九一星空无限

ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Up next
ZB

‘Watch this space’: Taurua hints at early Nweke Silver Ferns return

Author
Bonnie Jansen,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Dec 2024, 4:20pm
Grace Nweke will be unavailable for the Silver Ferns while based in Australia. Photo / Photosport
Grace Nweke will be unavailable for the Silver Ferns while based in Australia. Photo / Photosport

‘Watch this space’: Taurua hints at early Nweke Silver Ferns return

Author
Bonnie Jansen,
Publish Date
Thu, 5 Dec 2024, 4:20pm

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has hinted at an early return for star shooter Grace Nweke.

The towering shooter is unavailable to play for New Zealand next year after signing with the New South Wales Swifts in Australia鈥檚 Super Netball competition for the 2025 season.

However, Taurua told the Herald to 鈥渨atch this space,鈥 hinting at a possible change to the current Netball New Zealand regulations that state only ANZ Premiership athletes can play for the country.

鈥淭here鈥檚 still a bit of discussion that will be had and ideas as to what needs to be done for [Nweke] but also the Silver Ferns as well so watch this space is all I can say,鈥 she said.

鈥淲e鈥檝e definitely got some plans ahead of ourselves.鈥

Netball New Zealand鈥檚 rules are different to England and Jamaica, whereby players are free to move elsewhere and remain eligible for their national team.

However, Taurua told the Herald she鈥檚 open-minded to any change, be it to competition format, the international calendar or player eligibility rules.

That includes seeing the draft proposal by World Netball for more tests, come to fruition. The governing body is reportedly exploring hosting the World Cup every two years instead of every four as part of a radical plan to increase opportunities at the elite level.

On December 4, The Daily Telegraph reported the game鈥檚 powerbrokers of Netball New Zealand, Netball Australia and Netball England had partnered with World Netball to introduce a new competition, the Continental Cup.

鈥淚鈥檓 all up for that,鈥 asserted Taurua. 鈥淎nything that we need to look at either to innovate or influence, increase commercial revenue can only be good for our game.

鈥淚 know that鈥檚 still at the infancy of what that needs to look like, but I feel we鈥檝e got to do something different and we鈥檝e got to be able to be competitive as a sport against other sporting nations and other sports as well knowing that female sport is, is as a talk of the town at the moment.鈥

As Taurua awaits decisions about international tests and Nweke鈥檚 availability for selection she professed 20-year-old Amelia Walmsely is the likely candidate to fill the goal shoot void.

Dame Noeline Taurua's contract expires in November. Photo / Photosport
Dame Noeline Taurua's contract expires in November. Photo / Photosport

鈥淎melia has got a massive season next year. She鈥檒l be involved with the World Youth Netball Cup. She鈥檚 going to be such a strong piece for them.

鈥淏ut once she finishes that I鈥檓 really looking forward to her coming back into the mix and the continuation of developing her into the gold-attack, goal-shoot slide.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 in preparation for no Grace, but it鈥檚 also preparation as well to provide her with another opportunity or another position when Grace does come back.鈥

The Central Pulse shooter debuted for New Zealand as a teenager in September 2023 and has so far earned six caps.

鈥淚n the meantime, we will look at what possible change-up in our court systems and rotation of circle, so playing a different style,鈥 Taurua continued.

鈥淸We鈥檒l also look at] the opportunity to build that depth underneath with the Saviours (Tui), with the Martinas (Salmon), with the Tianas (Metuarau) and providing opportunities for those players to be involved with the Silver Ferns as much as possible.鈥

As there鈥檚 no Nations Netball Series scheduled for January, Taurua revealed the Silver Ferns will head across the ditch for a summer camp.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be possibly a seven-day camp of, I鈥檓 not going to say 鈥榚xcitement鈥 because the players won鈥檛 call it that but it鈥檚 an opportunity for us to start to building our 2025 programme.

鈥淏uilding some of those opportunities for those players underneath and get more international exposure.鈥

During this, Taurua鈥檚 side will be in familiar company as her side will train alongside Nweke鈥檚 franchise the Swifts and even play them in a friendly match.

The Swifts also are coached by former Silver Ferns assistant Briony Arkle.

 is a multimedia journalist in the 九一星空无限 sports team. She鈥檚 a football commentator and co-host of the Football Fever podcast and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you