Romelda Aiken-George has been announced as Janiel Fowler-Nembhardt’s replacement at West Coast Fever for the 2026 season as the other Sunshine Girl is expecting her second child.
Aiken-George previously announced the 2025 season would be her last after a career spanning 18 seasons, four Suncorp Super Netball grand final wins, two Commonwealth Games bronze medals and two World Championship bronze medals.
However, the 37-year-old’s return to SSN has led to some backlash online, despite being one of the most decorated netballers to play in the league.
“To everyone mad that the Fever signed me, breathe,” Aiken-George said online.
“If I’m not your favorite or you can’t bring yourself to say something positive, that’s okay.”
“Opinions are free, even when they’re empty. But let’s make one thing clear, I don’t owe any of you proof.”
“I know what kind of player I am, the work I put in and the work I came here for.”
“So, if you’re into comments that provoke anger, maybe stop being rude online and start acting like someone who actually loves the sport.”
“You don’t like me? Cool. I’m still here. I’m still signed. And I’ll still show up in the comments without influence.
“I compete on the field, not in a channel with lowly trolls. So stay angry and I’ll stay reserved.”
Romelda Aiken-George took to her Instagram story to call out trolls for “throwing little tantrums” and added that they should “stay angry and I’ll stay reserved.”
The shooter made over 230 appearances for the SSN between 2008 and 2025, making her the most capped player in Super Netball and the Trans-Tasman Championship, the league replaced by the SSN.
Aiken-George played for the Queensland Firebirds for 14 seasons before her contract was not renewed. She went on to play one season with the New South Wales Swifts and two with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, including what was to be her final season, retiring as the league’s fourth all-time leading goalscorer.
In 2024, she was part of the side that won the SSN grand final 59-57 over the Melbourne Vixens, where she was also awarded player of the match.
Romelda Aiken-George helped lead Jamaica to a 2-1 series win over England during last year’s Vitality Netball Horizon Series but has not been named in this weekend’s squad
But her return to SSN will see her game record continue to grow, and she will close in on the all-time goalscoring list, topped by Fowler-Nembhardt.
She will play alongside Vitality Rose Fran Williams, and Jamaicans Kady-Anne Deheny and Shanice Beckford.
However, her return also calls into question whether she could make another appearance for Jamaica at next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the Sunshine Girls look to get on the podium again.