Netball's domestic future in question for third year

Last year's Silver Ferns coaching saga and recent board changes may have been another roadblock to locking in the ANZ Premiership.

The future of the ANZ Premiership is in question for a third straight year, with no broadcast deal announced yet, and no official word from Netball New Zealand (NNZ) about what's to come.

This year's season wrapped up at the end of June, with the Northern Mystics crowned the champions - but there was a dampener on the celebrations, with the uncertainty of the games' future looming over the arena.

LockerRoom founding editor Suzanne McFadden says that players and staff should have had confirmation by now.

"This really should have been settled four months ago - before this competition started. That's the way it's usually done, that they know that far ahead that there is going to be another season."

McFadden says we should hear about what will happen in the coming weeks, but what the competition will look like is uncertain.

"It may be that it's no longer professional, that next year it may become an amateur competition... It could be that the players and the coaches don't get paid next year to play, and in some cases, players won't have any other options."

For the past year the premiership has been broadcast live on TVNZ with games being free-to-air, however that contract was only for a year. Prior to that, the games were shown on Sky.

Although the competition was able to go ahead, there were financial changes made to keep it alive. This year, players' salaries were cut by 20 percent partly because the number of rounds was reduced from three to two in 2025. On top of that, NNZ had to dip into their reserves to pay for the broadcast.

The financial loss wasn't for nothing though: McFadden says although official numbers haven't been released, TV viewership numbers were reportedly high.

But there is still no confirmation about whether TVNZ and NNZ's partnership will continue into the 2027 season and NNZ can't sustain the current model, says McFadden.

"The money is gone from the reserves so without a strong broadcast deal, possibly from Sky, it's looking very doubtful that they will be able to have a domestic competition next year."

It has been a turbulent year for NNZ outside of the premiership as well - Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down by NNZ and reinstated 51 days later; previous chief executive Jennie Wyllie resigned in December; and four board members including Board Chair Matt Whineray stepped down in February.

McFadden says that she thinks the coaching issues and board changes got in the way of securing the premiership's future, but that the changes may force a new beginning.

"The sport almost has to go through a rebirth stage. That may be very, very uncomfortable for a year or two until things settle down with a whole new top office."

"These are difficult times for the sport, and I guess if you are a fan, you just need to hold tight," says McFadden.

"But if you're a player or a coach, you really need to think 'is it worth it? Is it worth me sticking with the sport, and with the sport in New Zealand?'"

Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here.

You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.