2023 SUNCORP SUPER NETBALL SIGNINGS

UP-TO-DATE AS AT 4.45pm AEST 27 January 2023

2022 SSN SEASON

The 2023 season will be here before we know it! During the 2nd Diamonds v Roses test on 30 October, the fixture was announced.

Highlights include:

Round 6 – Tuesday 25 April ANZAC match between Collingwood Magpies and Sunshine Coast Lightning

Round 8 – Inclusion Round

Rounds 11 and 12 – First Nations Rounds

Round 13 – Monday 12 June match between Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies

Download a full copy of the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball fixture here.

Broadcast details to come.

2023 TEAM LISTS

Thunderbirds retain the same strong defensive end for 2023. image: Sue McKay

ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

Thunderbirds were the first to drop an athlete for the 2023 season – letting go of South African international, Lenize Potgieter.  The full team is now locked in. The T’Birds attack has been significantly bolstered with the signing of English Rose, Eleanor Cardwell who has impressive ball-handling skills and an enviable long-range shot. She will combine well with the fast and dynamic movements of Georgie Horjus and Tippah Dwan. Young posting shooter Lucy Austin has also earned her first contract.  

Ins: Eleanor Cardwell (Manchester Thunder, VNSL), Tracey Neville as assistant coach

Outs: Elle McDonald (to Leeds Rhinos, NSL), Lenize Potgieter (to Manchester Thunder, NSL)

2023 Squad

Coach: Tania Obst

Can Magpies make two consecutive finals berths? Image: Aliesha Vicars

COLLINGWOOD MAGPIES

Two new faces enter the Magpies’ ranks for 2023: Nyah Allan has been elevated after impressing in goal attack when given the opportunity in 2022. The former training partner has maturity and confidence beyond her years and fans will love that she is not afraid to put up the 2 point shot!

The other new face is Maddie Hinchliffe who comes in for Maggie Lind. Hinchliffe had a great season as a defensive centre for the Lightning in 2022 but joins an already established midcourt at Magpies. As Collingwood found form toward the back end of the season, they tended to not rotate their midcourt as often. So, what does this mean for Hinchliffe in 2023?

Ins:  Nyah Allen, Maddie Hinchliffe (Lightning)

Outs: Maggie Lind, Gabby Sinclair (to Celtic Dragons, NSL)

2023 Squad

Coach: Nicole Richardson

Training Partners:  Olivia Wilkinson, Montana Holmes, Zoe Davies, Casey Adamson, Jake Hederics, Jake Noonan, Al Punshon, Riley Richardson, Brodie Roberts

GIANTS NETBALL

GIANTS charged out the gate before the season even ended and re-signed their entire 2022 lineup. And why wouldn’t they? This side has the makings of a champion team, so they will no doubt eagerly hunt the trophy in 2023. 

Ins: Nil

Outs: Nil

2023 Squad

Coach: Julie Fitzgerald

Training Partners: Jemma Donoghue, Charli Fidler, Ang Frketic, Erin O’Brien

Vixens take home the Sargeant-McKinnis Cup for 2022. Image Kirsten Daley

MELBOURNE VIXENS

The Melbourne Vixens have named an unchanged lineup heading into 2023. They, arguably, have one of the most versatile and dominant benches of any club in the league. Each athlete, of Rahni Samason, Hannah Mundy and Liv Lewis, can be injected at any point in a game and make an immediate impact. That makes them a dangerous and unpredictable opponent and is why they will likely be in the grand final in 2023. 

2023 Squad

Coach: Simone McKinnis

The NSW sign a virtually unchanged lineup for 2023. Image: May Bailey

NEW SOUTH WALES SWIFTS

The NSW Swifts are the second team to lock down their 2023 lineup, opting to sign Sophie Fawns over Kelly Singleton. That is the only change from their originally signed 2022 side. Will it be enough for them to climb back up the premiership ladder in 2023?

Ins: Nil

Outs: Kelly Singleton

2023 Squad

Coach: Briony Akle

Training Partners: Audrey Little, Lili Gorman-Brown, Clare Iongi, Romelda Aiken-George, Grace Whyte

The Queensland Firebirds are rebuilding again in 2023. Image: Simon Leonard

QUEENSLAND FIREBIRDS

The Firebirds had possibly the biggest hurdles to overcome, of any club, in this free agency period. They started with only three confirmed athletes and no head coach. But we now know that they have secured the talents of former premiership-winning Firebird, Bec Bulley as their new head coach for the next four years.

Their next challenge was filling the depleted defence end after losing Eboni Usoro-Brown and Kim Jenner. They chose to recruit from their feeder ranks, signing former Brisbane North Cougars duo, Remi Kamo and Ash Unie. They will join fellow Cougar and returning Firebird, Macy Gardner, who comes in for Jemma Mi Mi.

The Firebirds are the only club to have an all Australian line-up in 2023.

Ins: Macy Gardner (elevated training partner), Remi Kamo (Brisbane North Cougars), Ashlee Unie (Sunshine Coast Lightning training partner),

Outs: Coach – Megan Anderson, Eboni Usoro-Brown (retired), Jemma Mi Mi (pregnant), Kim Jenner (to West Coast Fever), Romelda Aiken-George (to NSW as training partner)

2023 Squad

Coach: Bec Bulley

*In October, Bueta announced her 2nd pregnancy and that she will miss the 2023 season. Firebirds are yet to announce her replacement.

Training Partners: Leesa Mi Mi, Hulita VeVe, Emily Moore, Olivia Dijkstra, Isabelle Shearer

Sunshine Coast Lightning will be bolstered when Karla Pretorius rejoins the side in 2023. Image: Simon Leonard

SUNSHINE COAST LIGHTNING

South African defender, Karla Pretorius rejoins the Lightning in 2023, meaning they are quite defence heavy. So, with that in mind, it was not a big surprise that of the two uncontracted midcourters (Maddie Hinchliffe & Annie Miller), they chose to release Hinchliffe. Miller is a dynamic option in wing attack and can match the speed which Lightning’s attack like to play. 

Lightning are a proud club and will not be happy with their 8th place finish in 2022.  With Karla Pretorius returning from maternity leave, she will bring some much-needed stability and leadership in defence, which will surely get them off the bottom of the ladder.

In surprising news for netball fans, on 18 August the club announced that coach Kylee Byrne would be stepping down after two years at the helm. In late October the news that former West Coast Fever assistant coach, Belinda Reynolds would be taking the helm.

In November, Kate Walsh announced she would be retiring from professional netball, effective immediately. Lightning named Firebirds training partner, Ashleigh Ervin has Walsh’s replacement.

Ins: Karla Pretorius (returning from maternity leave), Ashleigh Ervin (Firebirds training partner), Charlie Bell (injury replacement for Reilley Batcheldor) 

Outs: Maddie Hinchliffe (to Collingwood Magpies), Kate Walsh (retired)

2023 Squad

Coach: Belinda Reynolds

*Batcheldor sustained an ACL injury and will likely not take part in the 2023 campaign.

**Bell has been brought into the side as Batcheldor’s injury replacement.

Training Partners: Bridey Condren, Ava Black, Martina Reekers and Leilani Rohweder

Smiles all round. Image Clinton Bradbury/Bradbury Photography

WEST COAST FEVER

Fever has only one change to their 2022 premiership lineup with former Firebird, Kim Jenner filling the void left by Stacey Francis-Bayman’s retirement. Jenner joins an experienced and versatile defensive unit and adds speed and excellent ball reading skills, which will surely make them an even more formidable unit in 2023. 

But, with the signing of Jenner, they now have four circle defenders, leaving them light in the midcourt. So, expect to see Sunday Aryang or Jenner swing to wing defence if and when Jess Anstiss is in centre.

Ins: Kim Jenner (Firebirds)

Outs:  Stacey Francis-Bayman (retired)

2023 Squad

Coach: Dan Ryan

Training Partners: 

Athletes who missed out on 2023 SSN contracts

This is a list of athletes who are confirmed to not be signed with their 2022 club. This list does not include athletes who have retired or who have committed to playing overseas.

• Kelly Singleton (GA, GS)
• Maggie Lind (WA, C, WD)