NSW Swifts’ ‘scary’ warning about superstar recruit Grace Nweke
The NSW Swifts head into the 2025 Super Netball season as one of the premiership favourites after signing New Zealand’s best player.
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The NSW Swifts are expecting new goal shooter Grace Nweke to be a “scary” proposition for their Super Netball rivals when the Silver Ferns superstar takes to the court this season.
Nweke’s bombshell move to the Swifts was confirmed last year, with the 193cm Kiwi superstar opting to forego the opportunity to play for New Zealand in 2025, albeit not in a World Cup or Commonwealth Games year.
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The 23-year-old made the move across the ditch in search of a challenge after dominating New Zealand’s ANZ Championship with the Northern Mystics.
Nweke will slot in at goal shooter and combine with goal attack Helen Housby, with young gun Sophie Fawns expected to come off the bench.
“Grace is an absolute weapon,” Swifts defender Maddy Turner told news.com.au.
“Let’s just say as a defender, I and the rest of the defensive unit are learning resilience going up against her at training everyday.
“We are just extremely grateful that she made the difficult choice to join the Swifts in terms of moving away from home and turning down her contract with the Silver Ferns.
“We’re lucky at the Swifts to have a pretty epic line-up of shooters in Sophie Fawns, Helen Housby and Grace. They each have their own strengths and when paired together it’s pretty scary for other teams.”
Swifts coach Briony Akle served as an assistant under Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua during last year’s international series.
Nweke was a thorn in the side of the Australian Diamonds last year as New Zealand claimed an upset 3-1 in the Constellation Cup few netball pundits saw coming.
In Super Netball, the athletic goal shooter will come up against Diamonds goal keeper Courtney Bruce (Sunshine Coast Lightning) and Jamaican powerhouse Shamera Sterling, who has helped the Adelaide Thunderbirds win back-to-back premierships.
The Swifts still have many core players from the side that won Super Netball titles in 2019 and 2021, but will be without midcourter Maddy Proud, who is expecting her first child with NSW cricketer Daniel Hughes.
Former West Coast Fever player Verity Simmons has joined the Swifts and will replace Proud in the midcourt alongside skipper Paige Hadley.
“We’ve also got Allie Smith stepping into a more centre/wing defence role,” said Turner.
After losing the 2023 grand final to the Thunderbirds, the Swifts are determined to go all the way and become the first team to win three Super Netball titles.
“The goal is absolutely to be holding the trophy up at the end of the year,” Turner said.
“I think the competition just continues to get more intense each year. It’s not about just showing up on grand final day, every week feels like its own final.
“With only 14 games in the regular season it’s so important to rack up the wins not only in front of home crowds, but away as well.
“At Swifts we’re focusing on process rather than outcome and results. If we do the little things well it shapes us up to put us in a winning position. We want to be the team that deserves to win.”
ASICS, the longtime favourite footwear of netballers, recently launched their new netball shoe, the Netburner Ballistic FF 3.
Turner said “the heel lift gives me an added spring to my step”.
“I’ve been in ASICS shoes since the day I stepped on the netball court. Every year they get better, lighter but somehow more supportive,” she said.
“I have a narrow foot so finding shoes where I feel snug and supported can sometimes feel like a mission, but not with ASICS, the Netburner Ballistic FF 3 is the shoe for me.
“It helps me be efficient in my movement whether it be tracking my player or taking a drive down court.”
The Swifts take on the West Coast Fever in their first game of the Super Netball season on Sunday, April 6.
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