August 17, 2024 • 9 mins
The Silver Ferns will be missing Grace Nweke next season as the shooter will be making a shift over to Australia.
The 22-year-old has signed on with the New South Wales Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball competition, leaving her ineligible for the Silver Ferns.
Nweke joined Jason Pine for a chat about her decision, and what went into making it.
“I was definitely feeling like I needed a change up just in, both lifestyle, and in my netball, and I guess that life experience with a big move.”
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Zed b Let's Bring in Grace Wiki. Now, Grace, thanks
for holding and having a chat to us. How long
have you been thinking about this?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Thank you? It's been to me. I have been thinking
about for a week while now I would be to
me like I needed to change up, just in both
lifestyle and in my netball and I guess that life
experience is a big move. But it was just really
hard to figure out how it would all play out
and where would certainly.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Best and how did you land on New South Wales.
What were the main factors that tipped it in their favor?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing was knowing that they
needed a shooter so there was availability for me, So
that gave me a lot of confidence. And I guess
having that relationship with grinding in the past earlier this
year at Jantor, that made it a lot easier to
kind of feel comfortable in approaching them and seeing if
there was a room for me.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Were there times during the decision making process where you
were leaning towards not going Oh.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, absolutely, I think my e been flowed for most
of I'd say the better part of the past two
months really just I guess understanding the landscape and the
implications of signing and what that would mean for my film,
for eligibility, as well as I guess just the what
it means to move. I've never lived a way somehow
I'm out of Auckland, and so just taking on such
(01:34):
a big lifestyle change, I was very wary of the
implications of that, but I feel like with the support
of my coaches and the people around me, I was
able to make an informed decision.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, they do say that Sydney is just a bigger
version of Auckland's, so I think you should be you
should be Okay. How much did the fact that you
can't play for New Zealand next year factor into your thinking?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, said and massively. I think I love being in
the black dress. I loved being a silver throne, and
so I really was justly I was really that was
the way that it had to play out. But I
respect decision making there and so that's kind of what
kept me from really, you know, biting the bullet on
the decision. It was just understanding that opportunity cost and
(02:18):
whether that was worth it.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Or not.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
And I think it's easy for me to sign now
knowing that I can still play at the end of
this year, but it won't really hurt or become you know,
real for me until this time next year if that
rule remains the same.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So do you think there might be some flexibility on
it once you get over there? Do you think there
could be further discussion?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I mean, I mean steffishly, I hope. So I hope
that Nipble New Zealands allowed not just myself but all
sort off owne players to give Ousie a go. But
in the same breath, I can understand what they're why
they've done it, and we need to continue to grow
the game of New Zealand and keep our pathway strong.
(02:59):
And I feel that it's hard to comment on what
they're going to do and what the future holds and
with that rule change. But me personally, I really I
can still be eligible next year.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Was but it was it just a hard no when
you talked about it initially within Born New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, it was more the understanding that I didn't meet
the eligibility criteria. I've played thirty Capture with Phil the
Ferns and all players who have been given an exception
had played at least one hundred and that was a
bit of a that was very made very clear that
was the requirement, and so I understood early on that
I would not be eligible, and so it was kind
(03:35):
of like, in a way that was a hard no.
I just understood that I just wasn't going to meet
the criteria. Is it about gutting, Yeah, absolutely. I think
my why is quite complicated, and one of the big
factness for me was just wanting to be a bit
of player. I feel like the you know, the net
World Cups in twenty twenty seven and between now and then,
(03:55):
I want to be the best in the world, and
I know that to do that, I had to challenge
myself and grow my game in a, you know, a
really fast paced environment. And I think having that change
to Sidney and new players and staff and facilities and
culture will only grown me as a person, but also
will massively shift my game in a way that I
feel that I'll be better able to compete against the
(04:15):
best defenders in the world come World Cups. And so
I'm doing this to be a better sil referrent. I'm
doing this to be a better person, and that's kind
of what's driving me, and so I guess to have
the results of that move see my inaligibility. It's quite tough,
so again the opportunity costs, so hopefully it kind of
works itself out.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah. Well, I think everybody listening would be nodding their
head in agreement with you as you say you'll no
doubt come back a better player, a more rounded player
against different defenders. How much do you think you'll improve
as a netballer by playing in the Australian competition.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, I honestly, I'm really confident that I'm going to
get better. There are times in AMD where you know,
we have some hard games, we have not so hard games,
and I think sometimes I get a bit comfortable at
a bit casual. And I've been here the past six
years and I feel like I've done so much in
this league. But I really want to be able to,
(05:12):
you know, be out of my comfort zone and really
have to shift and learn learn quickly. I want to
be shoulders and I want to have the defenders on
my back, players around me pushing me, and I feel
that being over there will really do that for me.
I feel like having a new coaching staff, and that
change of environment will really bring up the best in
my game.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
That is amazing self awareness, because you could easily just say,
you know what, I'm fine here. We just won. We
just won the we just won the trophy. Yeah, everything's
going well. What drives that grace? Have you always been
this motivated?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah? I feel I always have. I'm very hard on myself.
I'm very critical of my performances, and I know that
I want to be the best in the world, and
so to do that, you have to play the best
in the world. You have to be in challenging environments.
And so I've always been had quite high expectations, and
I feel like maybe this season, I think with the
(06:09):
injuries in and out, I've kind of been a bit
of a lull or opened the bit of a rap
with my game. And I really just want to get
to a place where I'm just exposed and able to learn.
And I read a court the other day that said
comfort a suicides, and yeah, I think I am just
comfortable and I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Be amazing, amazing, and definitely just one year, there's a
calm games we think in twenty twenty six, is this
definitely just for next year or is it just for
next year at the moment.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, it's really hard to say. I signed for one
year and I'm just taking everything one campaign at a time.
You know, I'm actually got my focus from the Silver
Prine season coming up, and then when that's done, I'll
share my focus to the Worst for twenty twenty five
and hopefully a successful campaign there, and then whatever happens
in there. I'm just going to see what the landchet
looks like in terms of eligibility and person now, and
(06:58):
you know where my body is at, where my game
is at, and then come back with when you I
guess understanding of what my next steps looks like.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Is it nice to have the news out there? It's
been out there for about twenty four hours now, Is
it nice? Nice now that just everybody knows.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah? Absolutely. It felt like this big dark cloud out
of me in a way of not being able to
tell people who you know, I love and who support
me want the best of me. So it just started
a bit like I was lying to people or just
like spitting on some big news. So it feels really
good to be able to just celebrate it. I guess
with my team last night and just like enjoy the
(07:32):
moment a bit more so. Yeah, it's nice to have
it out.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I just think it's great. I think it's a it's
a credit to you that you've made this decision to
jump out of your comfort zone, which you easily could
have not done. We wish you all the best obviously
you've got the Silver Ferns campaign back into this year,
which we'll enjoy watching you playing. But all the best
over in Sydney next year, Grace, and we can't wait
to have you back after that.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yeah, thanks so much, me too, thanks for.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Joining us, Grace. Grace wiki there off to the new
south Well Swifts for next season. So she'll play for
the Silver Ferns against England and Australia in the next
couple of months or so. Then at some stage, I
guess late in the year or early in the new year,
head across to Australia play for the Swifts. Interesting to
hear say that she hopes that the eligibility rules might change.
(08:18):
I'm sure that Dame Nolan Todhua would be saying to
Matt one day, the chair of the board, Hey, can
we you know, can you throw us a bone here?
She's so good and there's really no other shooter at
her level here. But I guess once you do that,
you open up this can of worms, don't you the
(08:38):
Pandora's box. It's almost an identical situation to New Zealand rugby.
Doesn't matter who you are, you have to be playing
super rugby to play for the All Blacks. That is
exactly Netborne New Zealand stance, and in a way you
have to admire it that they're sticking to their guns
even when their best player, you know, or one of
their most valuable players has taken up this opportunity and
(09:00):
therefore is ruled out for next year. I think I
would worry more if it was the year after and
then the year after that, with the Calm Games and
the World Cup. That Grace Wiki was ruled out quite
early on in the last World Cup with an injury,
so clearly she still covets wearing that black dress a lot,
(09:21):
and so if it is just the one year, then
so be it. But it's an interesting little tester for
Netburn New Zealand. They've entered into the world where the
All Blacks and New Zealand rugby have been for a while.
Now hasn't really been that prevalent with the silver ferns,
but I think Grace Week is a great test case
for them. Will be interesting to see how they react
to it.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Zed b Let's Bring in Grace Wiki. Now, Grace, thanks
for holding and having a chat to us. How long
have you been thinking about this?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Thank you? It's been to me. I have been thinking
about for a week while now I would be to
me like I needed to change up, just in both
lifestyle and in my netball and I guess that life
experience is a big move. But it was just really
hard to figure out how it would all play out
and where would certainly.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Best and how did you land on New South Wales.
What were the main factors that tipped it in their favor?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Yeah, I think the biggest thing was knowing that they
needed a shooter so there was availability for me, So
that gave me a lot of confidence. And I guess
having that relationship with grinding in the past earlier this
year at Jantor, that made it a lot easier to
kind of feel comfortable in approaching them and seeing if
there was a room for me.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Were there times during the decision making process where you
were leaning towards not going Oh.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Yeah, absolutely, I think my e been flowed for most
of I'd say the better part of the past two
months really just I guess understanding the landscape and the
implications of signing and what that would mean for my film,
for eligibility, as well as I guess just the what
it means to move. I've never lived a way somehow
I'm out of Auckland, and so just taking on such
(01:34):
a big lifestyle change, I was very wary of the
implications of that, but I feel like with the support
of my coaches and the people around me, I was
able to make an informed decision.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, they do say that Sydney is just a bigger
version of Auckland's, so I think you should be you
should be Okay. How much did the fact that you
can't play for New Zealand next year factor into your thinking?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, said and massively. I think I love being in
the black dress. I loved being a silver throne, and
so I really was justly I was really that was
the way that it had to play out. But I
respect decision making there and so that's kind of what
kept me from really, you know, biting the bullet on
the decision. It was just understanding that opportunity cost and
(02:18):
whether that was worth it.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
Or not.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
And I think it's easy for me to sign now
knowing that I can still play at the end of
this year, but it won't really hurt or become you know,
real for me until this time next year if that
rule remains the same.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So do you think there might be some flexibility on
it once you get over there? Do you think there
could be further discussion?
Speaker 3 (02:38):
I mean, I mean steffishly, I hope. So I hope
that Nipble New Zealands allowed not just myself but all
sort off owne players to give Ousie a go. But
in the same breath, I can understand what they're why
they've done it, and we need to continue to grow
the game of New Zealand and keep our pathway strong.
(02:59):
And I feel that it's hard to comment on what
they're going to do and what the future holds and
with that rule change. But me personally, I really I
can still be eligible next year.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Was but it was it just a hard no when
you talked about it initially within Born New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Yeah, it was more the understanding that I didn't meet
the eligibility criteria. I've played thirty Capture with Phil the
Ferns and all players who have been given an exception
had played at least one hundred and that was a
bit of a that was very made very clear that
was the requirement, and so I understood early on that
I would not be eligible, and so it was kind
(03:35):
of like, in a way that was a hard no.
I just understood that I just wasn't going to meet
the criteria. Is it about gutting, Yeah, absolutely. I think
my why is quite complicated, and one of the big
factness for me was just wanting to be a bit
of player. I feel like the you know, the net
World Cups in twenty twenty seven and between now and then,
(03:55):
I want to be the best in the world, and
I know that to do that, I had to challenge
myself and grow my game in a, you know, a
really fast paced environment. And I think having that change
to Sidney and new players and staff and facilities and
culture will only grown me as a person, but also
will massively shift my game in a way that I
feel that I'll be better able to compete against the
(04:15):
best defenders in the world come World Cups. And so
I'm doing this to be a better sil referrent. I'm
doing this to be a better person, and that's kind
of what's driving me, and so I guess to have
the results of that move see my inaligibility. It's quite tough,
so again the opportunity costs, so hopefully it kind of
works itself out.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Yeah. Well, I think everybody listening would be nodding their
head in agreement with you as you say you'll no
doubt come back a better player, a more rounded player
against different defenders. How much do you think you'll improve
as a netballer by playing in the Australian competition.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, I honestly, I'm really confident that I'm going to
get better. There are times in AMD where you know,
we have some hard games, we have not so hard games,
and I think sometimes I get a bit comfortable at
a bit casual. And I've been here the past six
years and I feel like I've done so much in
this league. But I really want to be able to,
(05:12):
you know, be out of my comfort zone and really
have to shift and learn learn quickly. I want to
be shoulders and I want to have the defenders on
my back, players around me pushing me, and I feel
that being over there will really do that for me.
I feel like having a new coaching staff, and that
change of environment will really bring up the best in
my game.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
That is amazing self awareness, because you could easily just say,
you know what, I'm fine here. We just won. We
just won the we just won the trophy. Yeah, everything's
going well. What drives that grace? Have you always been
this motivated?
Speaker 3 (05:48):
Yeah? I feel I always have. I'm very hard on myself.
I'm very critical of my performances, and I know that
I want to be the best in the world, and
so to do that, you have to play the best
in the world. You have to be in challenging environments.
And so I've always been had quite high expectations, and
I feel like maybe this season, I think with the
(06:09):
injuries in and out, I've kind of been a bit
of a lull or opened the bit of a rap
with my game. And I really just want to get
to a place where I'm just exposed and able to learn.
And I read a court the other day that said
comfort a suicides, and yeah, I think I am just
comfortable and I don't want to.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Be amazing, amazing, and definitely just one year, there's a
calm games we think in twenty twenty six, is this
definitely just for next year or is it just for
next year at the moment.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Yeah, it's really hard to say. I signed for one
year and I'm just taking everything one campaign at a time.
You know, I'm actually got my focus from the Silver
Prine season coming up, and then when that's done, I'll
share my focus to the Worst for twenty twenty five
and hopefully a successful campaign there, and then whatever happens
in there. I'm just going to see what the landchet
looks like in terms of eligibility and person now, and
(06:58):
you know where my body is at, where my game
is at, and then come back with when you I
guess understanding of what my next steps looks like.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Is it nice to have the news out there? It's
been out there for about twenty four hours now, Is
it nice? Nice now that just everybody knows.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Yeah? Absolutely. It felt like this big dark cloud out
of me in a way of not being able to
tell people who you know, I love and who support
me want the best of me. So it just started
a bit like I was lying to people or just
like spitting on some big news. So it feels really
good to be able to just celebrate it. I guess
with my team last night and just like enjoy the
(07:32):
moment a bit more so. Yeah, it's nice to have
it out.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I just think it's great. I think it's a it's
a credit to you that you've made this decision to
jump out of your comfort zone, which you easily could
have not done. We wish you all the best obviously
you've got the Silver Ferns campaign back into this year,
which we'll enjoy watching you playing. But all the best
over in Sydney next year, Grace, and we can't wait
to have you back after that.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yeah, thanks so much, me too, thanks for.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Joining us, Grace. Grace wiki there off to the new
south Well Swifts for next season. So she'll play for
the Silver Ferns against England and Australia in the next
couple of months or so. Then at some stage, I
guess late in the year or early in the new year,
head across to Australia play for the Swifts. Interesting to
hear say that she hopes that the eligibility rules might change.
(08:18):
I'm sure that Dame Nolan Todhua would be saying to
Matt one day, the chair of the board, Hey, can
we you know, can you throw us a bone here?
She's so good and there's really no other shooter at
her level here. But I guess once you do that,
you open up this can of worms, don't you the
(08:38):
Pandora's box. It's almost an identical situation to New Zealand rugby.
Doesn't matter who you are, you have to be playing
super rugby to play for the All Blacks. That is
exactly Netborne New Zealand stance, and in a way you
have to admire it that they're sticking to their guns
even when their best player, you know, or one of
their most valuable players has taken up this opportunity and
(09:00):
therefore is ruled out for next year. I think I
would worry more if it was the year after and
then the year after that, with the Calm Games and
the World Cup. That Grace Wiki was ruled out quite
early on in the last World Cup with an injury,
so clearly she still covets wearing that black dress a lot,
(09:21):
and so if it is just the one year, then
so be it. But it's an interesting little tester for
Netburn New Zealand. They've entered into the world where the
All Blacks and New Zealand rugby have been for a while.
Now hasn't really been that prevalent with the silver ferns,
but I think Grace Week is a great test case
for them. Will be interesting to see how they react
to it.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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