The Queensland Firebirds are engulfed in drama after star goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George claimed she had been sacked by the club due to pregnancy.
Aiken-George took to Instagram on Monday to accuse the Firebirds of cutting her from the 2023 roster amid safety concerns, which Netball Queensland neither confirmed nor denied in a statement.
Australian netball great Nat Medhurst leapt to Aiken-George’s defence in an interview with CODE, saying she was “furious” and “it doesn’t surprise me”.
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“OK, so a lot of people has (sic) been asking if I’ll be playing for the Firebirds next season,” Aiken-George wrote.
“The answer is no. And that decision was not made by me; it was made by the club.
“‘Too risky,’ they say. So, I will NOT be in the Firebirds season.”
The club then released a statement in response to the allegation.
“In the face of some still implying that the Firebirds club makes list-management decisions based on anything other than high-performance-related factors, the club unequivocally denies that Romelda Aiken-George was not offered a contract in the 10 because she is pregnant,” the Firebirds said.
“The Firebirds have developed a strong club culture over many seasons that embraces and supports life decisions of players, and suggestions that the club operates otherwise is not fair on the current and former playing group and management.”
Netball Queensland said in the statement it was “aware of commentary surrounding Queensland Firebird Romelda Aiken-George and her recent social media post”.
“The Queensland Firebirds’ 2023 playing roster is incomplete, with the club shortly set to name a new head coach, and the remaining three contracted players plus training partners still to be confirmed,” the statement added.
“This senior playing list is determined over months of scrutiny by our list management made up of the CEO, COO, GM of high performance, head coach, coaching staff and head of elite pathways.
“Gretel Bueta, Donnell Wallam and Mia Stower (two Australian Diamonds players and one consistent long-range shooter) developed a strong and proven combination during the 2022 Super Netball season.
“On Saturday night at the club’s gala awards event, and alongside other long-standing players also being recognised for their service to the club including Gabi Simpson and former Firebirds Peta Stephens and Laura Geitz, Romelda was honoured for her 15 years’ service, and spoke of her love for the club and its people, and indicated that her playing future was yet to be determined.”
Aiken-George, 33, was born in Jamaica and arrived at the Firebirds after a shining performance at the 2007 world championships.
She took parental leave in 2022.
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