| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Brisbane |
| Regions | Queensland |
| Home venue | Queensland State Netball Centre |
| Head coach | Rebecca Bulley |
| Captain | Kim Ravaillion |
| Vice-captain | Lara Dunkley |
| Premierships | 3 (2011, 2015, 2016) [1] |
| League | Suncorp Super Netball ANZ Championship Commonwealth Bank Trophy |
| 2023 placing | 7th |
| Website | www.firebirds.net.au |
Queensland Firebirds are an Australian professional netball team based in Brisbane, Queensland. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy. Firebirds were the most successful team during the ANZ Championship era, playing in five grand finals and winning three premierships, in 2011, 2015 and 2016. They were the only team to win back to back ANZ Championship titles.
Between 1997 and 2007, Queensland Firebirds represented Netball Queensland in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Together with Adelaide Ravens, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Kestrels, Melbourne Phoenix, Perth Orioles, Sydney Sandpipers and Sydney Swifts, Firebirds were one of the founding members of the league. [8] [9] Between 2005 and 2009, Vicki Wilson, a former Australia netball international, served as Firebirds head coach. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] In 2006 Firebirds reached their first play-off series, losing 58–56 in the semi-finals to Melbourne Phoenix. [15]
| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 [2] | 7th | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| 1998 [2] | 7th | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 1999 [3] | 8th | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 2000 [3] | 7th | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| 2001 [4] | 8th | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 2002 [4] | 6th | 4 | 0 | 10 |
| 2003 [5] | 7th | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 2004 [5] [16] [17] | 7th | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 2005 [6] [16] [18] | 8th | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2006 [6] | 4th | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2007 [7] | 5th | 8 | 0 | 6 |
Between 2008 and 2016, Firebirds played in the ANZ Championship. [19] [20] In 2009, Roselee Jencke was appointed head coach. [13] In 2011 Firebirds finished the season undefeated. This marked the beginning of a golden age for the team. Between 2011 and 2016, Jencke guided Firebirds to five grand finals and three premierships. They were the most successful team during the ANZ Championship era and the only team to win back to back titles. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman formed the nucleus of the Firebirds squad and featured in all three Championship winning squads. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]
| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 [19] [30] | 5th | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2009 [31] | 5th | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| 2010 [32] | 5th | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2011 [33] [34] [35] | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 [36] | 6th | 7 | 0 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4th | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 2014 [37] | 2nd | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 [38] | 1st | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016 [20] | 2nd | 11 | 0 | 2 |
Premierships
Runners Up
Since 2017, Firebirds have played in Suncorp Super Netball. [1] They have only participated in one year of finals, being knocked out in the minor semi-final of 2018. [39]
| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 [40] | 5th | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| 2018 [41] | 3rd | 9 | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 [42] | 8th | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 2020 | 5th | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | 5th | 6 | 0 | 8 |
| 2022 [43] | 6th | 5 | 0 | 9 |
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 [34] [44] [45] | Queensland Firebirds | 57–44 | Northern Mystics | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
| 2013 [46] [47] | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 50–48 | Queensland Firebirds | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
| 2014 [37] [48] | Melbourne Vixens | 53–42 | Queensland Firebirds | Hisense Arena |
| 2015 [38] [49] [50] | Queensland Firebirds | 57–56 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 2016 [20] [25] [51] | Queensland Firebirds | 69–67 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
Firebirds have played their home games at various venues throughout Brisbane and Queensland. In February 2019, they moved into a new permanent home, the Queensland State Netball Centre. [52] [53]
| Years | |
|---|---|
| Chandler Arena [17] [18] [54] | 1997–2008 |
| Brisbane Entertainment Centre [55] [56] | 2008–2018 |
| Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre [18] [36] | 2005, 2008–2017 |
| Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre [36] | 2008–2017 |
| Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre [57] | 2018 |
| Queensland State Netball Centre [52] [53] | 2019– |
| 2024 Queensland Firebirds roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Player profiles: Team website | Last updated: 21 December 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australia Australia Fast5 
England 
Jamaica 
New Zealand 
South Africa 
Fiji 
Papua New Guinea | Years | |
|---|---|
| Carla Dziwoki [16] | 2005 |
| Melanie McKenzie [16] | 2005 |
| Peta Stephens [58] [59] | 2006–2009 |
| Lauren Nourse [60] [61] | 2010–2012 |
| Laura Geitz [61] | 2012–2016 |
| Gabi Simpson [62] [63] | 2017– 2021 |
| Kim Ravaillion | 2022– |
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Patti Farrell | 1997–1999 |
| Sue Hawkins [64] | 1999–2003 |
| Brenda Scherian [10] [11] [16] | 2004–2005 |
| Vicki Wilson [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] | 2005–2009 |
| Roselee Jencke [13] [14] [21] [22] [23] [24] | 2009–2020 |
| Megan Anderson [65] [66] [67] | 2020–2022 |
| Rebecca Bulley [68] [69] | 2022– |
| Sponsors | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Firestone [9] | c. 1997–1999 |
| Mission Foods [36] [38] [70] [71] | 2010–2015 |
| Lorna Jane [72] [55] | 2016– |
Queensland Sapphires are the reserve team of Queensland Firebirds. [73] [74]
Adelaide Thunderbirds are an Australian professional netball team based in Adelaide, South Australia. Since 2017 they have played in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship and between 1997 and 2007, they played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. Thunderbirds have won five premierships. They won their first two premierships in 1998 and 1999 during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, their third and fourth in 2010 and 2013 during ANZ Championship era, and their fifth in 2023 during the suncorp netball era. Historically, Thunderbirds are one of Australia's most successful netball teams. Between 1997 and 2010 they finished in the top three of every regular season, and are the first and only team to win a Trophy at all 3 eras.
The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, is a former netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned and administered by Trans-Tasman Netball League Ltd (TTNL), a joint venture between Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. It was effectively a merger of Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup. Its main sponsor was the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.
Melbourne Vixens is an Australian professional netball team based in Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Victoria in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball Victoria merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Kestrels. Vixens have won three premierships, in 2009, 2014 and 2020.
New South Wales Swifts are an Australian professional netball team based in Sydney, New South Wales. Since 2017 they have represented Netball New South Wales in Suncorp Super Netball. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. The team was formed in 2007 when Netball New South Wales merged its two former Commonwealth Bank Trophy league teams, Sydney Swifts and Hunter Jaegers. In 2008, Swifts were the inaugural ANZ Championship winners. Swifts were also grand finalists in 2015 and 2016. They won their second and third premierships in 2019 and 2021.
Megan Anderson, also known as Megan McWilliams and previously known as Megan Dehn, is a former Australia netball international and current netball coach. Between 2000 and 2006 she made 20 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia team that won the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, Anderson was a member of Sydney Swifts teams that won premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Southern Steel and Northern Mystics. After retiring as a player in 2011, she became a coach. In 2020 Anderson was appointed head coach of Queensland Firebirds.
Stacey Marinkovich, previously known as Stacey Rosman, is a former Australian netball player and current netball coach. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era she played for Queensland Firebirds and Perth Orioles. In the ANZ Championship era she played for West Coast Fever. She captained both Orioles and Fever. After retiring as a player, Rosman became a coach. In 2014 she was appointed head coach of West Coast Fever. In 2018 she guided Fever to their first ever grand final. She was subsequently named Joyce Brown Coach of the Year. In 2020 Rosman, now Marinkovich, was appointed head coach of the Australia national netball team.
Katie Walker is a former Australian netball player and current netball coach. Walker played for both Hunter Jaegers and Queensland Firebirds during the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era. She also played for Firebirds during the 2008 ANZ Championship season. Since 2020, Walker has been a member of the Firebirds coaching staff, serving as an assistant coach, specialist coach and head coach of Queensland Sapphires.
Clare McMeniman, also known as Clare Ferguson, is a former Australia netball international player. She captained Australia when they won the 2016 Netball Quad Series and the 2016 Constellation Cup. McMeniman was also a member of the Queensland Firebirds team that won the 2011, 2015 and 2016 ANZ Championships.
Laura Geitz is an Australian former netball player and former captain of the Australian national team. Geitz was selected for the 2008 Australian national team, and has won a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, a gold medal at the 2011 World Netball Championships and a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games as captain. In domestic netball, Geitz plays for the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship. She previously captained the AIS Canberra Darters in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy.
The 2011 ANZ Championship season was the fourth season of the ANZ Championship. The 2011 season began on 13 February and concluded on 22 May. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Lauren Nourse and featuring Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman and Natalie Medhurst, Queensland Firebirds finished the season undefeated. They became the first team in the history of the ANZ Championship to go through the regular season and the playoffs without losing a single match. In the major semi-final, Firebirds defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and in the grand final they defeated Northern Mystics, winning their first premiership. This marked the beginning of a golden age for Firebirds. Between 2011 and 2016, Jencke guided them to five grand finals and three premierships.
The 2011 Mission Queensland Firebirds season saw Queensland Firebirds compete in the 2011 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Lauren Nourse and featuring Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman and Natalie Medhurst, Firebirds finished the season undefeated. They became the first team in the history of the ANZ Championship to go through the regular season and the playoffs without losing a single match. In the major semi-final, Firebirds defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and in the grand final they defeated Northern Mystics, winning their first premiership. This marked the beginning of a golden age for Firebirds. Between 2011 and 2016, Jencke guided them to five grand finals and three premierships.
Simone McKinnis is a former Australia netball international and the current head coach of Melbourne Vixens in Suncorp Super Netball. As a player she was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991 and 1995 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. She also captained the Melbourne Phoenix team that won the 1997 Commonwealth Bank Trophy. She was head coach when Vixens won the 2014 ANZ Championship and the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball titles. In 1992, McKinnis was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia and in 2010 was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame.
Stephanie Fretwell, previously known as Stephanie Wood, is a former Australia netball international, who currently plays for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Super Netball competition.
Kimberley Ravaillion, is an Australia netball international. Ravaillion was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Netball World Cup and the silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In January 2013, aged 19, she made her senior debut for Australia during an away series against England. This saw Ravaillion make her senior test debut before making her top-level league debut. Her first game for Queensland Firebirds came two months later. She was subsequently a member of the Firebirds teams that won the 2015 and 2016 ANZ Championships. Between 2017 and 2019 she played for Collingwood Magpies in Suncorp Super Netball. After missing the 2020 season due to pregnancy, Ravaillion rejoined Queensland Firebirds for the 2021 season.
Gabrielle Simpson, also known as Gabi Simpson, is an Australia netball international. Simpson was vice-captain of the Australia team that won the silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Simpson was also a member of the Queensland Firebirds teams that won the 2015 and 2016 ANZ Championships. Since 2017, Simpson has captained Firebirds in Suncorp Super Netball. In 2017 she received the Liz Ellis Diamond award. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.
Roselee Jencke is a former Australia netball international and netball coach. As a player, Jencke was a member of the Australia teams that won the gold medal at the 1991 World Netball Championships and the silver medals at the 1985 World Games and the 1987 World Netball Championships. In 1992 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Between 2009 and 2020, Jencke served as head coach of Queensland Firebirds. Between 2011 and 2016 she guided Firebirds to five ANZ Championship grand finals, winning three premierships in 2011, 2015 and 2016.
The 2015 Queensland Firebirds season saw the Queensland Firebirds netball team compete in the 2015 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy, the minor premiership and the overall championship. Firebirds narrowly defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference final and the Grand Final on their way to effectively winning four titles.
The 2016 Queensland Firebirds season saw the Queensland Firebirds netball team compete in the 2016 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy and the overall championship. Firebirds became the first and only team to retain the title. In a repeat of 2015, Firebirds defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference Final and the Grand Final.
