City West Falcons and Gisborne gun Zoe Davies is headed to England to continue her netball career.
The championship defender, who has been a training partner for the Collingwood Super Netball side the past two seasons, has signed with the Leeds Rhinos for the 2024 Netball Super League season.
The 26-year-old, who can play at goal defence and wing defence will test herself in the Netball Super League for the first time, joining up with former Collingwood team mate Geva Mentor at the Rhinos.
Davies played three games for the Magpies in 2022 as an injury replacement player.
She has been a star for the Falcons in the Victorian Netball League, having won three championships and two grand final best on court medals.
This season she has also been playing for Gisborne in the Bendigo Netball League. She will finish the season with the Bulldogs before heading overseas.
Davies said she’s so excited for the opportunity with the Rhinos.
“I have heard great things and it will be fantastic to get to work with Geva again too,” she said.
“I’ve watched some of the Netball Super League back home and the Roses too so it will be good to experience a new competition and style of play.
“I am normally recorded as a speedy defender and I definitely bring a lot of enthusiasm and I am big on hard work and the family culture.
“I love a team that plays for the team and not individually so for me it’s bringing in that culture of everyone wanting to be there for each other and working as hard as we can. I can’t wait to get over there and to begin my journey with the Rhinos”
Rhinos netball director Liana Leota said the thing that excited her the most about Davies was her tenacious work ethic and energy.
“She played in front of Geva at Collingwood as a training partner,” she said. “She’s rangy, deceiving – she can work the one v one but also Come forth and block shots. She can pretty much do everything.
“You can see the energy she creates on court, but when you meet her in person she has an awesome energy and aura about her.
“I am looking forward to her getting over to the UK and getting stuck in.”
Former Falcon Jacqui Newton, who was part of Collingwood’s team the part two years, is also needed to the United Kingdom, having signed with Cardiff Dragons.
Tara Murray
