Netball news: Australian men defeat New Zealand in historic test

Australian men’s netball team hopes it has inspired young male athletes to consider a future in the sport after achieving a historic result in a trans-Tasman clash.

Australia has made the most of a historic opportunity to showcase the men’s game to a new audience, dominating New Zealand in the first Test of their trans-Tasman series to win 64-48.

In the first live broadcast of a men’s netball international, Australia dominated almost every facet of the game to notch a comprehensive win in the first match of the three-game series.

While the Kiwis took an early lead — thanks in large part to towering seven-foot goal shooter, Australian-based Junior Levi — the Aussies soon found their groove, dominating play at both ends of the court.

More patient, better at getting the ball to circle edge and winning plenty of turnover ball, the Australians led at each change, building a 10-goal buffer by halftime and increasing it throughout the game to allow coach Nerida Stewart to use every member of her squad in the clash at Auckland’s Spark Arena.

Australian Men's Netball Team captain Dylan Nexhip.

Captain and defender Dylan Nexhip lauded his team’s effort and the depth of his team, something that will be crucial given they back up in just 48 hours to play the second match of the series.

But the defender was also pinching himself at playing on the biggest stage in the game and the chance for men’s netball to step into the spotlight.

“It’s quite hard to put into words,” the Year 4 teacher said.

“I never dreamt that we’d be on this stage just as a young boy playing netball when I was 10.

“To be here means the absolute world and we’re just hopeful that we’re doing netball proud and putting a out there that’s amazing and hoping to inspire other young boys.”

Australian goal attack Brodie Roberts who landed 27 of his 30 attempts, shooting at 90 per cent, was named player of the match.

“I’ve never done anything like this and I’m very grateful that we get to come over here and play netball in front of a crowd and before the Silver Ferns and Diamonds, it’s a dream come true,” he said.

“Luckily my shooter created so much space for me to get those drives to post and lots of shots under the rung that made it a bit easier for me.”

AUSSIE MEN’S NETBALL SET FOR 37-YEAR FIRST

Callum Dick

A primary school teacher by day and Australian Men’s Netball Team captain whenever he finds the time.

Come Wednesday, Dylan Nexhip finally gets to live out his childhood dream.

The 31-year-old teacher at Knox Grammar in Sydney has taken a brief leave of absence to pull on the green and gold for three historic Tests against New Zealand and England this month, streamed live on Kayo and Fox Sports.

Wednesday’s opening trans-Tasman clash against the Kiwis in Auckland will be the first time the Australian men’s and women’s teams compete alongside each other, in a long-waited double-header 37 years in the making.

Australian Men's Netball Team player Liam Forcadilla with Diamonds star Kiera Austin.

Australian Men’s netball teams have competed since 1985 but never on the same stage as the Diamonds, until now.

“It’s a pretty historic moment for the sport and a brilliant opportunity for the men to show what they’ve got,” coach Nerida Stewart told News Corp.

“The men bring different assets to the game. They’re a lot faster and it’s more aerial (compared) to the girls’ game.

“The first couple of months I had to keep reminding myself I was there to coach. It’s such an entertaining game that sometimes you just want to sit back and watch.”

Diamonds stars Steph Wood and Liz Watson presented the players with their jerseys at the AIS before the teams flew to New Zealand.

“These fellas have grown up idolising these girls. That’s why they work to be like. There were a lot of pinch-me moments in camp while we were there,” Stewart said.

The Australian Men's and Women's Netball Teams together for a photo.

Made up of school teachers, engineers, psychologists and more than a handful of nurse – to name a few – the Australian team and staff have paid their own way to New Zealand for the chance to play the curtain-raiser to the Diamonds’ Constellation Cup clash with the Kiwi Ferns.

“All the staff are volunteers and all of our players have funded their own way over here as well,” Stewart said.

“It’s a very expensive process for them to represent their country but they’re happy to do it because they know what’s hopefully ahead for them.

“There’s hope (this exposure) will shift the situation and make people interested in investing into the sport. They train just as hard as anyone else while holding down full-time jobs, going to university, and having to pay for it all.”

Australian Men's Netball Team player Dravyn Lee-Tauroa.

Jerome Gillbard with Diamonds star Liz Watson.

The Australian Men’s team will also feature in a curtain-raiser to the Diamonds-Ferns clash in Melbourne on October 19, before playing England in a one-off Test in Sydney on October 30.

“I think the Kiwis will be a real battle. It will be one of those real traditional Test series between Australia and New Zealand,” Stewart said.

“They have some real strength and a really tall unit in Junior Levi who is a man mountain on the shooting end. It’s going to be a tight and entertaining series.

“England … we don’t know a lot about what they’ve been up to. They’re a bit of an unknown, though to be honest it’s a bit the same with the Kiwis because nothing has been played (in the past few years) due to Covid.”

When Stewart first accepted the coaching role she was shocked at the quality of netball given the sport’s lack of exposure among boys and men.

Now she says the playing group and staff are all very much aware of their role in shaping the future of the sport for others, just as the inaugural AFLW and NRLW players have done for girls and women in their respective codes.

“They recognise they’re at the forefront of this next phase of the sport and whatever they do now is going to be reflected upon in years to come,” Stewart said.

“It’s very exciting for them but at the same time there’s a lot of conversation around what this means for us. Since 1985 we’ve had people that have gotten us to this point and now we’re into this phase where it’s time to leave behind a legacy for those that come after them.”

Watch both the men’s and women’s games live on Kayo Freebies from 1pm AEDT on Wednesday.

MEET SOME OF THE TEAM

Dylan Nexhip (Captain)

Position: WD / GD

Occupation: Primary School Teacher

Making his open team debut as a captain speaks volumes to Nexhip’s intangible leadership qualities. A well-respected player within the group, the 31 year old is a competitive beast who rarely puts a foot wrong on the court. Grew up on a dairy farm in country Victoria and now lives and teaches in New South Wales.

Jerome Gillbard

Position: Shooter

Occupation: Psychologist

One of Australia’s more experienced starters, Gillbard is a creative shooter who can threaten from anywhere inside the circle. The West Australian’s movement in tight spaces and ability to get open is a feature.

Dravyn Lee-Tauroa

Position: GD / GK

The youngest on the team, Lee-Tauroa is also coach Nerida Stewart’s Swiss Army knife in that he can be thrown to either end of the court and play a crucial role. Has a hawklike ability to read the play and intercept a pass, and plays taller than his size. Will be one of the pivotal players in the match-up with the Kiwis and their man mountain, Junior Levi.

Liam Forcadilla

Position: Centre / WA

Occupation: University Student – Design

Another debutant in this series, the 26 year old New South Welshman is one of Australia’s most powerful mid-court players. In what is expected to be a brutally physical clash with the Kiwis, the Aussies will lean on Forcadilla’s blend of speed and power to break the game open. Has incredible vision to pick a pass into the circle for the shooters to do the rest.

Lachlan Carter

Position: Shooter

Occupation: Engineer

You won’t miss Carter. Standing 205cm and with a ridiculous wingspan, by the time the Queenslander stretches out he can almost drop the ball into the ring. Will be Australia’s answer to New Zealand’s giant shooter, Junior Levi.

Originally published as Netball news: Australian men defeat New Zealand in historic test