‘A lot of stress’: Diamonds skipper Liz Watson faces on-court and off-court challenges in Constellation Cup
Super Netball‘s pay dispute is casting a shadow over the Constellation Cup. Diamonds captain Liz Watson and coach Stacey Marinkovich explain to LINDA PEARCE how the side will handle the hurdle.
Netball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Netball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Distraction? What distraction? Diamonds leaders Liz Watson and Stacey Marinkovich are adamant that netball’s poisonous industrial stoush will not impact the world No. 1’s first outing since reclaiming World Cup gold two months ago.
Still, as the sport’s greatest rivalry resumes via the opening Constellation Cup Test at John Cain Arena on Thursday night, Silver Ferns’ captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio expressed her gratitude that the equivalent bargaining agreement had been locked away in New Zealand months ago.
This time last year, the off-court headlines around the Diamonds involved the contentious sponsorship deal with Hancock Prospecting. Twelve months on, the stand-off is over Super Netball’s unresolved financial dispute, as Watson conceded it was an anxious time for players out of contract, domestically, despite the Diamonds’ CPA having been belatedly signed-off last week.
“It obviously is stressful, not just for us as Diamonds but everyone in our league,’’ said Watson, who took over as captain in 2021, and has committed to a non-binding verbal agreement with the Sunshine Coast Lightning while confirming her departure from the Melbourne Vixens.
“People are figuring out what they are doing in the next coming weeks for their future and obviously no-one has security of a club, there’s obviously lots of talks and rumours and everything, but no-one’s officially signed, So I guess that does bring a lot of stress in different ways on your life and trying to figure it out.
“But we know it’s gonna get there and we’re working hard to get the best deal, the best outcome, for our whole league.’’
While describing it as “not ideal” that the Australian Netball Players’ Association had felt compelled to go public with its call for mediation while the stalemate continues, Watson said the controversy was not impinging on preparations for the Diamonds’ first international since the World Cup triumph in August.
“Oh, absolutely not. We’re very professional, we’re here with the Diamonds and about to play in a really exciting series. So obviously there’s been things bubbling along in the background, but we have a lot of trust in our association, our delegates back home (in) clubland, so they’ve really stepped up and taken on that bigger role, (which is) why we can be here and perform for the Diamonds.’’
Nor are the players backing down. “We’re just still just really confident with how we stand and where we are and a negotiation is happening.,’’ Watson said. “Obviously both sides have got their part of it, but we’ve just got to be here, be in this moment, be with the Diamonds and work on it.’’
The Silver Ferns have no such issues; just a revenue-share deal of the kind the Australian cohort is seeking.
“I obviously don’t know all the details for us, but I think what we’re really grateful for, is our contracts, I think we’ve been sorted for months, so we have that ability to just feel really stable on where we are,’’ Ekenasio said.
“I’m not sure what multiple models are being looked at over here in Australia but we just feel really grateful to be settled in that space.’’
Marinkovich, the Diamonds’ head coach as they have accumulated every major title in the past two years to again dominate the sport, says the Super Netball pay issue was addressed during the squad-plus-invitees training camp at the AIS over recent days, but that the purpose of the group remained clear.
“Obviously the Diamonds’ contract is sorted, so that’s a part of the puzzle that’s been resolved, and everyone’s really comfortable with where the players are at, so they’re well supported within this environment,’’ Marinkovich told CODE Sports.
“I think ultimately there’s always a bit of outside noise at different points, but there is an absolute commitment to the job at hand, and to be honest, I haven’t noticed it impacting our environment.
“So there’s always something in life, whether it’s these kind of things or other challenges, but the girls are very good at being able to come together and focus on what it is that they absolutely love, and that’s playing the game.’’
*****
No teams have met more often than the Diamonds and the Ferns. Just not, unusually, at last year’s Commonwealth Games (Australia gold, New Zealand bronze) or at the World Cup (Australia gold, NZ an unprecedented fourth).
Star Kiwi shooter Grace Nweke was missing for the majority of the latter, and also the subsequent Taini Jamison series against an understrength England when teenager Amelia Walmsley made an impressive debut in the 2-1 win.
Nweke is expected to return against the Diamonds, with last year’s series split 2-2 on home/away grounds and eventually decided on goal difference to leave the Ferns trailing 2-10 in Con Cups played.
“We’ve got a young team, so I think we should expect a lot of energy,’’ Ekenasio said. “These are always really big games for us any time we’re playing Australia, and obviously it’s always been good clashes, there’s a lot of rivalry, there’s a lot of emotion, so I think you can definitely expect that.
“I think this game will set the tone, will set the benchmark, for how the rest of the series will play out, as well.’’ Next, Brisbane, then across the Tasman for games three and four.
With the retirement of vice-captain Steph Wood, Paige Hadley will be Watson’s deputy for this series and South Africa Tests to follow; with both Wood and veteran Ash Brazill departing from the starting seven, shooter Sophie Dwyer and veteran midcourter Kate Moloney count as only minor changes to the 12.
“The way we’ve selected our Con Cup team is in large part our World Cup team, so it’s to showcase what we have done, but also how we need to continue to push that forward,’’ said Marinkovich, whose first full four-year cycle is covered by a deal through to the 2027 World Cup defence in Sydney.
Rather than a particular new strategy, though, Marinkovich’s aim is for the group to keep evolving, raise standards and build depth.
“Whilst we’ll end up forming our bigger vision for the group, at the moment everyone’s really focused on the present. We’re still highly in the moment and want to make sure that a Diamonds’ performance is still one we’re really proud of.
“We’re playing our arch rival in New Zealand and they’re the two countries that have actually driven our sport to where it is. We haven’t played New Zealand in the last two marquee events, so there’s real energy, there’s excitement, there’s a little bit of the unknown.
“We know it’s going to be physical, we know that both teams bring something special when this competition starts, so it’s gonna be fierce and we’re going to have to be playing really well to get the results.’’
Meanwhile, off the court, an industrial resolution is still being sought, with Watson appearing to support mediation as the best mechanism for achieving “the right outcome”, but referencing the “fine line between not going too far, obviously, because we are all out of contracts right now”.
Yet having helped restore the Diamonds’ lofty standing, the 29-year-old says she also wants what is best for SSN.
“And it’s not for this league next year, it’s for this league in the years ahead, so we want to really protect our younger (players), and the future of this sport,’’ she said. “Netball is massive here in Australia and we want to make sure that it’s in the best spot going forward in the next few years.’’
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘A lot of stress’: Diamonds skipper Liz Watson faces on-court and off-court challenges in Constellation Cup
Mavs make Uneeq signing as part of stacked training roster
A roster that underlines the depth of Super Netball and the difficulty of snaring a full-time contract, or a nervy move by a club unprepared to back new talent? The verdict on the Mavericks’ stacked training roster.
NRL and AFL stars’ secret code switch pleas for LA Olympics
With eyes set on a rare chance at Olympic gold, stars from AFL, NRL, Super Rugby and Super Netball have been making secret queries over the prospect of surprise code switches.