Medalling in Birmingham was never guaranteed, which will make bringing home bronze so much sweeter a year out from the World Cup. Reweti Kohere looks at the tournament’s key takeaways.
After carrying the weight of expectation on their shoulders, the Silver Ferns leave Birmingham as bronze medallists, or as captain Gina Crampton has described it, “rose gold”. It’s been a tough campaign for the reigning world champions, overcoming spirited challenges from Uganda and Malawi in pool play, a 10-goal round robin loss to England and a trouncing by Jamaica in the semi-final. A podium finish was never guaranteed, making bronze that much sweeter. As the Ferns turn their attention to defending next year’s Netball World Cup, here are 10 takeaways from the Games.
1. Gold Coast ghosts are finally banished
Failing to medal at consecutive Commonwealth Games was a real prospect for the Ferns. Since the nadir of 2018, redemption has always been a two-fer under coach Dame Noeline Taurua – winning the World Cup in 2019 and this year’s Games. Gold may have eluded the Ferns, but they have well and truly exorcised their Gold Coast demons.
2. The first 15 minutes are crucial
Poor starts characterised New Zealand’s final matches. Against England in pool play, and Jamaica in the semi-final, the Ferns were down seven and nine goals respectively after the first 15 minutes. By contrast, they started the bronze medal match well, going toe-to-toe with England before ending the final quarter one goal up, 14-13. From there, they built a durable lead.
3. Young blood shows promise
The future looks bright if the performances of Mystics shooting anchor Grace Nweke (20) and rising Steel talent Kate Heffernan (22) are anything to go by. In the bronze medal match, Nweke shot 44 goals from 48 attempts at 91% and dominated veteran England goal keeper Geva Mentor. Heffernan was gritty on defence, winning turnover ball, carrying it through on attack and dulling the impact of England captain Nat Metcalf. And this is just the beginning for the duo.
4. Controversial selections prove themselves
Dame Noeline threw a few curveballs with her Birmingham selections. Wing attack Whitney Souness was welcomed back at centre; experienced wing defender Kayla Johnson was picked over 2021 Silver Fern of the year Sam Winders and feisty up-and-comer Maddy Gordon; and shooters Bailey Mes and Te Paea Selby-Rickit were chosen over former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Tiana Metuarau. While neither Johnson nor Mes featured in Dame Noeline’s starting seven in the bronze medal match, Souness and Selby-Rickit stepped up with patient playmaking, excellent feeding and persistent defence.
5. Missing firepower is a secret weapon
The Ferns were missing defenders Jane Watson and Katrina Rore (maternity leave), and Karin Burger (injury), as well as Ekenasio, who failed to meet fitness standards after returning from her second pregnancy. With their eventual returns likely to boost New Zealand’s firepower, and the current crop having achieved bronze, it’s not hard to believe the World Cup is within New Zealand’s grasp.
6. Our stocks are healthy
There’s fierce competition and depth of talent outside the Ferns – case in point, the New Zealand A and mixed invitational squad members who competed against the Birmingham 12 in the recent Cadbury series. Since the retirement of the World Cup-winning “fossils” – Casey Kopua, Maria Folau and Laura Langman – Dame Noeline has had to rebuild the team’s spine around the next group of experienced players and emerging talent. Who will make next year’s World Cup squad is her next jigsaw puzzle.
7. In Noels we trust
She’s uncompromising about fitness and endurance, a stickler for doing the basics well and often, and a netball mastermind. But when Dame Noeline, supported by assistant coach Deb Fuller, announced an unpredictable Birmingham 12, people weren’t convinced. While England and Jamaica exposed the Ferns the first time around, New Zealand came back against the Roses with their most clinical performance to win bronze – all thanks to the steady hand of Dame Noeline.
8. Home’s not always sweet
Defending champions England looked good to make the final after comfortably beating New Zealand to top pool B. But having failed to make the Netball World Cup final in Liverpool in 2019, the Roses again fell short of defending their Gold Coast title on home soil, and leave Birmingham empty-handed. “Feel like only one of the two teams playing for Bronze have made peace with their previous result”, tweeted men’s netballer Junior Levi, who played against the Ferns in 2019 and 2020 for the New Zealand men’s team.
9. We’ve got homework
The Ferns will need to find some answers quickly ahead of hosting Jamaica next month for the Taini Jamison Trophy series. Following that is October’s trans-Tasman derby, the Constellation Cup. New Zealand didn’t face Australia in Birmingham so the annual series between the perennial arch-rivals is an alluring prospect. Dame Noeline has said some “consolidation” is needed from the 12 bronze medallists, although expect to see new and returning faces.
10. The sands are shifting
The Australian Diamonds may have won gold, but their rocky road to victory reflects how intense it is at the top. Each Commonwealth champion since 1998 went undefeated – except this year when Australia were beaten by Jamaica in their final pool match. Other history-making moments in Birmingham include neither Australia nor New Zealand topping their respective pools, Jamaica beating Australia and winning an unprecedented silver, and Uganda upsetting South Africa to finish 5th – their highest ever placing. The sands are shifting in world netball, which makes next year’s World Cup hard to predict.