New Zealand Netball Players Association (NZNPA) boss Pippa Moore has urged NNZ to resume talks with Williams and Mowbray and wants the players involved in efforts to salvage the deal.
New Zealand Netball Players’ Association general manager Pippa Moore (left) has urged NNZ to resume talks with Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray, and allow the PA to mediate. Photo / Dean Purcell
Moore last week expressed concern for the athletes’ mental health, due to further uncertainty over their jobs.
The players had previously been receiving positive, weekly updates from the NZNPA about the private league’s development.
Mason, who featured in the Silver Ferns’ 3-1 Constellation Cup series victory over the Australian Diamonds, said they were completely blindsided when NNZ walked away.
“It was just devastating. The tears immediately came out. The reality of the complete uncertainty that’s about to face a big group of us players hit quite hard. It was extremely sad and devastating to hear that once again we’re put in a place of, ‘What do we do next?’ We’re just completely lost.
“The majority of us have been shocked and shattered by the news. At every level there’s an impact, and it’s just been hard for the whole collective to handle everyone’s different emotions.
“But overall, everyone’s super heartbroken that we’ve just lost a big part of who we are.”
Silver Ferns defender Parris Mason said hearing of NNZ’s decision to walk away from the private domestic competition was “devastating”. Photo / Bruce White, Photosport
Salmon said she will probably contact a psychologist for help.
“I was so upset and low-key kind of heartbroken. I just cried straight away, and my husband was away at uni, so I had no one to talk to about it and just, yeah, kind of bawled my eyes out. The first people I rang were Carys Stythe and Amelia Walmsley.
“We had seen some of the models of what it was going to look like and man, I was honestly so excited, and I think a lot of the players were excited. I’m gutted. I still can’t believe that they’ve just pulled the pin that easily.”
Mason said the saga has weighed on her personally, particularly in the last couple of months.
“I don’t really have words to put how much stress and the toll it’s taking on all our mental health just having to face so much uncertainty.
“It’s been really hard watching your best mates go overseas, and you’re so excited for them, and you’re happy for their journey, but also the reality that you don’t get to do that.
“That’s just super sad and super hard for me to deal with, considering all I’ve ever wanted to do is play netball. To get my head around that that may not be a possibility for me next year is super, super hard.”
Salmon echoed Mason’s remarks.
“The uncertainty is low-key taking a mental toll on not only myself but a lot of us players. Especially with the World Cup being next year, not sure if we’re going to have a good lead-up to it.”
Martina Salmon said she will probably reach out to a psychologist for help. Photo / Photosport
Salmon was talking to clubs in Australia before ultimately deciding to stay in New Zealand to be close to family. While Mason could not confirm if she was talking to overseas teams, she admitted: “There were definitely some missed opportunities for myself”.
Mason said she is unsure what she will do next year, after placing her faith in NNZ to get a professional competition over the line.
“We had confidence, so lots of us probably missed opportunities that now we probably regret not taking. So that’s also another hard space to deal with. And now we’re out here trying to scramble and be willing to take anything for an opportunity to stay in the sport and to continue doing what we love.”
The NZNPA have assisted some players with finding financial assistance.
The Herald last week spoke to an anonymous, fully contracted ANZ Premiership athlete who spent two to three months on the Government’s Jobseeker benefit while she looked for work. The player is from Auckland but has moved away from family to represent another region and is weighing up whether to give up on netball and return home.
Wootten admitted to the Herald she did not realise players were using Government support. Central Pulse boss Ann Hay was also unaware, but unsurprised.
Both Mason and Salmon knew.
“Honestly, it should be no secret, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that franchise league players will be struggling,” Mason said.
“That’s our income, and most of the time we roll back-to-back contracts and you’re getting paid full year-round.
Both Parris Mason and Martina Salmon knew some ANZ Premiership players were using Government support. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
“For a huge majority of us, this is our primary income, and to lose that is extremely hard for everyone. So, that is where we’re having to turn at this rate. Government is probably where we’re going to have to go for that financial support because we’ve got nowhere else.
“We’ve given everything to the sport, and that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve sought other options in terms of being able to find jobs or studying, because we’ve always had netball.
“There’ll be a lot of franchise players, a lot of young ones that depend heavily on our franchise income. And unfortunately with that not coming, and well, it’s not coming anytime soon, I can imagine that the financial stress and the financial pressure is going to be huge for a lot of players amongst the group, which is going to continually roll onto the effect of our mental health.”
Salmon said the uncertainty over whether they have futures in the sport makes finding other work tricky.
“We could have a contract thrown at us now; we could get a contract thrown at us in a couple months. So obviously finding a job, you’re going to have to have a contract with them too.
“I don’t blame them for going on the dole. Not having answers really is frustrating.”
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 Newstalk ZB Sport.