Maria Folau's ruthless efficiency leads Thunderbirds to win over Firebirds

A Maria Folau masterclass has powered the Adelaide Thunderbirds to a 71-59 Super Netball triumph against the battling Queensland Firebirds.

Not even a packed home crowd at the Queensland State Netball Centre could haul the Firebirds across the line in what was the final Brisbane outing for departing stalwarts Laura Clemesha and Caitlyn Nevins.

The game was an exhibition by two of the sport's most dynamic attackers in Folau and Queensland's Gretel Tippett and both had a huge influence on the outcome.

While Tippett had an impact up and down the court, New Zealand star Folau was ruthlessly efficient in the attacking third to finish with 35 goals from 38 attempts.

"I was a fangirl of her when I was growing up and still am," Thunderbirds centre Hannah Petty said.

"She's full of confidence and helps everyone around her.

"Maria's the calmest customer I've come across. Every time you look at her when you're feeling a bit rattled, she says take a deep breath.

"She makes everyone play better."

It was a flat finale for retiring Clemesha and Nevins who played their last home games for the club and will almost certainly finish with a wooden spoon.

If there is an individual barometer for the Firebirds' performance level it's Tippett.

Based on her output in the first half, the team was in good shape.

If she wasn't scoring goals - which she did at 83 per cent accuracy for the half - she was creating for Romelda Aiken, with Tippett finishing with 21 goals.

And she balanced the attacking contribution with two intercepts at the defensive end.

For all the Queenslander's energy, it was the Thunderbirds who had a three-goal lead at the main break.

Petty was injected off the bench during the second quarter and regardless of who the Firebirds ran at centre, she had the edge.

The home team tried Jemma Mi Mi and Macy Gardner at centre but Petty always found space to amass 18 goal assists and 24 feeds.