Bull Sharks duo Kirra Tappenden and Sasha May Flegler are hoping for a long weekend call from the Australian selectors after dominating the National Netball Championships in Sydney last week.
The Australian U19s squad will be selected from the tournament.
Tappenden, a Bond University Bachelor of Psychology student and Queensland Firebirds training partner, was deadly in attack shooting 108 of her 119 attempts on goal.
Flegler, also a Firebirds training partner, was a workhouse in the midcourt in both attack and defence.
Their Queensland star-studded 19U side were undefeated and warm favourites heading into a semi-final against arch-rival NSW, but the Blues got the better of them to claim a heart stopping one-goal win.
Still, Queensland showed significant grit to overwhelm Western Australia in the 3 v 4 Grand Final and walked away with a well-earned Bronze.
Bond Bull Sharks Hart Premier Netball League coach , Bec Stower, said her star duo were outstanding in their second outing as Queensland 19U representatives.
“Kirra had a brilliant Nationals,” Stower said. “She played a huge number of minutes across the tournament and displayed excellent court craft, agility and her shooting was terrific.”
“She is a shining light in the future of Queensland netball.”
Stower was similarly effusive about Flegler’s form.
“Sasha-May had an equally impressive tournament consistently leading the team in the centre position both in attack and defence. Her statistics don’t lie. She was incredible.”
She was also quick to mention the quiet achievements of defender Tehya Hyssett.
Hyssett was an integral part of the champion 2023 Queensland 17U team but has narrowly missed Queensland selection since.
“Tehya represented Northern Territory as an import which gave her an opportunity to ply her trade on the Nationals stage,” Stower said.
“Tehya played with a fierceness and intensity that was definitely on par with her Queensland counterparts.
“She also played a large number of minutes and contributed to the Territory’s gradual improvement which culminated in a good win over Tasmania to a seventh-place finish.
Elsewhere, Bridie Stewart and Isabelle Houghton placed fifth with their young Queensland 17U team.
“Both performed solidly for a squad that was heavily focused on development,” Stower said.
Bond University Head of Netball, Kim Boland, was delighted to see Bond University players shine at the highest level.
“We are very proud of all five Bull Sharks, and we can’t wait to see them apply all they’ve learned across the upcoming Hart Premier Netball League and Greater Brisbane Netball Emerald League seasons.”