Head Coach of Bond University's Sapphire netball squad, Bec Stower, has steered Queensland's U17 squad to an emphatic Australian Netball Championships victory.
The team finished the weeklong Darwin tournament undefeated when they downed arch-rival NSW 42-40 in a gripping final.
The success had a distinct Bull Sharks flavour.
In addition to Stower’s involvement, Bond Bull Sharks Specialist Coach, Amanda Kelly, was U17s Assistant Coach and powerful Bond Ruby defender Tehya Hyssett was a member of the successful squad.
It's just the third time Queensland U17s have claimed the title since the inception of the Australian Netball Championships nearly 40 years ago.
Stower, who has been actively involved with Queensland underage pathways netball for several years, said the gold medal finish was the perfect way to set up an important week for her at Bond.
"I couldn't be prouder of the Queensland girls,” she said.
"To get through a super intense tournament of that standard without dropping a single game is a team achievement I'll always cherish," she said.
"And it certainly makes turning up to work at Bond ahead of Round One of the Sapphire Series pretty easy!"
Bond Bull Sharks Sapphire and Ruby teams will play Queensland netball powerhouse Brisbane North Cougars next Saturday in a pair of mouth-watering first-up fixtures at Brisbane's Nissan Arena.
The Sapphire game marks Bond's return to the highest level of the sport in Queensland after a year out of the competition.
"Both Bull Sharks squads have put in exceptional pre-seasons, and I can't wait to watch them evolve across the year,” Stower said.
“Having our Sapphires back at the pointy end of elite netball in Queensland is really important for Bond and for the development of the game in south-east Queensland. The girls understand the significance of the moment, they’re genuinely excited about it, and they’ll leave absolutely nothing in the tank.”
Queensland U19s finished their extremely close-fought tournament in fifth place with an emphatic win over Tasmania.
Queensland U19 missed a top-four berth only on countback after three teams finished level on six wins from nine games.
Exciting Bull Sharks midcourter Dakota Newson performed strongly all week.
Bond's emerging goal shooting star, Kaylin van Greunan, finished the U19s competition with more goals than any other player and shot at an extraordinary 90 percent accuracy rate.
This weekend's games
Hart Ruby Series
Brisbane North Cougars v Bond Bull Sharks
Nissan Arena
5pm
Hart Sapphire Series
Brisbane North Cougars v Bond Bull Sharks
Nissan Arena
7pm