THERE are many sporting siblings who excel in the Limestone Coast, but few could lay claim to a bigger achievement than Mount Gambier sisters Nyah and Sienna Allen.
Both girls have taken a huge step forward in their netball development, signed as training partners for a Super Netball franchise – older sister and circle defender Sienna with the reigning titleholders, the Sunshine Coast Lightning, with goaler Nyah earning her opportunity with the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
As a result, the sisters could well line up on each other in season 2019 and beyond, with the former housemates now set to be opponents in the Australian Netball League (ANL).
Earning a place in the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s 14-player squad for the upcoming Suncorp Super Netball season is the latest chapter in the career of the hard working 19-year-old Sienna.
It comes on the back of a whirlwind three years, where she burst onto the national scene as a key member of the South Australian 17 and Under national championship-winning team in 2016.
She has since been part of the State’s 19 and Under teams – including the team that finished runner-up at this year’s nationals – and has been part of three Australian development squads since.
Sienna has achieved all this living away from home since she was 17 and taking advantage of a two-year academic and sporting scholarship at Immanuel College, where she secured a 99.1 ATAR.
A South Australian Sports Institute (SASI) netball scholarship holder for three years, Sienna looks forward to working with the Lightning’s head coach Noeline Taurua, who is also the head coach at New Zealand’s national netball team, the Silver Ferns.
“Netball is a small world and I have heard fantastic reports about Noeline from former New Zealand players with whom I have trained with,” Sienna said.
“She is a dual Super Netball championship-winning coach and you can already see her influence with the Silver Ferns since taking over the national coaching role.”
Another added bonus in terms of the coaching staff is Kylee Byrne, a nationally recognised leader in developing under-age talent.
“Her ability to develop younger players is a huge drawcard to being part of the Sunshine Coast Lightning,” Sienna said.
Given Sienna only came to the sport as an 11 year old, it has been a meteoric rise to now be on the cusp of playing in the strongest domestic competition in the world.
Having had a taste of competition in the Australian Netball League this year when she debuted for the Southern Force, Sienna is excited for the challenge that lies ahead.
The rise and rise of younger sister Nyah has been on a sharp trajectory since she secured an A Grade position at the Millicent Netball Club as a 14 year old.
Nyah was judged best on court in the premiership-winning 2016 grand final and then opted to move to Adelaide to join Sienna.
She has been part of the past two national championship-winning South Australian 17 and Under teams, steering her side to victory this year with a grand final MVP performance.
She debuted in the Premier League for Garville in 2017 and took home the rookie of the year honour for the competition as a 15 year old.
She has been a SASI scholarship holder for the past two years and was this year awarded the SASI Netball Athlete of the Year, having also debuted for the Southern Force, converting 140 goals from 155 attempts at 90pc.
Not surprisingly, Nyah has been named in 17 and Under national talent squads for the past two years, on the back of being ranked the most accurate goaler in that age group at the past two national titles.
The chance to train alongside the most elite players in the country as part of the Adelaide Thunderbirds squad is yet another stepping stone for her career.
“I am most looking forward to training with and playing alongside Maria Folau,” Nyah said.
“She has been one of the best goalies in the world for such a long time and I know I am going to learn so much.
“Training with the Thunderbirds is already another step up.
“There is a difference between Premier League and ANL and an even bigger difference again to what I am doing with the Thunderbirds.
“Because I am a bit younger than everyone else I am on an individualised training program, but I am basically doing the same work as everyone else and I am learning so much from the players and coaches.”
The most likely first match up of the two sisters will come in the ANL with that season kicking off on May 4.
