August 22, 2025 • 8 mins
New Zealand netball is facing an exodus, with top players heading across to the Australian game.
No less than eight Silver Ferns have announced their departure, including Donnell Wallam, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, and Karin Burger.
Piney caught up with former Diamonds head coach Lisa Alexander to find out what the Aussies’ thoughts are on the Kiwis flooding their competition.
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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):
The exodus of our top netball players meantime from the
A and Z Premiership continues. Whitney Sooners and Jane Watson
will play for the Sydney based Giants next year. Kelly Jackson,
Maddy Gordon and Tapius Selby Rickett have all joined the
Queensland Firebirds. Grace Wiki, of course, returns for a second
season with the new South Wales Swifts. Karen Berger's off
(00:34):
to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Kate Heffernan has joined the
Adelaide Thunderbirds and there may be more to come. So
how are they feeling about this? Across the Tasman, Let's
bring in former Australian Diamonds coach and Member of the
Order of Australia for services to netball, Lisa Alexander. Lisa,
thanks for joining us across New Zealand. What has your
(00:55):
reaction been to the influx of New Zealand players signed
by Australian clubs.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I am not surprised one beat and it's something actually
that I once the eligibility rule was discussed by New
Zealand Netball. Of course, then I just thought it was
just a matter of time that those players, particularly your
top seven from the Silver Ferns, would be definitely targeted
(01:25):
by recruiters over here for those clubs. And you know,
it's the world's best domestic competition and it's great. I
think it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Has there been, to your knowledge, any pushback from the
Australian nitball public. Maybe some Australian players who see their
spots potentially taken in these teams by New Zealanders.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Look, I have a fairly close eye on social media
over here. But at the end of the day, I
think everyone realized, and particularly because it's such a globally
supported competition, there's a lot of people from England that
support it, also from New Zealand I think, and South Africa.
They seem to think that it's a great thing for
the sport that the best players in the world are
(02:11):
playing in what is I think we know now the
world's best domestic competition for netball.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
As you pointed out, the catalyst for this has been
the changing of the Silver Ferns eligibility rules, allowing players
to apply for an exemption to still play for New
Zealand while playing their domestic netball elsewhere. Do you think
that was the right move by Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I think it had to happen because Netbull's moving well
and truly into the professional era and it would have
been really restricting their ability to earn a salary and
be professional netball as if they weren't allowed to do that.
So I think it's a smart move and I don't
think it will have a major impact on the strength
(02:55):
of the Silver Ferns, that's for certain. I think it
will actually strengthen them to a greater level. And what's
going to have to obviously happen is a lot more
investment into New Zealand pathway and to ensure that the competition,
the domestic competition is as good as it can be
in New Zealand as well, which is what Australia will
(03:16):
need to do too, particularly with the reserves competition. So
you've really got to keep and continue that pipeline of
talent and you've got to keep them interested and then
obviously getting those opportunities in international contests.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You've landed on a very good point, actually, Lisa, having
so many of our international players in Supernepal, which as
you say, is without doubt the strongest domestic competition in
the world. That will almost certainly strengthen the Silver Ferns.
I've got no doubt about that. Should that be a
consideration for administrators in Australia to be aware.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Of Look, they are aware of it. They were aware
of it back in two seventeen when I was Australian
Diamonds coach and we had to put our submissions in
around from our high performance unit, around the rules for eligibility,
and even at that time we argued that perhaps two
imports per team would be enough, but you know, the
(04:13):
powers that be at the time felt that they really
wanted to have a league on its own that would
be the best domestic competition in the world, so they
went with the open entry of as many imports as
possible and I think it's actually enriched our netball here
in Australia as well. I think we are learning more
about our opposition as well at the same time, so
(04:36):
it's not necessarily all doom and gloom. In fact, you
know you've got eight Kiwi's coming over and you know
there's still sixty five spots for restraint and athletes in
this competition, so there's still you know, the numbers are
still in our favor.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
As you say, it'll need a rethink over here, a refresher,
a look at the pathways to make sure that the
azet premissup out domestic competition is still strong. How important
is it you know that New Zealand nipple internationally and
domestically strong.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, it's absolutely critical for the next stages of the
growth of the sport, particularly if we're going as we've
already said and Lizzellis has put out there, we want
netball to be in the twenty thirty two Brisbane Olympics.
You know, I think it's vital that we have as
much international competitiveness as we possibly can, and we're starting
(05:31):
to do that now. South Africa coming over to play
our in a Test series I think is terrific, and
we just need to really grow the sport from a
global perspective. Of course, that means higher income from broadcast
rights when it gets displayed into countries like America. I
know there's a push over there to get more eyeballs
(05:53):
on screens watching netball, and certainly from my point of view,
we've got to make sure we provide a fantastic high
performance setting an environment for those athletes to really grow
and shine on the international stage.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I read some quotes from you recently saying you were
a fan of there being a couple of New Zealand
teams in Super Netball as part of competition expansion. Now
that was before these eligibility rules over here were changed.
Can you still see that happening? Are you still keen
on that idea of a couple of New Zealand based
teams in Supernitball?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah? Look, I think so, and I think we can
also look to Asia as well. Singapore, particularly from an
economic point of view, is a very big part of
the driving economics in this area, and they've also got
some very strong netballers there too, So I think reaching
out a little bit and particularly over the ditch is
(06:51):
an important part of the puzzle if we can get
that expansion model happening.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Some very interesting thoughts, Lisa, thanks so much for joining us.
Really appreciate your insight from your side of the Tasman
Lisa Alexander their former Australian Diamonds coach. By the sounds
of it, well, it's obvious she's a fan had to happen,
she said, was always going to happen when the eligibility
rules changed, that the Australian teams would snap up our
best players. And as she said, there's still a lot
(07:18):
of spots available for Australian players. For our best players,
great right, great, great for them to get the opportunity
to go over there and experience a higher standard of
nep all let's be honest to also pick up a
contract because there's still a little bit of uncertain about
what's going to be happening back here. The next challenge
(07:41):
for New Zealand franchises and for NEPBA New Zealand is
to make sure that our am Z Premiership doesn't drop
down a couple of notches. Inevitably it may well do
with all of these players leaving, but they've got to
find a way to keep it generating. At the bottom
ends a couple of bits of news you might have
caught up on today. A boost for the Southern Steel
(08:03):
Kimmi Order pois Silver Fern's mid quarter has resown with
them for the upcoming season, so that's good news. Tiana Matido. Meantime,
the Pulse Shooter and former Silver fern Shooter has signed
with the Birmingham Panthers in England's Netball Super League, so
she has gone even further afield. Be very interesting to
see what happens in terms of the ANST Premiership and
(08:24):
the shape of it in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend 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 Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The exodus of our top netball players meantime from the
A and Z Premiership continues. Whitney Sooners and Jane Watson
will play for the Sydney based Giants next year. Kelly Jackson,
Maddy Gordon and Tapius Selby Rickett have all joined the
Queensland Firebirds. Grace Wiki, of course, returns for a second
season with the new South Wales Swifts. Karen Berger's off
(00:34):
to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Kate Heffernan has joined the
Adelaide Thunderbirds and there may be more to come. So
how are they feeling about this? Across the Tasman, Let's
bring in former Australian Diamonds coach and Member of the
Order of Australia for services to netball, Lisa Alexander. Lisa,
thanks for joining us across New Zealand. What has your
(00:55):
reaction been to the influx of New Zealand players signed
by Australian clubs.
Speaker 3 (01:01):
I am not surprised one beat and it's something actually
that I once the eligibility rule was discussed by New
Zealand Netball. Of course, then I just thought it was
just a matter of time that those players, particularly your
top seven from the Silver Ferns, would be definitely targeted
(01:25):
by recruiters over here for those clubs. And you know,
it's the world's best domestic competition and it's great. I
think it's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Has there been, to your knowledge, any pushback from the
Australian nitball public. Maybe some Australian players who see their
spots potentially taken in these teams by New Zealanders.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Look, I have a fairly close eye on social media
over here. But at the end of the day, I
think everyone realized, and particularly because it's such a globally
supported competition, there's a lot of people from England that
support it, also from New Zealand I think, and South Africa.
They seem to think that it's a great thing for
the sport that the best players in the world are
(02:11):
playing in what is I think we know now the
world's best domestic competition for netball.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
As you pointed out, the catalyst for this has been
the changing of the Silver Ferns eligibility rules, allowing players
to apply for an exemption to still play for New
Zealand while playing their domestic netball elsewhere. Do you think
that was the right move by Netball New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I think it had to happen because Netbull's moving well
and truly into the professional era and it would have
been really restricting their ability to earn a salary and
be professional netball as if they weren't allowed to do that.
So I think it's a smart move and I don't
think it will have a major impact on the strength
(02:55):
of the Silver Ferns, that's for certain. I think it
will actually strengthen them to a greater level. And what's
going to have to obviously happen is a lot more
investment into New Zealand pathway and to ensure that the competition,
the domestic competition is as good as it can be
in New Zealand as well, which is what Australia will
(03:16):
need to do too, particularly with the reserves competition. So
you've really got to keep and continue that pipeline of
talent and you've got to keep them interested and then
obviously getting those opportunities in international contests.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
You've landed on a very good point, actually, Lisa, having
so many of our international players in Supernepal, which as
you say, is without doubt the strongest domestic competition in
the world. That will almost certainly strengthen the Silver Ferns.
I've got no doubt about that. Should that be a
consideration for administrators in Australia to be aware.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Of Look, they are aware of it. They were aware
of it back in two seventeen when I was Australian
Diamonds coach and we had to put our submissions in
around from our high performance unit, around the rules for eligibility,
and even at that time we argued that perhaps two
imports per team would be enough, but you know, the
(04:13):
powers that be at the time felt that they really
wanted to have a league on its own that would
be the best domestic competition in the world, so they
went with the open entry of as many imports as
possible and I think it's actually enriched our netball here
in Australia as well. I think we are learning more
about our opposition as well at the same time, so
(04:36):
it's not necessarily all doom and gloom. In fact, you
know you've got eight Kiwi's coming over and you know
there's still sixty five spots for restraint and athletes in
this competition, so there's still you know, the numbers are
still in our favor.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
As you say, it'll need a rethink over here, a refresher,
a look at the pathways to make sure that the
azet premissup out domestic competition is still strong. How important
is it you know that New Zealand nipple internationally and
domestically strong.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh, it's absolutely critical for the next stages of the
growth of the sport, particularly if we're going as we've
already said and Lizzellis has put out there, we want
netball to be in the twenty thirty two Brisbane Olympics.
You know, I think it's vital that we have as
much international competitiveness as we possibly can, and we're starting
(05:31):
to do that now. South Africa coming over to play
our in a Test series I think is terrific, and
we just need to really grow the sport from a
global perspective. Of course, that means higher income from broadcast
rights when it gets displayed into countries like America. I
know there's a push over there to get more eyeballs
(05:53):
on screens watching netball, and certainly from my point of view,
we've got to make sure we provide a fantastic high
performance setting an environment for those athletes to really grow
and shine on the international stage.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I read some quotes from you recently saying you were
a fan of there being a couple of New Zealand
teams in Super Netball as part of competition expansion. Now
that was before these eligibility rules over here were changed.
Can you still see that happening? Are you still keen
on that idea of a couple of New Zealand based
teams in Supernitball?
Speaker 3 (06:28):
Yeah? Look, I think so, and I think we can
also look to Asia as well. Singapore, particularly from an
economic point of view, is a very big part of
the driving economics in this area, and they've also got
some very strong netballers there too, So I think reaching
out a little bit and particularly over the ditch is
(06:51):
an important part of the puzzle if we can get
that expansion model happening.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Some very interesting thoughts, Lisa, thanks so much for joining us.
Really appreciate your insight from your side of the Tasman
Lisa Alexander their former Australian Diamonds coach. By the sounds
of it, well, it's obvious she's a fan had to happen,
she said, was always going to happen when the eligibility
rules changed, that the Australian teams would snap up our
best players. And as she said, there's still a lot
(07:18):
of spots available for Australian players. For our best players,
great right, great, great for them to get the opportunity
to go over there and experience a higher standard of
nep all let's be honest to also pick up a
contract because there's still a little bit of uncertain about
what's going to be happening back here. The next challenge
(07:41):
for New Zealand franchises and for NEPBA New Zealand is
to make sure that our am Z Premiership doesn't drop
down a couple of notches. Inevitably it may well do
with all of these players leaving, but they've got to
find a way to keep it generating. At the bottom
ends a couple of bits of news you might have
caught up on today. A boost for the Southern Steel
(08:03):
Kimmi Order pois Silver Fern's mid quarter has resown with
them for the upcoming season, so that's good news. Tiana Matido. Meantime,
the Pulse Shooter and former Silver fern Shooter has signed
with the Birmingham Panthers in England's Netball Super League, so
she has gone even further afield. Be very interesting to
see what happens in terms of the ANST Premiership and
(08:24):
the shape of it in twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk set B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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