Collingwood Super Netball crisis: Gold Coast Titans want a licence, but not for 2024

The Gold Coast Titans say they are keen to fill the gap in Super Netball that would be left should Collingwood collapse - but they aren’t ready just yet.

Gold Coast Titans have confirmed their interest in a future Super Netball licence but have ruled themselves out of the running for the 2024 season should Collingwood collapse.

The Titans field a team in Netball Queensland’s elite Sapphire Series and chief executive Steve Mitchell confirmed there remained a strong desire from the club to provide a pathway for Gold Coast’s 11,500 registered juniors to the elite level.

But the club was not yet ready for the move to Super Netball.

“It’s our second year in the Sapphire Series and Ruby Series and we’re working really hard to deliver success in that competition and particularly to the Gold Coast community,” Mitchell said.

The Titans currently compete in Netball Queensland’s Sapphire Series, led by captain Bryah Gafa. Photo Steve Pohlner

“We do, at a point in time, want to get to a point where we can provide pathways from grassroots right through to the national arena for our netball communities.

“But to be successful at that we need to ensure we’re well placed to deliver a truly elite level program which is inclusive of comparable facilities, resourcing levels and coaching.

“That does take a real commitment and you’ve got to be ready to go on that. That’s our strategic intent over time but not immediately.

“When we do that, we want to do it really well and at this point in time, it’s probably a little bit early for us to get to move forward.”

Collingwood’s netball program is officially under review, with the club set to decide within days whether to hand back its Super Netball licence.

Netball Australia (NA) chief executive Kelly Ryan said the governing body was working closely with the Magpies ahead of their decision on whether to renew their Super Netball Team Participation Agreement.

“I believe it’s critical we’re an active participant in what that looks like,” Ryan said of the working with Collingwood on reaching a decision.

“We are working through a number of different scenarios and options at the moment.”

Ryan could not expand on those but she said earlier this week it was the league’s preference that the Magpies remain in the league.

Whether it’s Collingwood or not, there will be an eighth team in the league next season, with NA adamant it will meet its broadcast obligation for an eight-team Super Netball competition in 2024.

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan. Photo: Getty Images

NA is determined to make Super Netball the “commercial jewel in the crown of Australian netball” according to information finally released on the 2020 State of the Game Review in the sport’s annual report.

The report was released on Thursday night following NA’s annual general meeting, with a recommendation that a business case be built that supports investment in Super Netball from sources including private equity.

The SSN (Super Netball) Evolution Project has been examining opportunities surrounding external capital, team and franchise expansion, broadcast value and broader commercial values, although interestingly, NA refused to engage with a Tier 1 global private equity group which made a bid for the Super Netball competition last year.

Status quo will continue for the remainder of the broadcast deal – the next three seasons, in terms of numbers, if not actual Super Netball participants.

While Netball Tasmania has said it is ready to step in next season, there is likely to be a strong push for another Victorian team given the size of the commercial market.

“From a footprint point of view that makes absolute sense,” Mitchell said.

“From a governance point of view, it would make sense to have another team back in Victoria. You want to make sure that your sport has genuine national coverage and Victoria is such a big state and such a big netball state, it would make sense to get another licence or get that re-established in Victoria in my mind.

Gold Coast Titans CEO Steve Mitchell. Photo: Getty Images

“Tassie has a fair claim to one as well. The timing is not ideal for us but it’s exciting times (for the sport).”

Expansion is almost certainly on the cards for Super Netball at the end of the current broadcast cycle though.

The addition of two teams would give Super Netball another game each week to sell to broadcasters, with Netball Australia likely to have to call for formal bids with significant lead time, something that would suit a club like the Titans much more than a rushed bid for 2024.

“We will certainly put our business case forward and our argument forward and I suppose then it’s a matter for Netball Australia in regard to what their footprint looks like and what works particularly from an eyeballs, broadcast and game-day attendance point of view,” Mitchell said.

“They’re all things that Netball Australia has to take into consideration but we’d be keen to advance our argument on a Super side in the future, probably at the back end of that broadcast cycle.”

Originally published as Collingwood Super Netball crisis: Gold Coast Titans want a licence, but not for 2024