Netball pay war: Solidarity ‘special’ but Diamonds won’t lose focus on New Zealand mission

As some of the country’s top netballers struggle to get rental agreements, pay their mortgages and are forced to dip into their savings, a rival code has stepped up to offer assistance.

Diamonds captain Liz Watson has lauded the support the Australian Cricketers Association has provided Super Netball players in their pay fight but reiterated her team’s focus will not be diverted from the job at hand at the Constellation Cup.

The ACA pledged earlier this week to create a fighting fund for unemployed Super Netballers who are struggling to make ends meet after their contracts lapsed on September 30 due to the protracted pay dispute between the Australian Netball Players Association and Netball Australia.

It’s an incredible act of support from athletes who have benefited from the type of revenue share model the netballers are now fighting for – and one that hasn’t gone unnoticed by players.

Liz Watson has welcomed cricket’s support. Photo: Getty Images

“It’s obviously really cool,” Watson said.

“It’s really special to know that we’ve got that support.

“It’s happening at home, it’s obviously not distracting this group here, we’re fully focused on this job that we need to do (in the Constellation Cup) and we’ve got great delegates and the rest of the league at home who are supporting us.”

Cricketers waged their own tense pay war with Cricket Australia in 2017 as they argued for a share of revenue – an action that was hard won but has resulted in the players becoming partners in the game in a move that has seen the wages and conditions of women, in particular, improve markedly.

The Diamonds are locked in a battle with the Silver Ferns. Photo: Getty Images

Current Australian women’s captain Alyssa Healy said it had been good to see the ACA looking to help netball.

“There’s girls that are uncontracted, they’re unemployed at the moment. They’re struggling to get rental agreements, pay their mortgages, whatever it might be,” Healy said.

“As female athletes, we’re trying to stand up and help them in any way we can and use our voice a little bit.

“I think it’s sad to see, for me what was the pinnacle women’s sport in the country, going through what it is at the moment. I just want to see that the players are supported.”

The Diamonds lost game three of the Constellation Cup to the Silver Ferns in Invercargill on Thursday night, with the series coming down to the final match in Auckland on Monday.

Alyssa Healy is glad to see the ACA helping the Diamonds out. Picture: Adam Yip

While uncertainty surrounds the professional cohort back in Australia, Watson said the Diamonds – who are playing internationally under a newly extended CPA – were taking a blinkered approach while in New Zealand, with their concentration solely on sealing a series win and their first victory across the Tasman since 2021.

“To know that we’ve got the wider support as well has been really great,” Watson said.

“But I think for all of us here at Diamonds, we’re definitely taking a step back from that and fully focusing here and know that the right people are helping us out back home.”

Originally published as Netball pay war: Solidarity ‘special’ but Diamonds won’t lose focus on New Zealand mission