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FWC: FRA v SWE live on SN Extra‘It was a lot tougher’: Silver Fern Maddy Gordon's injury comeback
Elena Abbott • July 1st, 2026 10:45 am
Maddy Gordon | Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport
Kiwis are frequently moving to Australia, and netballers are no exception.
Midcourter Maddy Gordon left her ANZ Premiership spot with the Central Pulse and moved to the Queensland Firebirds in 2026, but faced a shaky start, encountering injury in the first round of Super Netball.
The Whangarei native reflected on her experience with Sport Nation's Centre Pass, sharing the tendon tear didn’t stop her from honing her skills.
“I actually told them, ‘you've scanned the wrong hamstring. It's not me.’ Because it didn't feel that bad.
“They offered me to go home, just to have a break like a week away. And I said, ‘nah, I want to get straight into my rehab because I want to back out on court,’” she said.
Silver Ferns midcourter Maddy Gordon playing for the Firebirds | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
Gordon was initially told to take 8-12 weeks to recover, but that was reduced to just five, allowing her to rejoin the Firebirds on-court for round seven.
But the comeback wasn’t as simple as anticipated.
“I found it really challenging to come back and play in the first couple of weeks because people have been playing for six weeks now they had got that fitness, they had grown those combinations already,” she explained.
Additionally, Gordon had to adapt to the Australian style, which she claims is ‘very different’.
She compared it to preparing for international games, saying there was a lot of focus on physicality.
“You know it was gonna be hard. You weren't walking onto that court being like, ‘oh, this is going to be an easy game.’
“I guess a lot of that mindset did change. It was a lot tougher. But then again, you’ve just got to back your skill set, back what you know you're good at and go out there and give it,” she said.
The Firebirds failed to qualify for the Super Netball finals this season, finishing seventh out of eight teams.
A tougher competition wasn’t the only reason for the move to Australia, as Gordon along with many other Kiwi players, found the uncertainty of domestic netball in New Zealand an added stress.
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The broadcast deal with the ANZ Premiership is yet to be renewed, leaving stakeholders uncertain of what 2027 will hold.
Gordon says the possibility of no top-flight NZ competition would be a shock, making it a huge loss for sport.
“I just can't believe this is what's happening with netball in New Zealand. It's one of the most played sports in New Zealand and you just think that there would always be a competition.”
It makes her move across the ditch more reassuring, as she no longer has to worry about her future.
“Having one (a competition) and being able to play some really good netball and not have to worry about that was definitely refreshing,” she said.
Now her eyes are set towards this year's Commonwealth Games, her first with the Silver Ferns squad.
The team will commence training for the games in early July, when they’ll have a three-day training camp before flying to Glasgow.
Gordon is confident the Silver Ferns will have success, believing the squad has potential to go far and improve upon their bronze medal finish in 2022.
“I'm actually so excited. I think we've got a really cool group and we saw glimpses of amazingness with the group last year,” she said.
Although she acknowledges it may take a little time to figure out dynamics and get ready for the tournament, the team is feeling good.
“It'll take a few trainings to get those combos back. But hey, I think we're all just super excited and ready to dig into things,” Gordon concluded.
Listen to the latest episode of Centre Pass below:
