# Queensland Firebirds

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.

## History
### Commonwealth Bank Trophy

Between 1997 and 2007, Queensland Firebirds represented Netball Queensland in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. 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. Between 2005 and 2009, Vicki Wilson, a former Australia netball international, served as Firebirds head coach. In 2006 Firebirds reached their first play-off series, losing 58–56 in the semi-finals to Melbourne Phoenix.

#### Regular season statistics

| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
| 1997 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |

### ANZ Championship

Between 2008 and 2016, Firebirds played in the ANZ Championship. In 2009, Roselee Jencke was appointed head coach. 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. Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz and Clare McMeniman formed the nucleus of the Firebirds squad and featured in all three Championship winning squads.

#### Regular season statistics

| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
| 2008 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1st | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Premierships Runners Up

### Suncorp Super Netball

Since 2017, Firebirds have played in Suncorp Super Netball. They have only participated in one year of finals, being knocked out in the minor semi-final of 2018.

#### Regular season statistics

| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
| 2017 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1st | 14 | 0 | 0 |

## Grand finals
### ANZ Championship

| Season | Winners | Score | Runners Up | Venue |
| 2011 | Queensland Firebirds | 57–44 | Northern Mystics | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
| 2013 | Adelaide Thunderbirds | 50–52 | Queensland Firebirds | Adelaide Entertainment Centre |
| 2014 | Melbourne Vixens | 53–55 | Queensland Firebirds | Hisense Arena |
| 2015 | Queensland Firebirds | 57–56 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |
| 2016 | Queensland Firebirds | 69–67 | New South Wales Swifts | Brisbane Entertainment Centre |

## Home venues

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.
| | Years |
| Chandler Arena | 1997–2008 |
| Brisbane Entertainment Centre | 2008–2018 |
| Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre | 2005, 2008–2017 |
| Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre | 2008–2017 |
| Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre | 2018 |
| Queensland State Netball Centre | 2019– |

## Notable players
### Internationals
#### Australia

| Rebecca Bulley Michelle Fielke Sharon Finnan Laura Geitz Melanie Groves Alexandra Hodge | Demelza McCloud Clare McMeniman Natalie Medhurst Joanne Morgan Caitlyn Nevins Lauren Nourse | Chelsea Pitman Kim Ravaillion Gabi Simpson Amy Steel Gretel Tippett Vicki Wilson | Verity Simmons Steph Wood |

#### Australia Fast5

* Karyn Bailey
* Carla Dziwoki
* Kate Shimmin
* Amorette Wild

#### England

* Tamsin Greenway
* Chelsea Pitman
* Kate Shimmin
* Eboni Usoro-Brown

#### Jamaica

* Romelda Aiken

#### New Zealand

* Ameliaranne Ekenasio

#### South Africa

* Erin Burger
* Ine-Mari Venter
* Lenize Potgieter

#### Fiji

* Simone Nalatu

#### Papua New Guinea

* Maleta Roberts

### Captains

| | Years |
| Carla Dziwoki | 2005 |
| Melanie McKenzie | 2005 |
| Peta Stephens | 2006–2009 |
| Lauren Nourse | 2010–2012 |
| Laura Geitz | 2012–2016 |
| Gabi Simpson | 2017– 2021 |
| Kim Ravaillion | 2022–2024 |

## Head coaches

| Coach | Years |
| Patti Farrell | 1997–1999 |
| Sue Hawkins | 1999–2003 |
| Brenda Scherian | 2004–2005 |
| Vicki Wilson | 2005–2009 |
| Roselee Jencke | 2009–2020 |
| Megan Anderson | 2020–2022 |
| Rebecca Bulley | 2022–2024 |

## Main sponsors

| Sponsors | Seasons |
| Firestone | c. 1997–1999 |
| Mission Foods | 2010–2015 |
| Lorna Jane | 2016– |

## Queensland Sapphires

Queensland Sapphires are the reserve team of Queensland Firebirds.

## Premierships

* ANZ Championship
** Winners: 2011, 2015, 2016
** Runners Up: 2013, 2014