Netball legend ‘nervous’ about Australia’s chances at ‘hardest World Cup’ yet

Australia will go in as favourites to win this year’s Netball World Cup, but Diamonds legend Cath Cox is “nervous” about their chances.

Australian netball legend Cath Cox admits she’s “nervous” about the upcoming Netball World Cup, which she believes will be the “hardest” edition yet.

Australia has dominated the last international netball cycle, winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal, the Quad Series and reclaiming the Constellation Cup last year.

But there is one trophy missing from their cabinet — the Netball World Cup.

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The Diamonds lost the 2019 World Cup Final to New Zealand by just one goal, and are determined to regain the most coveted crown in netball off their arch rivals.

Australia will enter the tournament as favourites but will face stiff competition from Jamaica and New Zealand in particular.

All seven of Jamaica’s Super Netball players were named in their World Cup squad, while the Silver Ferns named a strong group of 15 that will aim to defend their title in South Africa.

The omission of wing attack Peta Toeava, who terrorised Australia’s midcourt in last year’s Constellation Cup, was an intriguing call by revered New Zealand coach Noeline Taurua.

With teams growing in depth around the world, Cox believe this could be the most challenging World Cup to win yet.

“I’m nervous,” the ex-Diamonds shooter Fox Netball commentator told news.com.au.

Cath Cox is nervous about the Netball World Cup. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

“I think this will be the hardest World Cup. There’s far more competition now because you’ve got to add in England and South Africa’s going to be playing pretty beautifully by that stage as well.

“I think half the challenge for Australia at this World Cup is going to be getting through to the final. We’ve never missed a World Cup and don’t want to be the first team to miss out.

“I’m confident they’ll get there but I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as it’s been in World Cups gone past.”

In the absence of the pregnant Gretel Bueta, the major selection talking point has surrounded who will replace her at the goal shooter position.

Cara Koenen played crucial minutes in Australia’s gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games and will likely get first crack at goal shooter alongside club teammate Steph Wood at goal attack.

Donnell Wallam is in red-hot form for the Queensland Firebirds and has edged ahead of Sophie Garbin in the race for the other goal shooter spot in the squad.

Cox said she would pick Wallam, but is concerned about her versatility and her struggles against Jamaican defender Shamera Sherling in Super Netball, which might not bode well for an Australia vs Jamaica clash at the World Cup.

“My only issue with Donnell Wallam is she can’t play a different position,” Cox said.

“Their game against the (Adelaide) Thunderbirds was where she got really found out because she doesn’t have a plan B.

Liz Watson’s Diamonds will be favoured to win the World Cup. Picture: David Caird

“Keep in mind our biggest opposition at this World Cup is probably going to be Jamaica, and that’s (Shamera) Sterling and the like.

“And if Donnell’s only game is in the air, then what’s our plan B? I don’t know what sort of avenue they’re going to take, but if you take her to a World Cup you’re certainly going to win through all the other games with her ability.

“It’s just whether you can win the whole thing with Donnell Wallam.”

Wallam breaks Super Netball record

Donnell Wallam is doing everything she can to push her case for World Cup selection.

In the Queensland Firebirds’ win over Melbourne Vixens, Wallam scored 71 points in the 76-71, breaking the previous record for a personal tally of 70, set by Jhaniele Fowler in 2020.

Wallam finished with 65/70 shooting, landing 59/62 single goals and 6/8 from super shot range.

Donnell Wallam is set to be picked for the World Cup. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Stadium hoodoo Thunderbirds must get over

The Adelaide Thunderbirds have been the big improvers this season and will make finals for the first time since 2013.

But whether they can go all the way and win their first premiership since that year is in doubt after a two losses in the last three weeks.

Both defeats have come at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena, where the Super Netball Grand Final will be played under a deal with the Victorian government.

Cox believes with the defensive trio of Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson and Matilda Garrett, the Thunderbirds should be converting their turnovers into more points.

“I don’t think they’ll win it,” Cox said of the Thunderbirds.

“I knew they’d make finals. I had them in my Grand Final at the start of the year but never had the faith that they’d win it.

“I don’t think they’ve been playing that great this year. They should be smashing teams with the amount of ball that they win back.

The Thunderbirds can’t seem to win in Melbourne. (Photo by Sue McKay/Getty Images)

“They also throw away the most ball and they can’t afford to do that, particularly in finals because you give great quality opposition an opportunity to do something with it.

“If you’re coughing ball up against the Swifts, Swifts aren’t going to give it back to them.”

Swifts flying high on hot streak

The NSW Swifts have won eight games in a row and are now the premiership favourites, having proven they can beat reigning premiers West Coast Fever.

After just missing finals last year, the Swifts have rediscovered the form that saw them win premierships in 2019 and 2021.

Romelda Aiken-George and Helen Housby are working well as a shooting duo, with Sophie Fawns coming off the bench as a Super Shot specialist at the end of quarters.

“They’ve impressed me as the season’s gone on,” Cox said.

“They’ve won eight in a row. They’ve won all their close games. They had three or four one-point games within a few weeks and they won them all.

“That shows to me how cool they are under pressure and how they perform under pressure. To me, that’s finals campaign stuff.

The Swifts have won eight in a row. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

“Their whole team playing style is what it was when they won those premierships. They’re playing that real possession netball and they’re not throwing ball away and that’s what set them up in those finals that they won.

“Also really impressed with the way they’re using the Super Shot as well. They’re not leaving it to start attacking it when they’re down, which a lot of teams do when they’re in catch up mode.

“The Swifts, particularly in the last three weeks, really started to attack that and use it as a way of getting in front early and putting scoreboard pressure on the opposition.”

There are just two rounds left before finals and the top four all play the bottom four teams.

“It’s probably Swifts, Vixens or Fever at this stage,” Cox said of her power rankings.

“Definitely the Swifts in the grand final. I would think the teams with a bit more grand final experience would win through to the grand final.

“A really important time for those teams in the top four because they’re all jostling for finals placings. They want to get themselves home finals as much as possible.”

Originally published as Netball legend ‘nervous’ about Australia’s chances at ‘hardest World Cup’ yet