When former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio stepped away from the Silver Ferns in the middle of last year, the question of who could step into her very big shoes at goal attack could no longer be avoided.
It’s a question that had lingered for a few years, as Ekenasio was approaching the twilight of her career.
Several goal attacks had been trialled in recent years; from former Ferns Tiana Metuarau and Maia Wilson, through to the creative Filda Vui and plucky Amorangi Malesala, but no one really stamped their mark.
But when Georgia Heffernan earnt a recall to the Silver Ferns last year after being on the outer, she seized the opportunity with both hands.
Now off the back of the Silver Ferns gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, where she emerged as the perfect foil to strike shooter Grace Nweke, she can’t wait to take on Australia, who they haven’t met since last year’s Constellation Cup.
Heffernan knows the Diamonds will be more aware of her ahead of the four-Test series, starting on Sunday.
“When you’re sort of new and there hasn’t really been too many opportunities for teams to scout you … obviously that’s what we’re doing to them and they’re doing to us at the moment.
“I just feel really confident with the players around me knowing that even if it is a physical game that all the girls around us will all help each other out.”
Heffernan’s debut in the black dress came against the Diamonds in early 2024, when she saw off three defenders in a full game at goal attack.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio will go down as one of the Silver Ferns’ greatest goal attacks.
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The 27-year-old showed signs at the end of last year’s international window that she had the right temperament to withstand the physicality of world class Australian defenders and the speed to even at times elude them.
Australia are current holders of the Constellation Cup and ranked number one in the world, but came away with a bronze medal in Glasgow, their worst finish at a pinnacle event.
“One of the biggest rivalries and they’re an incredible team, it’ll be such a good challenge. There’s a lot for both teams to play for and obviously to get the Constellation Cup back is such a huge goal of ours.
“We also know we haven’t hit our full potential yet so we are just so excited, we’re feeling good and want to hit game one really hard.
“I think not playing them at the Commonwealth Games we feel like we have a bit to prove and obviously they’ll be coming out wanting to stamp their mark as well.”
Heffernan will face more competition to hold onto her starting position, with the return of Te Paea Selby-Rickit to the squad off the back of her debut season in the Australian league.
It’s a great position for Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, who in recent years lamented the lack of depth in the goal attack bib.
The Silver Ferns withstood arguably the toughest defensive end in world netball when they beat Jamaica twice at the Commonwealth Games in July.
Heffernan had watched Sunshine Girls – Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson cause havoc all year at the Adelaide Thunderbirds, where her twin sister Kate won the a premiership in her debut SSN season.
“I was pretty nervous coming up against them but we were pretty proud of how we didn’t really let them play the game they like to play. Didn’t really give them any touches, we were so connected.”
Heffernan could have very nearly missed out on the gold medal match against Jamaica after she rolled her ankle at the Commonwealth Games and had to sit out their final pool game.
Georgia Heffernan gets ready to shoot while Grace Nweke screens out a Jamaican defender in the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games.
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Just three days later she managed to get back on court for their must-win semi-final against England, and the final a day later, where the Silver Ferns broke their 16-year gold medal drought at the Games.
A “pretty decent sprain” is how Heffernan describes it.
“There was a some bruising up my leg … I tried not to look at it too much. I was a bit worried I wasn’t going to be able to play but I was just so happy that I could and push through.
“I was able to strap it up and it’s crazy what adrenaline can do, I didn’t really feel it during the game I forgot about it.”
Heffernan took a little bit of pain relief before the semi and gold medal matches but credits veteran Silver Ferns physio Sharon Kearney for the huge part she played.
“Just rubbing it and getting my mobility back so I had full confidence in it, which was a huge part of it. I wanted to make sure mentally I felt like I was okay to play on it and I did with all the help from Sharon.”
Not long after the Commonwealth Games, Heffernan announced her move to the Australian league by signing a two year contract with the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
With so much uncertainty swirling around the New Zealand League, it wasn’t surprising that Heffernan joined a large cohort of Silver Ferns, who will be playing 2027 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN).
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Sunshine Coast Lightning. It’s a team that I’ve watched for a long time and really excited to get that opportunity and nice to have that security as well with all the uncertainty at the moment.”
Twins Kate and Georgia Heffernan will both play in the Australian league next year.
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Heffernan was one of several Silver Ferns who stood out at the Commonwealth Games
“It did feel like it was a place for a lot of us to show what we can do … there were already some conversations going on, but it did feel like a bit of a trial the Comm Games when we were going into it.”
The loyal southerner spent nine seasons at the Southern Steel and was excited by the challenge to go outside of her comfort zone in a completely different environment.
Heffernan will join Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam at the Lightning, who spent a season at the Mystics after Nweke left Auckland for the Australian league.
She said playing in the SSN would help her when she comes up against international sides, particularly the notoriously tight one-on-one defence of the Diamonds.
“The man on defence is absolutely elite and you feel it when you step onto the court against Australia, that intensity, the lift, the physicality and I think playing against all those players is just going to strengthen my game so much.”
Constellation Cup
Game 1: Silver Ferns v Diamonds, Sunday, 18 October – 7:40PM, Spark Arena, Auckland
Game 2: Silver Ferns v Diamonds, Wednesday, 21 October – 7:40PM, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch
Game 3: Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Sunday, 25 October – 6PM, Afterpay Arena, Sydney
Game 4: Diamonds v Silver Ferns, Wednesday, 28 October – 9:40PM, John Cain Arena, Melbourne