May 9, 2025 • 6 mins
Netball New Zealand says it is looking at its eligibility rules as the ANZ Premiership gets under way today without Grace Nweke.
The star test shooter isn't available for the Ferns, as she's based in Australia this season.
Former Silver Fern Adine Wilson told Jason Pine while New Zealand are a much better side with Nweke involved, there are two sides to the debate.
“She’s an Irene van Dyk of my era – she is someone special, but I do think you have to be careful that you don’t change rules for just one player.”
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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 Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Grace week is Eligibility. Let's bring in one of our
absolute netball greats. World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, member
of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Nepple,
seventy nine cap, former Silver Fern And New Zealand captain
and since her retirement, hugely respected Skysport Netble commentator and
analyst and part of the new Inside Netball podcast available
(00:33):
on iHeartRadio. Adean Wilson, of course, Adean, thanks for joining us.
Let's start with your personal view. Should Nepble New Zealand
allow Grace Wiki to play for the Silver Ferns this year?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
In your view, I would love to see her play
for the Silver Ferns. I think when you look at Grace,
she's a once in a generation player. There's no doubt
the sal Ferns can win without her, but if she's
on court, they've got a much better chance of winning.
She's an iring Van Dyke of my era. She is
someone special, but I do think you have to be
(01:04):
careful that you don't change Rawle Rus for just one
player and that's why you're going to look at that
wider eligibility chat and I think that's what New Zealand
is starting to do. They just need to do it
quickly because we need some decisions made.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, you're right. I think time is a little bit
of the essence here. The fair as we all know,
is that if they say yes to Grace that they
fear it'll cause a huge exodus of players overseas. Do
you think that's a valid concern.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I think it's a valid concern, But I think there's
a couple of ways, and you need to look wider
than just the here and now. I think, look, if
you're looking at what the criteria are now, and they're
worried about setting a precedent, again, she is a once
in a generation player, I think she's setting a pretty
high precedent if you're looking at the criteria for exceptional
(01:53):
talent and the like. So I think they shouldn't be
worried about that, President, But why not look wider? Why
not look wider that contractual model? Look what other sports
are doing. Cricket for example. You know you may choose
at the start of the season not to go on
to a Sauer third retainer and get paid across a
whole year. Do you change the models? You could be
(02:15):
like cricket and only come back and be on a
casual contract on match fees for two months of the year.
Then you're having these conversations. Right at the start, people
were making informed decisions about what competitions they may like
to play in, but knowing the consequences of making those decisions.
So first and foremost, change that contracting model. Have the conversations.
(02:38):
Look what other sports are doing and what we can
learn from them.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I know you've heard a chair of the board matt
on a earlier this hour. Do you have confidence that
they'll make a decision quickly on this?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I hope so. But again they're obviously having a lot
of conversations about a lot at the moment, Network New Zealand,
what next year you're going to look at? And again,
if you look at the wider context, this is an
amazing opportunity. In some ways, you turn, you know, a
moment that you know pretty tough on that we New
Zealand and do something wider. Change the timing of the competition.
(03:12):
Have the competition so you can play in New Zealand
and you can play in sun court line up these competitions,
so then this eligibility issue is not even an issue
to me. That's the most simplest way of solving all
of this. And then also allows these players to top
up their income. They're not getting paid a huge amount
(03:34):
of money to play in one of these competitions. Why
not be able to play a boat because their timing
lines up. We then might see players from Australia come
here and also want to play in our competition. So
you're then enhancing too. Again, look at other sports. What
are other sports doing? Cricket, rugby, there is basketball. You
(03:55):
can play in multiple competitions, not just one. I think
these are the wider conversations of love and I hope
that we New Zealand are having.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I love that, I love that one. I love that
you just push the back a little bit and line
them up. I love that you talked about Grace being
a generational player and she's you know, this generation's arene
Van Dyker? How much confidence did you have playing in
a team with Irenea? How much confidence will the current
team have playing in a team where Grace wikis in
the shooting circle.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh look, there are special people that you get to
play with, and Grace is one of them. There is
no doubt, especially in that winger tack position, if you
have an Iron Van Dyke a Grace Wiki that you
can turn off the center pass and have the option
of firing that ball in straight away. That is a
game changer. And what I love about Grace and this
(04:45):
is why I think Grace has been exceptionally brave to
go to Australia. She's she's gone there because she wants
to grow her game, so she wants to be better
for the Saward furn.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
She is really.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Proud of that Saward furn and that's where I really
take my hat off to her. You know, can't have
been an easy decision, but she made it anyway, and
you know that's why I love to see her in
that black dress. But again, make it a wider conversation,
so it's not just about Grace. Make it while we're
having all these other conversations about what netball is going
(05:17):
to do in New Zealand right at this moment, and
make the change, because there's no doubt I want to
see her in that black dress. Come tiny, Jamison Adan.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
You've had a great context to our discussion this afternoon,
just before you go. The U, A and Z Premiership
seasons underway this afternoon in PALMEI do you think my
Central Pulse are the favorites not just for today but
for the whole thing? I love?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Do you know what? I love the Central Poles. I
think they've got a brilliant team, but they've got so
many injuries right at the moment, and so I actually
my pick this week was actually the Magic but mostly
because of those injuries. But I'm very excited about seeing
Gabby Simpson. That's cool again in Australian coming to New Zealand,
adding something different. So I think it will be a
(06:01):
very very good game.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm looking forward to it. Adan, thanks for taking the
time for a channel on hear this after time.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
That's a Dane Wilson on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks EDB 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 (00:12):
Grace week is Eligibility. Let's bring in one of our
absolute netball greats. World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist, member
of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Nepple,
seventy nine cap, former Silver Fern And New Zealand captain
and since her retirement, hugely respected Skysport Netble commentator and
analyst and part of the new Inside Netball podcast available
(00:33):
on iHeartRadio. Adean Wilson, of course, Adean, thanks for joining us.
Let's start with your personal view. Should Nepble New Zealand
allow Grace Wiki to play for the Silver Ferns this year?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
In your view, I would love to see her play
for the Silver Ferns. I think when you look at Grace,
she's a once in a generation player. There's no doubt
the sal Ferns can win without her, but if she's
on court, they've got a much better chance of winning.
She's an iring Van Dyke of my era. She is
someone special, but I do think you have to be
(01:04):
careful that you don't change Rawle Rus for just one
player and that's why you're going to look at that
wider eligibility chat and I think that's what New Zealand
is starting to do. They just need to do it
quickly because we need some decisions made.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Yeah, you're right. I think time is a little bit
of the essence here. The fair as we all know,
is that if they say yes to Grace that they
fear it'll cause a huge exodus of players overseas. Do
you think that's a valid concern.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
I think it's a valid concern, But I think there's
a couple of ways, and you need to look wider
than just the here and now. I think, look, if
you're looking at what the criteria are now, and they're
worried about setting a precedent, again, she is a once
in a generation player, I think she's setting a pretty
high precedent if you're looking at the criteria for exceptional
(01:53):
talent and the like. So I think they shouldn't be
worried about that, President, But why not look wider? Why
not look wider that contractual model? Look what other sports
are doing. Cricket for example. You know you may choose
at the start of the season not to go on
to a Sauer third retainer and get paid across a
whole year. Do you change the models? You could be
(02:15):
like cricket and only come back and be on a
casual contract on match fees for two months of the year.
Then you're having these conversations. Right at the start, people
were making informed decisions about what competitions they may like
to play in, but knowing the consequences of making those decisions.
So first and foremost, change that contracting model. Have the conversations.
(02:38):
Look what other sports are doing and what we can
learn from them.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
I know you've heard a chair of the board matt
on a earlier this hour. Do you have confidence that
they'll make a decision quickly on this?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
I hope so. But again they're obviously having a lot
of conversations about a lot at the moment, Network New Zealand,
what next year you're going to look at? And again,
if you look at the wider context, this is an
amazing opportunity. In some ways, you turn, you know, a
moment that you know pretty tough on that we New
Zealand and do something wider. Change the timing of the competition.
(03:12):
Have the competition so you can play in New Zealand
and you can play in sun court line up these competitions,
so then this eligibility issue is not even an issue
to me. That's the most simplest way of solving all
of this. And then also allows these players to top
up their income. They're not getting paid a huge amount
(03:34):
of money to play in one of these competitions. Why
not be able to play a boat because their timing
lines up. We then might see players from Australia come
here and also want to play in our competition. So
you're then enhancing too. Again, look at other sports. What
are other sports doing? Cricket, rugby, there is basketball. You
(03:55):
can play in multiple competitions, not just one. I think
these are the wider conversations of love and I hope
that we New Zealand are having.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
I love that, I love that one. I love that
you just push the back a little bit and line
them up. I love that you talked about Grace being
a generational player and she's you know, this generation's arene
Van Dyker? How much confidence did you have playing in
a team with Irenea? How much confidence will the current
team have playing in a team where Grace wikis in
the shooting circle.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Oh look, there are special people that you get to
play with, and Grace is one of them. There is
no doubt, especially in that winger tack position, if you
have an Iron Van Dyke a Grace Wiki that you
can turn off the center pass and have the option
of firing that ball in straight away. That is a
game changer. And what I love about Grace and this
(04:45):
is why I think Grace has been exceptionally brave to
go to Australia. She's she's gone there because she wants
to grow her game, so she wants to be better
for the Saward furn.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
She is really.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Proud of that Saward furn and that's where I really
take my hat off to her. You know, can't have
been an easy decision, but she made it anyway, and
you know that's why I love to see her in
that black dress. But again, make it a wider conversation,
so it's not just about Grace. Make it while we're
having all these other conversations about what netball is going
(05:17):
to do in New Zealand right at this moment, and
make the change, because there's no doubt I want to
see her in that black dress. Come tiny, Jamison Adan.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
You've had a great context to our discussion this afternoon,
just before you go. The U, A and Z Premiership
seasons underway this afternoon in PALMEI do you think my
Central Pulse are the favorites not just for today but
for the whole thing? I love?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Do you know what? I love the Central Poles. I
think they've got a brilliant team, but they've got so
many injuries right at the moment, and so I actually
my pick this week was actually the Magic but mostly
because of those injuries. But I'm very excited about seeing
Gabby Simpson. That's cool again in Australian coming to New Zealand,
adding something different. So I think it will be a
(06:01):
very very good game.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I'm looking forward to it. Adan, thanks for taking the
time for a channel on hear this after time.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
That's a Dane Wilson on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talks EDB Weekends from midday or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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