Netball news 2022: All the latest happenings during Diamonds’ Constellation Cup campaign

Australian captain Liz Watson has spoken out on the dress furore which has engulfed the sport as more players prepare for talks with Netball Australia and Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting.

New Netball Australia chair Wendy Archer has outlined the “absolute priority” for the organisation to address and resolve player concerns about the partnership with Hancock Prospecting while reinforcing its support of the groundbreaking partnership.

The financially-stricken organisation announced a fortnight ago it had signed a multimillion-dollar deal with Hancock that would underpin the Diamonds program for future success and enable it to grow the game at community and grassroots level.

But the deal, reportedly worth $3.5 million a year until the end of 2025, has been mired in controversy since being revealed, with former captain Sharni Norder among those to speak out about aligning the Diamonds brand with the mining company.

It’s also understood squad member Donnell Wallam, a proud Noongar woman who will become just the third First Nations Diamond if she makes her debut in the series against England later this month, had expressed concerns about the partnership.

The late Lang Hancock, founder of Hancock Prospecting and father of company boss Gina Rinehart, infamously suggested in 1984 that Indigenous Australians should be sterilised to “breed themselves out” in coming years.

Logos for Netball Australia’s new sponsor, mining company Hancock Prospecting, do not appear on the Diamonds uniform. Picture: Getty Images

Diamonds captain Liz Watson told ABC Breakfast on Tuesday morning: “Like you said there has been a lot going on. Obviously we’re great supporters of Hancock, we want to make this partnership work with them.

“There’s just been further discussions with Netball Australia, them and the players (about) when we’re going to wear the dress and when that will happen. I’m confident it is going to resolve really soon.

“The girls know that this is a really big investment in our sport and it’s going to do amazing things for our high performance program. So we appreciate that.

“It’s just working through those angst, like you mentioned, and making sure that everyone – whether you’re in the Diamonds or not – (are) very comfortable. You want to come into this environment and feel great and we know this will be resolved and we’ll hopefully get out there with that dress on.”

But she also said the players took the matter of their legacy seriously, and that meant acting with a social conscious, and social responsibility, and having their voice heard when it came to sponsorships that could conflict with their values.

“I think we just need to align Netball Australia with our values,” she said.

“As a playing group we want to leave a legacy behind … we always say, you know the bib that we wear we want to leave it in a better position from when we went from when we get it. So I feel like it’s just having open conversations with them. And I know that they’re open to do that with us as well.

Diamonds captain Liz Watson in action in the Constellation Cup.

In a statement, Netball Australia (NA) emphasised its “commitment to continuing to consult with members of the Diamonds playing group on matters relating to its commercial partnership with Hancock Prospecting, to reach a resolution to the benefit of the sport”.

“Since becoming aware of cultural sensitivities raised by a Diamonds squad member in respect of the Hancock sponsorship uniform logo placement, Netball Australia and Hancock Prospecting have been working tirelessly to acknowledge and recognise the sensitivities, to further understand the concerns of that squad member and to provide avenues for support.

Netball Australia has today announced Marina Go has stepped down as chair of the organisation after a planned transition and director Wendy Archer AM has been appointed to the role, effective immediately.

More 👉https://t.co/zBWqZki0pLpic.twitter.com/2ATd5uMunb

— Netball Australia (@NetballAust) October 16, 2022

“Netball Australia has continually attempted to understand, support and work on a long-term solution to this matter which at this time, remains unresolved,” Archer said.

“Hancock Prospecting met with the Origin Australian Diamonds leadership group the day after the concerns were raised to extend its support and commitment to Netball Australia and to share experiences, understand perspectives and support these cultural sensitivities through the partnership.

“We will facilitate a face-to-face meeting with Hancock Prospecting and the broader playing group in the coming days.”

The Diamonds played the opening two Tests of the Constellation Cup in New Zealand without the Hancock logo on their dress but Archer confirmed there had been no “boycott”.

But the national body pointed the finger at the Australian Netball Players’ Association (ANPA) and “additional obligations” placed on NA, for the dress fiasco.

“Netball Australia believed that it was not in the best interest of the players, the sport, or Hancock Prospecting to wear the dress at this time,” the statement said.

“Hancock Prospecting has been accommodating and supportive of ensuring that players are not unnecessarily distracted.”

Why netball boss quit at pivotal moment

—Emma Greenwood

Marina Go says there is no “smoking gun” involved in her decision to step down as the chair of Netball Australia despite the sport fighting fires on several fronts.

Netball Australia announced on Monday morning that Go had stepped down in what it called a “planned transition”, with Wendy Archer appointed to the role effective immediately.

But coming while its flagship team the Diamonds play without the logo of new multimillion-dollar sponsor Hancock Prospecting on their uniform and with an interim enterprise bargaining deal for the national team still outstanding, relinquishing her sometimes controversial tenure brought immediate rumour and speculation.

While she agreed the optics were “unfortunate”, Go, who has an extensive board portfolio, including as chair of ASX-listed online retailer Adore Beauty, was adamant the move had been in the works for almost five months.

“There’s never a good time to step down,” Go said.

“With netball, there is no good timing. It just had to happen, the optics don’t bother me. But part of the importance of the timing is that Wendy has a lot more time to devote to netball and right at the moment it needs a chair with more time to devote.”

Marina Go has stepped down as chair of Netball Australia. Picture: David Clark

Go said the transition had been months in the making and was made official at a board meeting last Friday, something that was going to be the case regardless of any other issues going on.

“We’ve been going through the process of board succession diligently since about May,” she said. I would liked to have stood down sooner.”

Appointed as the inaugural chair of the independent Netball Australia board last year when the old board and the Super Netball Commission – which she led – merged, Go had only ever planned to be in the role for 12 months.

“The reason that I reluctantly agreed to do it in the first place – because time was always my problem – was that the member organisations asked me to bed that in,” she said.

“I thought it was such an important change for the sport and the future of the sport that that’s why I agreed to do it.

“But I only ever agreed to do it on an interim basis and then leading the search for a new CEO to deliver the future for the sport.

“And I’m really proud that we found Kelly (Ryan) and she’s doing a fantastic job.”

Go and Ryan have faced intense criticism from fans and some stakeholders over the past six months as the sport seemingly reeled from one crisis to the next.

From the revelation of its perilous financial position to the decision to sell the Super Netball grand final without consulting players, the recent Hancock Prospecting sponsorship and eleventh-hour decision to wear a playing dress without the sponsor’s logo during the Constellation Cup, netball has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.

But Go said there was absolutely no tension between her and Ryan and the decision to step down had nothing to do with recent events.

“Kelly and I have a really fantastic relationship – and we will continue to have a fantastic relationship,” said Go, who will remain on the NA board as a director.

“It’s one of the main reasons that I’m keen to stay on the ball because I want to continue to ensure she’s supported.”

She conceded it was a challenging time for the sport but backed Archer to “immerse herself” in the issues.

“Now it’s for Wendy to speak to (the issues) – not for me because I’m a director and the voice is Kelly for our sport, and then supported by Wendy.

“It’s been challenging for a (long time). Everybody has seen the numbers (finances), so people know how challenging it has been.

“But Kelly’s doing a brilliant job in turning this around and she has the full support of the board.”

The Hancock Prospecting logo notably absent on the Australia Diamonds dresses in the Constellation Cup series in New Zealand. Picture: Getty Images

DIAMONDS DENY BOYCOTT OVER MISSING SPONSOR LOGO

The Diamonds have not refused to wear the Hancock Prospecting logo for the Constellation Cup despite its absence from their dress during the series against New Zealand.

But national team members do want to open a line of communication with head office – or even Hancock boss Gina Rinehart herself – to discuss concerns around environmental and First Nations issues, especially with the debut of only the third Indigenous Diamond imminent.

Netball Australia trumpeted a multimillion-dollar deal with Gina Rinehart’s Hancock group just over a fortnight ago, saying the logo of the company that had joined as high performance partner until the end of 2025 would be featured “on the Diamonds’ uniforms when they take on New Zealand in the 12th Constellation Cup this October, before hosting the Diamonds versus England Roses Series”.

But its absence from the gold dress in the Constellation Cup opener last Wednesday led to speculation there had been a boycott by the players.

The tension between players and head office comes as a pay deal for the Diamonds has still not been reached, despite hopes an interim enterprise bargaining deal would be reached ahead of the series, with discussions on a revenue-sharing model to be held in the future.

Players are understood to be livid they have been painted as obstructionist given they had agreed to wear the logo for the four-Test Constellation Cup series while asking for a special exemption for the upcoming three-Test series against England, given West Australian product Wallam is a member of the squad for that series and expected to make her international debut.

Wallam, a proud Noongar woman, had reportedly expressed private reservations and there had been behind-the-scenes talks of seeking a personal exemption – as has happened on occasion in various sports on religious grounds or those of genuine conscientious objection.

But Diamonds players have decided to live their Sisters in Arms mantra and all will ask not to have the Hancock logo displayed during the England Roses series.

A fortnight ago, the Diamonds announced the logo would be present on uniforms for the series. Picture: Instagram.

The decision is understood to have been made before the team was addressed by former captain Sharni Norder, who has been vocal in her objection to Hancock Prospecting being involved in the sport.

Norder, also a Sports Environment Alliance ambassador, hit out at the alliance the day after the Hancock sponsorship was revealed by News Corp.

Netball Australia confirmed in a statement the logo-bearing dress, which will still feature naming-rights sponsor Origin, was delayed “pending the resolution of outstanding matters relating to the player interim agreement and certain sensitivities”.

But Diamonds players understand the dire need for sponsors to help grow the financially struggling sport.

Instead, they are believed to be grateful for Rinehart’s interest in their sport – Hancock Prospecting’s majority-owned Iron Ore operation Roy Hill last month was announced as principal partner for West Coast Fever for the next four years – and want to work Netball Australia and Hancock on the best way forward.

Originally published as Netball news 2022: All the latest happenings during Diamonds’ Constellation Cup campaign