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Alex Chapman • July 17th, 2025 9:00 am
Photo: Joshua Devenie/Photosport
At a time when Netball New Zealand’s financial struggles have been exposed, continuous delays to a new broadcast deal and possible wage slashes has leading players continuing to look offshore.
With the ANZ Premiership now heading into the pointy end of the season with playoffs beginning this weekend, Sport Nation understands a TV broadcast agreement is still yet to be confirmed for next season, with one source indicating there are ongoing “board meetings and brainstorming sessions to try sort this out.”
Following revelations by Sport Nation in May regarding player frustrations, Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie insisted that they were planning on a “six-team, New Zealand-based, ANZ Premiership” and that they had a “confirmed 2026 season” and “are planning for that and that’s all underway currently.”
Sources have confirmed though that the deal is still yet to be signed off.
Wyllie added at the time that their reason for only tabling an initial one-year deal was due to the uncertainty around the future of Australia’s Super Netball, which was scheduled to end its current span next year.
However, it was announced last month that the Aussie competition will broadcast to more than 65 countries over the next three years, after Netball Australia struck a deal with Whoopi Goldberg's All Women's Sports Network.
The length of the short-term deal on this side of the Tasman, and lack of clarity around it, sees players continue to be frustrated.
Netball NZ CEO Jennie Wyllie | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
As Sport Nation first reported in May, players were concerned over “a real lack of communication and transparency” over the competition’s future, with one saying under anonymity that “it just feels like there’s no future vision from the CEO or the board.”
Wyllie responded on Sport Nation saying that it was “always good to hear from players and their voice” insisting that NNZ had been “really clear” that they were planning for six teams and to be New Zealand based.
Sport Nation reported in May that at least half a dozen high-profile players had already started to explore options in Australia’s Super Netball competition for 2026, amid fears of what the competition may look like long-term, and whether they’ll still be able to be paid the same.
And those spoken to recently, though who Sport Nation has agreed to keep under anonymity, have voiced similar concerns over the lack of a deal still, with it understood that as many as four high-profile players currently have Australian deals offered up.
Sources have suggested that those who choose to stay in New Zealand could be forced to take as much as a 50 percent pay cut.
It’s understood that the ongoing discussions come at a time when the players have a new voice representing them.
Sport Nation understands that long-time Players' Association boss Steph Bond has left the role, with her LinkedIn indicating she is now the Head of Legal and Policy at the World Cricketers' Association. It’s believed that Bond will now chair the Players' Association and former Black Stick Pippa Moore (nee Hayward) has left the law firm Meredith Connell to replace Bond as Head.
Pippa Moore (nee Hayward) back in 2017 | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Sport Nation can reveal that among those commercial and broadcast deals being discussed, is a deal between Netball New Zealand and TVNZ to broadcast the ANZ Premiership and international matches on free-to-air television.
However it would have to be funded by NNZ, who themselves are struggling financially, and would only be for one year, as that’s all NNZ is willing to commit to with the ANZ Premiership as a competition.
Whether ANZ continues as naming rights partner is also unclear. Another option understood to being considered is a digital-led model, potentially with Netball Pass as a partner.
Netball Pass is operated by World Netball.
Such is the extent of NNZ’s penny pinching, an email leaked to Sport Nation proposes using a newly-signed sponsor to offset costs with rubbish removal.
A sponsorship deal with Waste Management was announced last month, however emails seen by Sport Nation have revealed that discussions were had in April as to whether a deal with the yet-to-be-signed sponsor could be struck, to help with “negotiating with our landlord, a rent reduction by contributing to their WM costs via value in kind provision.”
The email goes on to detail that “for example, 50K offset of their WM (Waste Management) bill by WM and NNZ contributes $50k less rent per annum, thus no difference for the landlord but NNZ is better off thanks to WM VIK contribution.”
The emailer goes on to ponder if that “similarly at our venues, the ability to negotiate with them in increments of $10K WM value in kind offset of our cash costs.”
NNZ insists the agreement discussed wasn’t part of the new sponsorship agreement though such “value in kind or contra deals” are often common in commercial partnerships.
Tune into Alex Chapman alongside Riccardo Ball on Sport Nation Mornings, 9am to midday on Thursdays & Fridays.
