Super Netball fixture for 2025 announced but no call on NZ expansion
Netball Australia boss Stacey West has not ruled out expanding Super Netball to include New Zealand, but confirmed next year’s fixture won’t include a trans-Tasman arrangement.
The 2025 Super Netball fixture, released on Tuesday, features a 14-round home-and-away season, opening with a grand final rematch between the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne Vixens on Saturday, April 5.
Melbourne will host the grand final, with a date and venue yet to be confirmed.
Netball Australia representatives met with their New Zealand counterparts earlier this year to discuss expanding the league.
West said there was no further progress on the “specific nature” of New Zealand’s involvement, but confirmed options were being explored as the league adopts an ambitious 10-year strategic plan ahead of their ninth season.
“I think the relationship between the two nations is good and strong and we know that the southern hemisphere game is in a really great position with incredible performances both their side and our side of the ditch,” West said.
“So ... we will continue to work through what and if, might be possible.”
The introduction of Kiwi teams would mark the first cross-country competition since the trans-Tasman league split in 2016.
While New Zealand’s potential involvement in Super Netball remains unconfirmed, one of their star-shooters Grace Nweke has crossed the ditch to play in Australia.
Nweke will join the NSW Swifts for 2025. She’s one of several international recruits to fill the 80 available full-playing Super Netball contracts.
But several high-profile Australian players and younger talent have made the switch to New Zealand’s top-flight netball league.
Ex-Firebird Donnell Wallam has signed with New Zealand’s Northern Mystics. Credit: Getty
Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam signed with the Northern Mystics after being dropped by the Queensland Firebirds, Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Charlie Bell moved to Northern Stars and Charli Fidler is headed to the Mainland Tactix.
West was asked about protecting Netball Australia’s talent pipeline, including whether there was a concern young players were heading overseas.
“We will continue to explore what international opportunities are for are athletes that potentially don’t have a contract in Suncorp Super Netball right now, and to access other elite competitions is a genuine pathway,” she said.
The 2024 Super Netball Grand Final match between Adelaide Thunderbirds and Melbourne VixensCredit: Getty Images
“Of course we want to keep them here in Australia and we support the Australian pathway ... but for those who do go offshore, we don’t lose contact with them … we maintain that commitment and connection so that when an opportunity arises, we’re in a really good position to transition.”
One of the biggest differences for the 2025 fixture is a round split across Anzac Day and the Easter weekend.
There will be no designated inclusion round next year, with teams to “celebrate and champion their chosen causes throughout the season”.
West Coast Fever have several back-to-back away games during the fixture, an issue West said Netball Australia was conscious of.
“We work really closely with Fever year-on-year to ensure we balance that travel and high performance needs for their fixturing,” she said.
“We will say, for season 2025, their away games are a result of venue availability.”
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.