Heffernan said reuniting with Georgia has been a highlight of the week.
“I got in on Tuesday, and we’d been counting down that whole day. I was giving her updates on how far away I was, and everyone said she was a bit antsy and waiting for me to get there. It’s so nice to be back together.
Seeing double: Georgia (left) and Kate Heffernan aren’t used to being apart. Photo / Getty Images
“We did miss each other a lot, but it was great to see us both doing our thing. We’re so used to having each other to lean on, and I think it was pretty good for us to have to find our own way and be a bit more independent. She absolutely thrived this year at the Steel.”
Heffernan said she’s had an incredible past few days.
“It’s been a whirlwind, but awesome to finish on a highlight there after a pretty awesome season. To go back to Adelaide and celebrate with the group; we had the parade with the fans and the awards night. It’s an awesome group of people.”
The Silver Ferns jet out to Manchester tomorrow, where they will spend 10 days before shifting to Glasgow.
Heffernan’s success came as no surprise to New Zealand coach Dame Noeline Taurua.
“She’s gone into a really awesome team with amazing individuals, which has helped her growth but also her character as well, to go into that space wanting to learn and to be better and contribute to the team. She’s had a boomer.”
Heffernan loved Australia and said her Adelaide teammates put in plenty of effort to make her feel comfortable off the court.
In particular, the Invercargill local bonded with flatmate and fellow new Thunderbirds import, South African goal shoot Elmere van der Berg.
“I was a bit nervous going over, being away from all my people and from the first couple of trainings, I was like, ‘this feels really good’. I grew in confidence really fast, settled in really fast as well. Even in preseason, we were looking at each other like, ‘this could be something pretty special’.
Silver Fern Kate Heffernan (right) alongside Adelaide Thunderbirds teammate Elmere van der Berg after beating the Melbourne Vixens in the Super Netball final. Photo / Getty Images
“I’m not a big city girl, so Adelaide’s a bit more slow-paced, bigger than what I’m used to, but I think that helped me settle in and they looked after me very well.”
The 26-year-old said getting the nod from her Silver Ferns teammates as vice-captain ahead of the Commonwealth Games is a special honour.
“I’m looking forward to working with Karin and the whole group of girls. It’s so good to be back here. I can’t wait to get started, and I think there’s such an exciting group coming through. We’ve got the balance; we’ve got a real core that’s been there for quite a while now.
“Thinking back to the last World Cup, the last Comm Games, there’s quite a few girls that have come through that and the last couple of years. Then we’ve added some youth and some really exciting players.”
Heffernan is well accustomed to the pressures of pinnacle events. The midcourter made her international debut at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, and also won midcourter of the tournament at the 2023 World Cup in South Africa.
“I’m more aware of what’s to come and feel more prepared, and I have a lot of confidence coming off the last couple of years in Ferns as well as this year with the Thunderbirds. I’m raring to go.”
Kate Heffernan gained tournament experience at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and the 2023 World Cup in South Africa. Photo / Photosport
Heffernan wore the centre bib for the Thunderbirds but usually starts at wing defence for the Ferns. She often slides to centre in the latter stages of tests, and said she loves both positions.
“Playing between that wing defence and that centre role is something I’m excited to really nail. We’ve got lots of options, but it’s going to be good, and I’m happy in either.”
Heffernan did not shy away from addressing the tougher issues netball faces in New Zealand. The ANZ Premiership’s future remains in doubt, with Netball NZ currently negotiating its future after the expiration of its broadcast deal with TVNZ.
Having played in both Super Netball and the ANZ Premiership, Heffernan said the Australian competition is a clear step up.
“They’re always hunting for more over there, and I think we can keep pushing. The girls deserve more in New Zealand. Young girls playing netball need to have a league to look at; we need girls playing netball.
“It definitely is a shame it’s in such a tough place, but I think hopefully we can keep fighting and get a good league next year.”
Heffernan and Ferns shooter Grace Nweke applauded the Northern Mystics’ bid to enter Super Netball.
The 2026 ANZ Premiership champions revealed to the Herald they put in a bid to join the Australian domestic competition in February.
Last year, Netball Australia (NA) requested expressions of interest to add two more teams to Super Netball in 2027, growing the competition to 10 sides. However, the expansion was delayed until at least 2028 because of extended television rights negotiations. NA has since signed a five-year free-to-air deal with Nine through to the end of 2031.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.