Samantha Wallace

Jamaica’s Jhanielle Fowler of the West Coast Fever and Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace of the New South Wales Swifts confirmed the development to Sportsmax.TV on Tuesday. They are among seven Caribbean players in the SSN.

“The players have agreed to this, even though it will affect us all across the board really badly, we have agreed to it given the situation the organisation has been placed in,” Fowler said.

“Hopefully, after they have reviewed it things will be better for us as players but for now it is what it is.”

Wallace revealed that the review should happen in a matter of weeks.

“It's hard but it's for the best and I think it's only for three weeks,” she said. “Yes, it will affect people. You have rent to pay, health insurance to pay and you have to save something but it’s only for three weeks. Hopefully, things will settle and we will be back to normal.”

The SSN Commission contacted the players association about a week ago to discuss the possibility of wage cuts among other issues. According to Wallace, the players didn’t have much to discuss given the situation.

Fowler, meanwhile, said while the situation would be difficult for players she remains hopeful things will change for the better soon.

“A pay cut of 70 per cent is not ideal. Especially in a foreign country, it is going to be difficult times and hard to cope but we do have faith in the organisation around us that they will support us. They will not let us go hungry.

“Hopefully, we will be okay for the coming times. Hopefully, this thing can be curtailed and the league can start and we will be able to go back to full salary.”

Players such as Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler, Romelda Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace, are among those who will be watching with bated breaths, after Australia Netball Players’ Association rejected the latest offer from Netball Australia and the eight Super Netball League clubs.

Officials from Netball Australia and the clubs expressed disappointment at the ANPA’s dismissal of the offer that they described as a “ground-breaking” collective player agreement.

However, the ANPA in its response said, “the players believe they’ve bent over backwards” in a bid to reach an agreement, and they are now appealing for mediation “to achieve meaningful and fair progress.”

Netball Australia on Monday stated that an offer was made to improve its investment by AUS $1.275 million – a 20 per cent increase across a three-year deal.

Netball Australia explained that offer was on top of “the earning potential of a profit-share partnership model”, and this was without any forecast material increase in the sport’s revenue in the short term, given the current broadcast deal runs until 2026.

Netball Australia added that it offered a base wage increase of nine per cent over three years and a maximum salary cap increase of three per cent over the same term, in addition to increased potential commercial earnings, extra playing and earning opportunities with the introduction of rookies, and a share in the profits generated by the Super Netball League for the first time.

“Throughout negotiations, Netball Australia and the clubs have made significant concessions in good faith to finalise the deal and build a strong partnership model with the ANPA and Super Netball players. Netball Australia and the ANPA met again [this past] Saturday, and we continue to offer to meet to finalise a deal,” a statement from Netball Australia said.

“Netball Australia and the clubs are not opposed to mediation, but we are concerned beginning the process at this late stage would extend this already lengthy process and continue to delay the stability and certainty all parties seek.

“Netball Australia and the eight clubs have simply reached their capacity to make further concessions to the ANPA and players without jeopardising the health of the league and its teams, their respective stakeholders, and the entire netball eco-system in Australia,” the statement continued.

Netball Australia pointed out that any further increase to player wages beyond the current offer would be irresponsible, because they would negatively impact funding for community and grassroots netball.

It reiterated that the three-year deal would provide much-needed stability for the players, clubs and the league and would ensure all parties could focus on working together collectively to grow the sport.

“We appeal to the ANPA to re-consider our revised three-year offer and present it to all Super Netball players, so they can have their say,” the statement ended.

But the players’ association argued that Netball Australia had rejected a real partnership with the players.

“We cannot in good conscience lock players into an unfair three-year deal, which does not reflect their value and contribution,” the players’ association statement asserted.

“Adding to the players’ concern is a lack of clarity around the finances underpinning the game, and uncertainty around the strategic direction for netball.”

The schedule for the 2024 Super Netball League season is yet to be released because of the collective player agreement dispute.

Sterling and compatriot Latanya Wilson are members of The Adelaide Thunderbirds, while Wallace and Aiken-George represents New South Wales Swifts. Fowler is a member of West Coast Fever.

Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler and Romelda Aiken-George, as well as Samantha Wallace of the Trinidad and Tobago, are among players in the League who have not been paid since their current collective bargaining agreement between Netball Australia and the Australian Netball Players' Association (ANPA) ran out on September 30. To make matters worse, they cannot be paid until a new deal is put in place.

According to reports, the dispute is headed to mediation with Netball Australia and ANPA unable to arrive at an amicable settlement over a revenue share model, and several players have had to turn to family and friends for financial support.

"I've heard of players who've had to move home because they can't sign rental agreements or are struggling to pay their mortgages because there is a big stand-off between what Netball Australia want to put forward and what the players and players' association want," former Australia netballer Bianca Chatfield said in a TV interview.

The feud erupted after the ANPA rejected the latest offer from Netball Australia and the eight SNL clubs, which put forward a "profit share partnership", while the players are demanding a "revenue share partnership model".

Netball Australia said it offered a base wage increase of nine per cent over three years and a maximum salary cap increase of three per cent over the same term, as well as a share in the profits generated by the League for the first time.

Officials from Netball Australia and the clubs expressed disappointment at the rejection of the offer, which they have described as "a ground-breaking collective player agreement".

Netball Australia said any further increases to player wages beyond the current offer would be irresponsible because they would negatively impact funding for community and grass roots netball.

ANPA said the players believe they have bent over backwards in a bid to reach an agreement, and they are now appealing for mediation to achieve "meaningful and fair progress".

Australia international defender Maddy Turner said it was a "super stressful" time for all players left in limbo ahead of next season, and she also showed some compassion for non-Australian players.

"When you are relying on that money to pay for rent, groceries, everything… imagine your next pay cheque doesn't come in. You're looking for other ways to earn money. I think it's really disappointing. There's no pay coming in," she said in a TV interview.

Turner said she had turned to the "bank of Mum and Dad" to pay her mortgage, while picking up extra work where she can — but not every player was that fortunate.

"There are a lot of internationals in our league and without that money coming in, it's hard for them to come over here where they can't work a second job," she said. "I think it's probably the most frustrating for them."

ANPA Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Harby-Williams argued the players were not making extraordinary demands.

"Players will never take what the game can't afford," she said in a radio interview. "It's new money we are asking for and simply 20 per cent of sponsorship, and that is all. It ensures players receive a fair share of sponsorship revenue — it's a real partnership model."

The netballers have found support from the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) after their recent fight with Cricket Australia — with the organisation creating a "fighting fund for netballers to draw on during their period of unemployment".

ACA Chief Executive Officer Todd Greenberg said the netballers' requests were "modest and affordable for the sport", and the players must be given the same partnership opportunities that has seen women's cricket in Australia thrive.

"The ACA stands with the netballers and will do so until this campaign is successful," he said.

Shamera Sterling, Latanya Wilson, Jodi-Ann Ward, Shimona Nelson, and Kadian Dehaney are the other Caribbean players that played in the SNL last season.

Aiken’s 45 goals helped the Queensland Firebirds defeated league leaders Melbourne Vixens 64-58 in a hard-fought game at the Cairns Pop Up Arena on Sunday. Her teammate Tippa Dwan also scored 13 goals in the victory.

Aiken’s 45 goals came from just 51 attempts and saw the Firebirds lead 18-12 at the end of the first quarter. However, it was the defensive efforts of Tara Hinchliffe and Kim Jenner that led to the win.

The Vixens who were losing only their second game of the season rallied to win the second quarter 19-17 cutting the Firebirds lead at half time. The teams scored 13 goals each in the third but the Firebirds outscored Vixens 16-14 in the final stanza to hold on for their fifth win of the season.

At the same venue on Saturday, Samantha Wallace scored 25 goals and her teammate Helen Housby 22 as the New South Wales Swifts pulled off their eighth victory of the season, defeating Adelaide Thunderbirds 57-54 in a nail-biter.

The Swifts got off to a fast start and led 19-12 at the end of the first quarter. However, the Thunderbird rallied to take the second 16-12 and headed into the break trailing by just two goals.

The Thunderbird carried that momentum into the third quarter outscoring the Swifts 15-12 while taking a one-point lead into the final quarter.

However, the Swifts managed to battle back to outscore the Thunderbirds 15-11 and eke out a close victory.

Jhaniele Fowler was the high-scorer on the weekend with 62 goals as the West Coast Fever battled to a 71-66 victory over the Giants.

All 62 goals were crucial for the Fever who had to battle back from a three-goal deficit at half-time having lost the first quarter 15-17 and edged out 18-17 in the second as Jo Harten and Kiera Austin’s 24 goals apiece threatened to run away with the game.

However, the Fever took the lead in the third quarter, which they won 21-15 and then outscored their rivals 18-16 to close out the close encounter.

Despite the win, the Fever remains third in the standings with 34 points.

It was an epic clash at the USC Stadium between Caribbean shooters, Fowler, who scored 55 goals and Samantha Wallace, who sunk 34 from 35 attempts, as the Fever won 67-62 in what was described as one of the matches of the season.

NSW Swifts got off to a fast start winning the first quarter 17-15. They remained in in control of the match in the second quarter as super shots from Wallace and teammate Helen Housby (10 from 14) saw the Swifts outscore the Fever 19-14 to lead 36-29 at the interval.

The Fever made four changes at the half which seemed to spur the team to life. Through Fowler’s impeccable shooting they rallied to win the quarter 19-12 to tie the score at the end of the third.

Fowler continued her onslaught as the Fever snatched the lead and went on to win the intense counter by five.

Fever shot 94 per cent from the field in victory while the Swifts shooting fell to 88 per cent in the heartbreaking loss.

Fowler, 31, has scored more goals than any other player in the league by some way, having sunk 910 goals from a league leading 967 attempts so far this season. It is the third consecutive season that the towering Jamaican shooter was dominating in the number of goals scored. She also had 66 offensive rebounds, second to Romelda Aiken's 110.

Aiken, who plays for the Queensland Firebirds, was some distance behind with 583 goals as Caribbean athletes asserted their dominance in this category. Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace of the dethroned champions New South Wales Swifts, was third in the standings with 522 goals.

Fowler was also heads and shoulders above the rest in net points, the definitive measurement of player performance.

Every time someone scores a goal, blocks a pass, gets a defensive rebound, they get points. The bigger the impact, the bigger the points. If players make mistakes or cause turnovers, they lose points. At the end of the game, each player receives an individual net points score, which represents their contribution to the match.

During the season, Fowler accumulated 1740 net points, more than 500 more than compatriot Shamera Sterling of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who amassed 1174 net points. Kate Moloney of the finalists, Melbourne Vixens was 700 points back with 1040.

Sterling, who led defensive rebounds with 37 also had the third-best number of intercepts with 37, trailing Kate Pretorius of the Sun Coast Lightning, who had 43 and Courtney Bruce of the West Coast Fever with 42.

Sterling compatriot Jodi-Ann Ward was fifth with 29.

Sterling also had 104 deflections, second most in the league.

Trinidad and Tobago's Samantha Wallace led the charge for the Swifts scoring 17 goals for the losers.

From the first whistle, it was evident that this match would be nothing short of intense. The Swifts and the Fever traded goals relentlessly, each determined to gain an early advantage. But it was the towering presence of Jamaica's own Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard that truly shone in the opening quarter.

As the game progressed into the second quarter, the Fever began to assert their dominance. Led by their captain, Jess Anstiss, and the dynamic duo of Fowler-Nembhard and newcomer Olivia Wilkinson, the Fever surged ahead, much to the delight of their supporters. Despite the Swifts' best efforts to narrow the gap, the Fever maintained their momentum, heading into halftime with a commanding lead of 27-21.

However, the Swifts were not about to go down without a fight. With determination etched on their faces, they launched a fierce comeback in the third quarter, closing the deficit with a flurry of super shots. But the Fever defense, anchored by the likes of Fran Williams and Kadie-Ann Dehaney, stood firm, refusing to buckle under pressure. Meanwhile, Shanice Beckford provided a taste of her lightning-fast reflexes, expertly maneuvering the ball to her teammates and contributing two crucial goals from two attempts.

As the final quarter unfolded, the tension reached its peak. With the score-line neck and neck, every possession became crucial. But it was the Fever who held their nerve when it mattered most. With Alice Teague-Neale orchestrating the midfield and Sunday Aryang showcasing her unwavering determination, the Fever managed to fend off the Swifts' relentless onslaught. And when the final buzzer sounded, it was the Fever who emerged victorious, securing a hard-fought win.

The Firebirds got off to a flyer winning the first quarter 20-13. However, the Lightning rallied to win the second quarter 19-17 and close the lead to just five at the half.

The Lightning emerged from the interval with renewed vigour dominating the third quarter 23-15, taking a three-point lead into the final quarter. They would extend the lead to eight by the time the final whistle was blown.

The Firebirds lie sixth on the eight-team table with 18 points after suffering what was their seventh loss. The Sunshine Coast Lightning are second with 32 points.

Meanwhile, in a battle among Caribbean queens, Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace was perfect from the field but it was not enough for the New South Wales Swifts, who lost 80-71 to the West Coast Fever on Saturday.

Wallace was 25 for 25 and teammate Sophie Garbin 13 from 18 but the Swifts were unable to overcome the Fever that were powered by Jhaniele Fowler’s 68 goals from 71 attempts in the match played at the Nissan Arena.

At the end of the first quarter, the Fever led 25-15. However, the Swifts were a lot better in the second quarter when each team scored 16 goals.

The Fever opened up the lead by two goals in the third winning the quarter 22-20. However, the Swifts produced a strong finish to win the final quarter 20-19 but it was not nearly enough.

Their seventh win of the season since the resumption, means the Fever have 30 points for third place, two ahead of the Swifts with two rounds to go.

The Melbourne Vixens leads the group with 42 points.

Wallace’s 43 goals came from 45 attempts as the Swifts outscored the Magpies 19-15 in the second quarter to take a four-goal lead into half-time. The first quarter ended 14-14.

Led by Nelson, who had 43 attempts at goal and Gabrielle Sinclair, who was perfect from the field for her six goals, the Magpies closed the gap when they outscored the Swifts 15-12 in the third quarter to keep things close.

However, the third-place Swifts rallied to score 17 goals to the Magpies’ nine to close out the match and seal their third victory of the season.

In the other match played today, Shamera Sterling pulled in two rebounds but had 17 penalties as the Adelaide Thunderbirds lost 58-59 to the Sunshine Coast Lightning. It was their fifth loss on the trot and remain anchored to the bottom of the table.

Lenise Potgieter led the scoring for the Thunderbirds with 34 goals and Georgie Horjus had 20 but Cara Koenen’s 26 goals and Steph Wood’s 16 enough to emerge one-point victors.

On Saturday, the Melbourne Vixens ran out 66-64 winners over Queensland Firebirds, their first win of the season.

The Vixens were near-perfect shooting as Mwai Kumwenda scored 27 goals from just 28 attempts and Rahni Samason scored 19 from 19.

Meanwhile, Romelda Aiken scored 39 goals and Gretel Bueta 16, as the Firebirds lost their fourth match in five games.

Fowler, 32, joined the West Coast Fever in 2018 and dominated winning the leading goal scorer award with 783 goals, which was then a record. She was also awarded the competition's player of the year title.

She won the leading goalscorer award for a second consecutive season in 2019 and capped off the year by becoming the first player in the league's history to win multiple Player of the Year awards.

Fowler would win her third consecutive Suncorp Super Netball Player of the Year Award after an outstanding 2020 season during a special online version of the Australian Netball Awards.

The 1.96m tall shooter, who had three games in which she shot 100 per cent from the field, was also named to the 2021 Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year.

The team also included Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace who made the team as Attack Reserve while Jamaica’s Shamera Sterling was a Defence Reserve.

The virus has infected close to half a million people in 198 countries globally and killed more than 22,000. There are about 3000 cases in Australia, which prompted the Super Netball League Commission (SNLC) to call a halt for the season for at least the next couple of months.

“Given the rapidly-evolving landscape, the Commission has determined that the start of the season will be deferred and will not commence prior to 30 June,” a statement from the commission said on Monday.

Wallace, the shooter for the New South Wales Swifts, is among several players from Trinidad and Tobago who are in Australia and who are unlikely to be able to travel home since the country has closed its borders in an effort to contain the spread of the virus.

However, Wallace said she is doing okay.

“I'm coping extremely well, to be honest. I'm safe, my health is great,” she told Sportsmax.tv.

“It's hard not being with my family and loved ones in this time but everyone back home is healthy and safe.”

However, she concedes that the league on hiatus is proving to be a bit of a challenge.

“It’s weird waking up in the morning and not have training to attend,” she said.

“Looking at the safer side, our health and well-being are way more important than a netball league at the moment. We, the athletes, have to find a way to keep fit in our backyards or wherever as possible.”

She offered words of encouragement in what will be challenging times.

“I see this as an opportunity to spend great quality time with your kids, family. Although I know it's a tough time here because some people are jobless and don't know when they will have a job again, in all I'm just grateful for life.”

As a Grand Final MVP in 2019, Wallace played a pivotal role in securing two Swifts Premiership titles (2019 & 2021) and has proudly represented her home country at two World Cups and the Commonwealth Games.

Before her injury in 2022, Wallace notched up an impressive 77 appearances for the Swifts over five seasons, earning a reputation as one of the game's finest and most entertaining shooters, both under the post and from range.

Head coach Briony Akle acknowledged the emotional significance of Wallace's return, emphasizing the challenges of recovering from complex knee injuries. Briony expressed confidence in Wallace's potential to reclaim her status as the premier goal shooter in the game, praising her proven ability at the highest level.

“Having had so much heartache over the past two seasons, I know it will be an extra-special moment when Sammy steps on court in front of our home fans for the first time. She has a proven ability at this level, and I think she can be the greatest goal shooter in our game again,” Akle said.

Wallace herself expressed her gratitude for the support she received during her recovery, acknowledging the moments of doubt and the resilience of the Swifts community.

“I’m not gonna lie, there were times when I thought it may have been the end for me, but so many people at the Swifts helped me through, and I will be grateful to them forever.”

Despite being unable to play in the past two seasons, Wallace always felt a part of the Club, crediting the kindness of the medical staff and the unwavering support of teammates, coaches, and fans.

“Even though I wasn’t able to play over the past two seasons, I always felt part of the Club, both on game day and in the community, and the medical staff who looked after me were so kind.”

Reflecting on the last full game she played in the 2021 Grand Final win, Wallace sees it as a motivating force, driving her determination to return to peak performance.

“Before getting injured, the last full game I played was the 2021 Grand Final win, and that happy memory is a driving force for me.”

While acknowledging the challenges posed by formidable opponents, Wallace is confident in her understanding of the game's fundamentals and her ability to contribute strategically.

 “I know it won’t be easy because there are so many brilliant players that you come up against, but the basics of the game, and how to read it, have not changed. I want my smarts to help me while I get up to speed.”