May 9, 2025 • 11 mins
Netball New Zealand may be changing up its eligibility rules.
The body says it's currently looking at them, as the ANZ Premiership gets under way today without leading Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke.
The 23-year-old isn't available for the Ferns as she's based in Australia this season.
Netball NZ chair Matt Whineray says it's about maintaining a high-performance professional system here.
He told Piney they’re trying to balance a bunch of stakeholder interests – it's not about one player.
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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 ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So uncertainty continues over the prospect of our top netball
shooter playing for New Zealand in twenty twenty five. Para
conin thank would be the take of the day.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I think Grace Wicking how did she keep that alive?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
So, as I'm sure you'll know, Grace WEEKI made the
decision to play her domestic netball in Australia this year
instead of playing in our am Z Premiership which gets
underway this weekend. Now, the current rules prevent anyone who
doesn't play their netball domestically from representing New Zealand, but
Netball New Zealand CEO Jenny Wiley said this week that
(00:55):
the board is continuing to review its guidelines around this.
Let's find out how that's going. Chair of Netball New
Zealand is Matt Winnaday who joins us now. Matt, thanks
so much for taking the time for a chat to
us to give us some clarity here. When is the
board likely to make a decision around Grace Wiki's eligibility
for the Silver Ferns this year?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Thanks Jason, Look the question of eligibility and the date
of that policy is a live conversation with the board
at the moment, and we'll continue to work through that.
I haven't got a time train for you right now,
but I have to say it is definitely a live conversation.
We are continuing to have it. And really, if you
think about it, what we're trying to do is bu
(01:37):
into a bunch of stakeholder stakeholder interests here. This is
not about a single player. It's it's about our system.
You know, We've got a very strong We've got a
visible competition in the AMSI Premiership, which gives our nearly
one hundred and fifty thousand registered players something to aspire to,
and our one million silver fan great nettle to watch
(01:59):
in our sixty professional athletes and coaches and their coaches
an opportunity to learn earn a living in the sport
that they love. We've also, of course got players who
are looking to get experiences, broaden your experiences, and a
silver fernd's coach who wants to put a great team
on the court. So so we've got the task of
(02:19):
making sure that that policy is such a purpose and
balancing all of the stakeholder interests and that's what we're
working through at the moment and will continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So how does a strong A and Z premiership or
having a strong A and Z premiership, how is that
affected by Grace Wiki playing for the Silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Well, they said, this is about this is about the
broader system, So it's about it's not about making a
rule for a for an individual player. This is about
making sure that we've got a policy that works and
so that that's what we're thinking about at the moment
is what what what's the what's the right setting for
that policy that can that can address you know, those
(03:01):
different stakeholder interests that instead of I mentioned, oh.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Look man, everyone understands there's a wider issue here, absolutely
wider than just one player. But if we talk about
Grace Wiki here because she's the one that we're most
interested in, everyone, her coach, her teammates, the fans, they
all want Grace to play for New Zealand. So why
wouldn't you grant that?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So this is this is not a This is not
about an individual. This is about this is about getting
that that system setting right so that we've got all
of those all of those stakeholder interests being being addressed
and considered by the board. So and that will that
will ultimately result in decisions being made about individual players eligibility.
(03:42):
But the conversation we're having the board at the moment,
we don't at the moment have an application in front
of us. But the conversation we're having at the board
is what is the right setting to make sure that
we that we balance all of those stakeholder interests. And
obviously everybody's very interested about how that applies to one
player being Grace, and we've got we've got massive respect
(04:03):
for Grace's talent and we unders standard that's an important
issue for people. But for us, we've just got to
sort out that those settings and then and then consider
how that applies to individuals. So understand everybody's interests interest
in it. It's obviously the topic of the day. And
and as I say, we'll continue to work through that
(04:24):
and and and reach the reach the right season.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Again, though, Matt, how would Netball's other stakeholders suffer from
you loosening the eligibility rules in this case?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
The way the way it impacts is if we if
we if we provide exemptions to players they obviously play
somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
That changes the visibility of those players and the conribusion
of those players to our domestic and that has impacts
on visibility of that for our for our young players,
has impacts on our commercial partners, has impacts on on
the broader system. So that's the that's that's why I
sort of ran through that list of the potential stakeholder
(05:10):
interest because all of those things are the things that
we're trying to balance.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
In this In this consideration, Grace has been on record
as saying that she's going overseas, has gone overseas, took
this opportunity to make herself a better netballer. Is that
not something Netball New Zealand would encourage.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh, look, we we don't disagree that growth has looks
like she's having a great time this year and she's
playing really well. That's that's the great and that, as
I say, is one of those one of those considerations
for for this, for this decision is you know, what
are those development opportunities for our players, what are their
express interests, what are those other stakeholder interests that were
(05:48):
also balancing. But we understand that that provides you know,
a different a different experience and you know, new opportunities.
So that's all part of the consideration as well.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I guess, and I'm sorry if I'm missing something here, Matt,
but I guess I'm still trying to get my head
around what the downside to letting Grace play for New
Zealand would be.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well, as Jason, which were thinking about this, this is
this for us is how do we think about this
at a system level so that we're not we're not
responding to individual individual player question is obviously that happens
when players make applications, but that we've got a setting
right from a system perspective to to continue to put
on you know, and provide highly visible great great netball
(06:33):
domestically produce good silver Ferns through our high performance pathways
and also be able to respond to interested players.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
You're broadcaster for test matches Sky Sport, would they not
want your best players out there playing for the silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Well, look, we all want we all want a great
product out there, and we all want a good team
out there. But ultimately, at the moment, you know, Grace
Graces has chosen to go over to to play for
the swifts in the in the context of the of
the policy that exists. Now, that's not something that we
(07:10):
can we can stop or something that Sky can stop
at the moment in the context of the current policy.
But yeah, look, we're all aligned and wanting to put
out great product and that is that means, you know,
great products both at the amc P level and the
Silver Foons level.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Can I just get clarity on something. There's been talk
of a trigger point of one hundred caps and when
a player you know, plays one hundred tests for New Zealand,
these eligibility rules no longer apply to them. Is that
a black and white rule or not?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, that's that's right. I'm not sure that you how
that narrative has become the received one, but that's correct.
There's not a that the hundred tests is not a
is not and is not the black and white rule
the players. I think what's happened is that the players
who received attentions in the past have made massive contributions
to the game at all level of in Zealand, including
(08:05):
by playing more than one hundred tests for the Silver Ferns.
But as that I can confirm that that is not
the black and white rule, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Okay, good to have that cleared up. So you mentioned
before you don't currently have an application in front of
you from any player to to test your eligibility rules. Apparently,
so Grace Wiki hasn't made an application to you, through
her representatives or through through the Silver Ferns to request
(08:35):
eligibility to play for New Zealand this year.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think Grace has made her her her her long
term desire to play for the Silver Ferns pretty clear,
and she made that she made that clear also at
the time when she when she announced his decision last year.
So we understand, we understand where Grace is, you know,
ultimate ultimate loyalty lies, which is to the Black Dress
at the moment, that's not that's not possible under our
(09:02):
current eligibility rules. But that's, as I say, the concern
generation the consideration that we're having with the discussion we're
having at the board at the moment, and I.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Just want to absolutely clarify what your main concern is
around allowing her to play, and it is I'm sure
you know valid that if you didn't have to play
domestic netball to play New Zealand or play for New
Zealand in a silver firm situation, then the fear would
be that you'd lose a whole bunch of players on
mass to overseas domestic competitions. Is that is that your
(09:33):
main concern?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yeah, it's just that's what I say.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
That's what I mean when I talk about thinking about
the whole system. So what you what you're talking about.
What we're talking about when we balance all those stakeholder
interests is the interests of the overall system and that means,
you know, are we able to put on a highly visible, strong,
high performance product here in New Zealand, to allow our
(09:58):
fans to aspire toout our players to aspire to that,
our fans to watch out our athletes to play in it,
and making sure that that's a viable product.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Just what I've got you, Matt. Do you have any
clarity around the shape of the A and Z Premiership
next year?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, we've concerned that we're planning for a sixteen premiership
in twenty six. We're still working on commercial broadcast arrangements
at the moment, but needless to say, when we've got
something to announce there, we will. We will definitely do that.
We understand the interest in that, but at the moment, yeah,
we continue to work on that, but we're very focused
(10:34):
on and excited about the impending launch of the twenty
twenty five AMED Premiership this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, look as we all are lot very much looking
forward to seeing how how the competition goes this year.
So just to wrap this, Matt, just back to Grace.
I know, as you've mentioned, you don't have an application
in front of you at the moment. I'm sure that
won't be too far away. When might there be a
decision around all of this.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Look, I don't have a specific timeframe for you, Jason,
I know that you want one, but we'll just keep
doing That is live and it's an important issue for us,
and so we want to make sure we get that
right and we'll keep working on it all right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Matt, thanks for your time on ZEB this afternoon. Really
appreciate it. Thankable, Thanks, no, thank you, Matt, Matt Oneada,
Chair of Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
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 ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
So uncertainty continues over the prospect of our top netball
shooter playing for New Zealand in twenty twenty five. Para
conin thank would be the take of the day.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
I think Grace Wicking how did she keep that alive?
Speaker 2 (00:33):
So, as I'm sure you'll know, Grace WEEKI made the
decision to play her domestic netball in Australia this year
instead of playing in our am Z Premiership which gets
underway this weekend. Now, the current rules prevent anyone who
doesn't play their netball domestically from representing New Zealand, but
Netball New Zealand CEO Jenny Wiley said this week that
(00:55):
the board is continuing to review its guidelines around this.
Let's find out how that's going. Chair of Netball New
Zealand is Matt Winnaday who joins us now. Matt, thanks
so much for taking the time for a chat to
us to give us some clarity here. When is the
board likely to make a decision around Grace Wiki's eligibility
for the Silver Ferns this year?
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Thanks Jason, Look the question of eligibility and the date
of that policy is a live conversation with the board
at the moment, and we'll continue to work through that.
I haven't got a time train for you right now,
but I have to say it is definitely a live conversation.
We are continuing to have it. And really, if you
think about it, what we're trying to do is bu
(01:37):
into a bunch of stakeholder stakeholder interests here. This is
not about a single player. It's it's about our system.
You know, We've got a very strong We've got a
visible competition in the AMSI Premiership, which gives our nearly
one hundred and fifty thousand registered players something to aspire to,
and our one million silver fan great nettle to watch
(01:59):
in our sixty professional athletes and coaches and their coaches
an opportunity to learn earn a living in the sport
that they love. We've also, of course got players who
are looking to get experiences, broaden your experiences, and a
silver fernd's coach who wants to put a great team
on the court. So so we've got the task of
(02:19):
making sure that that policy is such a purpose and
balancing all of the stakeholder interests and that's what we're
working through at the moment and will continue to do that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
So how does a strong A and Z premiership or
having a strong A and Z premiership, how is that
affected by Grace Wiki playing for the Silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Well, they said, this is about this is about the
broader system, So it's about it's not about making a
rule for a for an individual player. This is about
making sure that we've got a policy that works and
so that that's what we're thinking about at the moment
is what what what's the what's the right setting for
that policy that can that can address you know, those
(03:01):
different stakeholder interests that instead of I mentioned, oh.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Look man, everyone understands there's a wider issue here, absolutely
wider than just one player. But if we talk about
Grace Wiki here because she's the one that we're most
interested in, everyone, her coach, her teammates, the fans, they
all want Grace to play for New Zealand. So why
wouldn't you grant that?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
So this is this is not a This is not
about an individual. This is about this is about getting
that that system setting right so that we've got all
of those all of those stakeholder interests being being addressed
and considered by the board. So and that will that
will ultimately result in decisions being made about individual players eligibility.
(03:42):
But the conversation we're having the board at the moment,
we don't at the moment have an application in front
of us. But the conversation we're having at the board
is what is the right setting to make sure that
we that we balance all of those stakeholder interests. And
obviously everybody's very interested about how that applies to one
player being Grace, and we've got we've got massive respect
(04:03):
for Grace's talent and we unders standard that's an important
issue for people. But for us, we've just got to
sort out that those settings and then and then consider
how that applies to individuals. So understand everybody's interests interest
in it. It's obviously the topic of the day. And
and as I say, we'll continue to work through that
(04:24):
and and and reach the reach the right season.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Again, though, Matt, how would Netball's other stakeholders suffer from
you loosening the eligibility rules in this case?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
The way the way it impacts is if we if
we if we provide exemptions to players they obviously play
somewhere else.
Speaker 3 (04:49):
That changes the visibility of those players and the conribusion
of those players to our domestic and that has impacts
on visibility of that for our for our young players,
has impacts on our commercial partners, has impacts on on
the broader system. So that's the that's that's why I
sort of ran through that list of the potential stakeholder
(05:10):
interest because all of those things are the things that
we're trying to balance.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
In this In this consideration, Grace has been on record
as saying that she's going overseas, has gone overseas, took
this opportunity to make herself a better netballer. Is that
not something Netball New Zealand would encourage.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
Oh, look, we we don't disagree that growth has looks
like she's having a great time this year and she's
playing really well. That's that's the great and that, as
I say, is one of those one of those considerations
for for this, for this decision is you know, what
are those development opportunities for our players, what are their
express interests, what are those other stakeholder interests that were
(05:48):
also balancing. But we understand that that provides you know,
a different a different experience and you know, new opportunities.
So that's all part of the consideration as well.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I guess, and I'm sorry if I'm missing something here, Matt,
but I guess I'm still trying to get my head
around what the downside to letting Grace play for New
Zealand would be.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well, as Jason, which were thinking about this, this is
this for us is how do we think about this
at a system level so that we're not we're not
responding to individual individual player question is obviously that happens
when players make applications, but that we've got a setting
right from a system perspective to to continue to put
on you know, and provide highly visible great great netball
(06:33):
domestically produce good silver Ferns through our high performance pathways
and also be able to respond to interested players.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
You're broadcaster for test matches Sky Sport, would they not
want your best players out there playing for the silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Well, look, we all want we all want a great
product out there, and we all want a good team
out there. But ultimately, at the moment, you know, Grace
Graces has chosen to go over to to play for
the swifts in the in the context of the of
the policy that exists. Now, that's not something that we
(07:10):
can we can stop or something that Sky can stop
at the moment in the context of the current policy.
But yeah, look, we're all aligned and wanting to put
out great product and that is that means, you know,
great products both at the amc P level and the
Silver Foons level.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Can I just get clarity on something. There's been talk
of a trigger point of one hundred caps and when
a player you know, plays one hundred tests for New Zealand,
these eligibility rules no longer apply to them. Is that
a black and white rule or not?
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Yeah, that's that's right. I'm not sure that you how
that narrative has become the received one, but that's correct.
There's not a that the hundred tests is not a
is not and is not the black and white rule
the players. I think what's happened is that the players
who received attentions in the past have made massive contributions
to the game at all level of in Zealand, including
(08:05):
by playing more than one hundred tests for the Silver Ferns.
But as that I can confirm that that is not
the black and white rule, gotcha.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Okay, good to have that cleared up. So you mentioned
before you don't currently have an application in front of
you from any player to to test your eligibility rules. Apparently,
so Grace Wiki hasn't made an application to you, through
her representatives or through through the Silver Ferns to request
(08:35):
eligibility to play for New Zealand this year.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
I think Grace has made her her her her long
term desire to play for the Silver Ferns pretty clear,
and she made that she made that clear also at
the time when she when she announced his decision last year.
So we understand, we understand where Grace is, you know,
ultimate ultimate loyalty lies, which is to the Black Dress
at the moment, that's not that's not possible under our
(09:02):
current eligibility rules. But that's, as I say, the concern
generation the consideration that we're having with the discussion we're
having at the board at the moment, and I.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Just want to absolutely clarify what your main concern is
around allowing her to play, and it is I'm sure
you know valid that if you didn't have to play
domestic netball to play New Zealand or play for New
Zealand in a silver firm situation, then the fear would
be that you'd lose a whole bunch of players on
mass to overseas domestic competitions. Is that is that your
(09:33):
main concern?
Speaker 4 (09:35):
Yeah, it's just that's what I say.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
That's what I mean when I talk about thinking about
the whole system. So what you what you're talking about.
What we're talking about when we balance all those stakeholder
interests is the interests of the overall system and that means,
you know, are we able to put on a highly visible, strong,
high performance product here in New Zealand, to allow our
(09:58):
fans to aspire toout our players to aspire to that,
our fans to watch out our athletes to play in it,
and making sure that that's a viable product.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
Just what I've got you, Matt. Do you have any
clarity around the shape of the A and Z Premiership
next year?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, we've concerned that we're planning for a sixteen premiership
in twenty six. We're still working on commercial broadcast arrangements
at the moment, but needless to say, when we've got
something to announce there, we will. We will definitely do that.
We understand the interest in that, but at the moment, yeah,
we continue to work on that, but we're very focused
(10:34):
on and excited about the impending launch of the twenty
twenty five AMED Premiership this weekend.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yeah, look as we all are lot very much looking
forward to seeing how how the competition goes this year.
So just to wrap this, Matt, just back to Grace.
I know, as you've mentioned, you don't have an application
in front of you at the moment. I'm sure that
won't be too far away. When might there be a
decision around all of this.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
Look, I don't have a specific timeframe for you, Jason,
I know that you want one, but we'll just keep
doing That is live and it's an important issue for us,
and so we want to make sure we get that
right and we'll keep working on it all right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Matt, thanks for your time on ZEB this afternoon. Really
appreciate it. Thankable, Thanks, no, thank you, Matt, Matt Oneada,
Chair of Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
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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