D'Arcy Waldegrave: Grace Nweke's move is a punch in the face to Netball NZ

Grace Nweke has punched Netball NZ in the face. 

The superstar Silver Fern shooter is off to the Aussie comp, and as a result she will not wear the famed black dress in 2025.  

She’ll return to the Kiwi comp and the Ferns after a year of testing herself in the more confrontational Australian Super Netball League. Which technically isn’t a league and labours under the tired ‘Super’ prefix – you’d think after decades of pro sport, the marketing departments across all sports could come up with something better than ‘super’. Whoops, digression. 

In essence, Grace is indulging in a sabbatical. More strength to her arm. As a young person, the experience of leaving our shores will be massive, not only for her game, but for her as a human being.  

There is nothing inherently wrong with what she is doing. NZ Netball can’t stop her, and she will gain more than she will lose for the experience. Sure, some test caps will go down the gurgler, but her skill base will broaden playing in a more robust competition. Unlike rugby players, who flee the hard knocks of our comps to feather their nest in the limp Japanese set up.  

So how does this equate to a punch in the face? Words. The Pen is mightier than the sword etc. The most telling part of her reasoning is this.  “I didn’t see any other club in New Zealand being able to tick those boxes for me in terms of growing my game and developing...” and “[I’ve] done all that I can at the club and I just really wanted to challenge myself to grow and be a better netballer at the international level to really add to my skill set. A move would be beneficial to me across the board.” 

She’s outgrown the game here. She needs better, to become better. 

The moves to upgrade, upskill and reinvent the way Netball NZ manage their competition have been lethargic, if this step from one of the game’s MVPs doesn’t hasten meaningful change, I’m not sure what will.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildegrave from newstalk s'b SO.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Gracewiki has punched New Zealand netball in the face. The
Superstar Silver Fern Shooters off to the Australian Camp and
as a result, she will not wear the feigned black dress.
In twenty twenty five, she'll return to the Kiwi comp
and the Ferns after a year of testing herself in
the more confrontational Australian Super Netball League which technically is

(00:34):
in the league and labor's under the tired super prefixt.
You'd think after decades of pro sport, the marketing departments
across all sports can come with something better than super
stop it woops aggression, Sorry, back I go. In essence,
Grace is indulging in a sabbatical, more strength to her
arm as a young person. The experience of leaving our

(00:55):
shows will be massive, not only for her game, but
more importantly for her as a human being. There's nothing
inherently wrong with what she's doing. His ill Netball can't
stop it, and she'll gain more than she will lose
for the experience. Some test caps will go down the gurglar,
but her skill base will broaden playing in a more
robust competition, unlike rugby players who flee the hard knocks

(01:18):
of our comps to father their nest in the limp
Japanese setup. So how does this equate to a punch
in the face words, the pen is mightier than the sword, techa.
The most taling part of her reasoning is this, and
I quote, I didn't see any other club in New
Zealand and be able to tick those boxes for me
in terms of growing my game and developing. And I've

(01:42):
done all that I can at the club, and I
just really wanted to challenge myself to grow and be
a better netballer at the international level to really add
to my skill set. A move would be more beneficial
to me across the board. She's outgrowing the game here,
she needs better to become better. The move to upgrade

(02:06):
upskill and reinvent the way netballe New Zealand manage their competition.
Will they have been lethargic If this move from one
of New Zealand's MVPs doesn't hasten meaningful change, I'm not
sure what will it'll do.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
For more from the all Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
Listen live to News Talk set Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio