Super Netball trades: Eleventh hour talks to determine whether signing window opens ahead of World Cup

Netball Australia’s deadline has passed for the naming of the eighth franchise, but there remains a glimmer of hope the Super Netball signing window can open ahead of the World Cup.

Eleventh hour talks will be held over the weekend to determine whether the Super Netball signing window can open ahead of the World Cup despite a deadline passing for the naming of the eighth franchise.

Netball Australia had imposed a deadline of July 14 for the new team to be named and all franchises to sign Team Participation Agreements for the signing window to be able to open on July 17.

The Collective Player Agreement also had to be in place for contracting to begin by Monday.

But not one of those three pillars were in place by Friday’s deadline.

All 80 players in the Super Netball competition, including the premiership-winning Adelaide Thunderbirds, come off contract at the end of September. Photo: Getty Images

In a memo to all players and managers sent earlier this month and see by Code Sports, NA confirmed if that deadline was not met, “the Contracting Signing Period will remain closed until the conclusion of the Netball World Cup”.

That would have left all 80 players in the competition in limbo for the next month.

But it’s understood NA officials will sound out players over the weekend to determine their willingness to push the window forward closer to the World Cup.

Code Sports understands the naming of the eighth franchise is imminent, with just a few details left to be sorted ahead of the announcement.

Just having that piece of the puzzle in place would give NA room to allow non-binding talks between all players and clubs, something that would at least give players some idea of whether they will have a contract next season or not.

The uncertainty has already forced at least two players to leave the competition, with England’s former Collingwood star Geva Mentor set to return to the English Super League next season and former Vixens young gun Rahni Samason lost to New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership.

Many of the players, including Adelaide’s Jamaican defenders Shamera Sterling (left) and Latanya Wilson (centre) and the Swifts’ goaler Helen Housby (right), have already headed overseas to link with their national teams ahead of the World Cup. Photo: Getty Images

With the New Zealand signing window closing early in July and the Super League deadline passing early Saturday morning (Australian time), the pair had to decide whether to take certainty over the possibility of more cash.

Non-binding talks are currently allowed between clubs and their own players and former Collingwood players after the Magpies decided not to renew their licence for 2024.

But NA has 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 on integrity grounds.

That is going on regardless, with the biggest losers likely to be fringe players – many of them emerging talents – who are not yet represented by agents.

Allowing those discussions will ease some of the massive anxiety being reported among the playing group but the timing could not be worse for international players, who are now in camp with their respective national teams ahead of the World Cup starting on July 28.

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich said earlier this month the Australian players and coaching group had made a commitment to knuckle down when in camp to leave no stone unturned in their quest to regain the World Cup.

Eleanor Cardwell of the Thunderbirds will be among the most highly-sought players in the league. Photo: Getty Images

“For us to be at our absolute best, we know the environment that we need to create when we come into camp,” Marinkovich said.

“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.

“There’s things that girls need (to focus on) and will continue to sort and organise up until the time we come into camp but I know that once they get in there, 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.”