Tara Murray
New Suncorp Super Netball team, the Mavericks, have added a City West Falcons flavour to their squad.
The Mavericks last week named their first three training partners, all from the Falcons line up.
New Falcons shooter Shimona Jok was the first training partner announced.
Jok, nee Nelson, joined the Falcons after not being awarded a Super Netball contract at the end of last season, having spent the past few seasons at the Collingwood Magpies.
She has been dominant shooter for the Magpies, who can shoot at a large volume.
The Mavericks announced on social media that Jok would be joining the Mavericks, with her new husband Buay Jok breaking the news.
“Shimona is a Maverick as she will do anything to help the team and she expects the best of herself and she can catch almost any ball that you throw at her,” Buay said.
Fellow shooter Uneeq Palavi also joins the Mavericks as a training partner. Palavi was one of the breakout stars at last year’s World Cup. She previously spent time with Collingwood as part of its Australian Netball League team and played with Collingwood in last season’s pre-season tournament, the Girls Team Cup.
Her Tongan teammate Cat Tuitvaiti announced her signing with the two forming a dangerous combination at the world cup.
“I’ve made no secret that I’m a huge fan of this girl, anyone that watched the netball world cup would have seen how damaging and accurate she was,” she said.
“She sat pretty high in the states for shooters at the netball world cup which is a hard ladder to climb and she got here
“She offers something a little bit different to what is on offer in Australia at the moment. I think she’s definitely someone to watch out for.”
Midcourter Montana Holmes has also been named as a training partner.
Holmes had been a training partner with Collingwood’s side the past two years. She was named best on court in last year’s Victorian Netball League championship grand final.
Mavericks assistant coach Nicole Richardson announced her signing. Richardson has seen her work at both the Falcons and Magpies.
“Montana, she’s a Maverick as she is strong willed, independent, daring on a netball court and not afraid to take a risk.
“She’s also left handed and she’ll run through a brick wall for you.”
The trio join former Falcon midcourter Molly Jovic, who is part of the full squad, at the Mavericks.
