How emotionally drained Silver Ferns dig themselves out of 0-2 Constellation Cup hole against Australia
Friday, 24 October 2025
At Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney: Australia 68 (Sophie Garbin: 33/39, Kiera Austin: 11/12, Georgie Horjus: 13/19, Cara Koenen: 11/15) Silver Ferns 51 (Grace Nweke: 37/43, Martina Salmon: 4/4, Georgia Heffernan: 10/11) 1Q: 19-13, HT: 30-28, 3Q: 51-37.
The mental and emotional toll of the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga might have finally floored the Silver Ferns.
After a crushing 68-51 loss to the Australian Diamonds in Sydney on Wednesday, the Ferns find themselves in a 0-2 hole as the Constellation Cup series shifts to New Zealand.
Interim coach Yvette McCausland-Durie and the playing group have plenty to ponder ahead of Sunday’s must-win clash in Hamilton (4.10pm start). The final match in the series is in Christchurch on Wednesday.
This was a major step backwards from the Ferns following some promising patches in Friday’s opener in Melbourne, where they stuck with Australia for the first three quarters before unravelling.
They would have felt bullish heading into halftime down by two (30-28) after a sluggish start to the match. A horrible third quarter, where they were outscored 21-9, handed the game to Australia, who were able to go to their bench in the final term and rest key starters Sophie Garbin and Courtney Bruce.
Watching the Ferns disintegrate in the third quarter you had to wonder how much the Taurua coaching fiasco has drained them. The Silver Ferns’ players have had to deal with unprecedented scrutiny and relentless questions about their sidelined coach, who has likely guided the Ferns for the final time.
Nowhere was that better seen with star shooter Grace Nweke. The brilliant goal shoot cut a grumpy figure for most of the game, having to deal with relentless physical battering from the Australian defenders and some frustrating ball placement from her feeders. Nweke finished with 37 goals from 43 attempts, but was not at her best.
“Obviously for us there’s a lot of emotions going on in the background that we have to deal with and obviously changes and things that we didn’t necessarily expect to be in at the moment,” interim Ferns captain Karin Burger said.
“It is what it is. We can’t get stuck on that. Frustrating as it is that we’re not winning games at the moment we’ve got to bib up again in the next game.”
The one solace for the Ferns ahead of Sunday’s clash is the Diamonds’ abysmal recent record in New Zealand.
No team in world netball has the talent and depth of Australia, but by their own mighty standards they have not been flash crossing the Tasman.
Australia have dropped their last eight Constellation Cup matches in New Zealand, last tasting victory in March 2021 in the Covid-affected series in Christchurch.
If the Ferns are to have any chance to fight their way back into the series, they must drastically improve their through-court defence.
New Zealand have had no answer to Australia’s lightning-quick ball speed and crisp attacking connections.
Having leaked 69 goals in Friday’s loss, the most goals by the Diamonds in a game against the Ferns, New Zealand coughed up 68 in Sydney. Conceding that many goals against a side of Australia’s quality will not get the job done.
When New Zealand captured the Constellation Cup for just the third time last year, they allowed an average of 52 goals per game, substantially down on the present mark.
The Ferns must start generating greater defensive pressure, which will naturally lead to more turnover ball.
In the opening two tests, circle defenders Burger and Kelly Jackson have battled to pick up clean defensive gains. With the ball rocketing down the court so quickly from the centre pass, they have had little chance to make an impact and go hunting.
“I think personally for us that’s a disappointment for us in the defensive end that we obviously got to a point where we were behind and it’s our responsibility as defenders to get our attackers some more ball. Definitely very frustrated we couldn’t do that,” Burger said.
The Silver Ferns also weren’t helped by Australia gaining 14 rebounds, five by Garbin.
On attack, there is also significant room for improvement.
Australia had 85 attempts at goal compared to New Zealand’s 58 with the Ferns committing 19 turnovers, nine which came in the second half.
To beat a side of Australia’s ability, the Ferns have to get their best player, Nweke, going after a frustrating night in Sydney. Nweke was frequently double teamed by Bruce and Sunday Aryang, forcing the Ferns’ inexperienced goal attacks Martina Salmon and Georgia Heffernan to shoot.
The Ferns might consider starting Peta Toeava at wing attack in test three, who has a long and established connection with Nweke from their time at the Mystics.
McCausland-Durie believed home support in Hamilton and Christchurch would provide a much-needed lift for the players. With only four days to regroup and try and address their problems, the Ferns had to learn quickly and demand more from themselves, she said.
“We’re disappointed and we know we can be better than that and we have moments where we’re in touch and when we’re not in touch, we’re not in touch at all. Those are the bits we’ll keep fighting to close.”