Players left in limbo as netball’s contract saga leaves cloud over NZ
A number of netball players competing at the Commonwealth Games are in limbo ahead of the new season after Netball New Zealand informed staffers from three teams they are “not in a position” to extend their contracts in 2027 and Netball Australia continued to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.
An email, obtained by the New Zealand Herald, was sent by Netball NZ to staffers from the Stars, Mainland Tactix, and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic this week amid uncertainty around the future of the ANZ Premiership.
The Diamonds came out victorious against the Silver Ferns in the Constellation Cup last year. Kai Schwoerer
It is the third consecutive year that the future of the ANZ Premiership has been in question, despite reports engagement in the league is growing year-on-year.
Team staffers have previously been told by this point in the year if they will receive a contract, with deals going through to July 31 every season.
But with no broadcast deal locked in or a competition plan for next year, Netball NZ have now been dealt a new twist to the crisis around the organisation.
It has not been the easiest 12 months for Netball New Zealand, who just nine months ago conducted a review into the Silver Ferns after players lodged complaints that the team environment was “psychologically unsafe”.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down while the investigation into the team environment she had built was conducted, but she has since been reinstated in her job and will lead the team through the Commonwealth Games.
Nine of the 12 named in her Silver Ferns team for the upcoming tournament play in the ANZ Premiership, four of whom are signed to the Tactix, Magic or Stars. Silver Ferns captain Karin Burger is one of the four.
Players are also waiting on the collective bargaining agreement being finalised between Netball NZ and the New Zealand Netball Players Association.
Stars assistant coach Leana de Bruin admitted on Newstalk ZB’s Sportstalk with D’Arcy Waldegrave that the lack of communication from Netball NZ is the most disappointing as players are left in a “very worrying and uncomfortable” situation as they wait to learn if the competition will continue in 2027.
Nine.com.au has contacted Netball NZ for comment.
Australia does not have any active Diamonds players currently in the ANZ Premiership, but the national competition is dealing with its own issues.
Netball Australia is still working to finalise the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for its sport, with all contracts set to expire in two months.
Adelaide Thunderbirds were champions of the SSN in 2026. Getty Images
Players signed to a Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) team will be paid until their contracts expire on September 30, with the free agency window likely to open after that date.
Netball Australia has recently told media that they are eager to get the CBA done quickly, but in 2023, when the organisation, SSN teams and the Australian Netball Players Association all settled on a CBA, players went months without being paid.
Unlike the ANZ Premiership, SSN players have certainty that there will be a competition next season after Nine secured a five-year broadcast deal.
Who exactly they will be playing for once they return from the international netball landscape remains unclear for now.
New Zealand team the Northern Mystics reportedly placed a bid to join the SSN in 2028, but no update on that application has been revealed.
Australia and New Zealand have long been two leading nations in the international netball scene, holding the top two spots on the world rankings.
The Diamonds, world No.1, will look to defend their Commonwealth Games win in 2022 when they begin their campaign in Glasgow on Saturday evening (AEST).
