Geva Mentor to return to the Netball Super League with Rhinos

After 15 years living in Australia and playing in the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball (SSN), Mentor has decided to move back to the UK and join Leeds Rhinos.

The former Team Bath and Surrey Storm defender initially broke the news about her return on Instagram.

Speaking about her move, Mentor commented: “I am super delighted to announce that I will be coming back to play in Super League.

“It has been many years since I have played in England at club level, having spent the majority of my career playing netball in Australia in the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball.

“I am excited that I will now be moving up north, and this southern lass will be playing for Leeds Rhinos.  There are a few things that have drawn me to the club, not only to play under the coaching of Liana Leota but also to help grow the sport in Yorkshire.

“I can’t wait to be able to connect back to the community, meet the team and get settled into my new club and play in Super League.”

After starting in the NSL (previously known as the Super Cup,) Mentor played a pivotal role in Team Bath’s inaugural year, winning the title and playing alongside some of the league’s most iconic players including, Tamsin Greenway, Rachel Dunn, Pamela Cookey, Stacey Francis-Bayman and Jess Thirlby.

Another Grand Final win in 2007 against Galleria Mavericks (now Saracens Mavericks) saw Mentor pick up the Player of the Match award which led to a move across the pond to the Adelaide Thunderbirds for the start of the ANZ Championship.

She would go on to spend the next 15 years in Australia with the Thunderbirds, followed by the Melbourne Vixens, Sunshine Coast Lightning and more recently, Collingwood Magpies, winning two ANZ Championships and two Suncorp Super Netball titles and making over 232 appearances – more than any other player in Super Netball.

Liana Leota, Leeds Rhinos Netball Head Coach said: “This is a huge signing for Leeds Rhinos. It’s not just what Geva brings on the court but off it too. Her presence and the legacy she has created will have a big impact on our team and community. I have enjoyed working with Geva at the Roses and we connected over conversations about our role in growing our own community, our passion to help inspire the next generation and to build our franchise.

“On the court, her wealth of experience and knowledge will be hugely valuable. Geva is able to implement defensive structures effectively and drive high standards because of the experience she has, playing against and with some of the best players in the world every week. Her leadership and ability to connect and communicate well with others will also help nurture our defenders and team. I can’t wait to work with her and I am sure Rhinos fans will be excited to welcome a legend of our game to our club and watch her in blue and amber next season.”

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