Source: Radio New Zealand
The future of the ANZ Premiership is uncertain from 2027. Photosport
A big drop in broadcast rights revenue has inevitably led to player pay cuts for the domestic netball league and another year of uncertainty beckons for New Zealand’s top netballers.
In July last year, Netball New Zealand finally secured a broadcast deal for the 2026 ANZ Premiership, following months of negotiations.
Sky Sport had been the major broadcast partner since 2008, but the national body signed a one year agreement with TVNZ – marking the return of the sport on free-to-air television.
RNZ understands Sky TVs offer was substantially lower than any of its previous deals with Netball New Zealand. How much TVNZ are actually paying for the rights, if any, was not disclosed.
Despite the league being cut from three rounds to two last year, ANZ Premiership players managed to stave off pay cuts in 2025.
But NZ Netball Players Association executive manager Steph Bond said under the collective employment agreement signed off late last year, players are taking a 20 percent pay cut in 2026.
“That is slightly skewed by the fact that they will actually be doing less work than they were two year’s ago when they played more games, so it does I guess balance out pro-rata but in saying that it’s not an ideal position to be in,” Bond said.
“I think everyone recognises that players continuing to get paid and get paid well to play sport really helps make the sport successful.”
Under the 20 percent reduction, ANZ Premiership retainers now range from $20,800 to a maximum payment of $44,800.
RNZ understands in Australia the highest earning SSN players can earn around NZ$120,000.
ANZ Premiership players could still earn extra money via non-playing and third party agreements through their franchises at the same level as before.
Not every player will get less money this year.
With nine current and former Silver Ferns set to play in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league this season, the ANZ Premiership has lost several Tier one players.
Some players who were once Tier 2 will now find themselves as Tier 1 players, so will earn the maximum retainer.
With no broadcast plan in place for the domestic league beyond this year, the collective contract only covers 2026 – a repeat of the situation players found themselves in last year.
“It is really concerning and it does feel like we have been in this position for a number of years but it is the position we find ourselves, in terms of what the broadcast market has put in front of us and that changing landscape and it is something that the players have learnt to live with over the last couple of years.
“It’s not a space we want to continually be in and I think being able to do more work around what the future looks like for the game and provide a bit more long-term certainty for each collective would be a place that everyone really wants to get to.”
Silver Ferns’ retainers have not been affected. It remains to be seen whether Sky TV will continue to broadcast Silver Ferns’ tests.
High Performance changes afoot
Chelsea Lane is the new Head of Performance – Silver Ferns. Supplied Chiefs Rugby, Instagram
Last week Netball NZ announced the appointment of interim CEO Jane Patterson, following the resignation of Jennie Wyllie in December after what was a disastrous year for the national body.
The biggest controversy came in September when Silver Ferns’ coach Dame Noeline Taurua and her coaching team were suspended, over concerns about the high performance environment.
Two Silver Ferns’ players on behalf of a group of seven, raised concerns with the Players’ Association in June.
Dame Noeline was later reinstated, with Netball NZ and Taurua agreeing to embed changes to the Silver Ferns’ programme and environment.
Stephen Hotter resigned earlier this month from his role as head of high performance, which he had held since the start of 2023.
Last week Netball NZ also announced that Chelsea Lane has been appointed Head of Performance – Silver Ferns. Lane’s experience includes senior roles in basketball’s NBA – one of the most high profile sports leagues in the world.
While Hotter’s role was broader, in that he also had an overview of the ANZ Premiership, U21’s programme, and NZ Secondary Schools, Lane’s sole focus will be on the Silver Ferns.
When Dame Noeline was reinstated, it wasn’t clear what would happen to her long-time assistant coach Deb Fuller, or specialist coach Briony Akle.
Netball NZ said Lane would help to “assemble the team that will take the programme forward” and “strengthen leadership” within the Silver Ferns high performance programme.
Bond said Lane’s appointment was a positive step.
“From all accounts Chelsea has a strong background around working in professional sport and in high performance environments so we have a lot of confidence that she can come in and support and we’ve already had several meetings with Chelsea around how she can I guess impact and influence that environment so it is a great environment moving forward.”
Bond said the Players’ Association will meet soon with Patterson, who just started this week.
Former Silver Fern legend Tracey Fear, who was brought in to support the team when Dame Noeline was suspended, is still contracted part-time supporting high performance due to her specific netball knowledge.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
