Super Netball 2025: Queensland Firebirds put past issues behind them under new coach Kiri Wills

Following a horror 2024 Super Netball season for Queensland’s Firebirds, the club has undergone a ‘big change’ heading into the new campaign.

The players don’t want to talk about it or even acknowledge last season – instead the Firebirds have chosen to wipe the board clean and focus on hitting reset under new coach Kiri Wills.

There is no hiding that the Firebirds camp was not a happy one last season.

And while Netball Australia’s report found no evidence to substantiate former player Remi Kamo’s claims of a “toxic culture”, there were clear signs there were issues at the club.

Remi Kamo has alleged there was a toxic culture at Netball Queensland. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for Netball Australia

The Firebirds only narrowly avoided winning the wooden spoon in the 2024 season, recording just four wins from 14 games and coach Bec Bulley was sacked after players reportedly turned on her mid-season.

But new coach Wills said she wasn’t concerned by any of the past issues when she put her hand up to make the move across the ditch and coach the Queensland side.

Firebirds coach Bec Bulley as Queensland Firebirds’ coach in 2024. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

“I’m a culture first coach anyway, no matter what the team is or how good a health they are in when you pick them up, you need to set the platform about who you are, what you are and what you are all doing to commit to,” Wills said.

“Culture and values are what help you stay the course when things are tough.”

Wills said one of her first steps was to give the players a chance to share their issues, discuss what had been going on – clear the air.

“I have given them the opportunity because sometimes if you don’t address things then it’s always there,” Wills said. “But they actually haven’t spoken about it at all.

“So we did have an opportunity to do that but the overwhelming feeling is that’s done, we can’t change that, we just now want to look forward to being better.”

New Firebirds coach Kiri Wills ahead of the start of the 2025 Super Netball season. Picture: Lachie Millard

New Firebirds co-captain Hulita Veve said she had noticed a “big change” since Wills’ appointment.

“The first thing, when we came in on day one this year is we wanted to put it to bed and have a fresh start,” Veve said.

“That’s what we’ve done. We don’t even think about last year any more, it’s a new vibe. The new girls have big personalities and they fit in so well. We are just really looking forward to the season with our new group.”

Firebirds co-captains Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Hulita Veve. Picture: Lachie Millard

While Wills has spent the pre-season focusing on the usual aspects like strength and conditioning, fitness and tactics there has been one major issue she really wanted to sort out before Round 1.

And that is the team’s ability to deal with pressure.

“When a team is under pressure they tend to go into themselves and play quite individually,” Wills said.

“I don’t think you can actually take the pressure away but you’ve just got to remember why you play the game.

“We are all here because at some point in our lives we fell in love with the game. We’ve got to be able to handle pressure. It is learning to deal with the pressure and love it as well.”

Firebirds’ Emily Moore shoots for goal during the pre-season Suncorp Team Girls Cup. Picture: Sarah Reed/Getty Images

Wills is confident that if she can get that under control and build a more resilient team, issues she noted from last season would resolve themselves.

“I did think that on the attack there were a lot of people going for the same ball and then we didn’t really have that next phase available to them,” Wills said.

“So for me on attack it’s really about making sure we are organised and communicating. It’s a product of pressure.”

Part of dealing with the pressure is also learning to move on from mistakes. Wills said if the team gets bogged down by a bad result on the court it would hinder their chances of playing finals.

“I think we will build throughout the season and that’s the piece that we are going to have to work with as a group, and that is from the beginning from game one against the Giants to game 14,” Wills said.

Originally published as Super Netball 2025: Queensland Firebirds put past issues behind them under new coach Kiri Wills