Briony Akle Returns as Silver Ferns Assistant Coach Following Coaching Turmoil
Australian coach Briony Akle returns to the Silver Ferns as assistant coach following a turbulent 2025 season, joining Dame Noeline Taurua for the 2026 Games.
By: AXL Media
Published: Apr 25, 2026, 3:58 AM EDT
Source: RNZ Pacific
A Strategic Return to the National Set-up
Netball New Zealand has confirmed the return of Briony Akle to the Silver Ferns coaching staff, elevating her to the role of assistant coach. The appointment comes just 13 weeks before the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland. Akle, a highly respected Australian coach who has previously served as a specialist coach for the Ferns, steps into the vacancy left by long-time assistant Deb Fuller. Fuller recently transitioned to a high-performance role with the Malawi Queens following the expiration of her contract in December.
The move marks a professional homecoming for Akle, who was caught up in the administrative upheaval that rocked the Silver Ferns in late 2025. Her return is seen as a vital step in stabilizing the team’s leadership as they prepare for one of the sport's most prestigious international events. Akle will maintain her current role as head coach of the NSW Swifts in the Suncorp Super Netball league, joining the New Zealand camp in person ahead of their opening match against Scotland on July 25.
Background of the 2025 Coaching Crisis
The reappointment of Akle follows a period of unprecedented instability within the Silver Ferns' high-performance environment. In September 2025, head coach Dame Noeline Taurua, along with Akle and Fuller, was abruptly stood down following a series of player complaints regarding the team culture. The suspension lasted 51 days before Taurua was reinstated under a "new truce" with Netball NZ, which included a commitment to embedding structural changes within the program.
TRANSFORMATIVE ANALYSIS: Akle’s return is a calculated endorsement of Taurua’s original vision, signaling that despite the "integrity reset" demanded by Netball NZ, the tactical core of the coaching staff remains preferred. By bringing back a familiar face who navigated the 2025 "culture clash," the organization is prioritizing continuity and tactical chemistry over a total bench overhaul. This decision suggests that the primary issues identified during the suspension were likely systemic or interpersonal rather than a critique of Akle’s specific coaching credentials.