Firebirds Season Preview

The Queensland Firebirds’ 2025 season just never really got going.

They opened with two wins and genuine belief. Firebirds supporters were cautiously optimistic of a more successful season than past years. Then the wheels wobbled and never quite straightened. They couldn’t add another victory, sliding to the bottom of the Suncorp Super Netball ladder despite patches of genuinely high-quality netball.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t compete, it was that they couldn’t sustain it. Four-quarter performances were elusive and momentum swings hurt. Consistency was the missing ingredient.

Now, as coach Kiri Wills enters her second year at the helm, she’s gone to familiar territory and called on three fellow Kiwis to cross the ditch and pull on the purple dress. Three Silver Ferns - a serious injection of experience.

So the big question for 2026: is this the reset that lifts them off the bottom?

Let’s break it down.

Shooters

Mary Cholhok

Her first year in the SSN was always going to be a learning curve for Cholhok, and that’s exactly what 2025 looked like. At her best, she was a towering, dominant target under the post. When the timing was right and the ball was delivered early, she was hard to stop.

But there were other games where her hands looked a little soft, her holds weren’t as strong, and she drifted off the hold too easily. That inconsistency mirrored the Firebirds’ season as a whole.

What’s intriguing is the evolution in her game. She’s clearly been working on her Super Shot, and if she can add that skill consistently, it forces defenders to split their attention with two genuine 2-point threats. With new feeders around her, and more experience in the league, this feels like a pivotal year. Does she lock down GS? Or does the arrival of Selby-Rickit mean we see genuine rotation?

Te Paea Selby-Rickit

Selby-Rickit arrives from the Mainland Tactix with 66 Test caps for the Silver Ferns and the kind of composure and experience you just can’t coach.

She comfortably plays both GA and GS, which immediately gives Wills flexibility. She’s strong on the hold, smart with her movement and experienced in high-pressure moments. For a team that struggled to close games in 2025, that steadiness matters. Her presence alone changes the feel of the shooting circle.

Emily Moore

Moore continues to build nicely. With several seasons of SSN under her belt, her confidence on the shot is growing and her court craft is evolving. The connections between Moore, Cholhok, Macy Gardner and Lara Dunkley have been steadily developing, and that familiarity shouldn’t be underestimated. Can she step it up in 2026 and lead the attack end?

The coaching tactical strategy is fascinating. Do we see Mary or Te Paea as a dominant GS with Moore securing GA? Or do the Firebirds lean into flexibility, shifting Selby-Rickit between the bibs and keeping defenders guessing? All three have shown their ability with Super Shots. However Wills plays it, depth in the circle is no longer a weakness.

Midcourt

Maddy Gordon

Gordon joins from the Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse and brings serious pace. A Silver Fern with speed to burn, she can cover centre, wing attack and wing defence, and her work rate lifts the standard around her.

The Firebirds’ midcourt at times last year lacked spark and defensive bite in both attack and defence. Gordon addresses both. She hunts ball, has quick feeds and doesn’t shy away from contest. That edge could be exactly what this group needs.

Lara Dunkley

Strong, steady, and dependable. Dunkley has been the glue in this line-up in recent years. Her ability to absorb physicality, keep her feet moving and link defence to attack is invaluable.

With a new, high-octane partner alongside her, there’s an opportunity here. Can she lift another level? With more experienced shooters ahead of her and more pressure coming through the midcourt, 2026 could be the season she truly stamps her authority.

Macy Gardner

Gardner continues to grow in decision-making and composure. You can see the maturity building each season. Last year, she was often tasked with steering an attack end that was searching for rhythm.

With Gordon’s experience beside her and Selby-Rickit’s voice ahead of her, Gardner should have the freedom to play with more confidence. If she tidies up timing and ball placement under pressure, her impact could jump significantly this season.

Imogen Allison

Allison’s 2026 campaign has been disrupted early after an injury sustained in training with the England Roses. She’s fighting to be fit for Round 1, and that battle alone tells you what kind of competitor she is.

She probably didn’t have the impact she would have liked last season, but with new blood at both ends of the court, 2026 shapes as an opportunity. Fully fit, she adds defensive pressure, versatility and grit through wing defence and centre.

Defenders

Ruby Bakewell-Doran

Bakewell-Doran’s 2022 season saw her make her debut for the Diamonds. In 2025, her impact wasn’t quite as pronounced. The highs were there, but not as consistently.

With a new defensive partner arriving, there’s every chance she finds that spark again. Her athleticism and ability to go hunting are genuine weapons. With the incredible depth in Australian netball talent, she’ll have to fight hard and unleash consistent performances to lead her Firebirds to a better result this year and get herself back into the international netball conversation.

Kelly Jackson

Another Silver Fern joins the defensive end. Jackson brings experience, an unbelievable wingspan and a sharp netball brain. She reads the play beautifully and has a steady and imposing presence in the circle.

Her arrival could be the piece that unlocks Bakewell-Doran. If Jackson anchors the circle and confuses the space, Ruby can take more risks out front. That balance is crucial to the Firebirds success this year.

Isabelle Shearer

Still young and still developing, but 2025 showed glimpses of real promise. Shearer competes hard and continues to refine her timing and body work.

Learning alongside a defender like Jackson is invaluable. Expect growth. Expect greater composure. Expect her to push harder for minutes.

The Big Picture 

On paper, this squad now boasts serious international experience with 6 of their starting 7 having represented their countries on the world stage; three Silver Ferns, an English Rose, a Ugandan She-Crane and an (ex-)Australian Diamond. 

That’s nothing to be sneezed at.

But talent alone doesn’t guarantee wins - last year proved that. The Firebirds were competitive in patches but couldn’t sustain it. They struggled to halt opposition runs and close tight contests.

The upside? Experience usually brings composure, and composure is what this team lacked when games tightened.

The risk? Connections. New combinations take time. New voices need to sync. If the connections click early, the Firebirds could climb quickly. If they don’t, another slow burn start could make for another long season. 

So can the injection of Kiwi talent lift them off the bottom of the ladder?

There’s enough firepower, pace and experience here to believe it can.

Now it’s about turning purple patches into full performances.

Queensland Firebirds 2026

Squad:

Imogen Allison

Ruby Bakewell-Doran (C)

Mary Cholhok

Lara Dunkley (VC)

Macy Gardner (VC)

Maddy Gordon

Kelly Jackson

Emily Moore

Te Paea Selby-Rickit

Isabelle Shearer

Training Partners:

Elsa Sif Sandholt

Sasha Flegler

Jessie Laga’aia

Lillyana Rennie

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach - Kiri Wills

Assistant Coach - Paula Stuart

2025 Ladder Position:

8th