While there’s no doubt that Kiwis love playing netball – it remains the sport with the highest participation among secondary school students – the professional game faces an uncertain future. With a shortened ANZ Premiership season, there are some fears about whether New Zealand’s top talent can still build a career at home.
Former Silver Ferns captains Adine Wilson, 45, and Anna Stanley, 49, along with renowned commentator and Newstalk ZB journalist Jenny Woods, 64, are not going to let the sport they love fade without a fight.
“We used to be one of the only women’s sports where you could earn money in New Zealand,” tells Nadine.
“That’s changing, which is great, but it’s creating some significant challenges for netball that they need to overcome.”
Jenny adds, “It all comes down to money. It irritates me when I see wealthy people only buying into men’s teams. Why not buy a netball league? Why not invest in women’s sports?”
The trio’s weekly podcast Inside Netball sees them break down the competition, make predictions, and interview past and present players. Their mission?
To reignite fan passion and draw new audiences into the fold.
“The more we create debate and talk about it, the more other people will want to engage with netball and watch it and be fans,” shares Anna. “It’s good to be part of the brave new era, finding ways to grow netball and still be relevant as a sport that people love to watch.”
Their shared hope is clear: to ensure future netballers have the opportunity to build careers in the sport they love.
“I hope in 30 years time we are still one of the leading countries in the world in the sport,” says Anna.
“I hope our participation numbers keep rising and that our professional players can play all over the world.”
Jenny Woods
What are your earliest memories of netball?
Every winter weekend I would play netball. My weekend would be ruined if it was cancelled. I grew up on a dairy farm near Dargaville and as I put the cows away after milking, I would pretend I was interviewing Lyn Gunson and Yvonne Willering [former Silver Ferns coaches]. I never dreamed I’d be working with Yvonne on the radio 50 years later!
Do your kids share your love of netball?
My daughter was quite good, but I always remember we were sitting at the table one night and one of my boys said, “Oh, Mum, can we not talk about netball any more?!”
What do you love about Adine and Anna?
Anna saved my life! We were coming back from South Africa and as our flight was about to take off, I suddenly felt dizzy. I knew I had to get off the plane and Anna stayed with me. The symptoms were stroke-like. I lost my words, but it turns out I was severely dehydrated. We can laugh about now, but I was terrified.
Why’s netball so important to New Zealand
Netball’s strength is the club structure that gets around girls as they leave school. You don’t have to be among the best to enjoy the sport. If you go to any town in the country, there will be netball courts somewhere. It breaks my heart the way people talk about dwindling numbers.
Adine Wilson
What are your earliest memories of netball?
Being at Scott Street Courts in Hāwera, where my mum would either be playing or coaching. I’d stand on the sideline and cheer her on, then we’d have a pie and Coke before we headed to rugby for the afternoon. I had a very active childhood!
What do you love about netball?
The relationships and the people are the best thing. Being in that team environment, you form lifelong friendships. You room with these people and travel the world having these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
What is the most memorable game you played?
More so than any game, it’s my time playing for the Southern Sting. The community support was incredible. We would have ticker-tape parades and people would line up for hours to get into the stadium. When we would walk into the stadium, the crowd would be on their feet and it would give you this massive buzz. That’s a pretty special feeling!
Do your kids share your love of netball?
I have two boys who are into rugby and basketball – there are no netballers in my house! I’m proudly in my sports mum era. I spend my weekends driving them places and watching them play sport. It’s brilliant. I know it’s not going to last forever, so I have to enjoy it while they still want me there.
Anna Stanley
What are your earliest memories of netball?
Playing at the Hagley Courts in Christchurch on cold Saturday mornings with my mum, who was the coach, and my three sisters who all played netball. It was the highlight of the week.
What does it mean to you to have been a Silver Fern
As I get older, it makes me reflect more and feel proud of what I achieved. I work in secondary school sport, my two teenage sons are very active playing rugby and I see how hard all these kids train, and how much they want to get to the top in their sport. In reality, a very small percentage will go on to make it. I think back and go, “I’m pretty lucky I was one of them.”
What is the most memorable game you played?
Winning the 2003 World Cup. The Silver Ferns hadn’t won in 16 years and we’d come so close at the previous two World Cups. We put in a lot of work to that campaign and all the games we had lost in the lead up made the victory that much sweeter.
Do your kids share your love of netball?
My daughter played all through school. I coached her for six years, but then it was time for her to be coached by someone other than her mother. She played in all the top teams at secondary school. Now she’s in her first year of university and enjoying student life.
What do you love about working with Adine and Jenny?
We’re from the same vintage. We love a laugh, we care deeply about our sport and each other. We have a lot of fun doing the podcast and we don’t take ourselves too seriously, which is important.
