Years active 1997–present Main sponsor Lorna Jane Asst coach Jenny Brazel | Head coach Roselee Jencke Founded 1997 | |
 | ||
Main venue Brisbane Convention Centre (4,000)Gold Coast Convention Centre (5,269) | ||
Queensland firebirds 2015 history making grand final victory
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that competes in the Suncorp Super Netball league. The team previously competed in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy (CBT), previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested from 1997–2007. After the retirement of the CBT and ANZ Championship, the Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to transfer to the Super Netball league.
Contents
- Queensland firebirds 2015 history making grand final victory
- History
- Notable former players
- Commonwealth Bank Trophy
- ANZ Championship
- Australian Conference
- References
The Firebirds are currently coached by Roselee Jencke, who was appointed in 2010 replacing Vicki Wilson, and are captained by wing defender Gabi Simpson. When the Firebirds were playing in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy the team was based at the Chandler Arena. Home games in the ANZ Championship were usually played at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre; games have also been held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. In the current league Suncorp Super Netball home games are played at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Boondall, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Southbank and Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. The team colours are purple, white and orange.
History
The Queensland Firebirds are one of the founding teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, which they played their first season in 1997. The league ran from 1997–2007. In their first nine years of the league, Queensland finished no higher than sixth place. For the 2006 season, former Firebirds player Vicki Wilson was appointed as heach coach for the team. Her appointment saw a sudden improvement in the team's standing in the league, with the Firebirds finishing 4th during Wilson's inaugural coaching year, and 5th in 2007.
After 2007, the Commonwealth Bank Trophy was retired and replaced by a new trans-Tasman netball league, the ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were one of five Australian franchises to join the new league. For the new competition, the Firebirds changed their strip from maroon to purple and orange. They also secured the signing of rising Jamaican shooting star Romelda Aiken. In their first three years competing in the ANZ Championship, the Firebirds finished fifth, narrowly missing out on the finals on each occasion. Wilson was replaced after the 2009 season by Roselee Jencke.
During the 2011 ANZ Championship Season, the Queensland Firebirds went through the regular season undefeated, with 13 wins. Winning their Major Semi Final against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, the Firebirds became the first team to win 14 games straight. Having won this game, the Firebirds went straight through to the 2011 ANZ Championship Grand Final to play the Northern Mystics. The Queensland Firebirds again prevailed, becoming the first ANZ Championship side to not drop a game in the course of the regular season and the finals series.