Early Life
Barnes was born in Brisbane but raised in Kingaroy, a town in country Queensland. He attended Kingaroy State School and played junior rugby league for the Kingaroy Red Ants. He also played men's A-grade cricket at 12 years of age.
In 1999, Barnes took up a scholarship to attend Ipswich Grammar School. He switched to playing rugby union and was selected in representative rugby teams including the Queensland U-16s. Barnes continued playing rugby league as well, and was picked for Brisbane Broncos development camps.
Barnes was a star wicketkeeper-batsman in junior cricket and was also good enough to win state championship medals in swimming. His sports master at Ipswich, Nigel Greive, described Berrick Barnes as "the most talented all-rounder I've ever been associated with".
By his final year at Ipswich in 2003, Barnes had played in the school's First XI cricket team for five years, and in the First XV rugby union team for four years.
Barnes began his professional sporting career straight out of school. He was scouted by the Brisbane Broncos, Queensland Reds, and Queensland Bulls, but decided to join the Broncos.
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