The Adelaide Thunderbirds are one of Australia’s most decorated netball teams, representing South Australia at the top level of the sport since 1997. Known for their bold pink strip and a fiercely loyal fan base, the club has collected premierships across three different national competitions and remains a genuine title threat every season. This guide covers the Thunderbirds’ history, their honours, the people who lead the team today, and where they sit among Australia’s elite clubs.
Quick Facts
| Founded | 1997 |
|---|---|
| Based in | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Home venue | Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Hindmarsh (approx. 11,300 capacity) |
| League | Suncorp Super Netball (since 2017) |
| Head coach | Tania Obst |
| Co-captains (2026) | Georgie Horjus and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey |
| National titles | 7 (across three competitions) |
| Fan base | Known as the “Birdgang” |
From the Commonwealth Bank Trophy to Super Netball
The Thunderbirds were founded in 1997 and are based in Adelaide, South Australia. Their story runs alongside the growth of professional netball in Australia, and they have competed in each of the country’s major national leagues.
The club first played in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, Australia’s first national semi-professional netball league, which ran from 1997 to 2007. From 2008 to 2016 they competed in the ANZ Championship, a trans-Tasman competition featuring the best Australian and New Zealand clubs. When that league ended after the 2016 season it split into two separate competitions: Suncorp Super Netball in Australia and the ANZ Premiership in New Zealand. The Thunderbirds moved into Super Netball, where they have played since 2017. They do not compete in the ANZ Premiership, which is a New Zealand-only league.
Seven Premierships and Counting
Across those three eras the Thunderbirds have won seven national titles, making them one of the most successful clubs in Australian netball. The table below sets out the full premiership record.
Premiership Honours
| Year | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Commonwealth Bank Trophy | Champions |
| 1999 | Commonwealth Bank Trophy | Champions |
| 2010 | ANZ Championship | Champions |
| 2013 | ANZ Championship | Champions |
| 2023 | Suncorp Super Netball | Champions (beat NSW Swifts 60–59, extra time) |
| 2024 | Suncorp Super Netball | Champions (beat Melbourne Vixens) |
| 2026 | Suncorp Super Netball | Champions (beat Melbourne Vixens by 21) |
The Commonwealth Bank Trophy years
South Australia enjoyed early success in the new national competition. The Thunderbirds won back-to-back Commonwealth Bank Trophy titles in 1998 and 1999, establishing the club as a force before the professional era.
The ANZ Championship era
The Thunderbirds claimed their first ANZ Championship title in 2010 and added a second in 2013. These trophies confirmed the club could compete with the best teams from both Australia and New Zealand during the trans-Tasman years.
The Super Netball breakthrough
After a long wait, the Thunderbirds returned to the top in dramatic fashion. In 2023 they won their first Suncorp Super Netball title, edging the New South Wales Swifts 60–59 after extra time in a memorable grand final. In 2024 they went back-to-back, finishing as minor premiers and defeating the Melbourne Vixens in the decider.
A hoped-for three-peat fell short in 2025, when the Vixens knocked them out in the minor semi-final. The Thunderbirds bounced back in 2026, topping the regular season with 13 wins from 14 games and beating the Vixens by 21 points in the grand final for a third Super Netball crown in four years.
Coaching and Captaincy
The Thunderbirds are coached by Tania Obst, who has guided the club through its most successful modern period. For the 2026 season the team is led by co-captains Georgie Horjus and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey. Horjus, from Parndana on Kangaroo Island, is a South Australian goal attack and wing attack who came through the club’s own pathway, while Sterling-Humphrey is a Jamaican international defender and a former Super Netball Most Valuable Player.
They took over from long-serving captain Hannah Petty, an Adelaide local who led the side to its 2023 and 2024 premierships. Petty retired after the 2025 season having spent a decade with the club, and remains one of the most respected figures in its history.
The roster also carries a strong New Zealand connection. Silver Ferns midcourter Kate Heffernan, a former Southern Steel captain, signed with the Thunderbirds for the 2026 Super Netball season, adding experience and versatility through the centre of the court.
The Birdgang and Home in Adelaide
The Thunderbirds play their home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Hindmarsh, a venue that can seat around 11,300 people for arena events. Home matches are a highlight of the South Australian sporting calendar, with supporters filling the stands in the club’s distinctive pink.
That support base is known as the “Birdgang.” Beyond match days, the club runs community programs, school visits and clinics across South Australia, using its profile to grow participation and encourage young players to take up the sport.
Rivalries in Suncorp Super Netball
Suncorp Super Netball is a tightly contested eight-team league, and the Thunderbirds have built genuine rivalries at the top of the table. Their grand final meetings with the Melbourne Vixens and the New South Wales Swifts have produced some of the competition’s most memorable finishes, while clubs such as the West Coast Fever and the Queensland Firebirds round out a demanding fixture list each season. Consistent top-four finishes have kept the Thunderbirds in premiership contention year after year.
Reference sources
Frequently Asked Questions
When were the Adelaide Thunderbirds founded?
The Adelaide Thunderbirds were founded in 1997 and are based in Adelaide, South Australia. They first competed in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy, Australia’s inaugural national netball league.
How many premierships have the Adelaide Thunderbirds won?
The Thunderbirds have won seven national titles: the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 1998 and 1999, the ANZ Championship in 2010 and 2013, and Suncorp Super Netball in 2023, 2024 and 2026.
Who captains and coaches the Adelaide Thunderbirds?
For the 2026 season the club is coached by Tania Obst and co-captained by Georgie Horjus and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey. They succeeded Hannah Petty, who captained the 2023 and 2024 premiership sides before retiring after 2025.
Where do the Adelaide Thunderbirds play their home games?
The Thunderbirds play their home matches at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre in Hindmarsh, which holds around 11,300 spectators for arena events.
What league do the Adelaide Thunderbirds compete in?
The Thunderbirds compete in Suncorp Super Netball, Australia’s premier domestic netball league, where they have played since the competition began in 2017. They do not play in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership.
