Sport
8 October, 2026
Netballers cross the ditch to play in global event
THE Kenfrost Homes Marlin Coast netball academy team – including two Innisfail players – has taken its game across the Tasman, with the 2026 squad in Christchurch, New Zealand, to compete in the International Festival of netball.
The Marlins under-18 team was in New Zealand last week, competing against international and local teams and experiencing the culture of Christchurch.
The team was selected in May and has spent the past several months preparing for the overseas trip, with some players having been with the academy for four years.
With players drawn from across the Marlin Coast region, the squad faced the challenge of preparing while they were spread across several locations.
Players were given home programs to complete at their local associations, then came together every four weeks for team training sessions. The squad’s final session included an opportunity to be coached by Vicki Wilson.
The 2026 Marlins Academy under-18 team comprises Darna Ziegler (branch rep), Dylan Barba (Innisfail), Lucy Moyle (Innisfail), Hannah Ellis (branch), Mikayla Reeves (branch), Lexi Fealy (Mareeba), Ava Ballantyne (branch), Madison Argent (Mareeba), Ella Picini (Innisfail) and Sophie Withers (Tablelands).
Marlin Coast Netball president Heather McLaren is also listed as the regional convenor for the New Zealand trip.
The Christchurch trip caps a long season for the academy team and will give the young players the chance to test themselves against teams from outside their region while representing Marlin Coast Netball on the international stage.