Super Netball news: Diamonds stars fear for fringe players as contract debacle keeps signing window closed

Leading Diamonds players fear their fringe teammates will be the hardest hit by the Super Netball contract debacle, with stars still in limbo for 2024.

Leading Diamonds players say Netball Australia had no choice but to keep the Super Netball signing window closed until after the World Cup but their hearts go out to fringe players whose futures remain in limbo.

The failure to lock in an eighth team to replace the now-defunct Collingwood Magpies in a timely manner has meant not enough pieces of the puzzle are in place to offer contracts to players whose deals will expire on September 30.

Before contracting can begin, the eighth team needs to be named, while all eight clubs need to sign Team Participation Agreements (TPAs) and a Collective Player Agreement (CPA) must be in place.

Just weeks after the celebration of the grand final, every player and club in the Super Netball competition has no certainty for the 2024 competition. Photo: Getty Images

While that could technically still happen before the World Cup starts in South Africa on July 28, opening negotiations would detract from preparations of not just Diamonds players but those in other international sides set to sign contracts with clubs in the world’s premier competition.

But those internationals at least know they will be back playing Super Netball next season.

Leaving the signing window closed until at least August 7 impacts hugely on athletes in a tenuous position - especially with the New Zealand and England windows now closed.

Melbourne Vixens co-captain Kate Moloney, who heads to South Africa with the Diamonds on Friday (July 21), agreed the decision was toughest on fringe players.

“I think it’s tough on everyone not knowing exactly where you’re going to play but it’s really tough on the girls who are back home and not really sure if they’re going to get a contract or not next year,” Moloney said.

“It is tough but it was the decision that had to be made to make sure that we have a really even and strong competition.”

Vixens co-captain and Diamond Kate Moloney feels incredibly for fringe players who have no certainty for next season. Photo: Getty Images

With season reviews completed, players would have been informed by their club’s coaches and high performance teams whether or not they are in plans for next season.

If they are not, they remain in limbo for the next month after Netball Australia knocked back a proposal from the Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) to allow non-binding discussions between any club and player in a bid to protect the incoming eighth franchise.

“I really do feel for everyone - coaches, players, organisations,” Moloney said.

“It’s the clubs as well who now have to wait to see who they can sign as well.

“We look at the players but the clubs have to keep waiting as well. We would love to have got it done sooner but it is what it is now and it’ll make sure that we have a really strong and even competition next year.”

Even before the collapse of Collingwood, the Diamonds had addressed the possibility of contract talks disrupting World Cup preparations given the delays in finalising the CPA.

But coach Stacey Marinkovich said there had been a collective resolve for the Diamonds to be blinkered on entry to camp, focusing only on the World Cup.

Players at every club but bench players in particular, have no certainty over contracts for next season. Photo: Getty Images

“We’ve had some really good conversations as a group that we know that this is a moment in time for us and that you only have so much energy and so much focus to be able to share amongst things,” Marinkovich said in an interview with Code Insight earlier this month.

“For us to be at our absolute best, we know the environment that we need to create when we come into camp. So everyone’s really clear on that role and that balance and I think everyone will be able to get in our bubble and make sure that our energy and our focus is around World Cup and the preparation and responsibility we have within that environment.

“No one wants to walk away from this occasion knowing that we didn’t prioritise the energy and focus. It’s something that’s really front of mind and something that we’ve discussed and we’re really committed to each other in that space.”

The Diamonds left their Australian base in Melbourne on Thursday to head to Sydney and will fly to South Africa on Friday before a mini-camp in Stellenbosch ahead of the World Cup.

Originally published as Super Netball news: Diamonds stars fear for fringe players as contract debacle keeps signing window closed