Super Netball: International stars on verge of Super Netball exit over latest contract drama
Netball Australia will keep the Super Netball contracting window shut unless a new club is confirmed and TPAs signed in less than a fortnight, a move likely to force international stars offshore.
Super Netball players’ chances of signing new contracts before the World Cup are diminishing by the day, with the situation set to force some of the sport’s biggest names to abandon the competition.
Netball Australia is set to keep its contracting window closed until after the World Cup unless a new club can be confirmed and all sides agree to Team Participation Agreements (TPA) by July 14.
In short, if the club set to replace the Collingwood Magpies is not named and TPAs signed off by the eight teams set to play in the 2024 competition in little more than a week, all 80 Super Netball players will be left in limbo until at least August.
In a memo to all players and managers seen by Code Sports, NA confirmed if that deadline was met, contracting would start on July 17.
However, “if these matter aren’t resolved prior to 14 July 2023, the Contracting Signing Period will remain closed until the conclusion of the Netball World Cup”.
NA last week refused a request from the Australian Netball Players Association (ANPA) and Super Netball teams to allow non-binding contract talks to occur between any player and club.
Clubs are currently allowed to conduct discussions with their own players, Collingwood players and any player not contracted to a Super Netball team in 2023.
But they are unable to discuss making an offer to a player from a rival club or their representative, even if that player has been informed by their current outfit they are unwanted for next year.
“For the integrity of the SSN competition and to ensure that the 8th licence is not disadvantaged in any way, non-binding conversations will be able to commence:
• A maximum of 15 days after the 8th licence is confirmed (NA will work with the 8th licencee (sic) to ensure this time is minimised wherever practicable), so the licencee (sic) is in a position to commence non-binding conversations; and
• The TPA is finalised and agreed to by all eight SSN teams.”
But talks with rival players are already occurring – as happens in every professional sport in the country – and if NA thinks otherwise, its head is in the sand.
“There are talks going on between (several) player managers and clubs,” one manager contacted by Code Sports said.
“On off-contract players from other clubs.”
Talks are also occurring with Super League clubs, with a handful of stars expected to abandon Super Netball.
With the signing window for England’s marquee competition also closing on July 14, several players with offers on the table are understood to be seriously considering taking major pay cuts and playing overseas to ensure they have a contract for next season, rather than gamble on waiting for a Super Netball offer.
It’s a situation that could rob the Australian competition – which loves to tout itself as the best in the world – of some of its marquee internationals.
It’s also one that has been labelled as “irresponsible” by another source given the uncertainty faced by many players in the league, especially those that have come through local talent pathways but have not yet been made an offer by their existing club.
Any move to delay the signing window past the World Cup could lead to offers being made to emerging stars from that competition, who could knock local talent off a list.
“We accept there are genuine concerns held by everyone regarding the lack of certainty and stability due to this situation, but this is an unavoidable position due to the withdrawal of an SSN club,” the NA memo said.
“We are committed to reaching a resolution on each of these matters as soon as possible”.
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