In the breaking news story of the day, Newstalk ZB understands that staff employed by Netball New Zealand at the Stars, Magic and Tactix franchises had been sent an email from the organisation giving notice that their contracts will not be extended past the 31st of July this year at this stage.
Leana de Bruin is an assistant coach for the Stars, she joined D'Arcy to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from Newstalk ZEDB, first.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Art breaking news story of the day, News TALKSZB understands
al is like that as a phrase NEWSTALGSZB understands that
staff employed by Netball New Zealand at the Stars, the
Magic and the Tactics. That's three franchises in the ASP Premiership,
and you've seen an email from the organization giving notice
that their contracts will not be extended past the thirty
(00:35):
first of July this year. At this stage, now to
brain assistant coach for the Stars, former Silver Fern joined
us now to chat Aleena.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Hello, Darcy, how are we very very well?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
More's the point, how are you at the moment that
the rumor mills going crazy? Everyone's like, what is the
future looking like for A and Z Premiership? Such a
pretty easy question to ask straight up? What on earth
is going on right now?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah? I was so good answer that question, Darcy, But
I actually don't really know. You know, like, obviously we
all know netball is in a bit of a predicament,
but yeah, individually, obviously as assistant coach, you know, we
it's it's pretty kind of normal. For us this time
of the year, not knowing contract wise where you act,
(01:24):
and this is normally the negotiation period, but obviously with
the unknowns, Yeah, it's obviously not happening, So.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
No negotiations currently and you've only got what it's the
end of this month. Your contracts basically all fall away.
So what do we read out of that If there's
been well I'm presuming not a great deal of any
communication between yourselves and Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, look at that. That's probably the disappointing thing at
the moment. It's it's it's the lack of information to everyone,
but not really uncommon for US coaches especially, I guess
more for the players this is a very unfamiliar territory.
But for myself, like having to negotiate again, for assistant coaches,
(02:12):
it's pretty much normal in that sceense.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, and the fact that it takes right up to
the last minute.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yes, unfortunately that's just the way it's always been coaching wise,
But obviously, as you can appreciate, I guess, for the players,
this is a very difficult position to be in to
not know what your future is like for next year,
which can be quite stressful.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Now. All the talk is around this email that was
released a couple of days earlier this week, and it
was released the staff and the coaches and the like, suggesting, look,
I haven't read it, but I've been told, and I
believe my sources that it's like well, Tactic Stars Magic
as the thirty first of July, things aren't looking good. Now.
(02:56):
This is staff and coaches. What can you tell me
about the content of that email if you've seen.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It, Ah, yeah, pretty much exactly what you just said
now is unfortunately they cannot extend our contracts, which which is,
like I said, pretty normal, but although we haven't really
received those in the past, so you do obviously go, okay,
what do we read it between these lines? But you know,
it's such the circumstances for everyone, whether you a sportsperson,
(03:24):
whether you in construction, which I'm currently at. It's the unknowns.
It's pretty it's everywhere. Really, it's it's just you know,
obviously nipple gets gets in the media, and it's a
bit more what do you call it? Is the word
I'm looking for. It's obviously out there, so so people
and it's it's unknown and not the norm. I guess which,
(03:47):
which makes it a bit different.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Now the players were involved in this email, they plainly
got wind of this. What's been the thought processes with
the players, because this is key to them. If the
staff and management have been told, hey, we've got nothing yet,
what does it say for them, what's their reaction being?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, to be honest, I haven't actually spoken to anyone
about that, but if I was a player, obviously I
can only imagine that you'll be panicking because that's your
livelihood and that's what you love to do, and nobody
wants to lose a job and have that uncertainly, regardless
of what you do for a living, but just uncertain times,
(04:27):
you know which, which will be really stressful and really
sad for us because you know, we were in that
area where we did that for a living and we
did pretty well out of it. So it's so sad
for us to see or netble in this country go
this way, and especially you know, grassroots wise, we are
doing very well, and there's no argument about that, but
(04:49):
it's it's the next level of being a professional netballer.
That's that's where unfortunately things are. It's quite tough.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Well, there's going to be nothing but the sounds of
it next year, not that that's been confirmed. It doesn't
look good now Tactic Stars Magic. Any communication with the
other franchises about what that may mean.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, to be honest, I see, I can't answer that.
I don't know. I like I say, I'm deep in
trying to do my other job in construction at the moment,
so to be fair, off part that and yes, I
love nipple, but at the moment, there's not much we
can do unless I pull it right out of the
bag and get a massive construction company to back nepble.
(05:34):
I don't think I can actually change much.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Sol said, I've sent the email and that's kind of it.
No correspondence will be entered into but they said, I
believe will be in touch, but that's probably later next week.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, it's it's interesting because you know, like I think
the transition also between who's in charge, there's obviously quite
a level of different responsibilities in that sense as well.
So Yeah, to be honest, it's really hard for me
to answer these questions because I sit quite out side
of things as an assistant coach. I don't always We
(06:09):
pretty much probably the last people that know anything anyway.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So you never involved in any form of collective bargaining
because from what I know through the players that that's
also had a full stop that's been put on hold too,
which doesn't suggest the best for the future, does it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
No, it doesn't it. And that's definitely, like I said before,
it is very worrying and uncomfortable to feel that way
in limbo. It's the worst place for anybody to be in.
Whether you know it's a start, Yeah, it's the start
of some people's careers, and it's really sad to see
it going this way. But it's you know, like anything,
(06:49):
life is all about communication and I guess that's the
piece that people just want them to communicate. And if
it's like this, actually just pick up the phone and
talk and talk people through it.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Does that strike you as strange? It strikes me as
strange because we spent most of the year late last
he saying to Netboll New Zealand, you've got to tell
us something because if you don't, we'll just make stuff out.
And nothing ever happened. So there's I don't think the
whole new suite of management on board yet. I think
that Jane's still looking after but she's obviously over at
(07:20):
the Commonwealth Games now as well, So yeah, you'd think
that someone would say something, but now we've found out
about it and it's on fire again.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah it look. I love the fact that we talk
about netboard, but not in a negative way that we
are unfortunately, But yeah, I guess, you know, looking from
the outside in. Like I said before, she was brought
into to fix things between Noline and all of that
drama that we had at the start of the year.
So I guess the next piece now is how do
(07:53):
we fix this? But time is not on our side
and we're going to lose really good quality people to
our game that we love, which is probably the saddest
thing for us to see.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I think also correctly if I'm wrong, though, But what's
happening over in Australia at the moment. They haven't got
to the end of their collective bargaining either, and until
they do that and they know what their futures like,
the players here won't be able to jump on that
train like they did the start this year. So it's
very sketchy right across both countries with netboard. The game's
(08:28):
not weak, is it?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Surely no? I think, you know, if we look at
what's happening across the board in the world, is things
are tough, and big name sponsors pull out because they've
got to look after their own companies as such, and
the sponsorship money is not there like we used to be.
They don't get the numbers on TV or that revenue.
(08:51):
You know, people are hanging on to holding onto their
own people in the company. I mean, I worked for
Foster's Construction down in Hamilton and we sponsored the Chiefs,
but we had to drop our sponsorship exactly for this reason.
And obviously, see that's rugby, so you can imagine Nepble
doesn't bring those numbers in. And I think that's probably
(09:12):
the crucial part here is commercially it's been tough on
lots of sports and obviously Nepble is unfortunately in the
fireline of that.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well there's no sponsor and there's no competition. You're not
going to be able to get a sponsor if there's
nothing to sponsor. So yeah, it's eating itself alive, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Yes? Yes, And you know, like I wish I could
resolve it or and I think there's lots of passionate
people that would want to resolve it, but it's obviously
not an easy thing. And yeah, all I can say
is I'm very grateful I'm not in that position to
have to make these decisions or keep the ship moving forward.
But there's lots of smart people in the Neble and
(09:57):
Neble New Zealand probably can tap into those type of people.
So I guess from that point of view, it's it's
you know, we're here to help. And I guess that's
probably the message that I want to say, is tap
into some really smart people around that could possibly get.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Us out of this and communicate let us know what's happening,
not emails to a few people that haven't been released
in general, because you know what that creates and we're
experiencing it right now.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, absolutely no, No, it is sad to see. And
like I say, grassroots wise, Nipol is still in a
very good space and you just have to go around
any new book called around the country on a Saturday
and it's packed. So there's life in Nipple and we
all know it. We're all passionate about it. That's been there,
and it's sad to see. So yeah, would would love
(10:44):
to see some good communication, like you say, and also
some solutions.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well let's hope we can be part of the solution.
Herely on your brain A real pleasure. Thanks so much
for your time. Are you to get a bit hard hat?
I want to get back to work again.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
But my eye was on and off I go. Thank
you very much.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For more from Sports Talk, listen lived to News Talks
from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from Newstalk ZEDB, first.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Art breaking news story of the day, News TALKSZB understands
al is like that as a phrase NEWSTALGSZB understands that
staff employed by Netball New Zealand at the Stars, the
Magic and the Tactics. That's three franchises in the ASP Premiership,
and you've seen an email from the organization giving notice
that their contracts will not be extended past the thirty
(00:35):
first of July this year. At this stage, now to
brain assistant coach for the Stars, former Silver Fern joined
us now to chat Aleena.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Hello, Darcy, how are we very very well?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
More's the point, how are you at the moment that
the rumor mills going crazy? Everyone's like, what is the
future looking like for A and Z Premiership? Such a
pretty easy question to ask straight up? What on earth
is going on right now?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Yeah? I was so good answer that question, Darcy, But
I actually don't really know. You know, like, obviously we
all know netball is in a bit of a predicament,
but yeah, individually, obviously as assistant coach, you know, we
it's it's pretty kind of normal. For us this time
of the year, not knowing contract wise where you act,
(01:24):
and this is normally the negotiation period, but obviously with
the unknowns, Yeah, it's obviously not happening, So.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
No negotiations currently and you've only got what it's the
end of this month. Your contracts basically all fall away.
So what do we read out of that If there's
been well I'm presuming not a great deal of any
communication between yourselves and Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Yeah, look at that. That's probably the disappointing thing at
the moment. It's it's it's the lack of information to everyone,
but not really uncommon for US coaches especially, I guess
more for the players this is a very unfamiliar territory.
But for myself, like having to negotiate again, for assistant coaches,
(02:12):
it's pretty much normal in that sceense.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
Well, and the fact that it takes right up to
the last minute.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Yes, unfortunately that's just the way it's always been coaching wise,
But obviously, as you can appreciate, I guess, for the players,
this is a very difficult position to be in to
not know what your future is like for next year,
which can be quite stressful.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Now. All the talk is around this email that was
released a couple of days earlier this week, and it
was released the staff and the coaches and the like, suggesting, look,
I haven't read it, but I've been told, and I
believe my sources that it's like well, Tactic Stars Magic
as the thirty first of July, things aren't looking good. Now.
(02:56):
This is staff and coaches. What can you tell me
about the content of that email if you've seen.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
It, Ah, yeah, pretty much exactly what you just said
now is unfortunately they cannot extend our contracts, which which is,
like I said, pretty normal, but although we haven't really
received those in the past, so you do obviously go, okay,
what do we read it between these lines? But you know,
it's such the circumstances for everyone, whether you a sportsperson,
(03:24):
whether you in construction, which I'm currently at. It's the unknowns.
It's pretty it's everywhere. Really, it's it's just you know,
obviously nipple gets gets in the media, and it's a
bit more what do you call it? Is the word
I'm looking for. It's obviously out there, so so people
and it's it's unknown and not the norm. I guess which,
(03:47):
which makes it a bit different.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Now the players were involved in this email, they plainly
got wind of this. What's been the thought processes with
the players, because this is key to them. If the
staff and management have been told, hey, we've got nothing yet,
what does it say for them, what's their reaction being?
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, to be honest, I haven't actually spoken to anyone
about that, but if I was a player, obviously I
can only imagine that you'll be panicking because that's your
livelihood and that's what you love to do, and nobody
wants to lose a job and have that uncertainly, regardless
of what you do for a living, but just uncertain times,
(04:27):
you know which, which will be really stressful and really
sad for us because you know, we were in that
area where we did that for a living and we
did pretty well out of it. So it's so sad
for us to see or netble in this country go
this way, and especially you know, grassroots wise, we are
doing very well, and there's no argument about that, but
(04:49):
it's it's the next level of being a professional netballer.
That's that's where unfortunately things are. It's quite tough.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Well, there's going to be nothing but the sounds of
it next year, not that that's been confirmed. It doesn't
look good now Tactic Stars Magic. Any communication with the
other franchises about what that may mean.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, to be honest, I see, I can't answer that.
I don't know. I like I say, I'm deep in
trying to do my other job in construction at the moment,
so to be fair, off part that and yes, I
love nipple, but at the moment, there's not much we
can do unless I pull it right out of the
bag and get a massive construction company to back nepble.
(05:34):
I don't think I can actually change much.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Sol said, I've sent the email and that's kind of it.
No correspondence will be entered into but they said, I
believe will be in touch, but that's probably later next week.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
Yeah, it's it's interesting because you know, like I think
the transition also between who's in charge, there's obviously quite
a level of different responsibilities in that sense as well.
So Yeah, to be honest, it's really hard for me
to answer these questions because I sit quite out side
of things as an assistant coach. I don't always We
(06:09):
pretty much probably the last people that know anything anyway.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So you never involved in any form of collective bargaining
because from what I know through the players that that's
also had a full stop that's been put on hold too,
which doesn't suggest the best for the future, does it.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
No, it doesn't it. And that's definitely, like I said before,
it is very worrying and uncomfortable to feel that way
in limbo. It's the worst place for anybody to be in.
Whether you know it's a start, Yeah, it's the start
of some people's careers, and it's really sad to see
it going this way. But it's you know, like anything,
(06:49):
life is all about communication and I guess that's the
piece that people just want them to communicate. And if
it's like this, actually just pick up the phone and
talk and talk people through it.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Does that strike you as strange? It strikes me as
strange because we spent most of the year late last
he saying to Netboll New Zealand, you've got to tell
us something because if you don't, we'll just make stuff out.
And nothing ever happened. So there's I don't think the
whole new suite of management on board yet. I think
that Jane's still looking after but she's obviously over at
(07:20):
the Commonwealth Games now as well, So yeah, you'd think
that someone would say something, but now we've found out
about it and it's on fire again.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Yeah it look. I love the fact that we talk
about netboard, but not in a negative way that we
are unfortunately, But yeah, I guess, you know, looking from
the outside in. Like I said before, she was brought
into to fix things between Noline and all of that
drama that we had at the start of the year.
So I guess the next piece now is how do
(07:53):
we fix this? But time is not on our side
and we're going to lose really good quality people to
our game that we love, which is probably the saddest
thing for us to see.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I think also correctly if I'm wrong, though, But what's
happening over in Australia at the moment. They haven't got
to the end of their collective bargaining either, and until
they do that and they know what their futures like,
the players here won't be able to jump on that
train like they did the start this year. So it's
very sketchy right across both countries with netboard. The game's
(08:28):
not weak, is it?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Surely no? I think, you know, if we look at
what's happening across the board in the world, is things
are tough, and big name sponsors pull out because they've
got to look after their own companies as such, and
the sponsorship money is not there like we used to be.
They don't get the numbers on TV or that revenue.
(08:51):
You know, people are hanging on to holding onto their
own people in the company. I mean, I worked for
Foster's Construction down in Hamilton and we sponsored the Chiefs,
but we had to drop our sponsorship exactly for this reason.
And obviously, see that's rugby, so you can imagine Nepble
doesn't bring those numbers in. And I think that's probably
(09:12):
the crucial part here is commercially it's been tough on
lots of sports and obviously Nepble is unfortunately in the
fireline of that.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
Well there's no sponsor and there's no competition. You're not
going to be able to get a sponsor if there's
nothing to sponsor. So yeah, it's eating itself alive, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Yes? Yes, And you know, like I wish I could
resolve it or and I think there's lots of passionate
people that would want to resolve it, but it's obviously
not an easy thing. And yeah, all I can say
is I'm very grateful I'm not in that position to
have to make these decisions or keep the ship moving forward.
But there's lots of smart people in the Neble and
(09:57):
Neble New Zealand probably can tap into those type of people.
So I guess from that point of view, it's it's
you know, we're here to help. And I guess that's
probably the message that I want to say, is tap
into some really smart people around that could possibly get.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Us out of this and communicate let us know what's happening,
not emails to a few people that haven't been released
in general, because you know what that creates and we're
experiencing it right now.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
Yeah, absolutely no, No, it is sad to see. And
like I say, grassroots wise, Nipol is still in a
very good space and you just have to go around
any new book called around the country on a Saturday
and it's packed. So there's life in Nipple and we
all know it. We're all passionate about it. That's been there,
and it's sad to see. So yeah, would would love
(10:44):
to see some good communication, like you say, and also
some solutions.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
Well let's hope we can be part of the solution.
Herely on your brain A real pleasure. Thanks so much
for your time. Are you to get a bit hard hat?
I want to get back to work again.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
But my eye was on and off I go. Thank
you very much.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
For more from Sports Talk, listen lived to News Talks
from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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