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In-stadium commentary at Mt SmartPlayers eye up Australia amid 'lack of communication and transparency' over future of ANZ Premiership
Alex Chapman • May 22nd, 2025 9:00 am
Photo: Kerry Marshall/Photosport
There’s growing concerns over the future of New Zealand’s leading netballers, and warnings over a potential brain drain of the sport’s top talent.
Sport Nation has spoken to several sources close to the sport who provided comment though wished to remain anonymous, which has been adhered to.
They’ve expressed worry that a lack of certainty over the ANZ Premiership’s future beyond 2025, could result in the best players heading to Australia for greater financial and professional security.
As one player put it, “Players, coaches, staff, whoever, just have enormous concern around the lack of future-planning when the broadcast deal finishes.”
Sky Sport re-signed for two years in 2023, however the rights money was reduced. The current model sees Sky pay a rights fee to Netball New Zealand and ends at the end of this year with a new deal yet to be struck. It’s believed NNZ hopes to continue with the same competition model in 2026.
“There’s just a real lack of communication and transparency” one source explained, "it just feels like there’s no future vision from the CEO (Jennie Wyllie) or the board.”
Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
It’s understood the Players Association is looking to sit down with Netball New Zealand to discuss the future of the competition.
However, that’s done little to appease players concerns, with an overwhelming feeling of uncertainty over their futures.
Sport Nation understands at least half a dozen high-profile players have already started to explore options in Australia’s Super Netball competition for 2026, amid fears of what the competition may look like, and whether they’ll still be able to be paid the same.
“But it could be as many as 10", one source suggested.
“It’s all driven by uncertainty over next year. Because we don’t know if we’re going to have jobs at the end of the season.
“If you’re a player who still has a long future ahead of you and you don’t know if you’ll have a job, why wouldn’t you look at Aussie? Why are you waiting in New Zealand? It’s scary.”
As another source pointed out, “If you think about your own job, if someone tells you that you may not have a job in four weeks, what do you expect them to do? Sit back and wait? And they can’t just wait until the end of the ANZ season, because you’ll miss out because the Aussies clubs are thinking about next year now.”
After 5 straight wins for the NSW Swifts, can ANY team take them down this season?
It’s believed that a handful of high-profile players were close to signing deals with Australian sides for this year's Super Netball campaign, but chose not to either due to not agreeing terms, particularly financial, or the lack of flexibility around Silver Ferns selection.
It’s understood that one of those was captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, while star shooter Grace Nweke committed to the New South Wales Swifts, ruling her ineligible for the Silver Ferns for the time being.
Netball New Zealand’s board has said they’ll review their eligibility rules.
Though one player suggested that any eligibility changes will do little to curtail players’ intentions to head across the Tasman.
“Players look at what Grace has done this year, and see that she’s getting paid more, getting better as a player, playing against better opposition, why wouldn’t you do it?”
Listen to Grace Nweke's recent interview with Sport Nation below:
