Silver Ferns could be without their best two goal shoots for 2025

Saturday, 5 April 2025

The ANZ Premiership could be set for a significant shake-up

This excellent piece is from The Post. You can read more of their stories here.

Already missing superstar Grace Nweke, the Silver Ferns could be without their next best goal shoot for 2025 too.

Talented 21-year-old Amelia Walmsley was tipped as the frontrunner to fill the void of Nweke later this year, but head coach Dame Noeline Taurua revealed she might also be unavailable.

Walmsley, who has played six tests, is also a key member of the New Zealand under-21 side, which will contest the Netball Youth World Cup in Gibraltar on Spain’s south coast from September 19-28.

Should Walmsley attend the tournament she would miss September’s Taini Jamison Trophy home series against a yet to be confirmed opponent. She could also be in doubt for October’s Constellation Cup against Australia as the Ferns managed her loading after the Youth World Cup.

Taurua stressed the decision rested with Walmsley and the Ferns would support her in whatever she opted to do. Playing in a Netball Youth World Cup was a special moment for any netballer and Taurua said it would be a valuable experience for the Central Pulse standout, who was not part of the Ferns’ 2023 Netball World Cup side.

“There’s still decisions that need to be made about what she wants to do in that space, but potentially she’ll be unavailable [in 2025] as well through those duties, being with the under-21s,” Taurua said.

Silver Ferns goal shoot Amelia Walmsley takes in the ball against Australia in last year’s Constellation Cup.

Nweke is ineligible to wear the black dress this year because she is representing the NSW Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball. She makes her Swifts debut against the West Coast Fever in Perth on Sunday.

Losing Nweke and Walmsley would leave the Silver Ferns extremely light at the goal shoot position.

Maia Wilson, who was once the Ferns’ No 1 goal shoot, until Nweke established herself internationally, would be the obvious candidate to step up in the role.

Amelia Walmsley might not be spotted for the Silver Ferns this year if she opts to attend September’s Netball Youth World Cup.

Wilson has played 52 tests since her debut in 2016, but was viewed as the third-choice goal shoot in last year’s Constellation Cup behind Nweke and Walmsley. Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio would be asked to shoulder even greater responsibility in the shooting circle at goal attack.

Regardless of whether Walmsley features for the Ferns this year, there are already opportunities for fringe shooters to stake their international claims in the ANZ Premiership, which begins on May 10.

Tactix off-season recruit Martina Salmon and Magic’s Saviour Tui are members of the Silver Ferns development squad and have a huge chance to push for higher honours. The uncapped duo travelled with the Silver Ferns squad for their training camp in Sydney in January.

Maia Wilson would likely be the Silver Ferns’ leading goal shoot if Grace Nweke and Amelia Walmsley are not available.

Other possible shooting options include Pulse goal attack Tiana Metuarau, who has been on the outer of the Ferns lately, and four-test Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan.

Conditioning and whether shooters could meet the yoyo test (aerobic endurance fitness test) requirements would be just as important as their play on court, Taurua said.

“We don’t have a lot of stocks of shooters. Shooters that are fit enough at the moment to contend at the international level and it’s such a fierce position where you’re playing against some really strong opposition, who are world-class players.

“ANZ [Premiership] is a good opportunity for our current stocks of goal shooters to put their hands up and show they are able to take that next step physically, mentally, and emotionally.”

Martina Salmon, pictured playing for the Fast5 Ferns last year, could be a beneficiary if Amelia Walmsley can’t take the court for the Silver Ferns in 2025.

Experienced Tactix shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who has amassed 66 tests, made herself unavailable for the national team last year.

Taurua had not spoken to Selby-Rickit this year about her plans, but said the selection door was open to anyone in the ANZ Premiership, regardless of position.

With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow looming in July next year, Taurua said the 2025 ANZ Premiership was pivotal for aspiring Ferns. She was unlikely to take players to a pinnacle event without international experience.

That meant uncapped Ferns had to deliver this season domestically if they wanted to feature internationally later this year and push their case for the Commonwealth Games.

The likelihood of Nweke playing for the Silver Ferns this year remained slim, but Taurua had not given up hope.

Netball New Zealand (NNZ) were working through what domestic netball looked like for 2026 with multiple options understood to be on the table, including possibly an Australian component. Should there be a trans-Tasman reunion in some capacity, NNZ may be forced to revisit their eligibility criteria.

Under the current regulations, players must compete in the ANZ Premiership to be selected for the Ferns.

“Once we know where 2026 is that may change the landscape and may open the door for her (Nweke). It’s an ongoing process and those discussions are happening all the time.

“Because of that I haven’t closed it off. We’ll see as time prevails what that next step is going to be, but we don’t take the court until August. A long time to go.”

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