Queensland Firebirds Appoint Paula Stuart as Assistant Coach for 2025 Season

The Queensland Firebirds have appointed Paula Stuart as assistant coach for the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season. Stuart is an experienced coach, having recently led the TAE Aerospace Ipswich Jets to a title in the HART Premier League, losing only one match throughout the season. She also has extensive experience in Queensland’s state league and has previously directed the Queensland University of Technology’s High-Performance Program.

Stuart’s international coaching background includes leading Tonga’s Under-21 team and the Samoa National Team. She will guide Samoa in the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar after a successful run in the Oceania Qualifiers, where her team won all five matches.

Expressing her enthusiasm about the new role, Stuart stated, “I am deeply honoured to have been given the opportunity to expand my coaching knowledge and work alongside Kiri and the other highly skilled staff members. This experience allows me to not only contribute my expertise but also continue learning from such a talented team.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In addition to Stuart’s appointment, Brynley Abad returns as the Firebirds’ Head of Strength and Conditioning, having previously worked with the team from 2013 to 2016 and again from 2020 to 2023. These staffing changes come after a significant reshuffle last season, which saw the departure of key personnel and the introduction of new roles to strengthen the team’s performance.

With these changes, the Firebirds are positioning themselves for a competitive 2025 season, focusing on building a strong coaching foundation to support their players.

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