GIANTS young guns Monika ‘Otai and Hope White have been named in the 2024 21U Australian squad.
Consisting of the best young talent from across the country, ‘Otai and White both feature in the 24-player squad selected as preparations commence for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
To be led and developed by 21U National Head Coach, Cathy Fellows, the squad was selected by a coaching panel including Fellows, Netball Australia’s Chair of Selectors, Michelle Wilkins, and Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach Anita Keelan.
Athletes were assessed for squad selection for performances within their state elite training environments, as well at this year’s Super Netball Reserves and National Netball Championships.
'Otai and White’s selections continue a super successful 12 months for the pair, with ‘Otai captaining Australia to gold in their debut at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Tobago last year, while earlier this year White’s strong potential as a star of the future was acknowledged with selection as a recipient of the 2024 Commonwealth Games New South Wales Athlete Grant Program.
As part of their inclusion in the National 19U squad, White, who is a current GIANTS Netball Academy member, and ‘Otai, who was elevated to a GIANTS training partner ahead of the 2024 Suncorp Super Netball season, will now take part in the inaugural Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour next month.
Set to take place at Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji from August 19-23, the tour will feature Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and Singapore as they battle it out in match play to provide valuable competition experience ahead of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
GIANTS Netball head coach, Julie Fitzgerald said ‘Otai and White’s selection amongst the nation’s best was well deserved.
“It’s exciting to see both Monika and Hope rewarded for their outstanding talent to represent Australia and compete against other world-class teens,” Fitzgerald said.
“They are two youngsters with enormous potential and it’s been fantastic to watch their development through the GIANTS Academy, as well as seeing Monika elevated to become a training partner for the recent Super Netball season.
“We wish them both the best of luck in Fiji as they aim to impress selectors for the 2025 World Youth Cup next year.”
The 24-player squad will first complete a three-day training camp in Sydney next month before travelling to Fiji for the tour.
2024 Australian 21/U Squad Athletes:
Ruth Aryang – Western Australia
Nicola Barge – New South Wales
Sophie Casey – South Australia
Georgie Cleaver – Western Australia
Harriet Gall – Victoria
Lily Graham – Victoria
Kayla Graham – South Australia
Scarlet Jauncey – Western Australia
Nevaeh Matenga – New South Wales
Paige O'Neill – Tasmania
Monika ‘Otai – New South Wales
Tabitha Packer – South Australia
Lillyana Rennie – Queensland
Charisse Rond – Western Australia
Frederika Schneideman – New South Wales
Charlotte Sexton – Victoria
Ruby Shannon – Victoria
Elsa Sif Sandholt – Queensland
Lucy Voyvodic – South Australia
Charlotte Walker – Tasmania
Hope White – New South Wales
Grace Whyte – New South Wales
Clara Wigley – Western Australia
Olivia Wilkinson – Western Australia
