Seven of New Zealand’s best netball players, including Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, and Karin Burger, have chosen to join teams in Australia’s Super Netball league instead of playing in the local ANZ Premiership.
This follows Netball New Zealand’s decision to allow star shooter Grace Nweke to remain in the Silver Ferns while playing overseas. The move has sparked concern about the future of netball at home.
Experts say the issue is not about talent but money. New Zealand continues to produce outstanding players, but the sport struggles to market itself and attract strong financial support. While thousands of people play netball across the country, television deals have been shrinking. Without steady funding, it is difficult for the ANZ Premiership to compete with the professional environment offered in Australia.
Other sports, like rugby, football, and basketball, have found ways to grow their audiences and secure bigger deals, often by improving how their games are shown and promoted. Netball, on the other hand, has sometimes been hard to find on TV, making it tricky for fans to follow.
