Mavericks captain Rattu reveals side's holistic approach to 2025 season

London Mavericks captain Ellie Rattu believes her side’s holistic approach will help them to break their fifth-place curse.

The team are under new ownership for the 2025 Netball Super League season while other changes have seen Rattu take the lead for the first time and Mavericks don a new colour. 

While the likes of Vicki Oyesola, Razia Quashie and Emma Thacker are returning, Rattu will be skippering new faces including Australian pair Chelsea Blackman and Emily Andrew.

“It feels hugely different having a new franchise of sorts,” the Bedford native said. “We’re obviously still keeping the Mavericks name but moving on to our own entity is really exciting. 

“Being able to be part of the fabric of creating our new culture and setting the goals and aspirations for this club has been really exciting, especially as a captain. It feels like everybody is on the same journey to make this club really good.  

“We are really focusing on players as a whole. We recognise it is not just on-court stuff and it is all the support which is really important off-court. 

“Whether that be psych or nutrition, or that feel of community and togetherness, which is something that we are really chasing after. 

“Within the team, it has been great to have loads of team bonding and lots of sessions of fun and getting to know each other, and to enjoy each other’s company and be friends. 

“Some of the best teammates are the ones you enjoy spending time with off the court.” 

Mavericks are also taking netball to new locations with the team playing in Essex and Brighton as well as their Hertfordshire heartland. 

Rattu will have an opportunity to lead her side out at Wembley Arena with Mavericks hosting two of their home games there. 

It all adds to a refreshed feeling around Mavericks, who have finished fifth for five of the past six seasons. 

Rattu added: “It is nice to have this new feel and new start to the league. It gives us a great opportunity to get rid of that old mindset of being there but not quite making it.  

“We are really trying to put that to bed and it has been really exciting having pre-season games which are helping us to create that culture of belief and give ourselves some evidence for that.

“We are looking to be a team that is able to adapt to lots of things, we will obviously have our structures and we have our own game plan. 

“But we also know there are teams we are going to have to play and learn on the spot. We have to be able to adapt so we are trying not to play 'traditional' netball as such.  

“We are trying to create new ways and new opportunities to get to goal and bring a little bit of flair as well.” 

Image: Morgan Harlow