Who takes the crown?

By Stephanie Smarrelli & Sophie Taylor 

After eight long months, the Suncorp Super Netball season is about to begin. 
 
Will the Thunderbirds break the Suncorp Team Girls Cup curse and secure a three-peat? 
 
Will the GIANTS rise from the bottom? 
 
Or are we entering a new dawn of the Firebirds? 
 
The questions are infinite and we’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see how the season will play out. 
 
But before it begins, we’ve decided to take out our crystal balls and put our thinking caps on. 

Here's our predictions for the season ahead. 

Who will be SSN Champions? 

STEPH: My gut says it’s going to be the Thunderbirds in a three-peat but I’m going to go with West Coast Fever. 
 
They’ve only missed out on making the last two Grand Finals by the slimmest of margins and have looked strong throughout the pre-season. 

Prior to the Suncorp Team Girls Cup I had some doubts but seeing their growth throughout the last month and how confident Olivia Wilkinson looks out on court I think they’re a chance. 

Whether Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard makes it back on court or not will likely come into play but even without her prowess there’s something about this Fever team that’s humming. 
 
A fast moving circle, midcourters who are able to punch through the court and a defensive unit capable of winning plenty of ball back. 
 
2025 falls into place for the Green Army for me. 

SOPH: It’s between the Thunderbirds and the Vixens for me. The Vixens will definitely be hurting after last year’s loss and the T’Birds are on the hunt for the three-peat. 

At a risk of sounding like Cath Cox, Georgie Horjus will be the gamebreaker every single time. The T’Birds lost significantly in the one match Georgie didn’t play last season and just didn’t have the same potency in attack. 

The Vixens’ long arm brigade is one of the main factors that makes them so threatening, and Kiera Austin on song is like poetry in motion. 

My smoky this year is the Sunshine Coast Lightning. They won’t be happy with how they finished last season, especially with the success they’re accustomed to.  

Plus, there’s nothing better than Court Bruce at full fitness. 

Who will make the top 4? 

STEPH: Obviously Fever get a look in here as do the reigning premiers they’re not going anywhere. 
 
The next two positions are a lot harder to determine, I can’t see the Melbourne Vixens missing out on finals when they have the extra incentive to be there Grand Final day and the Mavericks are also a smoky for me. 

But then there’s the Swifts who will be unstoppable once their connections with Grace Nweke and Verity Simmons align. 
 
And the Lightning won’t be happy with how they finished last season, they’re definitely a chance to contend having lost most their matches last year by slim margins but the side has been injury prone over the last few seasons.  

My final decision? 
 
Fever, Swifts, Thunderbirds and Vixens.  

SOPH: Thunderbirds, Vixens, Lightning, Mavericks. 

I know, I know, the Mavericks feel like a bit of a rogue option. 

But seriously, with most of their squad finally back at full fitness and off the back of a strong Suncorp Team Girls Cup performance, they’ve definitely got the potential to lock down finals in their second season. They were so close last year too! 

The other three are obvious ones for me. I’ll sit back down now. 

Who will be the Grand Final MVP? 

STEPH: Another tough one but I’m a true believer in the ‘defence wins premierships’ mantra. Sorry to all the goalers and middies but I’m putting Jamaican superstar Kadie-Ann Dehaney down as my Grand Final MVP. 

Fifty-six deflections and 22 intercepts in 2024, if Fever are there on Grand Final day it’s going to be off the back of some dominant defensive work. 

SOPH: I know I just went on about Georgie, but Shamera Sterling-Humphrey is a big game player. She’s already one of the GOATs and she will absolutely snap it up if the Thunderbirds complete the three-peat. 

For the Vixens or Lightning I would have to go with a midcourter... Kate Moloney and Liz Watson, eat your heart out. 

Which underdog team will surprise us the most? 

STEPH: The Firebirds. 
 
Mary Cholhok hasn’t been up in Brissy for very long, once the Firebirds figure out how best to use her and where she wants their feeds to be placed she’s going to be hard to stop under the post.  
 
Their defensive end has an electricity about them that’s primed to spark and the midcourt is looking strong. Once the team is able to make their connections gel they’re going to surprise some of the front runners and really push teams this season. 

SOPH: GIANTS for me.  

Yes, they’re looking similar to their past few seasons, but I believe in JLP. The gal’s a winner. She won’t be wooden spoon again. 

The main focus will be treasuring ball through the midcourt and playing a better game away from the two-point stage. 

Do that, and there’s no denying the GIANTS when they’re on a rampage. 

Who do we think the season’s most valuable player will be? 

STEPH: Latanya Wilson. Yes, my defender bias is slipping through the cracks again here and I’d love to see a wing defence crowned with the league’s highest honour to shoosh anyone who drops the WD bib first when they’re short at social netty. 

Wilson’s consistently been one of the best players in the league. Her work off the ball often goes unnoticed but makes a huge impact adding to the Thunderbirds’ defensive pressure and that’s why she takes the spot for me. 
 
Not to mention her flair for pulling in a haul of intercepts.  

SOPH: I back Latty this year. She was a strong contender last year and her stats speak volumes. She’ll be hard pressed to miss out again! 

Which team will use the Super Shot the most? 

STEPH: Sunshine Coast Lightning. Reilley Batcheldor and Steph Fretwell aren’t afraid to turn and shoot when times are tough and as much as the side will hope they’ve turned a new leaf I’m predicting they’ll be in a lot of tight contests again this year.  

SOPH: It’s between the GIANTS and Firebirds for me. Both teams are unafraid of the super shot, and when you factor in how difficult Mary Cholhok is to defend, that certainly will be part of it. 

Which team finishes with the wooden spoon? 

STEPH: Sorry GIANTS fans. There’s been improvements in the pre-season but are they improving quickly enough to move off the bottom of the ladder? I’m not convinced yet. 

SOPH: I know I just talked up Cholhok, but I think it could be another challenging year for the Firebirds with so many unknowns and inexperienced players in the lineup. 
 

Who will be the leading goal scorer? 

STEPH: I’m giving Shimona Jok the nod here. MVP for the Mavericks last season with Cardwell to miss a chunk of the season, I can’t see Jok taking off the GS bib often. 

SOPH: It's a tie between Shimmy and Romelda Aiken-George for me. Grace Nweke could also throw her hat in the ring, but I see the Swifts sharing the bibs around a bit more. 
 

Who will be the season’s surprise packet? 

STEPH: Hope White. The young gun attacked the pre-season when given her opportunities and is going to take her shots on court with both hands. 

SOPH: The Mavs defensive end. They never truly got going last season, yet still put out some solid performances. They’ve still not actually taken the court with their intended lineup and that could be an exciting combination once Lauren Parkinson returns from injury.