The Sutherland Stingrays have made a strong start to the 2026 season, with five rounds now complete and the club continuing to build momentum both on and off the court. Focused on chasing competitive success while developing the next generation of talent, the Stingrays believe the two go hand in hand.
Proud of their IMB Bank Premier League ambitions, deep junior pathways and strong connection to the Sutherland Shire netball community, the club continues to place a strong emphasis on developing athletes, coaches and leaders who give back to the game.
That commitment to community is reflected throughout the organisation, with Stingrays players and coaches actively involved in junior representative and development pathways across the Sutherland region.
This strong connection between the Premier League environment and junior pathways helps reinforce their culture of development, with senior athletes regularly giving back to mentor and support the next generation of players coming through the system.
For the Stingrays, that cycle of junior athletes progressing into senior netball before returning to mentor the next generation is central to the club’s identity.
The club’s annual Pathway Program remains one of its proudest initiatives, providing emerging Sutherland juniors with opportunities to develop through additional training sessions, trial preparation and direct coaching from current Premier League players and staff. The program gives young athletes exposure to a high-performance environment while creating a clear connection between junior and senior pathways.
Five Stingrays athletes represented NSW in the 17U and 19U age groups at the 2026 National Championships, highlighting the strength of the club’s pathway system.
That same system continues to produce exciting talent, with Isabella Maher and Tilly Fanning among the standout young athletes. Both progressed through the Sutherland system, claimed senior state titles together, and have now earned elevation into the Opens squad this season.
Maher has since been selected in the QBE Swifts Academy, while Fanning earned selection in the GIANTS Netball Academy. The pair recently returned from Nationals as part of the undefeated NSW 19U championship-winning side, with Fanning also earning selection in the Australian Squad.
The Stingrays have also celebrated the progress of long-time Sutherland juniors Eva Carneiro and Skye Thompson, who made have made their SSN debuts with GIANTS Netball this year alongside fellow Opens player Dakota Thomas.
The future of the club continues to look bright, with several emerging athletes already training within the Premier League environment. Sophie Lockyer and Ella Van Der Meer have both regularly trained with the 23U and Opens squads throughout the season, highlighting the strength of the Stingrays’ development system.
The Stingrays have further invested in strength and conditioning this season through a partnership with Strength Space, ensuring players continue to develop physically, technically and tactically to meet the demands of Premier League netball and beyond.
With a strong start to the season, the Stingrays continue to build nicely, driven not only by the talent within their senior squads, but by the pathways, community connections and culture that underpin the club’s long-term success.
