September 20, 2025 • 12 mins
Shooter Grace Nweke is adamant the Silver Ferns are keeping a united front heading into tonight's first netball test against South Africa.
The clash on Auckland's North Shore comes amid the turmoil of head coach Dame Noeline Taurua being stood down.
Grace Nweke joined Piney to discuss further.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Zedbin Netball on the Court Thankfully. The Tiny Jamison Neple
series starts tonight in Auckland. The Silver Ferns up against
South Africa in a three game series. Game one event
Finder Stadium Center Pass tonight at seven forty, Game two
in Napier Wednesday night, same time, then in the Cargo
(00:31):
next Sunday evening again at seven forty. Silver Fern Shooter
and one of a four strong leadership group, Grace Wekett
is with us. Grace, let's address the elephant in the
room to start with. How challenging a time has this
been with Dame Noline Todua being stood down as your
head coach.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, it's been very challenging. I think the words that
I've been using a lot the past few weeks has
been unprecedented. Sabby through a challenge and it's un chartered
borders for only myself, but the entire staff and Niple
New Villain and the whole playing group. So we've really
had to compartmentalize and take things one day at a
(01:13):
time and focused on Natash at Hands, which is taking
this theory through book.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
How was this explained to the players.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
There's lots of conversations that we've had with then the
playing group, communications from the Players Association along with Peple,
New Villain, and I guess some player for them to
be more than others. But a lot of the team
messaging has been about Silly Villain and the staffing group,
(01:42):
you know, as we mentioned in the media earlier, still
being in negotiations and trying to come to resolution and
until they're able to you know, fought out their quote
unquote dispute. No, it's not able to come into the
training environment. And obviously they've got the complete city and
I'm sure more context than that, but yeah, that's pretty
(02:03):
much a crux of it. And for us, as you know,
in ways of going if it has been we've had
to really just band together and be able to put
down and say what we need to but come together
to playing to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
How how was how is your relationship with Dane Nolan?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I have the utmost to to know. She's a fantastic person,
fantastic coach and the year that I've been coached her,
I foul very lucky to have been led by her
and to have learnt off her, and we do have
a strong relationships, so it's obviously challenging to you know,
be in this space without her. I've never been in
the friends and Nold as my coach. So yeah, like
(02:42):
I said, around precedented and obviously I think at the
core there's you know, people who love playing netball, who
want to be a part of netball and contrary to
the black streets, to this environment, and so I guess
for things to have turned in the way they have
is really challenging to you know, see the game and
the team and the people you care about, I guess
(03:03):
in the situation for just navigating that as it comes.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, is there a difference of opinion within the playing
group about.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
This, I won't say show I think what we have
shared view on and knowing that there's a job at
hand and need to get that done and there hasn't
sent that much opportunity for us to speculate or to
you know, add to rumor for us what was what's
in shape of us, but enough for us to have
(03:34):
a united I guess point of view and going forward
and being united with one of our king values. And
so that's really guided us in terms of getting around
all the players in the group and ensuring that the
people you can't we have in this face experiencing a
typical fill of friends environment as as standard as it
(03:54):
can be given the circumstances, but having a positive experience
and have as much confidence in their abilities and training
under their about to perform. And that's kind of the
shared view we have this playing group.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Do you think she'll come back?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
I can't say. I the messaging has been that that
kind of fits. It's about my pay grade. This shall
come back, and I'm not sure that much that we
can do about that. I would love to see Knowls
back and that's obviously a challenging situation, but whether it
she'll come back or not, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So how have you put this order one side and
prepared for three test matches to come against South Africa.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, it's not been easy, and it's a massive kudos
to the playing group and the staff and support systems
that we have around us to be given a space
space to express how we're feeling and be candid and
be open about how challenging this situation has been, and
to have that time and then be able to refit,
(04:59):
and I feel Foss has been that ability to departmental
life and put that to a side given that we
have a job to We have some great coaches who
have come in to support this group, who have you know,
paid a lot to be here to guide us, and
we're very grateful to a Bit and Leanna for taking
one opportunity to take control of this team in the meantime,
(05:22):
and they've been fantastic and understanding the delata tree of
the situation and wanting us to you know, feel how
we want to feel, but also with the understand that
we have to perform.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, that word compartmentalized is a great one, I'd imagine.
I don't know, but you must just be looking forward
to getting out there and playing netball, are you.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, I think at the end of the day,
that's why we're all here. It's what we love doing.
And you know, us players don't really want to get
inso much of the polity. Probably just want to food
up and get out there. So that is the exciting part.
And it's been you know, a long time coming for
me having been out for a wee while and also
for a lot of these Gibby contents. There. It's their
(06:05):
first time and space and it's special and it's a privilege.
And so just to be able to take caught as
a group we take.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I look at the shooters and no Amelia, Ranny Canacio,
No Maa Wilson, Tiana Maturo, Amelia Warmsley's not in this team,
she's playing age group stuff. So the other shooters Martina Salmon,
Georgia Heaven and Fielder Vui. How much more of a
leadership role will you play with less experience there in
the shooting circle?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, I definitely it's not lost for me the experience
in our group, especially the shooters and the gaps that
there are, but I see those gaps and experience a
huge opportunity for growth, not only for both players that
for myself, I'm excited by the opportunity to you know,
she thinks that leadership space more and I really believe
that my job hasn't changed. I think I can lead
(06:53):
by just shooting well and being available and using my voice.
And so it's really exciting for this group and to
have new blood and fresh spaces who are hungry and eager,
and for me, individual started to see how they shift
and what we're able to do. It's just really really
fantastic players, so much to give and amazing combinations. So
(07:14):
seeing them my training the fleet has been fantastic and
I can't like to see all the girls.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Take court and you, Karen Berger, Kelly Jackson, and Kate
hefferen and are all co captains, So how will that work?
How has that been working this week?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, it's been fantastic. I think being able to lean
on each other, especially players being across different parts of
the court and having different levels of captains experience has
been great for me in the sensive learning off them
and understanding what kind of captain I want to be
and where I see myself fitting in, but also just
sharing that load of leadership, especially given the current space
(07:51):
of the team at the moment, So just being able
to share the pressure and lean on each other a
bit more and be a lot for one person's taken
at the moment. So I think it's fantastic to have
three others around me and like wise me be able
to support the other and all parts of the job.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And it's been a while since the Silver Ferns have
played South Africa, so have you managed to get a
gauge on the threats that they'll pose to you across
these three games.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, absolutely, spend a lot of time in camp, you know,
studying video and looking at what we're coming up against
and preparing the game plans and the like, and it's
an exciting opportunity. They're a very strong, fied, very athletic,
They have a lot of firepower and both ends of
the court, lots of hungry up and coming players. So
it's a really good opportunity to test ourselves against them
(08:38):
and really see where we're at in international benchmark. It's
been a long time since you've played them, and yeah,
there's an element of unknown, but I guess it's e
starting for us to really see the measure up.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And of course your presence here as a result of
the change in eligibility rules, and I know that's now
sort of done and dusted and thank goodness that that
it's finally come to fruition. But when you reflect back
on that time now, Grace, how do you reflect upon it?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, it was a bit of a real wind. I
guess it's time last year knowing that I would be
able to see out the international season, but that would
be the end of it. For who ever knows when,
and it was hard to think about the future and
what that could look like for me and didn't know
when I'd be able to put the dricts back on again.
So I think the fast forwards now and be in
this place as women are very grateful for and the
(09:27):
way that the starts have aligned, and not only for myself,
with the other players who are also able to take
on the opportunity to play overseas. I think it's fantastic
and I've been saying that I do believe it could
win when and I really do mean that, both for
the players who are able to challenge themselves and grow
with individuals, but also for the game in New Zealand
and the opportunity that it opens up for pathways to
(09:50):
younger players and opportunities to get up an aim dipremiership.
So it's exciting and I'd be very grateful to be
back here in the team that I love, with the
girls that I've grown up from a hoot Fallworth and
I'm just so happy to be taking courtworth.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It'd be great to be talking about some netpell on
the court. Grace, thanks for taking the time. All the
best in this three game series against South Africa.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, thanks so much, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
You, Grace, Grace WICKI there out of the Silver Ferns
seven forty Tonight, seven forty Wednesday, seven forty next Sunday.
All of those games incidentally are live on Gold Sport
and iHeartRadio, so you can tune in and hear what
happens on the court. Look, I mean, clearly, this has
been hugely disruptive to the players and I'd imagine there
would be divided opinion in the team over this has
(10:35):
to be and there's no clarity that beyond this series.
The Silver Ferns, after this three game series against South Africa,
played the Constellation Cup four Tests against Australia next month.
Two home to away is Dame noling Toto. We're going
to be back for those games. If not what happens.
The reason she's not there for these games is because
(10:57):
of this ongoing investigation and the fact that as I
understand it anyway, these issues, whatever they were, were raised
a long time ago and it's only now only now
that they have seen fit to open this investigation, and
that's got so close to this tiny Jamerson series that
(11:18):
they've had to bring an Evon Evett rather McCausland jury
to be coach, and she said, look after the third game,
I'm going back to my job. I'm going back to
my teaching job. So she doesn't want the job full time.
It's just a mess, isn't it just an absolute mess?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Look?
Speaker 2 (11:38):
New Zealand ship beat South Africa. We're a better netball
team than they are. And thankfully we're going to talk
about some on court stuff. But you don't envy the
playing group in all of this, and what about netball fans?
Text here, Gray says she doesn't want to get into
the politics of it. That's great, but this is all
the sport has become now own goal after own goal, eligibility,
(11:59):
TV deals, alleged player revolts, zero transparency. Explain all of
that to a ten year old fan. It's a very
good point.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Zedbin Netball on the Court Thankfully. The Tiny Jamison Neple
series starts tonight in Auckland. The Silver Ferns up against
South Africa in a three game series. Game one event
Finder Stadium Center Pass tonight at seven forty, Game two
in Napier Wednesday night, same time, then in the Cargo
(00:31):
next Sunday evening again at seven forty. Silver Fern Shooter
and one of a four strong leadership group, Grace Wekett
is with us. Grace, let's address the elephant in the
room to start with. How challenging a time has this
been with Dame Noline Todua being stood down as your
head coach.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, it's been very challenging. I think the words that
I've been using a lot the past few weeks has
been unprecedented. Sabby through a challenge and it's un chartered
borders for only myself, but the entire staff and Niple
New Villain and the whole playing group. So we've really
had to compartmentalize and take things one day at a
(01:13):
time and focused on Natash at Hands, which is taking
this theory through book.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
How was this explained to the players.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
There's lots of conversations that we've had with then the
playing group, communications from the Players Association along with Peple,
New Villain, and I guess some player for them to
be more than others. But a lot of the team
messaging has been about Silly Villain and the staffing group,
(01:42):
you know, as we mentioned in the media earlier, still
being in negotiations and trying to come to resolution and
until they're able to you know, fought out their quote
unquote dispute. No, it's not able to come into the
training environment. And obviously they've got the complete city and
I'm sure more context than that, but yeah, that's pretty
(02:03):
much a crux of it. And for us, as you know,
in ways of going if it has been we've had
to really just band together and be able to put
down and say what we need to but come together
to playing to get the job done.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
How how was how is your relationship with Dane Nolan?
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I have the utmost to to know. She's a fantastic person,
fantastic coach and the year that I've been coached her,
I foul very lucky to have been led by her
and to have learnt off her, and we do have
a strong relationships, so it's obviously challenging to you know,
be in this space without her. I've never been in
the friends and Nold as my coach. So yeah, like
(02:42):
I said, around precedented and obviously I think at the
core there's you know, people who love playing netball, who
want to be a part of netball and contrary to
the black streets, to this environment, and so I guess
for things to have turned in the way they have
is really challenging to you know, see the game and
the team and the people you care about, I guess
(03:03):
in the situation for just navigating that as it comes.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Yeah, is there a difference of opinion within the playing
group about.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
This, I won't say show I think what we have
shared view on and knowing that there's a job at
hand and need to get that done and there hasn't
sent that much opportunity for us to speculate or to
you know, add to rumor for us what was what's
in shape of us, but enough for us to have
(03:34):
a united I guess point of view and going forward
and being united with one of our king values. And
so that's really guided us in terms of getting around
all the players in the group and ensuring that the
people you can't we have in this face experiencing a
typical fill of friends environment as as standard as it
(03:54):
can be given the circumstances, but having a positive experience
and have as much confidence in their abilities and training
under their about to perform. And that's kind of the
shared view we have this playing group.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Do you think she'll come back?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
I can't say. I the messaging has been that that
kind of fits. It's about my pay grade. This shall
come back, and I'm not sure that much that we
can do about that. I would love to see Knowls
back and that's obviously a challenging situation, but whether it
she'll come back or not, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
So how have you put this order one side and
prepared for three test matches to come against South Africa.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, it's not been easy, and it's a massive kudos
to the playing group and the staff and support systems
that we have around us to be given a space
space to express how we're feeling and be candid and
be open about how challenging this situation has been, and
to have that time and then be able to refit,
(04:59):
and I feel Foss has been that ability to departmental
life and put that to a side given that we
have a job to We have some great coaches who
have come in to support this group, who have you know,
paid a lot to be here to guide us, and
we're very grateful to a Bit and Leanna for taking
one opportunity to take control of this team in the meantime,
(05:22):
and they've been fantastic and understanding the delata tree of
the situation and wanting us to you know, feel how
we want to feel, but also with the understand that
we have to perform.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, that word compartmentalized is a great one, I'd imagine.
I don't know, but you must just be looking forward
to getting out there and playing netball, are you.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, I think at the end of the day,
that's why we're all here. It's what we love doing.
And you know, us players don't really want to get
inso much of the polity. Probably just want to food
up and get out there. So that is the exciting part.
And it's been you know, a long time coming for
me having been out for a wee while and also
for a lot of these Gibby contents. There. It's their
(06:05):
first time and space and it's special and it's a privilege.
And so just to be able to take caught as
a group we take.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
I look at the shooters and no Amelia, Ranny Canacio,
No Maa Wilson, Tiana Maturo, Amelia Warmsley's not in this team,
she's playing age group stuff. So the other shooters Martina Salmon,
Georgia Heaven and Fielder Vui. How much more of a
leadership role will you play with less experience there in
the shooting circle?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, I definitely it's not lost for me the experience
in our group, especially the shooters and the gaps that
there are, but I see those gaps and experience a
huge opportunity for growth, not only for both players that
for myself, I'm excited by the opportunity to you know,
she thinks that leadership space more and I really believe
that my job hasn't changed. I think I can lead
(06:53):
by just shooting well and being available and using my voice.
And so it's really exciting for this group and to
have new blood and fresh spaces who are hungry and eager,
and for me, individual started to see how they shift
and what we're able to do. It's just really really
fantastic players, so much to give and amazing combinations. So
(07:14):
seeing them my training the fleet has been fantastic and
I can't like to see all the girls.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Take court and you, Karen Berger, Kelly Jackson, and Kate
hefferen and are all co captains, So how will that work?
How has that been working this week?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Yeah, it's been fantastic. I think being able to lean
on each other, especially players being across different parts of
the court and having different levels of captains experience has
been great for me in the sensive learning off them
and understanding what kind of captain I want to be
and where I see myself fitting in, but also just
sharing that load of leadership, especially given the current space
(07:51):
of the team at the moment, So just being able
to share the pressure and lean on each other a
bit more and be a lot for one person's taken
at the moment. So I think it's fantastic to have
three others around me and like wise me be able
to support the other and all parts of the job.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And it's been a while since the Silver Ferns have
played South Africa, so have you managed to get a
gauge on the threats that they'll pose to you across
these three games.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yeah, absolutely, spend a lot of time in camp, you know,
studying video and looking at what we're coming up against
and preparing the game plans and the like, and it's
an exciting opportunity. They're a very strong, fied, very athletic,
They have a lot of firepower and both ends of
the court, lots of hungry up and coming players. So
it's a really good opportunity to test ourselves against them
(08:38):
and really see where we're at in international benchmark. It's
been a long time since you've played them, and yeah,
there's an element of unknown, but I guess it's e
starting for us to really see the measure up.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
And of course your presence here as a result of
the change in eligibility rules, and I know that's now
sort of done and dusted and thank goodness that that
it's finally come to fruition. But when you reflect back
on that time now, Grace, how do you reflect upon it?
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yeah, it was a bit of a real wind. I
guess it's time last year knowing that I would be
able to see out the international season, but that would
be the end of it. For who ever knows when,
and it was hard to think about the future and
what that could look like for me and didn't know
when I'd be able to put the dricts back on again.
So I think the fast forwards now and be in
this place as women are very grateful for and the
(09:27):
way that the starts have aligned, and not only for myself,
with the other players who are also able to take
on the opportunity to play overseas. I think it's fantastic
and I've been saying that I do believe it could
win when and I really do mean that, both for
the players who are able to challenge themselves and grow
with individuals, but also for the game in New Zealand
and the opportunity that it opens up for pathways to
(09:50):
younger players and opportunities to get up an aim dipremiership.
So it's exciting and I'd be very grateful to be
back here in the team that I love, with the
girls that I've grown up from a hoot Fallworth and
I'm just so happy to be taking courtworth.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
It'd be great to be talking about some netpell on
the court. Grace, thanks for taking the time. All the
best in this three game series against South Africa.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Yeah, thanks so much, No, thank.
Speaker 2 (10:13):
You, Grace, Grace WICKI there out of the Silver Ferns
seven forty Tonight, seven forty Wednesday, seven forty next Sunday.
All of those games incidentally are live on Gold Sport
and iHeartRadio, so you can tune in and hear what
happens on the court. Look, I mean, clearly, this has
been hugely disruptive to the players and I'd imagine there
would be divided opinion in the team over this has
(10:35):
to be and there's no clarity that beyond this series.
The Silver Ferns, after this three game series against South Africa,
played the Constellation Cup four Tests against Australia next month.
Two home to away is Dame noling Toto. We're going
to be back for those games. If not what happens.
The reason she's not there for these games is because
(10:57):
of this ongoing investigation and the fact that as I
understand it anyway, these issues, whatever they were, were raised
a long time ago and it's only now only now
that they have seen fit to open this investigation, and
that's got so close to this tiny Jamerson series that
(11:18):
they've had to bring an Evon Evett rather McCausland jury
to be coach, and she said, look after the third game,
I'm going back to my job. I'm going back to
my teaching job. So she doesn't want the job full time.
It's just a mess, isn't it just an absolute mess?
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Look?
Speaker 2 (11:38):
New Zealand ship beat South Africa. We're a better netball
team than they are. And thankfully we're going to talk
about some on court stuff. But you don't envy the
playing group in all of this, and what about netball fans?
Text here, Gray says she doesn't want to get into
the politics of it. That's great, but this is all
the sport has become now own goal after own goal, eligibility,
(11:59):
TV deals, alleged player revolts, zero transparency. Explain all of
that to a ten year old fan. It's a very
good point.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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