Stower a star rookie
NETBALL: With the 2022 Super Netball season passing the halfway mark recently News Limited journalist Erin Smith has run the rule over the promising batch of rookie stars.
Toowoomba junior Mia Stower (pictured) stands alongside a number of her Queensland Firebirds teammates in the Top 17 Rookie list.
Firebirds 23-year-old defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran has been a standout rookie so far this season helping the Queensland side pull off some vital wins.
Bakewell-Doran, who came up the ranks from the Sapphire Series, has matched it with some of the best shooters in the world including Fever’s Jhaniele Fowler.
Lightning’s shooter Reilly Batcheldor has become a super shot expert, earning plenty of court time despite sharing the circle with Diamond shooters Cara Koenen and Steph Wood.
Vixens have a stacked midcourt, including Liz Watson and Kate Moloney, but rising star Hannah Mundy has endeavoured to make the most of time on court, proving she is more than capable to fill their shoes when needed.
MIA STOWER
After being a training partner and member of the extended squad since 2020, Mia Stower has earned her first Super Netball contract with the Firebirds. Stower, 21, is a promising goal attack, who finetuned her skills with the Brisbane North Cougars in the Hart Sapphire Series – winning back to back premierships. With the likes of Gretel Bueta on her team Stower has had limited court time this season. She has scored seven goals, shooting at 70 per cent and four super shots (57 per cent).
TOP ROOKIES: Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Rahni Samason, Hannah Mundy, Tayla Fraser, Teigan O’Shannassy, Kelly Singleton, Reilley Batcheldor, Annie Miller, Matilda McDonell, Amy Sligar, Maggie Lind, Tayla Williams, Tippah Dwan, Latanya Wilson, Ruth Aryang, Zoe Cransberg