Kimiora Poi ready to lead Steel into opening game
April 10, 2026
A southern showdown of epic proportions is set to launch the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel’s 2026 campaign.
It might feel like familiar territory but tomorrow night’s opening game against the Tactix has an air of the unknown after the ANZ Premiership defending champions’ playing roster was decimated during the off-season.
With the bulk of the 2025 team now plying their trade elsewhere, including Australia’s Suncorp Super League, a new-look Tactix looms to contend with.
It’s a stark contrast to the Steel ranks which boasts eight familiar faces and has been bolstered by two Australian imports in Josie Bingham and Jess Milne.
On paper, the Steel’s consistency is expected to give it a valuable edge but you can bet no-one is underestimating the opposition.
At the helm will be experienced campaigner Kimiora Poi - her reputation for a superior work ethic and steadfast composure under pressure holding her in strong stead to lead the Steel.
The 28-year-old has been bestowed the captaincy of the southern franchise, a role she shared with fellow Silver Fern midcourter Kate Heffernan last season.
“It makes me feel old because I actually am the oldest in the team and the running joke at the moment is that I’m acting my age,” Poi quipped.
“On a serious note, it is an amazing opportunity to lead the girls and try and do whatever I can for the team to get the best of out of our team and ideally win a premiership.”
No stranger to leadership duties during her stellar sporting career, Poi embraced the chance to push her own personal development.
“It challenges me in a way to build relationships across the whole organisation. In the captaincy role you have to navigate relationships within the players and management side but also further afield like Netball South and the staff, along with the wider community,” she said.
“That actually really puts me out of my comfort zone at times and it’s one part that excites me to grow and learn in that area.
Experienced shooter Georgia Heffernan has been awarded the vice-captaincy with Aliyah Dunn also joining the leadership group.
“I feel like I don’t have to take on too much leadership in this group because we have natural leaders like Georgia and Aliyah who support and do their own bit as well.”
Head coach Wendy Frew said Poi was thoroughly deserving of the honour.
“Kimi is a true professional in everything she does, both on and off the court. She is highly respected by the girls and the management team alike,” she said.
“She puts in an incredible amount of work and trains the house down. It’s a real honour to work with her and for her to be leading the 2026 steel team.”
Frew was excited to see Heffernan take on a formal role within the team.
“Georgia is an extremely important member of our Steel team and has provided outstanding service to the franchise over a long period of time. In my view, last season was her strongest yet in a Steel dress, and she reinforced that form on the international stage,” she said.
“She has continued to grow in the leadership space and is widely respected within the team for her professionalism, commitment, and the example she sets for others.”
Poi took a holistic approach to her expectations for the 2026 edition of Steel.
“Obviously, the end goal is we want to bring that premiership back down south as it has been a few years since it has been here,” she said.
“But if you strip it back even further, it comes down to enjoying our netball and putting consistent performances out on court that we are proud of. We don’t want to walk off the court thinking ‘we should have done that’ or ‘we could have done this’ – we actually want to come off happy with how we have performed.”
She was eager to get on court.
“I feel like everything is just starting to click now at the right time. It definitely has helped having the core of the team return and then welcoming Ash, who had a bit of a taste at the end of last year, and Josie and Jess from Australia.
“We’ve been able to carry on some momentum from last year but then with those new players adding their own flavour to the team.”
