Stoic Stower joins mum at Bull Sharks

Bond University Bull Sharks have pulled off a selection coup by naming 2023 Queensland Firebird Mia Stower in their 2024 squad.

Although the presence of Stower’s mother, Bec, as Bond’s Head Coach means Mia’s arrival at the Bull Sharks is less surprising than it ordinarily would be, her arrival is no less exciting.

Her injection into a goal circle including last year's captain, Hannah le Sage, and 2023 MVP - and newly enrolled Bachelor of Health Sciences student - Kaylin van Greunen, will offer an enviable array of attacking options, and with the Hart Sapphire Series introducing the two-point ‘super shot’ into next year’s competition, Stower’s renowned accuracy from long range arrives at the perfect time.

Stower leaves the Firebirds after a three-year stint that saw her serve apprenticeships under two of the game’s goal-circle greats, Gretel Bueta and Romelda Aitken-George.

Although the rise of emerging talents Donnell Wallam and Emily Moore and struggles with a foot injury starved her of consistent opportunities more recently, she still managed twenty-three appearances in the coveted purple dress and always impressed with her explosive speed, court smarts, agility, and leadership.

Missing a 2024 Super Netball contract was hugely disappointing, but Stower is steadfastly determined to claw her way back into the big show.

“Obviously 2023 was a really tough year for me but I'm still young, and I've got plenty of time,” she says.

“I’ve played in the Sapphire series before and it's a great competition.

“I'm just really excited just for a fresh start, and to really put my energy into a rebuilding year as I try to get back to where I want to be.”

Which, of course, means being put through her paces by her mother. 

“Mum started coaching me from the moment I could walk,” she says. “I wouldn't have gotten to where I’ve been without her.

“She was always pretty tough. I think because I was her daughter, I couldn't get away with anything. I never got a sick day or anything like that! But I think the best part about being coached by mum was that she didn't treat me differently from anyone else.”

After months of pondering her sporting future and with uncertainty amplified by an ugly and protracted player pay dispute, Stower says she’s looking forward to settling into a much more normal rhythm as a Bull Shark.

“[The pay dispute] was extremely hard to work through. All the not knowing. If you were getting a contract, if you weren't. When you were actually going to get paid. You couldn't really live properly because you couldn't just spend how you would normally spend. I found a job straight away, so I was fortunate. Others weren’t so lucky.”

What will also be welcome is the opportunity to stay connected to her other sporting passion - basketball.

Stower has always shown promise as a basketballer – she’s played for the Toowoomba Mountaineers in the Queensland State League - and she’s looking forward to spreading her sporting talents over a wider base.

“The transition between the two games is a lot easier than you'd think it would be. I've been playing basketball since I was a kid,” she says.

“I think basketball has always made me better and stronger for netball.”

Bec Stower couldn’t be happier to see her daughter join the Bull Sharks’ squad, especially after such a tumultuous year.

“Mia has lived and breathed netball for a very long time, she worked so hard, travelled so many kilometres, and shown so much resilience. She has always been a team first player, for way longer than it’s been fashionable I might add! She has sat behind Gretel and watched and learned, waiting for her opportunity. Firebirds was her home and where she wanted to be, so to be told she was no longer required was heartbreaking for her, and very hard for me to watch. She was basically awarded the ‘best human award’ at the Firebirds in 2022, and was named in the leadership team in 2023, so she was primed and ready to make her mark on Super Netball in 2024. But sport can be so brutal. It just wasn't meant to be.”

She says Mia’s arrival at Bond played out very differently to how people might assume.

"To be honest I didn't even know if she would play netball anymore. That’s how upset she was [after the Firebirds delisted her]. But I gave her space to self-reflect and work out what was important to her. She decided that she just wanted to be close to family to help get her mojo and love for the game back.”

Being proximate to family was one thing, but her final playing destination was still far from certain.

“I assumed Mia would head back to Brisbane North Cougars for the 2024 season even though I did jokingly pull the ‘but I gave birth to you!’ card!” she says.

“Mia previously found her netballing home at Cougars and I credit her ability to take the next step to the Firebirds to Liz White and Amanda Vanderwal, her coaches there.”

But in the end Mia chose Bond. And just like her daughter, Bec the coach - as well as Bec the mum - sees tremendous upside for all involved.

“Since Mia was very young, she has always had this really special ability to lift others around her,” she says.

“She leads by example with work ethic and intensity, and this will be a really great opportunity for our players to get out of their comfort zones and push themselves physically and mentally beyond their own expectations.

“So, it's a win-win for me. I get my daughter back and I get a player with Super Netball experience to bolster our playing roster who the players will be able to learn from.”

Final Bond University Bull Sharks Ruby, Sapphire and Development squads will be announced shortly.