Returning Silver Ferns shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who had made herself unavailable for selection after the 2023 World Cup, did not feature in last year’s series but said there was one positive to changing the tie-breaking method.
“Watching last year’s game when there was an ACL injury and a few people cramping, the girls are probably not used to playing at that level for an extra 20 minutes, so then the injury risk comes in,” she said.
Sunday Aryang suffered an ACL injury in last year’s Constellation Cup extra-time decider. Photo / Photosport
“For me personally I’m happy with that, but obviously it makes it a bit niggly if it’s 2-2. But I think in terms of injury, it’s probably better.”
Selby-Rickit was named as part of a 14-strong New Zealand squad for the series, with three adjustments to the Commonwealth Games gold-medal-winning squad that went unbeaten in Glasgow.
She is back for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, while midcourter Peta Toeava has also been included. Defender Parris Mason replaces Catherine Hall, who suffered an ACL injury in Scotland.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who recently re-signed through to next year’s Netball World Cup, said they want to make the tiebreaker irrelevant.
“The best way is just to do three-zip or four-zip and not worry about it. But it is what it is. We just get on with it and try and win that game as it is. We’ve never got into the position where it’s been a worry to some degree, but I don’t know. Every performance is where it counts, so you just go for the win and just keep it nice and clean, take control of it.”
Selby-Rickit was selected as a reserve for the Commonwealth Games. Despite two full years out of the Ferns fold, she had an inkling she would be back.
The 66-test veteran said her experience playing in Super Netball for the Queensland Firebirds made her want to return to the international arena.
“I was planning on having a year off and doing a bit of travel, and then that was extended into a bit of study and things like that. So after a couple of years I thought maybe that was the end, but just seeing the standard of the team at the moment, how they performed at Commonwealth Games, obviously winning the gold and also playing in Australia against quality opposition week in, week out, it just reminded me how much I love to be tested at that level.”
Te Paea Selby-Rickit last played for New Zealand in 2023. Photo / Photosport
The Silver Ferns had a three-day camp last week after the full 2026-27 squad was named.
Selby-Rickit said the environment has definitely changed since 2023.
“The way the girls communicate, it’s really clear; the way the trainings are, the girls are just always on top of their game.
“Often when you come back after annual leave, you’ve got to blow those cobwebs out, and those first couple of trainings are a little bit not at the standard you’d expect, but these girls have come back from their holiday, and I was just super impressed with the quality, just everything.”
The day before each test, a team of 12 will be named from the 14 available players.
“My intention at the moment is to get everybody out on court, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” Taurua said. “Injuries could happen, or we have to manage a load.
“So the purpose is to get everybody out, but I’ve got to do it in a way where we keep the stability within the squad and also that we’re going out there for the win.”
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua (left) admitted there is hot competition for selection within the squad. Photo / Photosport
Toeava missed out on the Commonwealth Games squad, with Taurua opting for midcourters who can cover multiple positions.
Taurua intends to play the specialist wing attack in her preferred position, but admits there is strong competition for court time.
“She is strong, and her connection to our shooters is one of her strengths. The first bit would be just getting her back in. When she was with the team last year, I obviously wasn’t there, but just re-establishing her in regards to our court systems and the connections as well with the shooters. She’s a leader in her own right, so she does that normally.”
The four-match Constellation Cup series starts in Auckland on October 18, Christchurch on October 21 and then games in Sydney and Melbourne.
The squad-naming comes with the sport’s domestic future beginning to take shape. Private investors Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams have signed a non-binding term sheet with Netball New Zealand to govern a new franchise league from 2027.
Constellation Cup Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds
Match 1: Sunday, October 18 – Spark Arena, Auckland, 7.30pm
Match 2: Wednesday, October 21 – Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch, 7.30pm
Match 3: Sunday, October 25 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, 6pm NZT
Match 4: Wednesday, October 28 – John Cain Arena, Melbourne, 9.30pm NZT
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.