Latest news with #MaryCholhok
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Kiri Wills gets coaching contract extension in Australian league
Firebirds head coach Kiri Wills watches on during a warm up. Photo: Mark Kolbe Photography / Getty Images The Queensland Firebirds have extended Kiri Wills' contract through to the end of the 2027 Australian domestic competition, building on the New Zealand coach's original two-year term. Wills, who joined the Firebirds at the end of last year, became just the second New Zealand head coach in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition, when she was appointed on a two-year deal. Current Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua was the first Kiwi to coach in the most competitive league in the world. Dame Noeline coached the Sunshine Coast Lightning for three years, leading them to two titles in 2017 and 2018. After seven seasons as head coach of the Stars in the ANZ Premiership, Wills felt she had reached a ceiling in New Zealand. Her first season has been challenging, with the Firebirds sitting at the bottom of the 2025 ladder with four rounds left. The 2.01m tall Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok was a prized signing for the club but has taken a while to adapt in her first season in the league. The club said the decision to extend Wills' contract underscored the club's commitment to fostering stability and sustaining the transformative systems Wills had implemented since her appointment. Wills came in after a tumultuous 2024 season for the Firebirds on and off the court. The Firebirds let go of its coach mid-campaign, amid reports of player unrest. Netball Australia launched an investigation into the Queensland Firebirds after Remi Kamo, who now ironically plays for the Stars, complained that there was a toxic culture at the club. In March this year the national body said an independent investigator concluded that there were no breaches of the Netball Australia code of conduct and member protection policy by Netball Queensland and its management. The club said foundational progress was critical to long-term success. "Kiri has instilled structures and an environment that aligns with our vision for sustained excellence," Netball Queensland chief executive Kate Davies said. "We recognize that meaningful change requires time, and this extension ensures continuity as we accelerate toward our goals. Kiri's approach has redefined our identity. This decision is a vote of trust in her strategy and our collective future." Acknowledging on-court results haven't been what she would have wanted, Wills firmly believes that the team is progressing on her ambitions of returning to the top of the SSN in years ahead. "We're not happy with where we sit on the table, but we've laid a strong foundation," Wills said. "Our staff and players are fully invested in this vision, and we're determined to finish 2025 with pride - particularly in our final three home games." The decision to extend Wills' tenure has been welcomed by Firebirds leaders Hulita Veve and Ruby Bakewell-Doran, who praised Wills' impact on the team's culture. "Kiri has brought so much confidence into this group. She's had our back since the day she arrived," co-captain Veve said. "Kiri's knowledge of the game is outstanding and she knows netball back to front but my favourite thing about her is the way she's brought us together off the court. That connection piece is something she thrives on. Bakewell-Doran said Wills impact on the club in the past six months had been significant. "I can't wait to see what she's able to create with more time under her belt. Her vision, passion and wisdom is next to none and I feel honoured to have her leading us," Bakewell-Doran said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Super Netball, round 6 news, scores: Jok stars in Mavericks' win over Firebirds
In a Super Netball match that featured a good old fashioned shootout, the Melbourne Mavericks banked just their second win of the season, by seven points against the Queensland Firebirds. Both teams featured towering shooters and defenders working overtime to make a dent in their volumes. It was the Mavericks who had the best of the deal, with a pumped up Shimona Jok rock solid under the post with perfect stats of 61/61 in an MVP performance. Goal keeper Liv Lewis was also having her best game of the season showing incredible athleticism to force four blocked shots against opponent Mary Cholhok. Despite giving away a 17 centimetre height difference, Lewis' aerial display restricted passes into Cholhok and her confidence to go to the post. Her volume of just 33/44, despite a supportive cameo from Emily Moore, just wasn't enough to threaten Mavericks on the scoreboard. After watching from the sidelines last week with an ankle injury, Mavericks captain Amy Parmenter made a spectacular return to the game. Her physicality forced numerous errors by the Firebirds as she finished with two gains and four deflections. A heavy head collision between Firebird Ruby Bakewell-Doran and Maverick Sasha Glasgow in the third quarter saw them both leave the court. Both were forced to temporarily leave the court under the league's concussion protocols, with Bakewell-Doran visibly distressed on the sidelines. Earlier this week, Firebirds goal attack Tippah Dwan decided to step away from the game to continue rehabbing her knee. Dwan's departure presents a prime opportunity for Emily Moore to show why she deserves a full 60-minutes which, coach Kiri Wills said is something she would like to see from Moore. While she didn't quite hit those minutes today, her contribution of 17/22 is heading in the right direction. Samoan goal attack Abigail Latu-Meafou has been filling the vacant goal attack role for the Firebirds over the last two rounds. Latu-Meafou's connection with Cholhok is on point and her efforts at post also helped the Firebirds make a comeback attempt, however her nine from ten including four supershots were not enough. MISSING MAVS Today's match marks 20 outings for the Melbourne Mavericks. Yet since their inception 18 months ago, the team has not once taken the court with their full 10 contracted athletes. In 2024 Sasha Glasgow and Lauren Parkinson (nee Moore) missed the full season. So far in 2025 Parkinson is yet to make her Mavericks debut, and English international Eleanor Cardwell is unlikely to return to play until Round 12, as she rehabs from knee surgery. WILL THEY SWAP DWAN FOR A DIAMOND? Mere hours before the news dropped that Dwan was taking a break, former Firebird and Diamond's goal attack Gretel Bueta posted a netball training session to social media. The Liz Ellis Diamond winner hasn't played netball in well over two years, after having stepped away to expand her family with husband Nico. And while it could be a great coincidence and pure speculation that she is making a return to the game, the timing could be the saving grace for the Firebirds.
