"This is positive": Netball NZ defends player policy that keeps Grace Nweke out of Silver Ferns

Silver Ferns star shooter Grace Nweke will play for the NSW Swifts during the 2025 Super Netball season.

The move has brought into question New Zealand's potential future in international netball with Netball NZ holding firm on their policy that Kiwi players who are not committed to a ANZ Premiership side are not eligible for Silver Fern selection.

There are exemptions to the rule - but this is awarded on a case-by-case basis.

Speaking with SENZ Afternoons, Netball NZ board chair Matt Whineray has looked to address those concerns.

"The rationale for the policy is to maintain a strong domestic competition, we need to protect and preserve those development pathways for our New Zealand players. We have provided a couple of exemptions in the past, to Maria Folau and Laura Langman, and what the board is trying to do there is balance the long-term interest of the game," Whineray said.

"Just to be clear here, Grace didn't apply for an exemption, she understood the ration for the policy, she respects that. And what she's looking to do is grow on and off the court in Australia. We get that desire, but what we're looking to do is balance all of those interests and that's a rationale for the policy being in place."

When asked by host Mark Stafford if it would be beneficial to Netball NZ to allow more top-level players to participate in overseas leagues, Whineray accepts that competitions like Australia's Super Netball can help a player's development.

Currently, former Silver Ferns captain Gina Crampton, Sam Winders, and Elle Temu are now applying their trade in the Aussie league. Temu elected to miss the 2024 ANZ Premiership season to play for the NSW Swifts, allowing her to join partner Isaiah Papali’i in Sydney, where he plays for the NRL's Wests Tigers.

"I agree Grace will become a better player, we (Netball NZ) think she'll grow as she's looking to do. We're aligned on that, Grace is very committed to the Silver Ferns and we're looking forward to getting her back in the environment, so over the medium to long-term, this is positive for the Silver Ferns," Whineray added.

"But what we're trying to do is maintain that (domestic pathways). Grace understands what that means for the 2025 year, but we will get her back into the Silver Ferns environment as we build towards those next pinnacle events - we've got hopefully a Commonwealth Games back-end of 2026 and in three years' time, the big one, the Netball World Cup in 2027."

Unlike New Zealand, Jamaica and England do allow their elite talent to compete overseas and still be eligible for international selection.

Previously Australia and New Zealand held a Trans-Tasman Netball League that ceased to operate in 2016, with both nations now hosting their own domestic leagues - but the talent pool available in Australia's Super Netball is arguably stronger than what is seen in New Zealand's ANZ Premiership.

"Some of those other netball bodies have different approaches to their domestic leagues. I think what we have seen over the last few years is an increase in competition generally at the top level - more competitive teams is ultimately good for netball," the NNZ board chair said.

"I think we have to keep making sure that we're providing a strong pathway for our players, and we also have to think about how we can get them exposure to different types of playing styles and increased intensity, so that we can continue to produce really good Silver Ferns that can win on the world stage - that's the task for us."

And while that might be the modus operandi for Netball NZ, a lack of innovation in the ANZ Premiership since New Zealand and Australia went in separate directions, sees the potential for regression with broadcaster Sky Sport requesting a reduced season schedule.

One round has been dropped for the revised format in 2025. What was a 17-week league that included 45 matches and two finals, will now be 30 matches and two finals over 12 weeks.

"We think the shift from three to two rounds is actually progression rather than regression. It means each one of those games mean more, it puts more intensity into games, as opposed to what we've seen with the three rounds," Whineray stated.

"We also think about what are the other pathways and how we can get greater, different exposure for our players. There are more ways than just playing in the SSN (Suncorp Super Netball) to get that exposure."

Netball NZ's policy applies to Silver Ferns players, but not coaches - as seen with NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle's recent appointment as a specialist coach that will focus on improving the Ferns' attack.

When quizzed if that decision contradicts the intention of the policy and blocks Kiwi coaches from progressing up to the international ranks, Whineray was quick to shut down that suggestion.

"I just don't think the analogy really works. The point of the policy is to maintain a strong domestic league and provide both development pathways and a really great product for our domestic fans, and the fans go along to watch the players, not the coaches," he said.

"Dame Noeline Taurua has been great at bringing those domestic coaches into the Silver Ferns environment so they can experience that. We've also seen through the Netball World Cup last year, some of our coaches coaching other nations as well, so I think there are other pathways as well."

Listen to the full interview below: