Firebirds find a way to win

By Charlie McKay

The Queensland Firebirds proved they are a force to be reckoned with in 2025, taking down the GIANTS 62-57 at Ken Rosewell Arena on Sunday afternoon.

A battle of last season’s bottom two, this clash was always going to be fuelled by passion and pride, with both teams having a massive point to prove in 2025.

Last season was the toughest in GIANTS' history, marking the first time in Julie Fitzgerald’s 26-season coaching career that one of her teams finished with the wooden spoon.

Fitzgerald has shown faith in her GIANTS troops this season, with minimal changes to the line-up except the addition of young gun Hope White.  

The Firebirds were only minorly better in 2024, finishing in 7th place with just four wins. 

But the off-season brought significant change for the Queensland team, with three new player signings and the arrival of new head coach Kiri Wills, who crossed the ditch to join the world’s best netball league.

The new-look team is spearheaded by international superstars Imogen Allison (England) and 201cm force Mary Cholhok (Uganda).

Both teams were jittery early, but Cholhok presented a strong target under the post and the Firebirds quickly found their rhythm.

Emily Moore got the starting nod in goal attack over ex-Thunderbird premiership player Tippah Dwan, who had an underwhelming 2024 season with the Firebirds.

The GIANTS struggled to penetrate in attack early, missing the experience of Jo Harten on court.

Firebirds’ scoreboard pressure forced super shots from Matisse Letherbarrow and Sophie Dwyer, but they were denied by the rangy arms of Isabelle Shearer and Ruby Bakewell-Doran.

A super shot from Moore on the whistle underscored a commanding opening term, and the Firebirds went into the break with a convincing 19-12 lead.

But the GIANTS completely turned the tables in the second quarter.

Eighteen-year-old White debuted, adding some much-needed punch to the GIANTS' attack end.

Erin O’Brien was a menace in defence, denying the Firebirds any attacking flow.

Veteran Jamie-Lee Price led by example, igniting her team with scintillating mid-court defence and pin-point feeds into the circle.

The Sydney crowd came alive, spurring the home team on to take the second quarter 19-13.

The premiership quarter was a tug of war. The Firebirds looked to dominate possession and tick over the scoreboard, while the GIANTS had some ground to make up. 

Fatigue set in as the game was drained of pace, but the physicality and desperation ramped up.

Harten made a brief cameo at goal attack when Dwyer went down in a collision, but she quickly re-entered the game.  

Wills turned to her bench to re-energise the Firebirds, injecting the speed of Dwan into goal attack.

The Firebirds maintained composure and a well-timed surge saw them head into the final quarter leading 49-44.

Tensions soared in the final stanza, and nerves uncovered offensive frailties for both sides.

O’Brien refused to give up, monstering her opponents in a defensive effort that won her four intercepts and seven gains. 

White was another standout for the GIANTS in her SSN debut, adding speed and energy to the mid-court and bombing in centimetre-perfect feeds.

Macy Gardner was the Firebirds' unsung hero, leading the deflections count and racking up a team-high 74.5 Net Points.

While the GIANTS showed some fight, the Firebirds proved too strong, showcasing threats across the entire court and sending a message to the competition early.