Wood’s chop is fuel for her fire
GET better, not bitter — since making that decision, there has been no stopping Sunshine Coast Lightning star Steph Wood, who is intent on ending the Queensland Firebirds’ season ( the club that rejected her) in Sunday’s Super Netball knockout semi- final at Boondall.
A proud Brisbane girl, Wood had dreams of playing for the Firebirds, but the closest she got was as a replacement in Queensland’s 2012 squad.
She didn’t receive any court time and wasn’t offered a 2013 contract. Instead she had to settle for a spot in the Firebirds’ Australian Netball League feeder team, Queensland Fusion.
Her break finally came in 2015 when she left Brisbane to join the NSW Swifts. Two good seasons with the Swifts led to her signing with Lightning last year.
She not only played a pivotal role in the new club’s championship win, but later broke into the Diamonds squad.
“I wouldn’t change anything,” goal attack Wood said.
“If I had been selected in the Firebirds team earlier I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in now and I probably wouldn’t be the player I am.
“If you’d asked me a few years ago, I would have been resentful, but now I’m thankful because I’m in the position I’m in because of the rejection that I had. It drove me.”
Wood said it wasn’t difficult to realise what needed to change in order for her to become an elite player.
“Hard work — I wasn’t a hardworking player at all, which is why they ( Firebirds) didn’t select me,” she said.
“I went away, got my opportunity with the Swifts and then I was able to come back to play where I’d done most of my under- age netball because the association I played in was in the Sunny Coast region even though I’m from Brisbane.
“To be the first person selected for the Lightning and sign a contract was a dream come true.”