Diamonds support rule tweak after star’s devastating injury
Diamonds players have backed the decision to abolish the extra-time tiebreaker at the Constellation Cup in wake of the sad scenes that ended the 2025 series.
The first-ever extra-time tiebreaker took place in Christchurch last October, where Australia’s celebrations were marred by Sunday Aryang’s devastating ACL injury.
(L-R) Georgie Horjus, Amy Parmenter and Sophie Dwyer pose in the new Diamonds kit. ASICS x Netball Australia
The young defender had leapt for a series-winning intercept to wrap up the match when she landed awkwardly and hit the deck, rupturing her ACL.
A number of players were seen cramping in the build-up to that moment,
Liz Ellis was spooked witnessing Sunday Aryang assisted off the court last year, as it was 20 years to the day that she suffered the exact injury as the young defender.
An anterior cruciate ligament rupture left both Ellis and Aryang racing the clock to be fit for a Commonwealth Games campaign. Neither were able to do so.
But it was Aryang’s injury that raised concerns about the extra-time format, where scores went back to 0-0 and teams played two seven minute quarters, used to decide the Constellation Cup series.
Diamonds captain Liz Watson labelled the format as “a bit weird” and “confusing”, while Ellis said the physical toll of the extra 14 minutes needed to be reconsidered.
It only took one series for the extra-time tiebreaker to be hit by the axe, with the series set to be determined by goal difference if it is to end in a 2-2 draw.
Amy Parmenter is happy with the new ruling, but still thinks it needs work.
“It’s a really interesting decision, but I back it,” she told nine.com.au at an ASICS launch for the Diamonds’ Constellation Cup dress.
“After Sunday’s injury last year and where the players were at the end of that series, I think it’s probably a bit much to add on that much more netball.
“When you look at that in terms of the length of the game and what they are on, it’s a lot more netball, especially in October. We’re not coming off the back of a full season, we’re just coming into match fitness and it’s just not worth putting your bodies under that much stress and risk.
“Looking at a fifth game might be the way to go. But for me, I’m happy with the points difference for now, at least.”
While there has frequently been suggestions from experts for the annual test series to expand to a five-game format, finding a neutral venue is a challenge.
Australia lifted the Constellation Cup at the end of the last series. Getty
With no neutral venue on the cards as of yet, shooting sensation Sophie Dwyer says there may never be “a perfect solution” to round out the series.
“It would be nice to have a fifth game, but I’m not exactly sure how that would look ... because if you look at the history of the Constellation Cup, so often the games are two-all because the games are won in your home country.
“I don’t exactly know what that looks like, but we want to win it outright. We don’t want it to come down to goal percentage, even with four games.
“We want to be able to win anywhere. We want to go to New Zealand and be able to win there. We’re really looking forward to it, we’ll see what happens.”
Georgie Horjus, a versatile mid-court and shooting talent, agreed with Dwyer, pointing to the home final test advantage the Diamonds will have this year.
“Having the (last two games) on home soil is always the best,” she said.
“We have the most loyal and best supporters, so having a home crowd will be an advantage.
“But you can’t just win a game by one goal, you want to push the margin out. We can’t just be winning games by close margins. We want to keep pushing on.”
The Constellation Cup series will begin in Auckland on Sunday, October 18.
