Former Diamonds star confirms talks with Super Netball clubs before shock Malaysia decision
Former Diamonds star Gretel Bueta confirmed she was heading for a Super Netball return before a shock overseas opportunity and the advice of a pair of global sports superstars swayed her course.
Gretel Bueta has confirmed she held preliminary talks with both Queensland Super Netball clubs while “well and truly on the comeback train” before pivoting to take up a unique opportunity to link with Malaysian outfit Johor Jewels.
Bueta revealed last week she had signed with the Malaysian Netball Super League side for next year’s competition, a campaign that will last three months including pre-season training and competition, something that is more manageable for the mother-of-three than committing to a return to the world’s best league.
A video of Bueta working out with Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich earlier this year sparked a frenzy, with the Aussie mentor refusing to rule out a return for the 32-year-old after the birth of her third child, daughter Lacy, in January.
Bueta confirmed she was working with Marinkovich ahead of a planned Super Netball comeback before the opportunity to play in Malaysia and help raise the standard of the competition there, came up.
“She’s got so much faith in me, that woman, that’s why she brings out the best in everyone because she just instils this belief,” Bueta said of Marinkovich, who when Bueta was pregnant with her second child, Toby, planted the seeds of a return to play for the Diamonds again.
“We had some great chats, actually, after (the birth of) Lacy.
“I think I did about 12 sessions with her, so I was well and truly on the comeback train and then, this opportunity came up.
“Going back to Super Netball was definitely a thought of ours and I started training with Stacey but with three kids, it’s really hard.
“(The Jewels), for our family, was the perfect decision.”
A return to Super Netball - which would have put Bueta in the box seat for a Diamonds comeback and tilt at a Commonwealth Games gold medal defence, seemed set until a pair of global sporting superstars proved the unlikely conduit for the deal that will see Bueta play the six-week season in Malaysia and help bolster the team.
Tim Cahill - who had a link to Bueta through Talentlockr and also works closely with the Prince of Johor - and Sonny Bill Williams, work with teams in the southern Malaysian state and were influential in getting Bueta to the Jewels.
“We sat down with Sonny Bill Williams and his family,” Bueta said of the discussions she and husband Niko had before making their decision.
“He’s running the rugby program over there and Tim’s the football adviser over there.
“It was really appealing and we kind of grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
“It’s been ticking along in the background for a while but it’s finally come to fruition.”
Her Highness Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda Johor owns the Jewels and Bueta seemed a natural fit for a team and region, looking to grow.
Bueta, who has her fingers in several pies including the Fire5 netball tournament she’s running with former Silver Ferns star Maria Folau on the Gold Coast later this month, was in Malaysia last week for her first training camp with the Jewels and introduction to the playing group and Princess.
“Super Netball is obviously the best league in the world and it’s an honour to be a part of the league but this really intrigued us,” Bueta said of the Johor opportunity.
“It’s something different and I think with netball, we’re beating hard to get it in the Olympics and you want netball all around the world to grow.
“And that’s, that’s what excites me the most.”
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