Netball: Former rival wants NZ teams in Australian comp

The former Diamonds coach says New Zealand needs to get teams into the Australian netball league as soon as possible.

Lisa Alexander, who coached the Australian Diamonds from 2011 to 2020, wants New Zealand involved in the the Suncorp Super Netball competition (SSN) - the most competitive league in the world.

It also has an unlimited imports policy so attracts some of the best players around the globe from countries like England and Jamaica.

Alexander said it was in the interests of netball on both sides of the Tasman.

"It's really important that our closest rivals and neighbours are strong in netball, otherwise our global reach is not going to improve," Alexander said.

"The English Super League has taken a big step forward this year with every match on TV and lots of coverage, very professional.

"If New Zealand had two teams in the SSN, I think would be a big boost for audiences across both countries."

The ANZ Premiership, which gets underway this weekend, replaced the former trans-Tasman Championship, which ended in 2016 when New Zealand and Australia went separate ways.

Both countries had five teams each in that league but the landscape has changed a lot since then.

Alexander said two teams would be the most New Zealand could expect, if the SSN was expanded from its current eight team competition.

RNZ understands that Netball NZ is looking at securing franchise licences in the SSN, but 2027 would be the earliest opportunity with the broadcast deal for that competition in place until the end of next year.

Netball NZ is in the process of negotiating a broadcast deal, with its current agreement with Sky TV expiring at the end of this year.

Netball Australia recently reported another surplus in its Annual Report, driven they said by record crowds and broadcast audiences across the 2024 SSN. The national body said it would be looking to make new investments with a view to 'turbo charging' the SSN for the long term.

Australian netball commentator Sue Gaudion believes nothing is off the table when it comes to expansion.

"Whilst not privy to apparent conversations, I do think Netball Australia are focused on what decisions moving forward make the most sense commercially as well as financially ensuring sustainability of the next iteration of the League," Gaudion said.

"I think that increasing opportunities for Aussie athletes will be part of the decision-making process, but that doesn't necessarily prevent a New Zealand (or more) franchise from being considered. They are or can be potentially two different decisions."

More eyeballs from New Zealand fans might appeal to Netball Australia but Gaudion, who is also general manager of the Fever franchise, said expansion would have to bring commercial and financial confidence to the league.

"And Netball Australia are doing the work to understand more specifically what that means. What is a license worth to play in the 'world's best netball league'? Personally, I think it's a lot more than its current value, and possibly of even greater value for non-Australian based franchises."

You need her

Alexander coached the Diamonds when former Silver Fern Laura Langman was barred from playing for New Zealand because she played in Australia.

Langman was brought out of exile when Dame Noeline Taurua answered the SOS in 2018 to coach the Silver Ferns. Dame Noeline also coached in the SSN for three years at the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Netball New Zealand's current eligibility policy means star shooter Grace Nweke has had to give up her place in the Ferns this year, because she is playing in the Australian competition.

"You need her, and World Netball needs her playing for her country not sitting out, I think it's ridiculous and I think it needs changing," Alexander said.

"It's no coincidence that New Zealand won a world title in 2019 off the back of Noeline coaching here and Laura having played here and then getting some of your older players back. But you need your players playing in the top competition."

Alexander said if New Zealand joined the SSN, it would also eliminate that issue.

"Some of your players could also play for Australian clubs, that's another possibility. And I'm sure Noeline Taurua would love that because it gives her Silver Ferns lots of competition and it just brings more interest as well.

"I know there are people in New Zealand that want this, and I think it will be great for netball in general."

Took it for granted

When Australian Diamonds sides used to tour New Zealand, they would be jealous of the level of media coverage the Silver Ferns got.

But Alexander has noticed a shift.

"There was so much more coverage in New Zealand [back then] and I think you've taken it for granted to be quite honest because it's really hard to get it back.

"In Australia we are fighting very very hard to have our slice of the media pie and it's still very tough but our Australian netball quality, the programme is so good that it will bust through.

"It's still tough here but I'm now a columnist, I write about netball ... I wouldn't have dreamed of that 10 years ago.

"I didn't even know that your ANZ Premiership was about to start so that is a bit of an issue. I get more information about the Netball Super League in England, than I am about New Zealand at the moment."

Alexander said netball was facing much more competition from other women's sports like rugby union, league, soccer, and cricket.

"But you guys have got so much more competition in a smaller pool of people and talent, so it is vital that we get you into this competition [the SSN] as soon as possible on so many levels and particularly economic reasons.

"But for those young athletes who are aspiring to play at the very top and want media coverage, well they need to be playing in the world's best domestic league to get that."

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