Men’s M League Update: Strengthening our Pathway for Elite Men’s Netball

The Queensland Suns Men’s M League has fast become the premier platform for elite men’s netball in South East Queensland. Under the leadership of the Queensland Suns, in partnership with Netball Queensland and the affiliated Sapphire Series clubs, the league has brought together the best male talent in the state, raising the bar for performance, visibility, and player development. 

A Transparent and Strategic Selection System 

To support consistency and alignment with Queensland Suns state team selection criteria, M League team composition is governed by a clear points-based system: 

• 5 Points – Open Men athletes selected in 2025 or toured in 2024 

• 4 Points – Reserve Men or 23 & Under athletes from 2025 or 2024, or Open Men and Open Mixed athletes from 2023 and 2022. 

• 3 Points – Reserve Mixed, 20’s, or 17’s athletes from 2025 or 2024 

• Other - Players who have previously represented Queensland Suns but did not trial in 2025. These cases are assessed by considering the athlete talent in comparison with the touring teams

Athletes who do not fall into any of these categories are also reviewed by the Subcommittee to ensure selections are balanced, fair, and supportive of future state team outcomes. 

To ensure competitive equity, each club’s final team total is reviewed. The average points per athlete reflect the calibre and experience across squads.  

These metrics help maintain a high-performance environment while allowing space for developing athletes and balanced squad strategies. 

What’s Next for the M League 

Looking to 2026, the Queensland Suns and Netball Queensland will continue to oversee the M League’s overarching framework. We are working towards team selection and management being driven by participating Sapphire clubs, ensuring local engagement and operational autonomy. 

With increasing interest from new clubs, discussions are currently underway to expand the league further. If confirmed, we anticipate club trials will be held in late 2025 or early 2026 following the finalisation of the competition. The vision for the M League Men’s 2026 season is to see all the Queensland Suns top athletes and new rising stars compete through the competition, with the elite competition also doubling as selection trials for the 2027 Queensland Suns National Teams. 

Queensland Suns President Darren Gillespie praised the league’s evolution and the commitment of early club partners: 

“It’s been tremendous to see the level of investment from the first five clubs who joined the revamped M League; Sunshine Coast Thunder, Moreton Bay Pulse, Brisbane South Wildcats, Bond Bull Sharks, and Redlands Coast Eagles. Watching the top men’s netball players from South East Queensland go head-to-head week after week has been incredible. We can’t wait to see what’s next for the league as it continues to grow this platform is pivotal for our athlete pathways and the future of the sport.”