Rising Australian shooter Nicola Barge has recommitted to the NSW Swifts as a Training Partner for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season.
An 21U international representative who has come through the QBE Swifts Academy and Netball NSW pathway, Barge is one of the finest attacking talents in the country.
In 2025 the Sutherland Shire native was elevated to Training Partner status for the first time and she played a standout role in the QBE Swifts Academy’s third-place finish in Super Netball Reserves, the competition which underpins Suncorp Super Netball.
Barge is a former National Netball Championships MVP and was recently selected to tour Tonga as part of an Australian 23U Pathway side.
“I love being in a high-performance environment and this past year has really opened my eyes about what it takes to make it at the highest level,” she said.
“But there is nowhere else that I would rather be.
“When I was offered the chance to become a Training Partner again I jumped at the opportunity because this is the best place to learn and everyone feels like they are doing their part in achieving collective success.
“I would really like to thank Briony (Akle, Swifts head coach) for having faith in me and my coaches at the QBE Swifts Academy for the Super Netball Reserves experience.
“Getting the opportunity to test myself weekly against the best talent from across the country was amazing. It gave an insight into what it’s like at Super Netball level and it’s only made me hungrier to succeed.
“I cannot wait to be part of the Swifts environment in 2026 and look forward to getting back on court and learning from the likes of Helen Housby and Grace Nweke in the coming months.”
Akle congratulated Barge on her selection for 2026.
“It’s never easy making the step up to an SSN setup, but Nicola proved she could more than hold her own this year and I am really excited to see how she continues to develop.
“We are very lucky to have excellent pathways via Netball NSW and the QBE Swifts Academy and Nicola is among the very best attacking talents to come through.
“Her energy, temperament and work ethic all bear the hallmarks of an athlete looking to go places and that is exciting for us.”
