Joanne Elizabeth Harten (born 21 March 1989) is a former England netball international and the current assistant coach of New South Wales Swifts and Technical Coach for the English Roses. She was a member of the England team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.

In 2020 she received an for her services to netball. She was also a member of the England teams that won bronze medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups.

At club level she has played in grand finals for Galleria Mavericks, Loughborough Lightning and Giants Netball. Harten has captained Loughborough Lightning, Giants and England teams.

Early life, family and education Harten is originally from Harlow, Essex. She is the daughter of Barry and Chris Harten. Her family home is in Church Langley. In her youth she played various sports including association football, tennis and field hockey. Her mother, who played for a team in a local league, introduced her to netball. Harten subsequently began playing with a local club, Harlow Tegate Netball Club.

Harten graduated from Loughborough University in 2011 with a BA in International Relations. She is currently studying a Graduate Certificate of Business (Sport Management) at Deakin University.

Club career

Galleria Mavericks Harten played for Galleria Mavericks during the 2006–07 Netball Superleague season, helping them reach the grand final. In the grand final, Harten scored 15/19 as Mavericks lost 53–45 to Team Bath.

Loughborough Lightning Between 2007 and 2011, while attending Loughborough University, Harten played for Loughborough Lightning. In the 2008 Netball Superleague Grand Final, Harten scored 24/30 as Lightning lost 43–39 to her former team, Galleria Mavericks.

In 2009 Harten was appointed Loughborough Lightning captain. In October 2019, Harten guested for Loughborough Lightning in the British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship, helping them win the tournament as she scored 58 of their 61 goals as they defeated Wasps 61–35 in the final.

Canterbury Tactix During the 2012 and 2013 ANZ Championship seasons Harten played for Canterbury Tactix.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Between 2014 and 2016 Harten played for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.

Giants Netball Since 2017, Harten has played for the Giants Netball franchise in the Suncorp Super Netball. In her debut season with Giants, Harten helped them reach the grand final but finished on the losing side as Sunshine Coast Lightning defeated Giants 65–48. In the final she scored 20/25.

Ahead of the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball season, Harten was appointed captain of the Giants team.

Harten was the victim of cyberbullying via Instagram for a game against the West Coast Fever that was lost due to a held ball in the last few seconds of the game. "Love me or hate me, I compete hard for 60 mins, but no one deserves this," Harten wrote.GWS Giants star Jo Harten's classy response to vile online abuse

At the end of the 24/25 season, Harten announced her retirement from netball.

International career

England Harten made her senior debut for England on 11 November 2007 against Barbados during the 2007 World Netball Championships. She was subsequently a member of England teams that won bronze medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups.

She was also a member of the England teams that won the gold medals at the 2011 and 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series tournaments. Harten was a prominent member of the England team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In the semi-final against Jamaica, she scored a dramatic last-second winner that saw England reach a Commonwealth Games final for the first time.

Harten captained England at the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. She made her 100th senior England appearance against Uganda on 12 July 2019 during the 2019 Netball World Cup. In 2020 she received an for her services to netball.

Harten announced her retirement from international netball on 24 April 2023, stating "I cannot give 100 per cent of myself both physically and mentally at this stage".

Tournaments Place2007 World Netball Championships4th 2009 World Netball Series4th2010 Commonwealth Games2010 World Netball Series2011 World Netball Championships2011 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd2011 World Netball Series2012 Netball Quad Series3rd2012 Fast5 Netball World Series 2014 Commonwealth Games4th2014 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd2014 Fast5 Netball World Series3rd2015 Netball World Cup2016 Netball Quad Series3rd2016 Fast5 Netball World Series4th2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September)3rd2017 Taini Jamison Trophy Series2nd2017 Fast5 Netball World Series2018 Commonwealth Games 2018 Netball Quad Series (September)2nd2018 Fast5 Netball World Series5th2019 Netball Quad Series2nd2019 Netball World Cup2022 Commonwealth Games4th

Coaching career Harten was appointed as a technical coach for the English national team in 2023 and coached for the South West Mounties Magic in Netball NSW's IMB Bank Premier League. In 2026 she was announced as the assistant coach for the New South Wales Swifts ahead of the 2027 season.

Personal Harten is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.

Honours

England Commonwealth Games Winners: 2018: 1 Fast5 Netball World Series Winners: 2011, 2017: 2 Runners Up: 2010, 2012: 2 Netball Quad Series Runners Up: 2018 (Sep), 2019: 2 Giants Netball Suncorp Super Netball Runners up: 2017: 1 Loughborough Lightning Netball Superleague Runners up: 2007–08: 1 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship Winners: 2019: 1 Galleria Mavericks Netball Superleague Runners up: 2006–07: 1

References