna Martyn (Kulilli)
Ebony Martyn (Kulilli)
Jayden Molo (Waanyi)
Kiesha Muckan (Nunukul / Kabi Kabi / Boigu Island)
Aaliyah Sheppard (Nunukul / Kanolu)
Training Partners
Savanna Beale (Gudjal / Garawa), Demi Martyn (Kulilli), Alison Peacock (Bidjara / Dhunghatti), Tarna Stewart (Bindal / Gunggandji / Kalkadoon / Thursday, Moa and Darnley Island), Lily Tschuna (Wirangu / Kokatha / Dhanghatti), Luen Wilkie (Wakka Wakka / Ghungalu)
STAFF
Head Coach: Sharon Finnan-White OAM (Dunghutti / Gumbaynggirr / Biripi)
Assistant Coach: Sam Dippel (Wulli Wulli / Wakka Wakka)
Cultural Liaison: Kylie McCartney (Barkindji / Murrawarri)
Originally published as ‘The stats don’t lie’: Queensland First Nations coach Sharon Finnan-White exposes glaring netball anomaly
Love of the game: Darling Downs’ best U23 sports volunteers revealed
Generation Next: Volunteers are the lifeblood of grassroots sports clubs and we’re shining a light on the best Darling Downs talent aged 23 and under. Find out who cracked the list here.
Toowoomba V8 Supercars champ revved up for hometrack debut
After more than five years away from home, V8 Supercars champion Will Brown has his sights set on a dream race win in front of family and friends next weekend. Details here.
Gallery: On and off court action from schoolgirls’ netball clash
From the grandstands to centre court here’s a look at all the colour and excitement of the Merici-Chevalier Cup. Find out if we snapped you at the massive schoolgirls’ netball night here.
Amazing talent: Ex-NRL fullback’s shock death shatters league fans
The rugby league community has been shattered by the sudden death in Toowoomba of a flying fullback described as an ‘exceptional talent’ and ‘cult hero’.
Colts 1 club rugby: Easts, Souths snare crucial wins nearing finals
Colts 1 club rugby: Easts and Souths have snared crucial wins ahead of the finals while Wests warmed its engines with an eight-try barrage against GPS. More here on how round 16 unfolded.
GPS First XV rugby: Boilover on the Village Green; BBC win thriller
GPS First XV rugby featured a mid-winter boilover as TGS toppled TSS away from home, while IGS made it two wins in a row and BBC survived a gutsy Terrace revival in a bumper round 2 of action. More here.