Netball Australia has launched an investigation into the inner workings of the Queensland Firebirds after a troubled season where the club narrowly avoided the wooden spoon, farewelled its coach mid-campaign, and controversially let go of two starting players.
ABC Sport broke the news in June that head coach Bec Bulley would be leaving the team with five weeks remaining in the season due to player unrest, halfway through a four-year contract.
The team rallied to win two more games under interim coaches before finishing seventh overall.
Since then, the Firebirds have let go two of their 30-year-old bookends.
Neither goal keeper Remi Kamo or goal shooter Donnell Wallam were offered contract extensions for next year.
Donnell Wallam has left the Firebirds to play in New Zealand, despite being statistically one the best scorers in Australia. (Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
Wallam — who is one of just three First Nations players to have represented the Aussie Diamonds — was also second in the league for goals this season (556).
Kamo — who has Māori roots from her father’s side — had more intercepts (17) and defensive rebounds (20) than any other Firebird.
Neither player follows the team on social media anymore, nor did they attend the end-of-season awards dinner.
Instead, they will play in New Zealand in 2025, after Wallam signed with the Mystics and Kamo penned a deal at the Stars.
A trained psychologist, Kamo said the setting at the Firebirds was toxic and claimed that players were “gaslighted”.
She said she suffered a mental breakdown throughout the season and ended up sick due to the stress.
Had an opportunity not opened up in the ANZ Premiership, Kamo said she doubts whether she would have continued to play netball at all.
Kamo said she felt “disempowered” at the Firebirds and that her memories of playing Super Netball will always be soured. (AAP: James Gourley)
“I’ve never been more disempowered than I was at that place,” Kamo told ABC Sport.
“It is definitely a privilege to have the knowledge I do thanks to my profession, but sometimes when you’re deep in the pits, it’s hard to apply to yourself.
“It did help to identify at least that objectively things weren’t good.
“I wish the players there all the best and think they deserve better … unfortunately, my memories of playing Super Netball are always going to be soured.
“I don’t think I could ever go back there, regardless of a change in coach.
Kamo said players from other teams would offer messages of support to Firebirds players. (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)
“Even players from other clubs could see we were struggling, they sent nice messages our way.
“What helped get me through it more than anything else was my sister and support network.”
No longer in the Super Netball bubble, Kamo said she wants to tell her side of the story for those who aren’t free to speak without fear of their next playing opportunity being jeopardised.
She is also passionate about ensuring the next generation of players from diverse or marginalised backgrounds are able to thrive in a transparent environment.
‘You would dread the individual performance analysis meetings’
Reaching the heights of the world’s best league is every netballer’s dream and Kamo was originally excited to be signed as a Firebird in 2023.
However, she believes her game stagnated once she hit the big time.
In the same year Kamo signed on, former world champion Bulley was appointed as coach.
After successful stints leading pathway programs and as an assistant at the NSW Swifts, the opportunity was Bulley’s first as a head coach at the top level.
Bec Bulley (left) and other staff members speak to the Firebirds during a timeout in June this year. (Getty Images: Jenny Evans)
Kamo was keen to see how far her game could grow under the guidance of the 2015 world champion, but said that she believed the team lacked direction and struggled to form relationships with Bulley.
Kamo said at times players felt manipulated and that it was better to remain silent than to air any of their concerns, which resulted in a growing distrust amongst the playing group.
“The feedback wasn’t constructive, we lacked strategy, our game plan couldn’t be adjusted during live play, and you would dread the individual performance analysis meetings,” Kamo said.
“In my first year, I tried to fly under the radar, but I quickly worked out that we weren’t going to develop as players, so we started to turn to each other more for guidance.”
An early warning sign for Kamo came six days before the 2023 season when assistant coach Sara Francis-Bayman was dismissed. Francis-Bayman then shifted to the West Coast Fever.
Sara Francis-Bayman (centre) was dismissed from the Firebirds and is now serving as an assistant coach with the Fever. (AAP: Steven Markham)
The news was devastating for the players, as they had gravitated towards Francis-Bayman.
“Key figures at Netball Queensland brought us into the boardroom and just read off a piece of paper about why she was leaving … It was impersonal and forced,” Kamo said.
“Sara was like a safe space and that was a really shocking day.
“For it to happen right before the season was very destabilising.
“Many of us left the room in tears because we were so upset.”
In the two seasons since that decision, Kamo said she witnessed players being humiliated at training and that things said during private player meetings were later used against them.
Bec Bulley celebrates a Firebirds victory with Gabi Simpson in April 2023. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)
Kamo also felt the leadership of the club failed to protect player wellbeing whenever these concerns were raised with those higher up the chain.
ABC Sport contacted Bulley for a response, but she chose not to comment at this point in time.
Kamo said that once the head coach had departed, there was a sense of relief, but believed Netball Queensland didn’t do anything to repair the culture at the club.
‘I’m looking forward to being in a supportive environment’
Kamo had been offered a two-year contract extension at the end of 2023 with the Firebirds.
Instead, she opted to sign for just 2024 because of the tension.
Had Kamo taken that deal, she would now be preparing to play for the Firebirds under fresh leadership, with New Zealander Kiri Wills appointed as their next head coach.
Kamo said she is looking forward to being part of a more supportive environment and applying for citizenship to give her a shot at Silver Ferns selection down the track.
“I lost my enjoyment of netball last year, so I’m looking forward to being in an environment that’s supportive, allows me to be myself and lets me enjoy the sport I love,” Kamo was quoted in a media release by the Stars at the time of her signing.
Meanwhile, Netball Australia said it would be thorough in its investigation into the Firebirds.
Kamo is looking forward to linking up with the Stars in New Zealand. (Getty Images: Albert Perez)
“Netball Australia can confirm it recently received a complaint and took immediate action,” a statement read.
“Netball Australia is seeking further information to progress the inquiry, as well as offering support, and assurance that the complaint is being taken extremely seriously.
“The investigation process will be thorough and conducted confidentially and therefore we cannot comment further at this time.”
Netball Queensland and the Firebirds say they are aware that a complaint has been received and that they are committed to cooperating fully with the investigation.
“As the matter is under an ongoing investigation by Netball Australia pursuant to the Netball Integrity Policy Framework, Conduct and Disciplinary Policy, Netball Queensland and its employees will not be making any public comment on this matter.”
