Narrabri Netball Association names its rep coaches for the 2026 season

Narrabri Netball Association’s president Nikki Connole has full confidence in the local club’s representative program heading into 2026 after the recent announcement of the team coaches for the coming season.

The NNA released its coaching team for 2026 last Saturday, with Maxine O’Connor and Callie Lawler to lead the under-11s development side, Hannah Hall to coach the under-12s, Josh Orman to coach the under-13s, Penny Towns to coach the under-14s, Kerry Crutcher to lead the under-15s, and Sharlee Bruce taking on the under-17s/opens.

Connole told The Courier that she was thrilled with the calibre of coaches that applied for the positions for 2026.

“I’m extremely excited because the coaches are all excited for the season and are passionate about coming on board, and also their team selections,” Connole said.

“All coaches are required to put in applications and give us their experience, credentials and qualifications.

“To be able to coach a state team, they have to have their foundation training and development training, which is a portion online and a portion of physical training.

“We also take into account team dynamics and those sorts of things.

“The committee then votes on who should go into what team that they’ve put in for.

“There were a couple of people in each age group that put their hands up, so it was a tough selection this year.”

Connole said the association was particularly proud to have appointed O’Connor and Lawler to the under-11s development team, given they are both NNA juniors who have recently come through the rep program as players and are now excited to begin their coaching journeys.

“It’s fantastic, especially because the girls that are playing rep netball really take in what those two girls say,” the NNA president said.

“Max and Callie will be taking our under-11s development to regional rep carnivals this year, which is something that we haven’t done in the past couple of years.

“Our other five coaches bring lots of experience. Hannah is with the 12s. She was with the 14s last year and also plays herself in the opens. Josh in the 13s is new to the scene but helped out last year. He has done half of his training and is in the process of completing that. Penny is with the 14s. She’s been with that team for the last two years (as under-12s in 2024 and under-13s in 2025). Then we have Kerry with the under-15s. Kerry has had a year off coaching, but has exceptional coaching experience. Then Sharlee, she’s phenomenal. She’s been a big part of the Koori Netball stuff in Narrabri, and she has also offered to help out with the younger girls and Josh, to give them assistance to make sure that we’re learning the NSW Netball way.

“We also have Charlotte Penberthy who is keen to help out as well where she can, so with all those guys, we’re in good hands.”

Trials for the under-12s through to under-15s representative teams got underway at the Bev Burrows Courts on Tuesday evening. They will continue this Tuesday, November 18, and a third session on November 25 could be used if required.

Teams will be named in early December.

“Our two selectors are Lauren Smart and Lorna Gleeson, who both have intermediate coaches tickets,” Connole said.

“The players all get to play in the positions they have put down that they are trialling for, and the coach goes through a list with the two sectors.”

The trials for under-11s, under-17s, opens and masters will be held either late this year or early next year.

There will be no masters coach, with Connole advising that side will coach themselves in 2026.