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Live sport on SN this weekend'No-brainer': Grace Nweke opts for certainty amid New Zealand netball uncertainty
Robbie Cuthbertson • September 5th, 2026 6:48 am
New Zealand superstar Grace Nweke left the NSW Swifts to join the Sydney Sirens | Photo: Matt Turner/AAP
New Zealand netball star Grace Nweke committed her future to Suncorp Super Netball side the Sydney Sirens, days before the announcement of a privately owned NZ netball competition for 2027.
Nweke crossed the ditch to the SSN competition in 2025, having previously played in the ANZ Premiership for six seasons, winning three titles in that time.
The Commonwealth Games gold medalist was pleased to hear of the announcement of a New Zealand competition but opted to go with the security of a three-year deal from the Sirens.
“It was a pretty full-on decision,” said Nweke on joining the Sirens.
“I think the fact that I could have that certainty with a three-year contract was definitely a big factor.”
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Nweke said that uncertainty around the New Zealand competition would have been a factor for some of the players who signed with teams overseas.
“A lot of the players in the league have children, have mortgages, have partners and families, and there's so much more to consider than just a game of netball,” she said.
Although these factors weren’t an issue for Nweke, she said they would have forced some tough decisions for other players.
“I’m in a privileged position where I don’t have much more to worry about except for being able to pack a suitcase and go where I want to.”
“Not everyone gets to do that, and it means you have to make some tough calls,” Nweke said.
“I think it’s really gutting that it's come this late.”
Listen to the full interview below:
