Netball Super League | Leeds Rhinos ready for Netball Super League 2024

Leeds Rhinos have named their squad of 12 for NSL 2024, including some very familiar faces.

After 11 players departed for 2024, including retiree Ellie Bird and former skipper Nia Jones, who makes her move back to newly branded Cardiff Dragons, Rhinos made the decision to recruit some major names from across the pond, as well as home grown talent and England netball legend, Geva Mentor. The new look squad also features young talent of Amy Braithwaite who has been elevated into the team after appearing as a Training Partner last season.

As well as returning players including the likes of Cassie Howard and Caroline O’Hanlon, Rhinos have secured some big names for their 2024 season campaign. Zoe Davies, formerly of Collingwood Magpies, has joined previous teammate Mentor in the Leeds based side. The 26-year-old, who positions at goal defence and wing defence will test herself in the Netball Super League for the first time, whilst also completing a degree remotely in teaching at Swinburne University.

Accompanying her in the defensive end is Geva Mentor. 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. 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. After 16 seasons playing in the southern hemisphere, most recently with Collingwood Magpies for four years, Geva makes the move back to the UK.

Mentor spoke about her return to the NSL and said: “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.”

𝓖𝓮𝓿𝓪’𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮! 🏡

We are delighted to announce that @EnglandNetball superstar @GevaMentor will be playing in the @NetballSL next season with the Rhinos 🤩

Read more: https://t.co/kiv7HbTojL #RhinosNetball pic.twitter.com/L6pPZloNFC

— Leeds Rhinos Netball (@RhinosNetballSL) July 21, 2023

Sister duo Emma and Michelle Magee will explore Leeds Rhinos’ 2024 campaign together. Michelle, who played with Rhinos in 2023, will be used to the coaching ways of Liana Leota, ones in which she will be keen to share with her goal attack sister. Emma Magee, who is versatile on the court in goal attack, goal shooter and wing attack, made 18 appearances for Storm and scored 103 goals over two seasons before taking a year away from playing in 2023.

She captained Northern Ireland U21s in the 2017 Netball Youth World Cup before representing the senior Northern Ireland in the 2019 World Cup and in 2022 Commonwealth Games. Alongside her netball, Emma also plays Gaelic Football with Antrim Ladies.

Another fan favourite will also make her return to the Super League in 2024; Joyce Mvula makes a comeback after a year over in the ANZ Championship with Central Pulse. In 2021, Mvula left Manchester Thunder after their winning their title to explore opportunities in the southern hemisphere, but in 2024 she will be back with a bang in blue and amber.

Mvula said: “I am excited to be heading back to the Netball Super League and am looking forward to meeting up with my new team. I have played with Liana before at Manchester Thunder so it will be good to team up with her again.

“The competition is one that I really enjoy playing in and I can’t wait to get back started and get building new connections with my team.”

ICYMI @_Joycemvula has signed for the Rhinos! 🙌

And in case you needed reminding, here’s what we can expect to see from her!

Who’s looking forward to watching Joyce in blue & amber in 2024? 🙋‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/Bzw9EEaPLl

— Leeds Rhinos Netball (@RhinosNetballSL) September 7, 2023