Super Netball 2025: Housby, Nweke vs. Kopua in derby clash of NSW titans

She might have given up her NZ eligibility but Grace Nweke will still have an iconic Silver Ferns moment when she takes on Kiwi icon Casey Kopua in a match-up that could decide the NSW derby.

One of Super Netball’s greatest players has turned super fan of a game in which she’ll be a central character.

Champion goaler Helen Housby has snuffed out any idea the Swifts are disappointed the Giants are hitting their straps ahead of the NSW derby, saying she’s excited at the prospect of playing in one of the most anticipated games of the season.

The teams may be sitting at opposite ends of the competition ladder, with the Swifts on top and Giants in sixth place having just lifted themselves from the cellar.

Swifts attacker Helen Housby ahead of the round 11 NSW derby between the Swifts and the Giants. Photo: Justin Lloyd.

But it’s the Giants who head in with the best form line, their back-to-back wins the first time they’ve had consecutive victories in two years, while the Swifts lost outright lead of the competition after two straight losses in the last fortnight.

Throw in the Giants’ recruitment of Silver Ferns legend Casey Kopua setting up a clash between New Zealand netball’s past and future - in super shooter Grace Nweke - and there’s every ingredient needed for a fantastic feast.

“It’s the kind of game that you want to play in,” said Housby, who believes the form guide has to be thrown out ahead of Sunday’s match in front of a sold out crowd of about 10,000 fans at Ken Rosewall Arena.

“It’s got a story to it, and it’s got excitement to it and we love trying to figure out ways to play on different players, special players - and I think this is no different.”

As strong a player as Kopua is in her own right - despite having been retired for the past six years - it’s the way she’s bringing the Giants’ young defenders into the game that’s helped them take such a step forward and Housby will have her own battle against outstanding young goal defence Erin O’Brien, who has flourished under the former Fern’s on-court guidance.

“I think she was a really great recruitment for them,” Housby said of Kopua.

“She’s obviously been retired for a little while but I don’t think she’s lost any of her game sense, game smarts … and more than anything, it’s the confidence and the composure that she gives to the defenders around her.

Giants defender Casey Kopua and Swifts goaler Grace Nweke. Photos: Ryan Jones/Giants Netball, Netball Australia

“I think they’ve probably been desperate for a little bit of leadership back there and especially with Jodi-Ann (Ward’s) sad (knee) injury, she was the perfect person to come in and kind of wrap them into a solid defensive game plan and mindset.

“She’s an absolute stalwart of netball, one of the best defenders that the Silver Ferns have ever produced and for the (Giants) to have picked her up, they’ll just be gaining information from her, learning from her and in turn, they can use her body, her physicality, to their advantage, so she’s going to be huge for them and I’m quite excited by the prospect (of playing her).”

Kopua’s likely direct match-up will be Nweke though, the outstanding shooter who has given up her New Zealand eligibility this year to cross the ditch and play Super Netball with the Swifts to improve her game.

“I’ve got no doubt that most young Silver Ferns probably see Casey as a bit of an idol,” Housby said.

“I haven’t actually spoken to Grace personally about it, I’ll have to have a few words with her and see how she’s feeling about it but I think it’s going to be incredible.

“I think if you are a Silver Ferns supporter, you’ll definitely be tuning in to watch this across the ditch, because I think it’s a pretty special match-up … and it’s pretty awesome to see the changing of the guard in the Silver Ferns superstars and I can’t wait to be involved and to see, hopefully Gracie shine.”

Originally published as Super Netball 2025: Housby, Nweke vs. Kopua in derby clash of NSW titans