Netball: Why Stars' Australian imports made the move to the New Zealand league

The Stars' new Australian recruit says she has no regrets about taking on what she sees as the 'netball establishment' across the Tasman.

Defender Remi Kamo became the first Super Netball player to lodge an official complaint with Netball Australia last year, claiming there was a toxic culture at her Queensland Firebirds club and that it failed to support the well-being of athletes.

It was a tumultuous season for the Firebirds, who recorded just four wins from 14 games and let go of its coach mid-campaign, amid reports of player unrest.

Kamo's complaint prompted Netball Australia to launch an investigation into the Queensland Firebirds.

But last month Netball Australia said an independent investigator concluded that there were no breaches of the Netball Australia code of conduct and member protection policy by Netball Queensland and its management.

The Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA) have criticised Netball Australia for not providing a copy of the investigation report or at least a summary.

A frustrated Kamo then accused Netball Australia of being "complicit" after they declared the investigation was closed.

"It's really disappointing, not surprising unfortunately, which kind of says it all. But ANPA will continue to push for that information to be released," Kamo said.

"I'm still really proud of standing up for what I believed in and for young players coming up through that pathway, that was kind of the point to at least make them look at their processes, and be accountable for something. I think it was worth it but it's been a tough six months.

"It is quite cut-throat and I also imagine that's why I was the first ever person to make a formal complaint to Netball Australia, because they don't take lightly to it [complaints] and it pretty much means that you won't be able to get another contract there, so I can see why people don't do it.

"But it's not really how a professional sporting league should be. There should be enough transparency and safety for people to ask for change or accountability."

Brisbane-born Kamo is not technically an import player. The 31-year-old has a New Zealand connection through her father, who was born in Christchurch.

Kamo (Ngāti Mutunga) had two seasons with the Queensland Firebirds and was a nominee for Rookie of the Year at the 2023 Australian Netball Awards.

Despite having a strong season, in July last year the Firebirds decided not to extend her contract, which did not come as a big surprise to her.

The Firebirds also controversially let go of Australian Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam, who was second in the competition for goals in 2023 and 2024.

Wallam is signed on with the ANZ Premiership defending champion Northern Mystics for 2025.

Up-and-coming shooter Charlie Bell is the Stars other Australian recruit.

Bell and Kamo arrived in Auckland in early March and are flatting with Wallam.

This year's ANZ Premiership will see more Australian players than ever before, with opportunities in their own domestic league hard to come by.

"It's brilliant there are opportunities in the United Kingdom and New Zealand for people to play at that level and hopefully one day they will look at extending the Australian league and add a few more teams."

Former Stars' coach Kiri Wills, who is ironically now coaching the Firebirds, reached out to Kamo in the middle of last year.

"I had an informal chat with her and then had it in the back of my mind towards the end of last season. Even if the Firebirds had offered me another contract, I would have said no."

How do you stand out in the world's best league?

Standing at 196cm, Bell will be the equal-tallest player in the ANZ Premiership, along with Tactix shooter Ellie Bird.

While her height might make her a stand-out in the New Zealand competition, getting noticed in Australia among the tallest elite shooters in the world, is a battle.

Bell was contracted by the Sunshine Coast Lightning as a replacement player in 2023; last year she was a training partner for the same team.

With the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league placing no limits on the number of import players that can be recruited, it's an incredibly tough competition to break into.

It's even harder if you are a goal shooter - just two out of the eight franchises have Australians in the starting goal shoot position.

"It's really hard to get a spot when you've got such legends of the game like Jamaicans Romelda Aitken and Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and they're unshakeable," Bell said.

"As a young rookie player you really want to break into a team, if you can do that it's then really hard to get that starting spot but I feel like the competition's in really good hands for the next couple of years to come with heaps of young guns coming forward and I hope I'm one of those people."

When Bell did get that elusive first contract, tragedy struck when her father passed away two months into the season.

"I had wanted to play SSN my whole life and getting a chance to play in 2023 was awesome, I was loving life, I was on top of the world playing well, but when we lost Dad it was a really really hard time for me, my whole world came crashing down.

"I completely lost all motivation to train and show up to training. I kept pushing, I wanted to show up but I just found it so difficult when netball was such a massive part of our relationship. I just couldn't and I completely lost my confidence."

Bell started finding some of that confidence again last year but being a training partner had its own challenges.

"You still have to work so I was studying, I was doing two jobs, I was travelling between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane every weekend to see family and friends. I was trying to please everyone I guess but it became quite exhausting and my netball just wasn't where it needed to be and where I know it can be."

Then she was offered an opportunity with the South Auckland based Stars when new coach Temepara Bailey needed a goal shooter.

"Speaking to Temepara on the phone, both Mum and I got this immediate warm feeling and it just felt like the right timing and I thought this is what I need to do and I was definitely looking to broaden my game."

The 23-year-old knew who Bailey was from her time as coach of the Gold Coast Titans in Queensland's state league competition, which Bell used to play in.

"Her team was the only team that we could never beat and I was like 'wow that lady really knows what she's doing' and then when I found out that she wanted to sign me I was really keen to get signed by her."

Last year Bell was called in as injury cover for the Tactix for two weeks and got a little cameo out on court.

For Bell, who grew up in Brisbane, it has still been a big move.

"Losing Dad, I felt like I wanted to help look after my family and be there for them but Mum told me I needed to spread my wings and thrive, and that's what I feel like I'm doing. I love it over here, I've loved the challenges and I feel like it's already made me stronger as a person and I know Dad's really proud of me and I think I'm on the right path."

Bell said flatting with two other Australian players had definitely helped with the transition. "We are always belly laughing every single night, such a nice little taste of home."

This season Bell wants to continue to regain her confidence.

"I feel like it's three quarters of the way there. We've formed connections really well so far at the Stars. I can also bring my experience of playing the two-point shot."

Bell said part of the appeal of moving to the Stars was also getting to play with Silver Fern Maia Wilson, who will play a lot more at goal attack this year.

"I love playing with her, I lean on her for a lot for stuff and she's just an amazing support and so smart in the circle so it makes me feel more confident in my own game."

Temepara Bailey was an assistant coach at the Stars before a three year stint in Australia, where she was the inaugural coach of the Titans.

Most of the Stars' recruitment for 2025 had been done before Bailey got the job but a missing piece was a tall shooter and Bell was an obvious choice.

Of her two Australian bookends, the former Silver Fern thinks they will have a great impact on the side.

"They've got a bit of height, which helps. I think they are different players and I think players that probably the Stars haven't had in the past maybe three years so hoping they are going to make a good difference," Bailey said.

Bell's recruitment also means Maia Wilson can finally get more time at goal attack.

"That's where we want to grow her, she has aspirations beyond the ANZ and I think her role in that is in that GA position and we want to keep challenging players, so you'll see her a lot more in that GA position."

Kamo said she was enjoying her new team.

"We've got massive personalities in our team, which I enjoy and they are very grounded in themselves and that I think brings confidence and it's really nice to be surrounded by that, you know coming from kind of a shitty end of last year, it feels a lot safer," Kamo said.

The trained psychologist has kept a core group of clients from her private practice in Australia via online consultations but she's enjoying a bit more spare time this year.

"I've always had this kind of insatiable curiosity about Māori culture and I haven't had much exposure to growing up in Australia and I guess that was a big part of me wanting to move here at some point anyway."

With her New Zealand citizenship, Kamo is eligible to represent the Silver Ferns.

"That would be so cool, I don't want to get ahead of myself, I just want to get a chance to play everyone and see how it goes but obviously it's a dream."

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