Pictures: Emily Chalk
Superstar Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke cuts an impressive figure as she poses for Woman’s Day on a busy afternoon in downtown Auckland’s hustle and bustle.
Radiating strength and power, the gorgeous athlete, 22, is as comfortable staring down the barrel of our camera as she is on the netball court and even as she’s simply smiling with her hand on her hip, it’s clear she’s a woman on a mission. She’s also, quite frankly, knackered.
“It’s been a year,” Grace laughs. “Honestly, I feel so exhausted. I’m mentally, emotionally and physically drained, and I’ve been looking forward to these few weeks off all year long.”
And fair enough. It’s been a year of huge highs and crushing lows for the star goal shoot, who has battled injury, public criticism and her own self-doubt, as well as making the difficult decision to remove herself from Silver Ferns eligibility after signing with an Australian team for 2025.
There’s been a lot of weight on her young shoulders. Grace admits there have been times in the past 12 months that she’s struggled with her confidence on the court.
“I can feel like I’m under a microscope,” she says. “As a goal shooter, I’m a finisher. I score the goals, so it’s very clear if I’m not performing. The pressure gets to me sometimes.”
Not since the days of Irene van Dyk has a shooter been lauded as much as Grace has. While the comparison is a huge compliment, the athlete says the expectation that comes with it is sometimes stifling, especially on social media.
“I’ve had a really hard time with the comments,” admits Grace. “Between the decision to move to Sydney and then with my injury, I got really obsessed with what people were saying. It’s like when there’s a car crash and you can’t look away.
“I know you’re not supposed to do it and people tell you stay off Facebook – and trust me, you really should – but it’s easier said than done. It can feel like either I’m the best in the world or that I’m the world’s most overrated goal shoot.”
Under fire particularly for her decision to temporarily leave the Silver Ferns to play in Australia’s Suncorp Super League (netballers must play for a New Zealand-based franchise within the ANZ Premiership to be eligible for Ferns selection), Grace realised she couldn’t make everyone happy – and the only person she had control over was her.
Moving to Sydney to play for the New South Wales Swifts was the right call for her, she says. Now the dust has settled, she feels better about the decision every day, both as an athlete and as a young woman who’s keen to broaden her horizons.
“I’m born and raised in Auckland, and the Northern Mystics have been my club since I was 17,” she explains. “I’ve loved the club and its people, but in the past two years, there’s been this little voice in my head that’s asked, ‘What’s next?’ I felt like I was getting too comfortable.”
Grace’s determination to better herself stretches further than her on-court form – personally, she’s hanging out for a change of scene.
“Auckland is all I’ve known and I’ve been living out of home for the past three years,” she says. “I’m excited to experience something else. Sydney is such a cool place, with the beaches, the melting pot of culture and music scene. I’m a real city girl and it’s five times the size of Auckland! It’s exciting and nerve-wracking because for the first time, I’ll be on my own.
“I want to see how I change as an individual. I haven’t had to find my own feet or my own voice for a long time, so I’m looking forward to becoming more independent.”
Still, the proud Kiwi leaves on a high following the Silver Ferns’ incredible performance against Australia in the recent Constellation Cup, reclaiming the trophy after 12 years.
It’s a remarkable turnaround that surprised fans and critics – but one that Grace knew deep down was coming.
“We just got to a point where there was so much hurt, disappointment and frustration. We felt like we had nothing to lose,” she tells. “The public support was missing and we were in a really hard space. But we shut out the noise and had some important conversations, which is what I’m most proud of. For us to play the way we did, it’s a career highlight.”
Grace admits she has struggled within the Ferns, as professional sport is a demanding career choice.
“It’s an intense environment that really pushes you and sometimes it can be more emotionally taxing than it is physical. A big focus for us was finding the enjoyment in our netball again. When we did, it really showed on the court.”
Invigorated by those last games, Grace’s passion for netball has never been stronger and her ultimate goal is to come back and claim a World Cup with the Ferns.
“I could easily have stayed and kept doing the same thing, but I’m hungry for more. I want to be the best in the world.”
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