After a spell with Southern Steel in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership, England international George Inger returns to London Mavericks for her third stint with the club ahead of the 2026 Netball Super League season. While in New Zealand, Inger suffered a knee injury that sidelined her for more than two years, but she’s now back on court and ready to make an impact in the NSL.
What was the biggest lesson or difference you noticed playing in the New Zealand League compared to the NSL?
When I first went out there, it was super, super different. It was a fully professional programme. We trained pretty much every day, and if we weren’t training, we were out in the community. People didn’t have to work, that was their full-time job.
For me, that was something I really wanted, so I absolutely loved it. I loved my team and my teammates, everything about it was the best.
In terms of netball, we were pushed so much harder. There was more contest rather than contact. Because players were full-time, they were bigger and stronger, and I had to learn very quickly that the way I played before wasn’t going to hold up. I had to toughen up fast.
You’ve played at the highest level, won NSL titles with Wasps, experienced the New Zealand League, and played on the international stage. How do you reflect on your netball journey so far?
It’s really weird — I almost see it as a completely separate journey to where I am now. Obviously, yes, it’s one big journey, but it feels like a pre-injury journey and a post-injury journey.
I look back and think, oh my gosh, I can’t believe I did that. At the time, it just felt like something I’d worked and trained for and was everything I wanted.
Now I look back at that version of me as almost someone else, which was really exciting. But I can now look forward to my post-injury career, which I think will look very different.
So now I’m just taking all that experience and knowledge and putting it into what comes next.
Having experienced different styles and teams, what drew you back to Mavericks?
Mavericks is home for me, honestly. I started my career there, and I always go and I always come back. I guess I’m like a boomerang.
I also love working with Tamsin. I’ve worked with her on and off for years, and she really understands how my brain works and how to get the best out of me as a player.
I also love the family side of Mavericks. We care about the human being, not just the athlete, and that’s huge for me, especially after the journey I’ve been on.
During your recovery period, what helped you stay motivated?
I won’t lie to you, I think it was a really, really difficult time and something I probably haven’t opened up too much about. I think it’s one of those things where I buried my head in the sand a wee bit.
But I actually think the best thing was just taking each day as I could. I felt like one day I would play, but I just couldn’t put a timeframe on when that day would be.
It was one of those where I thought, I will play again because I’m stubborn enough to, but what that looked like was different every single day.
Trusting the process — even though it could be a bit of an ugly one at times.
You made your return to the court at the end of last season. This is your first full NSL campaign back. How does it feel to finally be here again, fully fit and ready to go?
It’s really exciting to be back. I think there were obviously some potential nerves coming full-time back again, but finishing the season out in the last couple of games of the Super League definitely gave me that taste for what I was after.
I think I came back to NXT Gen and I’m always someone who’s like, the next thing, the next thing, the next thing. So I’m really excited to be back in the flow of it and kind of seeing what this old gal’s got.
Don’t miss your chance to watch George and her London Mavericks teammates take on the NSL this season. Over 8,000 seats have already been secured, and two games are already sold out! Use code EARLYBIRD2026 to get a 10% reward at checkout.