Super Netball: Who and where could land new licenses from 2027
Netball Australia has opened an expression of interest process for two new Super Netball licences from as early as 2027. See who could be in the running.
A third Queensland team, regional NSW and Victorian outfits, or a push into new territory?
Netball Australia has opened an expression of interest (EOI) process for two new licences for Super Netball from as early as 2027 and there’s likely to be plenty of interest.
From the national capital to the Apple Isle, the coasts of Queensland and the NSW Central Coast, or even across the ditch in New Zealand, there are plenty of organisations and individuals who have been putting feelers out over the past 12-18 months while background chatter over expansion has increased.
The Code Sports team has run its eye over some likely bidders as the EOI process opens.
GOLD COAST
Gold Coast Gold Coast Titans have previously expressed a long-term goal of gaining a Super Netball licence and shape as genuine contenders. The NRL club currently has a team in Queensland’s Premier Netball League and made the Sapphire (top) division semi-finals this year. The club added former Silver Fern Cat Tuivaiti to its coaching line-up this season and recently had two players sign with New Zealand side Southern Steel to play in the ANZ Premiership next season.
Bond University is another Gold Coast entity that could be interested after the Bull Sharks won the Queensland Premier Netball League Sapphire series premiership this season.
NEWCASTLE
The Wests Group, which in 2017 acquired the Newcastle Knights, have confirmed they will make a bid after unveiling an ambitious plan for a $6 million training hub. The team would likely have links to the Knights and could take their moniker and colours. A suitable stadium could be an issue but the group is reportedly seeking help from Venues NSW to build a 12,000 seat stadium that would be a bonus for a region as well as a home for the team.
TASMANIA
Netball Tasmania (NT) has confirmed its intention to officially bid for a licence, the organisation telling Code Sports it had been “preparing extensively” for the opportunity to join Super Netball when expansion was put on the table with a plan to “ensure the long-term viability and success of an SSN team in the state”. Tasmania’s interest was first raised in 2023, following the collapse of Collingwood, with NT eventually deciding against making a formal submission at that stage. But the state body has been working behind the scenes since, ensuring it was ready for the competition’s expansion. The state body has also held “positive conversations” with the state government in another sign it will be a serious contender.
SEN GROUP
The SEN Group won rights to the former Collingwood licence following the collapse of the Magpies at the end of the 2023 season. Craig Hutchison’s group gained the eighth Super Netball licence for a song given the urgency with which the group had to move and the Melbourne Mavericks were set up within months despite forming at the height of the pay dispute between players and Netball Australia. With a blueprint for building a team quickly from the ground up and commercial revenues surpassing initial projections, SEN could look to bid again, with speculation rife the group’s deal with NA included the right to negotiate on the next licence.
MOUNTIES GROUP
The strong Mounties group expressed interest in the Giants licence earlier this year, holding talks with Netball NSW about buying the licence to run the team in the competition as early as 2026. The state body confirmed in July it was “exploring the proposal” of an external party about the club’s Super Netball licence after an unsolicited approach, with the powerful Mounties Group later confirmed to be the body interested in taking over the club. A preliminary case has already been presented at Netball Australia board level, with the national body needing to approve any licence transfer. But discussions have stalled and there remain significant details to iron out before any deal goes ahead. But Mounties are genuine licence candidates whether with the Giants, or as an expansion outfit.
REGIONAL VICTORIA
Netball Victoria (NV) had investigated a licence for a regional outfit in 2023 following the collapse of the Magpies, adamant the state deserved two Super Netball sides. That idea – which was looking at a mix of games between Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong – was shut down with broadcasters Foxtel stipulating any new team must be based in a capital city. Geelong had interest but NV indicated it would not be making a submission at this stage for a third franchise in the state, based out of Geelong.
NEW ZEALAND
Netball New Zealand (NNZ) qualifies to enter an EOI for a licence, although with nine
and Netball Australia held discussions more than a year ago around the expansion of Super Netball, with those across the ditch understood to be keen to re-enter the fray in some way almost a decade after the former trans-Tasman ANZ Championship was disbanded. Nine Kiwi players – mostly current or former Silver Ferns – will compete in Super Netball in 2026, with their departure decimating the ANZ Premiership, which will run under a condensed format again this year, under a one-year broadcast deal and an uncertain future for the league. Whether NNZ enters an EOI remains uncertain, as does the appetite for a Kiwi side in the competition – watch this space.
Originally published as Super Netball: Who and where could land new licenses from 2027
New coach unveiled as Mavericks make call on Neville replacement
