August 1, 2026 • 8 mins
The Silver Ferns are confident they can snap their 16-year Commonwealth Games title drought.
New Zealand hasn't won netball gold since the 2010 Delhi Games, but are into the Glasgow final against Jamaica - starting at midnight tonight.
Former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering joined Piney to preview the upcoming match.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
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 ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Silver Ferns will play for the gold medal at the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow tonight. After an emphatic sixty one
fifty four win over England in the Semis, there are
opponents in the final bit of a surprise, they'll play
Jamaica after they downed defending champions Australia forty six to
forty five. New Zealand have already beaten Jamaica fifty three
forty eight in Paul Play. The last time the Silver
(00:34):
Ferns won Commonwealth Games gold was in Deli in twenty ten.
Former Silver Ferns player and coach and now Netble commentator
and analyst Yvonne Willering is with us to preview this one.
First of all, Yvonn, how surprised are you that it's
not Australia in the final. It's Jamaica.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, And I think everyone would have expected that, wouldn't
they have, you know, an Australian New Zealand final. But
for World's netple as a whole, I mean that it
couldn't have been scripted better to have had Joe Jamaica
coming through that. But what gets me is that, I
mean it could have gone either way. To be fair,
right on the buzzer, Australia had an opportunity to draw
(01:12):
the game. But having said that that Jamaica had led throughout.
But now you look at it, Australia has actually done
both Jamaica and New Zealand for that matter, lots of
favors because in that some Corp Super League, that's where
the players are getting all their experience, and certainly the
Jamaican defense they took it to that Australian combination and
(01:34):
you know they were well aware of what they were about.
They've played against them in the sun Corp Super League
and it showed. And so Australia must look at their
league to say, do we really want so many import
players because next year is World Championship.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Here indeed, indeed, well Jamaica getting there. As you're saying,
the game that could have gone either way. By contrast,
I thought the Silver Ferns were excellent against England. What
did you make of their performance in the semi.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, absolutely they were. But also keep it in perspective
when Australia played England, they had an easy one against
them as well. So you know, England, I believe, just
makes too many substitutions. So yeah, it was a situation
right from the start. Though you know, New Zealand meant
business and what I liked about it. We do have
(02:21):
a main lineup. Few changes were made, one or two
tweaks at times, but you know, I think that we
certainly won that game as a whole, and you could
see that it was a team on a mission. And
Kate heffern in particular is playing really, really well and
that is why she is retaining the center. Berths like
some people have criticized rouale of Buchanan playing wing defense
(02:43):
when she hasn't played that. Why she hasn't really played
that at all. Reason for that is because they want
I believe it is because they want to keep the
Burger Jackson combination in circle because that is also really
firing up, and they really want to keep Kate Heffernan
at center rather than putting it back to wing defense,
and it's certainly working for them. My only concern is
(03:04):
we still have a really great reliance on Grayson wiki.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, and I guess when you have Grace in the
shooting circle, there must be that temptation. Evil mustn't there
to try and you know, to feed the ball to
as often as possible. How ready will Jamaica be for
that though, That's what.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
That's the concerns to say, worry, But I mean we
wanted a really good final obviously, and I looked at
Jamaica after that game and they were all over the place,
and I was just wondering whether Jamaica feels that really
has been their final, you know, and often it is
really hard after such a tight game, and it was.
(03:42):
It was a great game, you know, well, and some
people's eyes obviously, you know, whether they can come back
and do it again against New Zealand. Now Jamaica, if
they play to their full mobility and their strength, that
is going to be a close encounter against New Zealand.
Appreciate that the Jamaican defense, they have come up against
(04:05):
Grayson Wiki in the Sun Corpse Super League Super League,
so in theory they should know what to expect, you know,
from the New Zealand attacking end. So you know, it'll
be really interesting to see. And my main thing is,
you know, have Jamaica played their final already?
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, it's a very good point. What about New Zealand's trajectory,
if we can call it that through the tournament? Ivan,
have you seen them improve across the tournament?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah? Absolutely, I think initially I have a look at
it and you're going whoa very hesitant They still I
believe on attack, play the ball back too often. I
think there are opportunities playing the ball forwards. And I'm
not just talking about the big voment of Grayson WICKI
I think just on the whole players need to be
available earlier. I think timing has been out, but certainly
(04:52):
it's a progression. And are they ready for the final?
I think they're as ready as they possibly can be.
And even you know, Hall being injured, and no disrespect
to her, but she was always going to sit behind
the Burger Jackson combination because that has in fact been
grown with every game. But certainly, you know, yeah, even
(05:13):
in that last game, Kate Heathen and not just her
attacking play but also her defensive play. You know, it
was really brilliant for the Ferns and if they can
reproduce that effort, it is going to be I'm expecting
a close encounter, but obviously we're looking for in New
Zealand to gain the gold.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The Burger Jackson defensive pairing. How much of a solid
base has that provided for this team and how crucial
will they again be tonight?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Absolutely? Yeah, absolutely, because I think that Aiken is increasing
in confidence, you know, the big timber in the back
for Jamaica. She is increasing confidence and I thought she
played well against Australia. So again it's a situation we'll
be looking for the ball earlier on. But yeah, I
think that you know, that combinations really worked well probably
(06:01):
in the sun Court Super League. Both those players I
believe had a reasonably caught season, although I think Jackson
gained an award, some award for her Firebirds efforts. But yeah,
I think that she's really come out and you know,
I've probably been not criticized, but certainly said on occasions
that Jackson in particular isn't always what you call the
(06:23):
sixty minute player like she you know, it takes time
for her to come into the game. But against England,
boy New Zealand set the tone. They have to do
exactly the same against Jamaica. They've got to put and
make sure that they've got a number of goals ahead
of them. So that Jamaica doesn't have the support of
the crowd, and they will have quite a bit of
(06:44):
support from the crowd because they always love the underdogs
and obviously they would love for Jamaica to take this out.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
All right, great summary is always our any problem is
getting to midnight tonight New Zealand's time. I'm not preferring
to Isaac klop Seed to pass.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
And I'm honest, yeah, that's really interesting. Ibously going to
be watching the game and it's not the same with
the replayer normally someone damn well tells you the results anyway,
So yeah, but what a way to finish the com
games really and three fair you know, this is this
is positive for netple like even like obviously we've had
our lows during the season for the Silver Ferns, just
(07:20):
to make the finals as a beggie, absolutely they haven't
done it for quite a while, you know, but should
they come out with goals and I'm not saying it
for you forget about the problems within the country with
a nettle, but you know, it certainly is a slight
icing out there. So they've worked hard for this, you know,
as a whole group, not just the players, but everyone
(07:41):
else involved as well, So yep, if they can take
another step up and really yeah, it's also to be
fair interesting to see who the umpires are. Australia and
the Australia Jamaican came they would not have been happy
with the umpires. Found it interesting that both umpires officiating
were from New Zealand and normally you'd have like an
English umpire and a New Zealand umpire. Appreciate now against
(08:05):
this gainst Jamaica, it'll probably be Australian umpires that we
will get. But Bruce in the Australian game, I mean
she was heavily penalized and in the end, in fact
she was taken off. So will the umpires be involved
in this game? I hope not. I hope that it
doesn't become a totally physical encounter, and I hope we
see some really skillful netball and really promote the game
(08:27):
as it should be.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I hope all of the same things, Yvonne, all of
the same things. Great summary as always, thanks for joining us.
Enjoy the game tonight. That's Yvonne Willering previewing the gold
medal match at the Commonwealth Games. The silver Ferns up
against Jamaica from midnight tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Silver Ferns will play for the gold medal at the
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow tonight. After an emphatic sixty one
fifty four win over England in the Semis, there are
opponents in the final bit of a surprise, they'll play
Jamaica after they downed defending champions Australia forty six to
forty five. New Zealand have already beaten Jamaica fifty three
forty eight in Paul Play. The last time the Silver
(00:34):
Ferns won Commonwealth Games gold was in Deli in twenty ten.
Former Silver Ferns player and coach and now Netble commentator
and analyst Yvonne Willering is with us to preview this one.
First of all, Yvonn, how surprised are you that it's
not Australia in the final. It's Jamaica.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah, And I think everyone would have expected that, wouldn't
they have, you know, an Australian New Zealand final. But
for World's netple as a whole, I mean that it
couldn't have been scripted better to have had Joe Jamaica
coming through that. But what gets me is that, I
mean it could have gone either way. To be fair,
right on the buzzer, Australia had an opportunity to draw
(01:12):
the game. But having said that that Jamaica had led throughout.
But now you look at it, Australia has actually done
both Jamaica and New Zealand for that matter, lots of
favors because in that some Corp Super League, that's where
the players are getting all their experience, and certainly the
Jamaican defense they took it to that Australian combination and
(01:34):
you know they were well aware of what they were about.
They've played against them in the sun Corp Super League
and it showed. And so Australia must look at their
league to say, do we really want so many import
players because next year is World Championship.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Here indeed, indeed, well Jamaica getting there. As you're saying,
the game that could have gone either way. By contrast,
I thought the Silver Ferns were excellent against England. What
did you make of their performance in the semi.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, absolutely they were. But also keep it in perspective
when Australia played England, they had an easy one against
them as well. So you know, England, I believe, just
makes too many substitutions. So yeah, it was a situation
right from the start. Though you know, New Zealand meant
business and what I liked about it. We do have
(02:21):
a main lineup. Few changes were made, one or two
tweaks at times, but you know, I think that we
certainly won that game as a whole, and you could
see that it was a team on a mission. And
Kate heffern in particular is playing really, really well and
that is why she is retaining the center. Berths like
some people have criticized rouale of Buchanan playing wing defense
(02:43):
when she hasn't played that. Why she hasn't really played
that at all. Reason for that is because they want
I believe it is because they want to keep the
Burger Jackson combination in circle because that is also really
firing up, and they really want to keep Kate Heffernan
at center rather than putting it back to wing defense,
and it's certainly working for them. My only concern is
(03:04):
we still have a really great reliance on Grayson wiki.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, and I guess when you have Grace in the
shooting circle, there must be that temptation. Evil mustn't there
to try and you know, to feed the ball to
as often as possible. How ready will Jamaica be for
that though, That's what.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
That's the concerns to say, worry, But I mean we
wanted a really good final obviously, and I looked at
Jamaica after that game and they were all over the place,
and I was just wondering whether Jamaica feels that really
has been their final, you know, and often it is
really hard after such a tight game, and it was.
(03:42):
It was a great game, you know, well, and some
people's eyes obviously, you know, whether they can come back
and do it again against New Zealand. Now Jamaica, if
they play to their full mobility and their strength, that
is going to be a close encounter against New Zealand.
Appreciate that the Jamaican defense, they have come up against
(04:05):
Grayson Wiki in the Sun Corpse Super League Super League,
so in theory they should know what to expect, you know,
from the New Zealand attacking end. So you know, it'll
be really interesting to see. And my main thing is,
you know, have Jamaica played their final already?
Speaker 2 (04:21):
Yeah, it's a very good point. What about New Zealand's trajectory,
if we can call it that through the tournament? Ivan,
have you seen them improve across the tournament?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
Yeah? Absolutely, I think initially I have a look at
it and you're going whoa very hesitant They still I
believe on attack, play the ball back too often. I
think there are opportunities playing the ball forwards. And I'm
not just talking about the big voment of Grayson WICKI
I think just on the whole players need to be
available earlier. I think timing has been out, but certainly
(04:52):
it's a progression. And are they ready for the final?
I think they're as ready as they possibly can be.
And even you know, Hall being injured, and no disrespect
to her, but she was always going to sit behind
the Burger Jackson combination because that has in fact been
grown with every game. But certainly, you know, yeah, even
(05:13):
in that last game, Kate Heathen and not just her
attacking play but also her defensive play. You know, it
was really brilliant for the Ferns and if they can
reproduce that effort, it is going to be I'm expecting
a close encounter, but obviously we're looking for in New
Zealand to gain the gold.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
The Burger Jackson defensive pairing. How much of a solid
base has that provided for this team and how crucial
will they again be tonight?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Absolutely? Yeah, absolutely, because I think that Aiken is increasing
in confidence, you know, the big timber in the back
for Jamaica. She is increasing confidence and I thought she
played well against Australia. So again it's a situation we'll
be looking for the ball earlier on. But yeah, I
think that you know, that combinations really worked well probably
(06:01):
in the sun Court Super League. Both those players I
believe had a reasonably caught season, although I think Jackson
gained an award, some award for her Firebirds efforts. But yeah,
I think that she's really come out and you know,
I've probably been not criticized, but certainly said on occasions
that Jackson in particular isn't always what you call the
(06:23):
sixty minute player like she you know, it takes time
for her to come into the game. But against England,
boy New Zealand set the tone. They have to do
exactly the same against Jamaica. They've got to put and
make sure that they've got a number of goals ahead
of them. So that Jamaica doesn't have the support of
the crowd, and they will have quite a bit of
(06:44):
support from the crowd because they always love the underdogs
and obviously they would love for Jamaica to take this out.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
All right, great summary is always our any problem is
getting to midnight tonight New Zealand's time. I'm not preferring
to Isaac klop Seed to pass.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
And I'm honest, yeah, that's really interesting. Ibously going to
be watching the game and it's not the same with
the replayer normally someone damn well tells you the results anyway,
So yeah, but what a way to finish the com
games really and three fair you know, this is this
is positive for netple like even like obviously we've had
our lows during the season for the Silver Ferns, just
(07:20):
to make the finals as a beggie, absolutely they haven't
done it for quite a while, you know, but should
they come out with goals and I'm not saying it
for you forget about the problems within the country with
a nettle, but you know, it certainly is a slight
icing out there. So they've worked hard for this, you know,
as a whole group, not just the players, but everyone
(07:41):
else involved as well, So yep, if they can take
another step up and really yeah, it's also to be
fair interesting to see who the umpires are. Australia and
the Australia Jamaican came they would not have been happy
with the umpires. Found it interesting that both umpires officiating
were from New Zealand and normally you'd have like an
English umpire and a New Zealand umpire. Appreciate now against
(08:05):
this gainst Jamaica, it'll probably be Australian umpires that we
will get. But Bruce in the Australian game, I mean
she was heavily penalized and in the end, in fact
she was taken off. So will the umpires be involved
in this game? I hope not. I hope that it
doesn't become a totally physical encounter, and I hope we
see some really skillful netball and really promote the game
(08:27):
as it should be.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
I hope all of the same things, Yvonne, all of
the same things. Great summary as always, thanks for joining us.
Enjoy the game tonight. That's Yvonne Willering previewing the gold
medal match at the Commonwealth Games. The silver Ferns up
against Jamaica from midnight tonight.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk ZB weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com