Silver Fern Sam Winders has reportedly signed with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Suncorp Super Netball competition in Australia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Netball New Zealand knows Silver Ferns want to play in Australia's domestic netball competition but they are standing firm on the rule that deters the move.
One of the leading clubs in Australia's domestic netball competition has had approaches from Silver Ferns players wanting to play across the Tasman for the past couple of seasons.
The head of performance and pathway at the West Coast Fever Sue Gaudion said since starting in the role in 2021, she had had inquiries from Silver Ferns players each year.
"They're testing the waters and the conversations are that they want to challenge themselves and they see Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) as the avenue to do that.
"I'm not talking about a lot, and I can't speak on behalf of other clubs, I can only speak on behalf of what I'm aware of but they want to challenge themselves but at this point in time it hasn't come to fruition."
Under Netball New Zealand policy, to be eligible for selection in the Silver Ferns players must be signed with an ANZ Premiership team.
Netball New Zealand's head of high performance Stephen Hotter said he was aware of players looking at opportunities in Australia but he wasn't keen on relaxing the exemption rule.
"I think the exemption process needs to remain in place currently, we would like to have our best players playing in our competition. We're reviewing what the ANZ Premiership needs to look like so I still think it's valuable to have our best players playing in our competition to make sure it is as strong as we can have it," Hotter said.
"We've had some conversations with Australia and if that continues and there's some form of mixed and matched competition that would be beneficial but as a starting point with the ANZ Premiership I believe we need our best players playing in this country.
"...we need to be aware as with any decision we make [on the future of the ANZ Premiership] that there will be unintended consequences of that so we need to make sure that we really think about what we need to do very hard before we land on any position."
Reports out of Australia that out-of-favour Silver Ferns midcourter Sam Winders, who had previously played in the ANZ Premiership for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and Southern Steel, had signed with Greater Western Sydney Giants this week were on Hotter's radar.
In June Silver Ferns wider squad member Elle Temu signalled she would miss next year's ANZ Premiership as she moved to Australia to support her NRL-playing partner. She has yet to sign with a SSN side.
Hotter said neither player had applied for the exemption and he did not believe there would be a rush of New Zealanders players looking for opportunities overseas.
"I don't know that the floodgates would open, I don't think that's the risk, I think us having an awareness of players approaching Australian clubs is important and I'm not sure that there's anymore players approaching Australian clubs now than there were a few years ago but it's good to be aware that individuals are thinking of how they can better their personal game."
Hotter said cost was a factor in why New Zealand and Australia no longer have trans-Tasman club competition.
