New Zealand's premier netball competition is staring down financial struggles, with Netball NZ yet to confirm a broadcast deal for the competition moving forward.
Players are reportedly growing concerned about their futures, with broadcasting rights making up a large chunk of the funding required to hold the ANZ Premiership each year.
So, what does the future hold for netball in New Zealand?
Newstalk ZB All Sport Breakfast host Adam Cooper and Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Nick Mills for the Friday Sport Kickoff.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks EDB. Get a U set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talks EDB. Jody us Is.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Friday Sports Kickoff is News Talk SETB. Weekend sports host
Jason Pine very busy man. Jason Biden's traveling around bloody
New Zealand. He's everywhere and nowhere and on the sidelines
and pubs, doing shows from everywhere. Lovely to have you
in the studio.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
It's great to be here, Nick, and great to have
a weekend where I can just stay in my hometown,
which I'm very much looking forward to. You It's been
a bit of a traveling road show, but yeah, back
at home and looking forward to a more relaxing weekend.
But plenty of sports to talk.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
About, absolutely and all Sports Break host Adam Cooper. Right,
let's start with the elephant in the room. There's been
a lot of talk over the last few months, I
think it's months, maybe even year, about what's going on
with Netbull. There's been some sort of I don't know,
stories or innuendos that Sky and them are fallen out
(01:26):
in some way, and that's the major broadcast and thunder
Jason Pine, I know you're going to be talking about
this tomorrow and doing it a lot more comprehensively than
we can do this morning. What's the problem.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I don't think Sky and Netborn New Zealand have necessarily
fallen out. I just think they're miles apart in terms
of what they think the A and D Premiership is worth.
Netball New Zealand obviously wants it to be worth a
seven figure sum. I think the latest deal and look
I don't want to put people wrong here, but it's
three to four million is the broadcast deal. Sky have
(02:00):
come back with something far far less than that, you know,
far too too small to pay all of the players
and the way that they're being paid right now. So
it's a bit of an impasse really, you know, without
anybody else in the market bidding for the rights, Netball
New Zealand are kind of backed into a corner.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Really.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think what they'll end up doing is taking whatever
Sky offer and then topping the rest up from their
own cash reserves. But that's not a long term solution
at all. That is a very much a temporary solution.
We know that next year there'll be an am Z Premiership,
same format as this year, six teams playing around robin
of ten games, then playoffs same next year, but beyond
(02:40):
that we don't know, and we don't really even know
the broadcast deal or anything about next year. So there
is understandable trepidation and nervousness in the netball community.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Piney, you did the best you could to describe that
there was a bit of an impassible between the two parties.
I mean, I mean the biggest problem we have right now.
Add the issue that you've got coops and then you
say our top players might be able to play in
Australia not even play in the competition. That just puts
(03:11):
more fuel on the fire, does.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Well that, but the fact that it's so uncertain here
that they've a lot of the top players pretty much
have no option if they want to make ends meet
as a netballer, and the way things are going, who
would not look at Australia right now now that they
are likely going to be eligible the top players anyway
to be able to play there and still play for
the Silver Ferns. It's the reality. If there was a
(03:34):
better financial situation or guarantee about the future of the
A and Z Premiership. I think they'd be far less
players looking at Australia. So I think, you know, that's
just a domino effect almost of the uncertainty this eligibility rule. Now,
I think Neckborney's iland this week have come out and said, well,
the way things are going, we know that a lot
of our top players are talking with these Australian clubs,
and why wouldn't they be and we need to we
(03:57):
need to let something good happen, and that is you know,
opening up the silver Ferns to still have these players
if they're off. Sure. So it's just a real mess
and I really wonder you know it is down to
the TV right, there's absolutely no doubt about this is
why we're in this situation. Have Sky really reflected a
sudden dwindling value of netball to fans and followers? I
(04:18):
don't think so. I mean, you look at the crowds.
The Pulse sell out almost every game down in christ Church.
The Pulse on Sunday night sell out game. There's so
much interest in netball still, it's so well played. I
don't know if there's just been the sudden loss of
interest in the game, but they feel it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Has can I tell you what I believe has happened,
and I think I'm right, is that Sky went to
Nitball and said they wanted to change the timing of
so it works for them, you know what I mean,
And Netball in New Zealand said no. Now I don't
know whether that's right or wrong, but that's something that
I've heard from very reliable sources that has gone down
and we've lost our captain. Captain Fantastics decided. I imagine
(05:00):
the stress on you know, mother of two, you know,
not knowing where the competition is.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I mean, it's just it's it's the lack of clarity,
isn't it. And because they're already contracted for half a year,
so for example, the polls, some of their coaching staff
don't know if they're going to be paid after August
and some of the players too.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
From a wider point of view as well, Nick and
Keeps is dead right, it's still very popular. The on
night experience at at an AZ Premiership met All Games terrific.
You know, you know you're there, There's lots of noise,
heaps of kids, it's a real family occasion, zooming out
a little bit. I just I feel as though netball
have rested on their laurels for a long time in
(05:36):
terms of the participation numbers in the game, and because
for a long time the only game that young girls
could play growing up was netball. It was almost a
default setting. There weren't these other options available to them. Well,
basketball and football are the two. You got to Akutangi
tonight and look at the number of young females playing basketball.
(05:58):
There's not enough courts for them. Football is exactly the same.
There was a twenty three percent increase in junior female
numbers after the World two years ago. But you talked
to Netball New Zealand and they refused to acknowledge this.
I spoke to Jenny Wiley, the CEO of Netball New Zealand,
a few months ago, and put those numbers to her
and she said, no, no, we're still miles ahead. Fine
(06:19):
you are, but you know you cannot rest on those laurels.
New Zealand Football are looking for ways to increase their numbers,
so are basketball. Netball cannot sleep at the wheel here
in terms of the community game, otherwise they'll be swallowed up.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Wow, let's shift. I mean great stuff when I really
enjoyed it. Let's shift to the Phoenix Wrexham game. Now, Coeps,
you were there, you were working there. You text me
a couple of times from there and said are you watching?
Guy said absolutely, And you know, I watched the whole
thing and I was absolutely taken by the whole event.
And I've said on the show that I went to
(06:54):
more Wilson's and they must have been sponsoring some of
the guys a Wrexham thing and they had some guys
from Wrexham and they're so friendly, so good. The guys
were amazing. What an event.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, very well done and we are so lucky to
have had them here. You know, so professional, the whole team,
the whole event, and and you know, there was a
fair bit of discussion around who's going to go to
a game like this in the middle of winter, Who's
going to be playing for the Phoenix, who's on this
Wrexham team. But I'll tell you what, they just came here.
They engaged with the community. They made all of us
(07:24):
feel like we're from Wrexham, just with the way they
engage with our fans and did an amazing effort and
there was some absolute superstars, so our household names as
the result of that. The TV series. You know Ben Foster,
that the goalkeeper who spent a lot of time on TV,
got to do a bit of pre match stuff with him.
What this guy that's got one and a half million
followers on YouTube, He's just put up a really cool
video of the whole.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Coops, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Yeah? And he has sold New Zealand and Wellington just
like that to one and a half million people. Take
me out of it and it's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
You know what.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I watched him for a two minute interview and fell
in love with them, you know, I mean, I mean
I had male love for them.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
They get they get it, they get it. You know sports,
I mean, we'll go back to the neble. Sport is
so competitive, the the battle for eyeballs is it's a
battle field. You have to engage, you have to wind.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, and interviewed Elliott Lee from the Wrexham team last
week for All Sport Breakfasts, and you know, you go
into your interviews thinking, I hope this guy's gonna be
all right. I hope he's gonna sound excited but I'll
tell you what he gave some of the best answers
I've ever heard, ever got from an interview. He was
so great, players, so willing to just be part of it.
And I think we have been showing what sport can
(08:34):
do to people. It's such a professional outfit.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Right now, I've got thirty seconds left, I've got to
talk to you about the Jubilee Cup final. Coops. I
don't follow it, but one of my sons is a
real Origes fan. I mean what Oraris? I thought they
were going.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
To win the whole great year went through the Swindale
Shield without really being touched at all. But they got
knocked out a couple of weeks ago. But Huddle Boys
Marister were in the finals, So so there we have.
It's quite a surprise final.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Doesn't matter who's in the final. Tawa all day too.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
All day Murray Mixing will enjoy this one. Wad you
remember Murray Mixing? When I was a kid, Murray Mixer
used to fight for Tawa to be involved in a Now.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Steve Arlo is playing for Tower. I think he's about
thirty six now he's got a winning drop goal last week.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Park is going to go off tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Thank you both so much. Lovely to talk to you,
Jason Pine. I'm going to really look forward to listen
to your show tomorrow Souse. I really want to know
what's happening with Nick Boll and I'll get to get
the good oil from you. And of course every Saturday
morning I wake up to Adam Cooper and the All
Sports Breakfast.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks EDB. Get a U set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport Kickoff on
News Talks EDB. Jody us Is.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Friday Sports Kickoff is News Talk SETB. Weekend sports host
Jason Pine very busy man. Jason Biden's traveling around bloody
New Zealand. He's everywhere and nowhere and on the sidelines
and pubs, doing shows from everywhere. Lovely to have you
in the studio.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
It's great to be here, Nick, and great to have
a weekend where I can just stay in my hometown,
which I'm very much looking forward to. You It's been
a bit of a traveling road show, but yeah, back
at home and looking forward to a more relaxing weekend.
But plenty of sports to talk.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
About, absolutely and all Sports Break host Adam Cooper. Right,
let's start with the elephant in the room. There's been
a lot of talk over the last few months, I
think it's months, maybe even year, about what's going on
with Netbull. There's been some sort of I don't know,
stories or innuendos that Sky and them are fallen out
(01:26):
in some way, and that's the major broadcast and thunder
Jason Pine, I know you're going to be talking about
this tomorrow and doing it a lot more comprehensively than
we can do this morning. What's the problem.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
I don't think Sky and Netborn New Zealand have necessarily
fallen out. I just think they're miles apart in terms
of what they think the A and D Premiership is worth.
Netball New Zealand obviously wants it to be worth a
seven figure sum. I think the latest deal and look
I don't want to put people wrong here, but it's
three to four million is the broadcast deal. Sky have
(02:00):
come back with something far far less than that, you know,
far too too small to pay all of the players
and the way that they're being paid right now. So
it's a bit of an impasse really, you know, without
anybody else in the market bidding for the rights, Netball
New Zealand are kind of backed into a corner.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Really.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
I think what they'll end up doing is taking whatever
Sky offer and then topping the rest up from their
own cash reserves. But that's not a long term solution
at all. That is a very much a temporary solution.
We know that next year there'll be an am Z Premiership,
same format as this year, six teams playing around robin
of ten games, then playoffs same next year, but beyond
(02:40):
that we don't know, and we don't really even know
the broadcast deal or anything about next year. So there
is understandable trepidation and nervousness in the netball community.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Piney, you did the best you could to describe that
there was a bit of an impassible between the two parties.
I mean, I mean the biggest problem we have right now.
Add the issue that you've got coops and then you
say our top players might be able to play in
Australia not even play in the competition. That just puts
(03:11):
more fuel on the fire, does.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
Well that, but the fact that it's so uncertain here
that they've a lot of the top players pretty much
have no option if they want to make ends meet
as a netballer, and the way things are going, who
would not look at Australia right now now that they
are likely going to be eligible the top players anyway
to be able to play there and still play for
the Silver Ferns. It's the reality. If there was a
(03:34):
better financial situation or guarantee about the future of the
A and Z Premiership. I think they'd be far less
players looking at Australia. So I think, you know, that's
just a domino effect almost of the uncertainty this eligibility rule. Now,
I think Neckborney's iland this week have come out and said, well,
the way things are going, we know that a lot
of our top players are talking with these Australian clubs,
and why wouldn't they be and we need to we
(03:57):
need to let something good happen, and that is you know,
opening up the silver Ferns to still have these players
if they're off. Sure. So it's just a real mess
and I really wonder you know it is down to
the TV right, there's absolutely no doubt about this is
why we're in this situation. Have Sky really reflected a
sudden dwindling value of netball to fans and followers? I
(04:18):
don't think so. I mean, you look at the crowds.
The Pulse sell out almost every game down in christ Church.
The Pulse on Sunday night sell out game. There's so
much interest in netball still, it's so well played. I
don't know if there's just been the sudden loss of
interest in the game, but they feel it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Has can I tell you what I believe has happened,
and I think I'm right, is that Sky went to
Nitball and said they wanted to change the timing of
so it works for them, you know what I mean,
And Netball in New Zealand said no. Now I don't
know whether that's right or wrong, but that's something that
I've heard from very reliable sources that has gone down
and we've lost our captain. Captain Fantastics decided. I imagine
(05:00):
the stress on you know, mother of two, you know,
not knowing where the competition is.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
I mean, it's just it's it's the lack of clarity,
isn't it. And because they're already contracted for half a year,
so for example, the polls, some of their coaching staff
don't know if they're going to be paid after August
and some of the players too.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
From a wider point of view as well, Nick and
Keeps is dead right, it's still very popular. The on
night experience at at an AZ Premiership met All Games terrific.
You know, you know you're there, There's lots of noise,
heaps of kids, it's a real family occasion, zooming out
a little bit. I just I feel as though netball
have rested on their laurels for a long time in
(05:36):
terms of the participation numbers in the game, and because
for a long time the only game that young girls
could play growing up was netball. It was almost a
default setting. There weren't these other options available to them. Well,
basketball and football are the two. You got to Akutangi
tonight and look at the number of young females playing basketball.
(05:58):
There's not enough courts for them. Football is exactly the same.
There was a twenty three percent increase in junior female
numbers after the World two years ago. But you talked
to Netball New Zealand and they refused to acknowledge this.
I spoke to Jenny Wiley, the CEO of Netball New Zealand,
a few months ago, and put those numbers to her
and she said, no, no, we're still miles ahead. Fine
(06:19):
you are, but you know you cannot rest on those laurels.
New Zealand Football are looking for ways to increase their numbers,
so are basketball. Netball cannot sleep at the wheel here
in terms of the community game, otherwise they'll be swallowed up.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Wow, let's shift. I mean great stuff when I really
enjoyed it. Let's shift to the Phoenix Wrexham game. Now, Coeps,
you were there, you were working there. You text me
a couple of times from there and said are you watching?
Guy said absolutely, And you know, I watched the whole
thing and I was absolutely taken by the whole event.
And I've said on the show that I went to
(06:54):
more Wilson's and they must have been sponsoring some of
the guys a Wrexham thing and they had some guys
from Wrexham and they're so friendly, so good. The guys
were amazing. What an event.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
Yeah, very well done and we are so lucky to
have had them here. You know, so professional, the whole team,
the whole event, and and you know, there was a
fair bit of discussion around who's going to go to
a game like this in the middle of winter, Who's
going to be playing for the Phoenix, who's on this
Wrexham team. But I'll tell you what, they just came here.
They engaged with the community. They made all of us
(07:24):
feel like we're from Wrexham, just with the way they
engage with our fans and did an amazing effort and
there was some absolute superstars, so our household names as
the result of that. The TV series. You know Ben Foster,
that the goalkeeper who spent a lot of time on TV,
got to do a bit of pre match stuff with him.
What this guy that's got one and a half million
followers on YouTube, He's just put up a really cool
video of the whole.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
Coops, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (07:45):
Yeah? And he has sold New Zealand and Wellington just
like that to one and a half million people. Take
me out of it and it's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
You know what.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I watched him for a two minute interview and fell
in love with them, you know, I mean, I mean
I had male love for them.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
They get they get it, they get it. You know sports,
I mean, we'll go back to the neble. Sport is
so competitive, the the battle for eyeballs is it's a
battle field. You have to engage, you have to wind.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Yeah, and interviewed Elliott Lee from the Wrexham team last
week for All Sport Breakfasts, and you know, you go
into your interviews thinking, I hope this guy's gonna be
all right. I hope he's gonna sound excited but I'll
tell you what he gave some of the best answers
I've ever heard, ever got from an interview. He was
so great, players, so willing to just be part of it.
And I think we have been showing what sport can
(08:34):
do to people. It's such a professional outfit.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
Right now, I've got thirty seconds left, I've got to
talk to you about the Jubilee Cup final. Coops. I
don't follow it, but one of my sons is a
real Origes fan. I mean what Oraris? I thought they
were going.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
To win the whole great year went through the Swindale
Shield without really being touched at all. But they got
knocked out a couple of weeks ago. But Huddle Boys
Marister were in the finals, So so there we have.
It's quite a surprise final.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
Doesn't matter who's in the final. Tawa all day too.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
All day Murray Mixing will enjoy this one. Wad you
remember Murray Mixing? When I was a kid, Murray Mixer
used to fight for Tawa to be involved in a Now.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
Steve Arlo is playing for Tower. I think he's about
thirty six now he's got a winning drop goal last week.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Park is going to go off tomorrow night.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Thank you both so much. Lovely to talk to you,
Jason Pine. I'm going to really look forward to listen
to your show tomorrow Souse. I really want to know
what's happening with Nick Boll and I'll get to get
the good oil from you. And of course every Saturday
morning I wake up to Adam Cooper and the All
Sports Breakfast.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to news talks It'd Be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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