Noonan first made state representation for New South Wales in the 1999 youth eight contesting the Noel F Wilkinson Trophy at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.

At the 2011 Australian Championships, by now in Mosman colours, he again competed in all three men's sculling boat classes and claimed the national title in the 4X.

[3] Notwithstanding his King's Cup success for New South Wales in the sweep-oared men's eight, Noonan's Australian representation was, aside from his junior debut, always in sculling boats.

His World Championship medal success – gold in 2011, bronze in 2010 and silver in 2009 – came as stroke of the Australian men's quad scull.

[4] With unfinished business from Beijing, Noonan held the stoke seat in the Australian men's quad for the entire next Olympiad and led those crews to considerable success.

At Bled 2011 in an upset, the Australian quad defeated the fancied German crew to win world championship gold.

[4] Noonan made no retirement announcement after London and continued to row at the highest national level into 2013, however ultimately the 2012 Olympics proved to be his last Australian representative appearance.