Netball superstar Geva Mentor joins Rhinos Netball

Leeds Rhinos Netball have signed England Netball superstar Geva Mentor CBE for the 2024 Netball Super League season.

The goal keeper, who has twice been named the World’s Best Netballer, will return to the UK after 16 seasons playing in the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball.

Mentor made her Vitality Roses debut in 2000 against New Zealand, aged just 16, and has never looked back, going on to represent her country in six Commonwealth Games and five World Cups.  She is on the verge of her sixth appearance in a World Cup as she gets set to play in the tournament for her country this month in South Africa.

Speaking about joining the Rhinos, Mentor said: “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.”

The Bournemouth-born player began her career with Team Bath, before testing herself in Australia for the first time with Adelaide Thunderbirds where she played for three seasons.  She returned to the UK to play for Surrey Storm, but since 2010 she has been competing in Australia, firstly playing for the Melbourne Vixens for six seasons.

Here she was named in the All-Star team three times, became the first import to make 100 appearances and won the ANZ Championship in 2014.  In 2017 she signed for new franchise Sunshine Coast Lightning where she was named captain and led them to two Suncorp Super Netball titles.  For the last five years, she has played for Collingwood Magpies where she continued to receive acclaim and was named in the Team of the Year for the third time in 2020.

On the international scene, she won Commonwealth bronze in 2006 and 2010 and two world championship bronze medals, before winning gold in 2018 after beating Australia in an unforgettable Commonwealth Games final.  In 2015 she was voted the World’s Best Netballer and in 2017 won the accolade again. In 2018 she was awarded a CBE for her distinguished contribution to international 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.”