Grace Nweke has punched Netball NZ in the face. 

The superstar Silver Fern shooter is off to the Aussie comp, and as a result she will not wear the famed black dress in 2025.  

She’ll return to the Kiwi comp and the Ferns after a year of testing herself in the more confrontational Australian Super Netball League. Which technically isn’t a league and labours under the tired ‘Super’ prefix – you’d think after decades of pro sport, the marketing departments across all sports could come up with something better than ‘super’. Whoops, digression. 

In essence, Grace is indulging in a sabbatical. More strength to her arm. As a young person, the experience of leaving our shores will be massive, not only for her game, but for her as a human being.  

There is nothing inherently wrong with what she is doing. NZ Netball can’t stop her, and she will gain more than she will lose for the experience. Sure, some test caps will go down the gurgler, but her skill base will broaden playing in a more robust competition. Unlike rugby players, who flee the hard knocks of our comps to feather their nest in the limp Japanese set up.  

So how does this equate to a punch in the face? Words. The Pen is mightier than the sword etc. The most telling part of her reasoning is this.  “I didn’t see any other club in New Zealand being able to tick those boxes for me in terms of growing my game and developing...” and “[I’ve] done all that I can at the club and I just really wanted to challenge myself to grow and be a better netballer at the international level to really add to my skill set. A move would be beneficial to me across the board.” 

She’s outgrown the game here. She needs better, to become better. 

The moves to upgrade, upskill and reinvent the way Netball NZ manage their competition have been lethargic, if this step from one of the game’s MVPs doesn’t hasten meaningful change, I’m not sure what will.