1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:13,027 --> 00:00:17,627 Speaker 2: So uncertainty continues over the prospect of our top netball 4 00:00:17,707 --> 00:00:22,347 Speaker 2: shooter playing for New Zealand in twenty twenty five. Para 5 00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:25,667 Speaker 2: conin thank would be the take of the day. 6 00:00:25,747 --> 00:00:32,867 Speaker 1: I think Grace Wicking how did she keep that alive? 7 00:00:33,107 --> 00:00:35,467 Speaker 2: So, as I'm sure you'll know, Grace WEEKI made the 8 00:00:35,507 --> 00:00:39,307 Speaker 2: decision to play her domestic netball in Australia this year 9 00:00:39,867 --> 00:00:43,587 Speaker 2: instead of playing in our am Z Premiership which gets 10 00:00:43,627 --> 00:00:47,467 Speaker 2: underway this weekend. Now, the current rules prevent anyone who 11 00:00:47,547 --> 00:00:51,907 Speaker 2: doesn't play their netball domestically from representing New Zealand, but 12 00:00:52,427 --> 00:00:55,267 Speaker 2: Netball New Zealand CEO Jenny Wiley said this week that 13 00:00:55,347 --> 00:00:59,827 Speaker 2: the board is continuing to review its guidelines around this. 14 00:01:00,547 --> 00:01:03,107 Speaker 2: Let's find out how that's going. Chair of Netball New 15 00:01:03,187 --> 00:01:05,827 Speaker 2: Zealand is Matt Winnaday who joins us now. Matt, thanks 16 00:01:05,827 --> 00:01:07,187 Speaker 2: so much for taking the time for a chat to 17 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:09,787 Speaker 2: us to give us some clarity here. When is the 18 00:01:09,827 --> 00:01:14,387 Speaker 2: board likely to make a decision around Grace Wiki's eligibility 19 00:01:14,507 --> 00:01:16,267 Speaker 2: for the Silver Ferns this year? 20 00:01:16,867 --> 00:01:21,987 Speaker 3: Thanks Jason, Look the question of eligibility and the date 21 00:01:22,027 --> 00:01:24,147 Speaker 3: of that policy is a live conversation with the board 22 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:27,747 Speaker 3: at the moment, and we'll continue to work through that. 23 00:01:27,827 --> 00:01:30,147 Speaker 3: I haven't got a time train for you right now, 24 00:01:30,187 --> 00:01:32,667 Speaker 3: but I have to say it is definitely a live conversation. 25 00:01:32,787 --> 00:01:36,387 Speaker 3: We are continuing to have it. And really, if you 26 00:01:36,387 --> 00:01:37,867 Speaker 3: think about it, what we're trying to do is bu 27 00:01:37,987 --> 00:01:41,587 Speaker 3: into a bunch of stakeholder stakeholder interests here. This is 28 00:01:41,627 --> 00:01:45,107 Speaker 3: not about a single player. It's it's about our system. 29 00:01:45,347 --> 00:01:47,707 Speaker 3: You know, We've got a very strong We've got a 30 00:01:47,827 --> 00:01:51,387 Speaker 3: visible competition in the AMSI Premiership, which gives our nearly 31 00:01:51,387 --> 00:01:55,147 Speaker 3: one hundred and fifty thousand registered players something to aspire to, 32 00:01:55,867 --> 00:01:59,227 Speaker 3: and our one million silver fan great nettle to watch 33 00:01:59,267 --> 00:02:02,667 Speaker 3: in our sixty professional athletes and coaches and their coaches 34 00:02:02,867 --> 00:02:06,867 Speaker 3: an opportunity to learn earn a living in the sport 35 00:02:06,907 --> 00:02:09,347 Speaker 3: that they love. We've also, of course got players who 36 00:02:09,347 --> 00:02:13,107 Speaker 3: are looking to get experiences, broaden your experiences, and a 37 00:02:13,107 --> 00:02:15,587 Speaker 3: silver fernd's coach who wants to put a great team 38 00:02:15,627 --> 00:02:19,227 Speaker 3: on the court. So so we've got the task of 39 00:02:19,627 --> 00:02:22,787 Speaker 3: making sure that that policy is such a purpose and 40 00:02:23,187 --> 00:02:25,307 Speaker 3: balancing all of the stakeholder interests and that's what we're 41 00:02:25,307 --> 00:02:27,387 Speaker 3: working through at the moment and will continue to do that. 42 00:02:28,307 --> 00:02:33,027 Speaker 2: So how does a strong A and Z premiership or 43 00:02:34,027 --> 00:02:36,267 Speaker 2: having a strong A and Z premiership, how is that 44 00:02:36,307 --> 00:02:39,587 Speaker 2: affected by Grace Wiki playing for the Silver Ferns. 45 00:02:40,667 --> 00:02:42,747 Speaker 3: Well, they said, this is about this is about the 46 00:02:43,267 --> 00:02:46,787 Speaker 3: broader system, So it's about it's not about making a 47 00:02:46,867 --> 00:02:49,867 Speaker 3: rule for a for an individual player. This is about 48 00:02:49,947 --> 00:02:52,067 Speaker 3: making sure that we've got a policy that works and 49 00:02:52,107 --> 00:02:54,747 Speaker 3: so that that's what we're thinking about at the moment 50 00:02:54,827 --> 00:02:57,827 Speaker 3: is what what what's the what's the right setting for 51 00:02:57,867 --> 00:03:01,147 Speaker 3: that policy that can that can address you know, those 52 00:03:01,187 --> 00:03:03,707 Speaker 3: different stakeholder interests that instead of I mentioned, oh. 53 00:03:03,627 --> 00:03:06,507 Speaker 2: Look man, everyone understands there's a wider issue here, absolutely 54 00:03:06,787 --> 00:03:09,067 Speaker 2: wider than just one player. But if we talk about 55 00:03:09,107 --> 00:03:11,107 Speaker 2: Grace Wiki here because she's the one that we're most 56 00:03:11,107 --> 00:03:15,987 Speaker 2: interested in, everyone, her coach, her teammates, the fans, they 57 00:03:16,027 --> 00:03:18,387 Speaker 2: all want Grace to play for New Zealand. So why 58 00:03:18,427 --> 00:03:19,347 Speaker 2: wouldn't you grant that? 59 00:03:21,107 --> 00:03:23,387 Speaker 3: So this is this is not a This is not 60 00:03:23,427 --> 00:03:26,067 Speaker 3: about an individual. This is about this is about getting 61 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:30,227 Speaker 3: that that system setting right so that we've got all 62 00:03:30,267 --> 00:03:33,867 Speaker 3: of those all of those stakeholder interests being being addressed 63 00:03:33,987 --> 00:03:37,587 Speaker 3: and considered by the board. So and that will that 64 00:03:37,667 --> 00:03:42,787 Speaker 3: will ultimately result in decisions being made about individual players eligibility. 65 00:03:42,827 --> 00:03:45,507 Speaker 3: But the conversation we're having the board at the moment, 66 00:03:45,907 --> 00:03:48,867 Speaker 3: we don't at the moment have an application in front 67 00:03:48,907 --> 00:03:51,507 Speaker 3: of us. But the conversation we're having at the board 68 00:03:51,587 --> 00:03:54,147 Speaker 3: is what is the right setting to make sure that 69 00:03:54,187 --> 00:03:56,787 Speaker 3: we that we balance all of those stakeholder interests. And 70 00:03:56,907 --> 00:04:00,307 Speaker 3: obviously everybody's very interested about how that applies to one 71 00:04:00,307 --> 00:04:03,747 Speaker 3: player being Grace, and we've got we've got massive respect 72 00:04:03,787 --> 00:04:07,347 Speaker 3: for Grace's talent and we unders standard that's an important 73 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:09,547 Speaker 3: issue for people. But for us, we've just got to 74 00:04:09,587 --> 00:04:13,707 Speaker 3: sort out that those settings and then and then consider 75 00:04:13,747 --> 00:04:18,347 Speaker 3: how that applies to individuals. So understand everybody's interests interest 76 00:04:18,427 --> 00:04:23,027 Speaker 3: in it. It's obviously the topic of the day. And 77 00:04:23,027 --> 00:04:24,787 Speaker 3: and as I say, we'll continue to work through that 78 00:04:24,947 --> 00:04:27,747 Speaker 3: and and and reach the reach the right season. 79 00:04:28,307 --> 00:04:33,547 Speaker 2: Again, though, Matt, how would Netball's other stakeholders suffer from 80 00:04:33,587 --> 00:04:37,307 Speaker 2: you loosening the eligibility rules in this case? 81 00:04:38,147 --> 00:04:43,707 Speaker 4: The way the way it impacts is if we if 82 00:04:43,747 --> 00:04:48,827 Speaker 4: we if we provide exemptions to players they obviously play 83 00:04:48,907 --> 00:04:49,467 Speaker 4: somewhere else. 84 00:04:49,547 --> 00:04:52,987 Speaker 3: That changes the visibility of those players and the conribusion 85 00:04:52,987 --> 00:04:56,467 Speaker 3: of those players to our domestic and that has impacts 86 00:04:56,507 --> 00:05:00,187 Speaker 3: on visibility of that for our for our young players, 87 00:05:00,187 --> 00:05:03,947 Speaker 3: has impacts on our commercial partners, has impacts on on 88 00:05:03,987 --> 00:05:07,347 Speaker 3: the broader system. So that's the that's that's why I 89 00:05:07,387 --> 00:05:09,987 Speaker 3: sort of ran through that list of the potential stakeholder 90 00:05:10,027 --> 00:05:11,827 Speaker 3: interest because all of those things are the things that 91 00:05:11,827 --> 00:05:13,027 Speaker 3: we're trying to balance. 92 00:05:12,667 --> 00:05:16,187 Speaker 2: In this In this consideration, Grace has been on record 93 00:05:16,187 --> 00:05:19,187 Speaker 2: as saying that she's going overseas, has gone overseas, took 94 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:22,827 Speaker 2: this opportunity to make herself a better netballer. Is that 95 00:05:22,907 --> 00:05:25,267 Speaker 2: not something Netball New Zealand would encourage. 96 00:05:26,587 --> 00:05:29,827 Speaker 3: Oh, look, we we don't disagree that growth has looks 97 00:05:29,907 --> 00:05:31,787 Speaker 3: like she's having a great time this year and she's 98 00:05:31,827 --> 00:05:36,627 Speaker 3: playing really well. That's that's the great and that, as 99 00:05:36,667 --> 00:05:39,147 Speaker 3: I say, is one of those one of those considerations 100 00:05:39,187 --> 00:05:43,147 Speaker 3: for for this, for this decision is you know, what 101 00:05:43,227 --> 00:05:45,947 Speaker 3: are those development opportunities for our players, what are their 102 00:05:46,107 --> 00:05:48,627 Speaker 3: express interests, what are those other stakeholder interests that were 103 00:05:48,627 --> 00:05:52,107 Speaker 3: also balancing. But we understand that that provides you know, 104 00:05:52,227 --> 00:05:57,027 Speaker 3: a different a different experience and you know, new opportunities. 105 00:05:57,187 --> 00:05:59,227 Speaker 3: So that's all part of the consideration as well. 106 00:05:59,547 --> 00:06:01,867 Speaker 2: I guess, and I'm sorry if I'm missing something here, Matt, 107 00:06:01,867 --> 00:06:03,467 Speaker 2: but I guess I'm still trying to get my head 108 00:06:03,507 --> 00:06:08,147 Speaker 2: around what the downside to letting Grace play for New 109 00:06:08,227 --> 00:06:08,907 Speaker 2: Zealand would be. 110 00:06:10,747 --> 00:06:13,387 Speaker 3: Well, as Jason, which were thinking about this, this is 111 00:06:13,427 --> 00:06:14,867 Speaker 3: this for us is how do we think about this 112 00:06:14,947 --> 00:06:17,067 Speaker 3: at a system level so that we're not we're not 113 00:06:17,147 --> 00:06:21,347 Speaker 3: responding to individual individual player question is obviously that happens 114 00:06:21,347 --> 00:06:24,667 Speaker 3: when players make applications, but that we've got a setting 115 00:06:24,787 --> 00:06:28,867 Speaker 3: right from a system perspective to to continue to put 116 00:06:28,907 --> 00:06:33,347 Speaker 3: on you know, and provide highly visible great great netball 117 00:06:33,427 --> 00:06:38,227 Speaker 3: domestically produce good silver Ferns through our high performance pathways 118 00:06:38,307 --> 00:06:41,067 Speaker 3: and also be able to respond to interested players. 119 00:06:41,467 --> 00:06:45,307 Speaker 2: You're broadcaster for test matches Sky Sport, would they not 120 00:06:45,427 --> 00:06:48,907 Speaker 2: want your best players out there playing for the silver Ferns. 121 00:06:50,307 --> 00:06:53,347 Speaker 3: Well, look, we all want we all want a great 122 00:06:53,347 --> 00:06:55,227 Speaker 3: product out there, and we all want a good team 123 00:06:55,227 --> 00:06:57,947 Speaker 3: out there. But ultimately, at the moment, you know, Grace 124 00:06:58,147 --> 00:07:02,347 Speaker 3: Graces has chosen to go over to to play for 125 00:07:02,427 --> 00:07:04,347 Speaker 3: the swifts in the in the context of the of 126 00:07:04,387 --> 00:07:10,587 Speaker 3: the policy that exists. Now, that's not something that we 127 00:07:10,627 --> 00:07:13,667 Speaker 3: can we can stop or something that Sky can stop 128 00:07:13,707 --> 00:07:15,627 Speaker 3: at the moment in the context of the current policy. 129 00:07:16,587 --> 00:07:18,747 Speaker 3: But yeah, look, we're all aligned and wanting to put 130 00:07:18,787 --> 00:07:21,587 Speaker 3: out great product and that is that means, you know, 131 00:07:21,627 --> 00:07:24,907 Speaker 3: great products both at the amc P level and the 132 00:07:24,907 --> 00:07:25,787 Speaker 3: Silver Foons level. 133 00:07:26,307 --> 00:07:28,947 Speaker 2: Can I just get clarity on something. There's been talk 134 00:07:29,027 --> 00:07:32,667 Speaker 2: of a trigger point of one hundred caps and when 135 00:07:32,707 --> 00:07:35,827 Speaker 2: a player you know, plays one hundred tests for New Zealand, 136 00:07:36,227 --> 00:07:40,267 Speaker 2: these eligibility rules no longer apply to them. Is that 137 00:07:40,347 --> 00:07:41,667 Speaker 2: a black and white rule or not? 138 00:07:44,267 --> 00:07:46,427 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's that's right. I'm not sure that you how 139 00:07:46,467 --> 00:07:49,587 Speaker 3: that narrative has become the received one, but that's correct. 140 00:07:49,627 --> 00:07:52,507 Speaker 3: There's not a that the hundred tests is not a 141 00:07:52,907 --> 00:07:55,947 Speaker 3: is not and is not the black and white rule 142 00:07:56,987 --> 00:07:59,307 Speaker 3: the players. I think what's happened is that the players 143 00:07:59,347 --> 00:08:03,187 Speaker 3: who received attentions in the past have made massive contributions 144 00:08:03,227 --> 00:08:05,067 Speaker 3: to the game at all level of in Zealand, including 145 00:08:05,107 --> 00:08:09,307 Speaker 3: by playing more than one hundred tests for the Silver Ferns. 146 00:08:09,307 --> 00:08:11,907 Speaker 3: But as that I can confirm that that is not 147 00:08:11,987 --> 00:08:13,107 Speaker 3: the black and white rule, gotcha. 148 00:08:13,227 --> 00:08:15,587 Speaker 2: Okay, good to have that cleared up. So you mentioned 149 00:08:15,587 --> 00:08:19,387 Speaker 2: before you don't currently have an application in front of 150 00:08:19,427 --> 00:08:25,187 Speaker 2: you from any player to to test your eligibility rules. Apparently, 151 00:08:27,227 --> 00:08:30,867 Speaker 2: so Grace Wiki hasn't made an application to you, through 152 00:08:30,907 --> 00:08:34,707 Speaker 2: her representatives or through through the Silver Ferns to request 153 00:08:35,307 --> 00:08:37,427 Speaker 2: eligibility to play for New Zealand this year. 154 00:08:39,427 --> 00:08:42,547 Speaker 3: I think Grace has made her her her her long 155 00:08:42,667 --> 00:08:45,347 Speaker 3: term desire to play for the Silver Ferns pretty clear, 156 00:08:45,347 --> 00:08:47,147 Speaker 3: and she made that she made that clear also at 157 00:08:47,147 --> 00:08:49,547 Speaker 3: the time when she when she announced his decision last year. 158 00:08:50,507 --> 00:08:54,387 Speaker 3: So we understand, we understand where Grace is, you know, 159 00:08:54,587 --> 00:08:57,987 Speaker 3: ultimate ultimate loyalty lies, which is to the Black Dress 160 00:08:58,547 --> 00:09:02,387 Speaker 3: at the moment, that's not that's not possible under our 161 00:09:02,427 --> 00:09:06,307 Speaker 3: current eligibility rules. But that's, as I say, the concern 162 00:09:06,347 --> 00:09:09,667 Speaker 3: generation the consideration that we're having with the discussion we're 163 00:09:09,667 --> 00:09:11,547 Speaker 3: having at the board at the moment, and I. 164 00:09:11,547 --> 00:09:14,947 Speaker 2: Just want to absolutely clarify what your main concern is 165 00:09:15,347 --> 00:09:19,027 Speaker 2: around allowing her to play, and it is I'm sure 166 00:09:19,147 --> 00:09:22,107 Speaker 2: you know valid that if you didn't have to play 167 00:09:22,107 --> 00:09:24,307 Speaker 2: domestic netball to play New Zealand or play for New 168 00:09:24,387 --> 00:09:28,587 Speaker 2: Zealand in a silver firm situation, then the fear would 169 00:09:28,627 --> 00:09:30,307 Speaker 2: be that you'd lose a whole bunch of players on 170 00:09:30,467 --> 00:09:33,427 Speaker 2: mass to overseas domestic competitions. Is that is that your 171 00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:34,027 Speaker 2: main concern? 172 00:09:35,867 --> 00:09:37,307 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's just that's what I say. 173 00:09:37,427 --> 00:09:39,307 Speaker 3: That's what I mean when I talk about thinking about 174 00:09:39,307 --> 00:09:43,187 Speaker 3: the whole system. So what you what you're talking about. 175 00:09:43,467 --> 00:09:45,587 Speaker 3: What we're talking about when we balance all those stakeholder 176 00:09:45,627 --> 00:09:49,507 Speaker 3: interests is the interests of the overall system and that means, 177 00:09:49,707 --> 00:09:53,667 Speaker 3: you know, are we able to put on a highly visible, strong, 178 00:09:53,707 --> 00:09:58,347 Speaker 3: high performance product here in New Zealand, to allow our 179 00:09:58,387 --> 00:10:01,067 Speaker 3: fans to aspire toout our players to aspire to that, 180 00:10:01,187 --> 00:10:03,827 Speaker 3: our fans to watch out our athletes to play in it, 181 00:10:04,707 --> 00:10:07,507 Speaker 3: and making sure that that's a viable product. 182 00:10:08,427 --> 00:10:09,587 Speaker 2: Just what I've got you, Matt. Do you have any 183 00:10:09,827 --> 00:10:12,827 Speaker 2: clarity around the shape of the A and Z Premiership 184 00:10:12,867 --> 00:10:13,267 Speaker 2: next year? 185 00:10:14,587 --> 00:10:17,667 Speaker 3: Yeah, we've concerned that we're planning for a sixteen premiership 186 00:10:17,667 --> 00:10:22,027 Speaker 3: in twenty six. We're still working on commercial broadcast arrangements 187 00:10:22,107 --> 00:10:25,267 Speaker 3: at the moment, but needless to say, when we've got 188 00:10:25,307 --> 00:10:28,307 Speaker 3: something to announce there, we will. We will definitely do that. 189 00:10:28,387 --> 00:10:32,907 Speaker 3: We understand the interest in that, but at the moment, yeah, 190 00:10:32,907 --> 00:10:34,907 Speaker 3: we continue to work on that, but we're very focused 191 00:10:34,947 --> 00:10:40,787 Speaker 3: on and excited about the impending launch of the twenty 192 00:10:40,827 --> 00:10:43,067 Speaker 3: twenty five AMED Premiership this weekend. 193 00:10:43,147 --> 00:10:45,387 Speaker 2: Yeah, look as we all are lot very much looking 194 00:10:45,387 --> 00:10:47,947 Speaker 2: forward to seeing how how the competition goes this year. 195 00:10:48,027 --> 00:10:50,867 Speaker 2: So just to wrap this, Matt, just back to Grace. 196 00:10:50,987 --> 00:10:53,227 Speaker 2: I know, as you've mentioned, you don't have an application 197 00:10:53,307 --> 00:10:55,187 Speaker 2: in front of you at the moment. I'm sure that 198 00:10:55,227 --> 00:10:57,587 Speaker 2: won't be too far away. When might there be a 199 00:10:57,587 --> 00:10:58,547 Speaker 2: decision around all of this. 200 00:11:00,227 --> 00:11:02,707 Speaker 3: Look, I don't have a specific timeframe for you, Jason, 201 00:11:02,747 --> 00:11:05,547 Speaker 3: I know that you want one, but we'll just keep 202 00:11:05,627 --> 00:11:08,467 Speaker 3: doing That is live and it's an important issue for us, 203 00:11:08,467 --> 00:11:10,427 Speaker 3: and so we want to make sure we get that 204 00:11:10,587 --> 00:11:13,187 Speaker 3: right and we'll keep working on it all right. 205 00:11:13,187 --> 00:11:15,547 Speaker 2: Matt, thanks for your time on ZEB this afternoon. Really 206 00:11:15,547 --> 00:11:20,067 Speaker 2: appreciate it. Thankable, Thanks, no, thank you, Matt, Matt Oneada, 207 00:11:21,027 --> 00:11:23,627 Speaker 2: Chair of Netball New Zealand. 208 00:11:24,987 --> 00:11:28,187 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 209 00:11:28,307 --> 00:11:31,587 Speaker 1: to News Talk sed B weekends from midday, or follow 210 00:11:31,627 --> 00:11:33,227 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.