The biggest move of the Super Netball off-season has been confirmed with New Zealand star Grace Nweke joining the NSW Swifts for 2025 – but it’ll cost her a Silver Ferns dress.
Nweke, long touted as one of the most talented shooters to ever come through Silver Ferns ranks, said she was “ready for a shake up” after dominating the ANZ Premiership in recent years.
In a statement after Nweke’s deal with the Swifts was done, Netball New Zealand confirmed the 1.93m star would now be “unavailable” to represent her nation in 2025.
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“Nweke will still be eligible for the 2024 international Silver Ferns season having played for the MG Mystics in this calendar year,” NNZ said.
“She will be unavailable for Silver Ferns selection for the 2025 international season.”
It’s a massive blow for the Silver Ferns’ international hopes, given the side struggled without Nweke (due to injury) at the most recent Netball World Cup – where they finished a worst-ever fourth.
But the star remains confident in her decision to play in Australia – even at the expense of her international career.
“Playing with the Swifts in Australia will provide me with new challenges and experiences that will further hone my skills and, ultimately, benefit my game at all levels,” Nweke said.
“Getting the opportunity to be exposed to different playing styles and strategies, week in and week out, is really important for my development and I am honoured to have the chance to do this at a club as successful and storied as the Swifts.
“I am ready for a shake-up and a new journey and cannot wait to get started with the Swifts.
“I will now focus on the upcoming Silver Ferns season and give my all to the black dress, understanding that I will also need to fight for my position back in the side when the time comes and I am once again available for the Silver Ferns.”
Nweke leaves the Mystics after leading the side to back to back crowns.
The star shooter was left in tears after the 2024 grand final in what was ultimately her last match for the club.
NNZ Board chair Matt Whineray said he respected Nweke’s call to depart, knowing it would cost her a Silver Ferns dress.
“We understand this has been a very difficult decision for Grace to make, and one that she has not taken lightly. As someone who is a future leader within the Silver Ferns, Grace has expressed to us her desire to continue to grow both on and off the court and be the best Silver Fern she can be,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing Grace back in time for the Commonwealth Games and 2027 Netball World Cup.”
Swifts coach Briony Akle, who will link up with Nweke when she joins the Ferns as specialist coach for their upcoming international campaigns – including against Australia, said she was ecstatic to have the 22-year-old shooter join her club.
“Grace is one of the best shooters in the world and we are very excited to welcome her to the Swifts,” she said.
“While she has established herself at international level, I feel she has only scratched the surface of her potential and we cannot wait to share this next chapter with her.
“When we chatted with Grace it was clear that she wanted to test herself in our competition and continue her growth as a player and person and that resonates with us.”
Nweke will step into the vacant goal shooter role after international Sam Wallace-Joseph’s shock mid-season departure amid club controversy.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR NZ NETBALL?
For New Zealand internationals to previously take part in Super Netball, a 100-Test cap threshold had been set for athletes to get an exemption.
The likes of Laura Langman and Maria Folau (nee Tutaia) made the most of that rule to take part in previous seasons and still represent the Silver Ferns, but in recent years we haven’t seen the Kiwi talent on court.
Grace Nweke’s arrival is sure to spark debate over whether more New Zealand athletes should be allowed to take part – given the nation’s shock decline on the international stage.
Jamaica and England have seen their athletes thrive with their experience down under, leaving Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua to begin her fight to relax restrictions. Unfortunately for Nweke, those restrictions remain in place.
Earlier this year on The Kiwi Netball Show, Taurua said Silver Ferns players had her blessing to play Super Netball.
“International exposure is what’s needed at Silver Ferns level,” she said.
“The only way to do that is by opening up and seeing what could happen. Whether it’s New Zealand teams going to SSN or opening it up and letting our athletes go over there.
“For 2025, opportunities do present to players.
“I have spoken to players about that and definitely will support them in that because to get them into SSN is really helpful and valuable for us knowing we’ve only got three years (until the next Netball World Cup).
“If anything the move needs to be made now so I’m really supportive of that.
“For me, it’s about making sure I can do the job in 2027 (at the World Cup) and we have the calibre of athletes that are world class. The only way to do that is by playing the best week in, week out.”
Taurua is no stranger to the Super Netball set up, having led the Sunshine Coast Lightning to back-to-back crowns before more recently stepping into an advisory role with the Swifts over a matter of weeks this season.
But is taking the best players out of the ANZ Premiership going to hurt New Zealand’s netball competition? And what about the funding/commercial viability?
Taurua said while that kind of thinking needed to be factored in before simply opening the door for more Silver Ferns to play in Australia: “I can see the clock ticking (before the next World Cup).”
Since their 2019 World Cup success, the Silver Ferns’ fall from grace has been dramatic.
New Zealand finished fourth at the most recent 2023 Netball World Cup – the nation’s worst-ever result.
They also missed the gold medal match in back-to-back Commonwealth Games campaigns – again, another shock first – and finished as bronze medallists in 2022. They went without a medal altogether at the 2018 Games.
Source Agencies
