A radical plan by World Netball to increase opportunities at the elite level could see the Netball World Cup being hosted every two years instead of the current four-year gap between tournaments.
On Monday, UK based newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported the game’s powerbrokers of Netball New Zealand, Netball Australia and Netball England had partnered with World Netball to introduce a new competition, the Continental Cup, signaling the hope to grow the sport of netball and its commercial opportunities.
Vice president of World Netball, Shirley Hooper, however, told Newstalk ZB the idea was “very premature” and only a prospectus as part of the global event strategy had been released.
“We were essentially going out to market with a bunch of different ideas of things that we could do. We’re trying to build on the very successful 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa, build on the burgeoning interest in women’s sport and identify partners, whether they be agencies and investors and the like that we can work with to grow the sport of netball and those ideas that were expressed in that story are some of the ideas that we are thinking about, but we haven’t resolved anything, we haven’t confirmed anything at all,” she said.
The Continental Cup was proposed to start next year with the top-ranked team from each of the five World Netball regions taking part – Asia, Oceania, Europe, America and Africa.
It would be repeated in 2026 in a one-off move and held every two years from that point with the World Cup also moving to a biennial event, rather than the current four years, following the Sydney 2027 tournament.
Some of the additional prospective changes reported by the Telegraph include the possibility for the Fast5 World Series to be held more regularly than once a year as well as an aligned global calendar.
Hooper said there were several discussions to have before anything was set in stone.
“There are so many things that we need to consider. So, what we want to do is to take the time to consider that and it’s not just the top three nations that come into play there. It’s all the other countries as well who are arguably a lot less resourced in terms of figuring out how we get there,” she said.
“I think if we’re honest, money can solve many problems and so it also comes down to the question of how much commercial funding is out there for what it is that we want to create. That’s the step we have to go through first before we can even start to finalize all those things,” she added.
Jamaican stars Fowler-Nembhard, Wilson, Sterling-Humphrey shine bright in Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year
Jamaican netball stars Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Latanya Wilson, and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey have been named to the prestigious Suncorp Super Netball League Team of the Year, cementing their positions as some of the most impactful players in the league. The recognition caps a stellar year for the Sunshine Girls, who are riding high after a thrilling series victory over world number two England Roses in the Horizon Series.
Fowler-Nembhard, representing the New South Wales Swifts, delivered another dominant season, leading the league with 1571.5 Net Points, 846 goal attempts, and 813 goals. Her unmatched consistency and scoring ability have made her a perennial fixture on this elite list.
Meanwhile, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey of the championship-winning Adelaide Thunderbirds was a defensive powerhouse, topping the league in Defensive Rebounds (36), Intercepts (44), and Deflections (96). Sterling-Humphrey also secured the third spot in overall Net Points with 1292, underscoring her value on both ends of the court.
Her teammate, Latanya Wilson, was equally impactful, ranking second in both Deflections (82) and Intercepts (42). The dynamic duo played crucial roles in the Thunderbirds' march to the title, a feat complemented by their dominance in individual accolades.
The 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year highlights the influence of Jamaica’s players, with only four clubs represented on the 10-player squad. Notably, Fowler-Nembhard, Wilson, and Sterling-Humphrey were joined by other stars from the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Melbourne Vixens, and West Coast Fever, with no representatives from the Giants, Firebirds, or Mavericks.
The Thunderbirds enjoyed a banner year beyond their championship win. Lauren Frew was named Rookie of the Year, coach Tania Obst earned the Joyce Brown Coach of the Year title, and goaler Lucy Austin secured the Fast5 Player of the Series award. Meanwhile, Maverick Amy Parmenter received the inaugural ANPA Heart of the Game honor.
Full 2024 Suncorp Super Netball Team of the Year:
GS: Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (Swifts)
GA: Kiera Austin (Vixens)
WA: Georgie Horjus (Thunderbirds)
C: Kate Moloney (Vixens)
WD: Latanya Wilson (Thunderbirds)
GD: Sunday Aryang (Fever)
GK: Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (Thunderbirds)
Bench:
Attack: Sophie Garbin (Vixens)
Midcourt: Liz Watson (Lightning)
Defence: Ashleigh Ervin (Lightning)
This latest achievement follows Jamaica's historic 2-1 victory over the England Roses in the Horizon Series, where the Sunshine Girls claimed the Hornsby/Rhone trophy after thrilling matches in Kingston. The team's resurgence as a global force currently ranked fourth in the world, is a testament to their determination and the contributions of players like Fowler-Nembhard, Sterling-Humphrey, and Wilson on the international stage.
Sterling-Humphrey, Fowler-Nembhard bask in Horizon series win as Sunshine Girls poised to climb rankings
The Sunshine Girls are still basking in their 2-1 triumph over England in the Horizon Netball Series as it marked a crucial step forward for Jamaican netball, providing a boost in confidence and setting the tone for the team’s preparations for the South Africa series in January.
Bolstered by an electric home crowd at the National Indoor Sports Centre, the Sunshine Girls closed the series on Tuesday with back-to-back 50-49 and 61-53 victories. This, after a 49-49 draw to start the series, while England won the second contest 55-47 at the AO Arena in Manchester.
By virtue of the series win, the fourth-ranked Jamaicans are poised to inch up the rankings. As of October 6, they had 187 rating points, behind Australia (209), England (189), and New Zealand (188). South Africa is fifth with 158 rating points.
Since that release, New Zealand topped Australia 3-1 in a four-match series, and the Sunshine Girls have now topped England.
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey in action.
Regardless of whether they move or not, the Horizon series victory was especially sweet for stand-in captain Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who stepped into the leadership role with star shooter and regular captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard sidelined due to injury.
Sterling-Humphrey’s commanding defensive play, alongside Latanya Wilson and Jodi-Ann Ward, proved instrumental in securing the result, earning her both Player of the Game honours in Monday’s penultimate contest and the Player of the Series award.
After subpar performances in the opening two games, Sterling-Humphrey approached the home leg of the series with renewed vigor and determination.
“For me, I didn’t play anything in the first two Test games in England, so I made sure that I came here and stamped my ground. I always want to turn up for my games and my team,” Sterling-Humphrey told SportsMax.TV.
The local crowd, which roared its support throughout the series, left a lasting impression on the captain as she also highlighted the significance of the series in their build up to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“It means a lot. This just shows that once we’re getting those international games in, we will be better. The fact that we haven’t played any Test matches in such a long time probably explains why we fell short at the World Cup. But it’s good to be getting this exposure now, and with the Horizon Series locked in for the next four years, it’s great preparation for us heading into the next World Cup,” the outstanding defender reasoned.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard shares a photo opportunity with a fan.
That said, the 29-year-old expressed optimism about the team’s readiness for the upcoming January 18-25 South Africa series, where another win would certainly help their rise up the rankings.
“We’re always up and ready for the challenge. Winning gives us a lot of confidence, but even if we had lost, it wouldn’t have shaken our belief. But it’s good to head into the South Africa series with wins under our belt, and we’ll definitely be ready for them,” the bubbly Sterling-Humphrey noted.
Meanwhile, though Fowler-Nembhard missed the series due to injury, her pride and encouragement for her teammates were unwavering as she watched from the sidelines, deeply connected to the action.
“I reckon I played the full 60 minutes with them from the sidelines,” she joked.
“They played really well, and I’m super proud of their performance. This series was very important because we get a limited number of international games throughout the year, so winning this one and performing the way we did is a big deal, especially coming off the World Cup,” Fowler-Nembhard shared.
The series also highlighted the depth and versatility of the Sunshine Girls, which Fowler-Nembhard sees as a promising sign for the future.
Latanya Wilson intercepts an England pass.
“It just shows the depth we have and the hunger of the players to represent. They want to play hard and go out there for Jamaica, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this team does in the South Africa series,” the towering shooter beamed.
Fowler-Nembhard also credited the home crowd for their unwavering support, which she described as a game-changer.
“The crowd was amazing; they came out for us and showed up as the eighth player on the court. It’s so exciting to see this level of support for netball in Jamaica. I’ve just been out for a little bit, but look out for me soon,” she declared.
‘The work continues’: Sunshine Girls coach Henry says Horizon Series victory a springboard toward World Cup ambitions
The cheers were still echoing in the background as the Sunshine Girls celebrated their hard-fought 2-1 win over England in the four-match Horizon Netball Series.
For many, it was a victory that felt like a milestone, especially given that it was the Sunshine Girls’ first international series since their Netball World Cup bronze medal-winning feat and first at home in a while. However, Head coach Sasher-Gaye Henry was quick to temper the celebrations, reminding everyone that while the triumph was significant, the journey is far from complete.
After a 49-49 draw to start the series, England won the second contest 55-47 at the AO Arena in Manchester, before the Sunshine Girls rallied with 50-49 and 61-53 victories in the final two encounters at the National Indoor Sports Centre.
“Well, I think the game was a very keenly contested game. I must congratulate England for putting up a good fight. Our goals tonight were strong, disciplined, and consistent, but we also had some struggles. Our through-court play wasn’t where we wanted it to be at first, but we fixed it tonight. We limited our errors, and that was key to our success,” Henry told SportsMax.TV, her voice calm yet full of pride after Tuesday’s decisive win.
Though the series ended with a confident performance, Henry also pointed to other highs and challenges, as she was honest about the team’s growth.
“We’ve come a long way since our first game of series. That draw against England and then the eight-point loss was a wake-up call for us. It gave us a chance to go back and evaluate what went wrong. We worked hard to address those issues, and our performances in the third and fourth games showed how much we’ve improved,” she shared.
“This is just the start. The girls have shown their class, but there’s still a long way to go. We’re excited about the win, but it’s a work in progress. There’s more development needed, more players to bring on board, and definitely more support from sponsors. Running a program like this is not easy, and we’re struggling. The backing is crucial if we are to continue pushing forward,” Henry noted.
With the South Africa series in January next on their agenda, Henry said the aim is to build on their Horizon success as she stressed the need for consistency, especially as they build towards the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
“South Africa is a solid team, and we have to be consistent. We’ll have a new squad because we’ll be without one or our two shooters for that one, so we’ll have to adjust. The focus now is on identifying and developing new players and pushing them to perform at their best come January.
“The victory was a testament to the depth of the Sunshine Girls’ talent, which is good, but we still have room for improvement. I was happy that we were able to rotate most of the players during the series, with only one not getting a chance to play. That shows we’ve got options, and it’s good for the team,” Henry reasoned.
That said, the former player turned coach singled out Romelda Aiken-George among the team’s standout performers against England, as she was drafted at the last minute to replace injured star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. England-born Rhea Dixon was named player of the game on Tuesday, while Shamera Sterling-Humphrey copped the player of the series accolade.
“Romelda really stepped up to the challenge. We didn’t train with her leading into the series, and again, it showed how much depth we have. The girls were disciplined, and their willingness to step up in the absence of some key players was impressive. It was a true team effort,” Henry declared.
“But again, this win is an excellent start for us. We’ve proven to the world that we can compete with the best. But as I said, this is just the beginning. There’s a lot more work to be done, and we’re ready to get back to the drawing board and keep improving,” she ended.
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