An impressive mix of emerging talent and readymade experience headline the announcement of Bond Bull Sharks’ 2023 Hart Sapphire and Ruby State League teams.
The Sapphire team sees Abi Houston, a Queensland and National underage defender, return home to the Bull Sharks after a short stint at Ipswich Jets.
Electrifying midcourt pair Ocean Karekare and Monique Piunti also arrive from the Jets. Both have represented Queensland at underage level.
Dakota Newson’s impressive speed and agility dazzled many during her breakout 2022 Sapphire season with the Gold Coast Titans. Her hand in leading the Titans’ U18’s to a State title also impressed. A Queensland U19’s representative, Newson becomes the first ‘cross town’ Sapphire-level transfer from the Titans, something that might add a little pepper to an already spicy local rivalry when the two teams next meet.
Alannah Penny’s rise to the Sapphire team after earning ‘Bull Shark of the Year’ honours for her outstanding 2022 Bond Ruby season is a victory for pure grit. Penny, a Bond University Physiotherapy student, suffered a nasty leg injury towards the end of the Bull Sharks campaign, but the determined defender knuckled down in rehabilitation, got herself right, and trialled brilliantly.
Kaylin Van Greunan, a state and national underage squad member - and widely regarded as one of the game’s most exciting young up-and-comers - joins Bond from Darling Downs Panthers as a shooter.
Goal attack Natasha Robinson and defenders Maddie Ryan and Ella Spencer arrive to the Bull Sharks from Brisbane franchise Carina Tigers. Athletic attacker Hannah Le Sage, formerly at QUT, will also be making the trip down the M1.
The 2023 Bond Bull Sharks Ruby team announcement sees the return of four players from last season.
The Ruby team’s 2022 Most Valuable Player, Lily Phillips is back. Queensland U17 defender JoesiGisinger and Queensland U19 goalkeeper Holly Buckley return. Two-time Queensland U17 player, Elka Macaulay, will again line up in Bond’s blue and yellow.
Another two-time Queensland U17 player, defender Teyha Hyssett, joins Bond from the Titans Ruby and U16 teams. Her Titans U16 teammate, Olivia Mallard, will also wear Bull Sharks colours in 2023. Shooter Abby Boland gets her chance as a Bull Shark after earning Queensland U19s selection at theState Titles earlier this year.
Versatile midcourter Molly Parry arrives from Darling Downs Panthers and talented ACT U19 goal attack Chloe Arnold will join Bond from Canberra.
Experienced goal-keeper Harriet Nicholson, another former Darling Downs Panther, rounds out the Ruby team list.
Training partners and development players will be announced in coming weeks.
SAPPHIRE TEAM PROFILES
KAYLIN VAN GREUNAN - GS
Former club: Darling Downs Panthers
Association: Highfields and Districts Netball Association (Toowoomba)
Considered one of Australian netball’s brightest up-and-comers, Van Greunan is an outstanding shooting talent out of Toowoomba. She first represented Queensland U17s as a 15-year-old and was part of the Queensland Under 17’s team that won bronze at the National Netball Championships earlier this year. Also a national-levelUnder 17 squad member, Van Greunan impressed at the recent Australian team camp held at the AIS, so much so was invited into the Australian Netball Elite Program by Netball Australia. With tall, natural shooters always at a premium, Van Greunan’s impressive size, calmness and unerring accuracy make her something of a marquee signing.
DAKOTA NEWSON – WA/C
Former club: Gold Coast Titans
Association: Hinterland District Netball Association (Gold Coast)
A product of Palm Beach-Currumbin High School’s highly regarded Netball Excellence program, Newson was promoted to the Gold Coast Titans Sapphire squad last season when Titans’ first choice WA Jordan Ngarimu announced she was expecting a baby. Newson took her opportunity and bolted, dazzling onlookers with her impressive agility, fitness and speed. Newson was part of the bronze-winning Queensland U17 team at the National Netball Championships. She also captained the Gold Coast Titans U18 team to a State title earlier this year. Her polished performance saw her selected in the Queensland U19 squad. With her confidence high and with an elite State League netball season under her belt, Newson will be one to watch.
ABIGAIL HOUSTON – GD/GK
Former club: Bond Bull Sharks/Ipswich Jets
Association: South Coast Netball Association (Gold Coast)
Dare we refer to Abi Houston as a homecoming (defensive) queen? A biomedical student when not plying a trade as a tough, tenacious and smart circle defender, Houston’s is a welcome return to the franchise where she first experienced elite level netball. A Queensland and Australian representative at U17 and U19 levels, she also earned a spot as a training partner with the talent-stacked 2021 Queensland Sapphires squad - no mean feat when you consider the four defenders selected ahead of her have since been contracted to Suncorp Super Netball franchises.
ALANNAH PENNY - WD
Former club: Bond Bull Sharks (Ruby)
Association: South Barwon Football Netball Club (Victoria)
Alannah Penny is a Bond University physiotherapy student, so she’ll have no excuse for being late to training! As determined as they come, Penny’s selection is a significant reward for tenacity and hard work. Known for her physical presence, discipline, strength and fitness, Penny was the Bond Ruby side’s Bull Shark of the Year in 2022 even with her season ending early thanks to a significant leg injury. Coming off a limited preparation Penny trialled brilliantly from all reports, and her tough and competitive edge is sure to make life hard for opponents.
OCEAN KAREKARE – C/WA
Former club: Ipswich Jets
Association: Hinterland District Netball Association (Gold Coast)
Karakare is a Queensland U19 representative player. She’s a hard-working midcourter who started her netball journey on the Gold Coast before immersing herself in Ipswich Jets’ talent development program. She was part of the Queensland Under 17 team that won bronze at the National Netball Championships earlier this year and was also selected in the Under 17 Australian team. Supremely fit, fast and agile, her work alongside similarly spectacular midcourter Dakota Newson is a tantalising prospect.
MONIQUE PIUNTI – C/WA
Former club: Ipswich Jets
Association: Metropolitan Districts Netball Association (Brisbane)
Monique Piunti is a highly skilled and lightning quick midcourter who played her junior representative netball at Carina Tigers before taking her chance at renowned talent nursery, Brisbane North Cougars. She played at Ipswich Jets last season. Another player to emerge out of the Queensland underage pathways program, Piunti’s precision and creativity at the circle edge will be exciting to watch.
HANNAH LE SAGE – GA/GS
Former club: QUT
Association: Underwood Park Netball Association (south Brisbane)
For many years Hannah Le Sage juggled her netballing commitments with life as a national level beach volleyballer. Volleyball’s loss becomes the Bond Bull Sharks’ gain with the athletic shooting option sure to provide her share of headaches for opposition defenders. Le Sage is a Queensland U17 and U19 representative.
NATASHA ROBINSON - GA
Former club: Carina Tigers
Association: Townsville City Netball Association (FNQ)
From her birthplace in Ghana to a childhood in Townsville and now to the Gold Coast and a Bull Sharks berth for this powerful and energetic goal attack. She cut her netballing teeth in FNQ, but the distances she had to travel to play meant Robinson only made occasional association-level representative appearances during her formative years before finding a home at Carina Tigers and now at Bond. Her relatively late arrival to the elite level of the sport should serve as inspiration to plenty of others.
ELLA SPENCER – GD/GK
Former club: Carina Tigers
Association: Ellinbank and District Netball Association (Victoria)
A former Victorian, Spencer is a strong and determined defender who will enjoy working in defensive combination with fellow Victorian, Alannah Penny. Spencer played out her first full Sapphire season in 2022. Another ex-Tiger who will now call Bond home, she’ll be integral on the last line for the Bull Sharks.
MADDIE RYAN - GD/GK
Former club: Carina Tigers
Association: Metropolitan Districts Netball Association (Brisbane)
A relentless defender capable of proving a real nuisance to her opponents, Ryan is known for her ability to create plenty of turnover ball at the most crucial moments. She played out her first full Sapphire season for the Tigers last year having been voted the Tiger’s Ruby side’s Most Valuable Player in 2021.
RUBY TEAM PROFILES
ABBY BOLAND - GS
Former club: Gold Coast Titans (training partner)
Association: Highfields and Districts Netball Association (junior); Hinterland District Netball Association (senior) (Toowoomba/Gold Coast)
The 6’1” shooter was sensational for the Gold Coast Titans U18’s during their winning campaign at the State Titles. She’s also a Queensland U19 squad member.
ELKA MACAULAY – GA
Former club: Bond Bull Sharks
Association: Northern Gold Coast Netball Association (Gold Coast)
A second year Queensland U17 representative who performed strongly in her debut Ruby season for the Bull Sharks last year.
CHLOE ARNOLD – GA
Former club: ACT U19
Association: Canberra Netball Association (ACT)
An assertive and athletic GA who has represented ACT at U17 and U19 levels.
OLIVIA MALLARD - C
Former Club: Gold Coast Titans U16
Association: Southport Carrara Netball Association (junior); Hinterland District Netball Association (senior) (Gold Coast)
A livewire midcourter who enjoyed an exceptional State Titles with the Gold Coast Titans U16s. Also a Queensland U17 squad member.
LILY PHILLIPS – C/WA/WD
Former Club: Bond Bull Sharks
Association: Southport Carrara Netball Association (Gold Coast)
Crafty, strong circle feeder who returns to the Bull Sharks fold after being the Ruby side’s Most Valuable Player in 2022.
MOLLY PARRY – WA/WD
Former Club: Darling Downs Panthers
Association: Downey Park (Brisbane)
A lively WA who can pinch hit in defence, Parry impressed with Darling Downs Panthers last season.
JOESI GISINGER – WD/GD
Former Club: Bond Bull Sharks
Association: Southport Carrara Netball Association (Gold Coast)
A tough, determined defensive option who never takes a backward step. A strong State Titles as a Bull Shark earned her a place in the Queensland U17 squad.
HOLLY BUCKLEY – GK/GD
Former Club: Bond Bull Sharks (training partner)
Association: Southport Carrara Netball Association (Gold Coast)
A hard-working and extremely strong GK who won a spot in the Queensland U19 squad earlier this year.
TEHYA HYSSETT – GD/GK
Former Club: Gold Coast Titans
Association: Northern Gold Coast Netball Association (Gold Coast)
Tall, strong and ruthlessly determined, Hyssett was a standout performer for the Titans in her first Ruby year. Recently named for a second time in the Queensland U17 squad.
HARRIET NICHOLSON - GD
Former Club: Darling Downs Panthers
Association: Warwick Netball Association (Southern Downs)
An athletic, experienced defender, Nicholson is renowned for her strong one –on-one work and rebounding ability. She’s also a classically training violinist and music teacher.