One title is great, but the job’s not done.
That’s the message emanating from the Australian Diamonds camp as Stacey Marinkovich’s 14-woman squad – featuring eight players who won Commonwealth gold in August and six who didn’t – prepares for tonight’s opening Constellation Cup Test in New Zealand.
The four-match series against the Silver Ferns begins in Auckland, moves to Tauranga for a Test on Sunday, heads back over the Tasman for a game at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena next Wednesday and will conclude at a sold-out Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 23.
In a world first, it will also showcase the men’s netball, with male sides from both nations playing televised curtain raisers ahead of the Auckland and Melbourne clashes.
Watch the oldest rivalry in Netball as Origin Australian Diamonds face New Zealand in the Constellation Cup Wednesday 5:00 PM Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Australia lost the trans-Tasman Cup to the Kiwis for the first time in almost a decade earlier this year, after a sub-optimal preparation including isolation and quarantine in Christchurch, meaning Noeline Taurua’s side — which took bronze in Birmingham — only needs to win two Tests to retain the trophy.
Midcourters Amy Parmenter and Maddy Proud, both looking for their Diamonds debut in the series, along with shooter Sophie Dwyer and defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran, agree complacency isn’t an option, especially with star shooter Gretel Bueta out after announcing her pregnancy last week.
Giants wing defence Parmenter said while “vibes are high” post-gold, fuelling the side’s confidence, there are still big boxes to tick.
“The job’s not done. We know we haven’t had been able to secure both the major golds recently so that win in Birmingham just fuels that fire to keep on building. We’ve had a taste of what we can do and there’s unfinished business.”
That unfinished business is World Cup gold, which the Silver Ferns currently hold, after edging Australia in the 2019 final in Liverpool.
Parmenter said replacing “the freak of nature” that is Bueta is impossible.
“It’s more looking at it as an opportunity for the other girls coming through. We know how good the shooters we have in the squad are, and what they can bring. It’s a big loss for sure, but there’s so much to gain from seeing those others out there.”
Proud, who describes the prospect of “finally” making her debut in green and gold after being part of the national program on and off since 2011 as “crazy”, said the Diamonds are expecting the unexpected from the Ferns; a side they didn’t play at the Commonwealth Games.
“Noeline is renowned for her ability to turn things around. She builds a culture like no other and when they’re playing at home, they get that passion and do great things. I’m sure they’ll be disappointed in how they went at the Commonwealth Games and will want to put out a good performance,” she said.
Former Diamond turned Fox Netball pundit Kim Green, who has predicted a 3-1 series win to the Diamonds, shares some big talking points ahead of the series.
Gold buys Marinkovich chance to tinker
After winning gold in Birmingham, the pressure on Marinkovich – who got the top job in 2020 when Australia’s trophy cabinet was essentially bare – has been dialled down, according to Green.
“They’ll want to win, of course, they’re Diamonds, but Marinkovich has just won the Commonwealth Games … her job is very secure, so the pressure and expectation have lifted,” she said.
That means Marinkovich has the freedom to test new combinations and “get games” into young players, an approach that’s becoming something of a hallmark of Marinkovich’s tenure, Green said.
“Not that long ago, it would have been viewed as ridiculous to have so many players coming through, different squads for different series and so many potential debuts in a short time. It would have been a real issue with people who’d say you’ve got to earn that Diamonds dress.
“But in this day and age, the world and circumstances change so quickly. You have to be able to turn on a dime, so it’s important to have players in the system who’ve had a taste at this level, who have experience under their belt,” Green said.
With that in mind, Green expects Marinkovich to “test the waters and have a look at a few different options” ahead of the World Cup in Cape Town. All while retaining “that golden confidence”.
“For the last few years, the confidence hasn’t really been there, so it’s vital they keep that confidence, as it’s very easily taken away. They need to look to the future but also keep winning. It’s a fine line that Marinkovich is very well aware of.”
Toeava to bring trademark Silver Fern grit
Green, regarded one of the best wing attacks to have played the game, said Kiwi midcourter Peta Toeava could bring some much-needed stability and grit to Taurua’s side.
“We’ve seen (the Ferns) have a real zippy, almost too-fast-for-themselves approach in the midcourt at times recently, which is why Toeava is a good inclusion for the New Zealand leg of the Constellation Cup. She can mix that up, offer a change of pace,” Green said.
The 28-year-old, who has just three Test caps to her name and plays domestically with shooter Grace Nweke, reminds Green of Fern superstar Joline Henry.
“I assume she’s missed out previously based on fitness, but for me, she brings that element of power and grit, something that’s been synonymous with the Silver Ferns in the past.
“Joline was as gritty as they come and what a star. I don’t think we’ve seen that sort of grit from the Silver Ferns for a long time. Having someone like Toeava, with that grit, might shake things up a little, bring a bit of spice,” Green said of the 161cm wing attack.
Bueta-shaped hole left in Aussie line-up
With Bueta, arguably the best netballer on the planet, to miss this series and possibly next year’s World Cup to have a baby the Diamonds have “gotta find something and pretty quickly” in the goal circle, Green said.
“Her not being there certainly changes things up a bit … a lot actually. Depending on what happens with any potential series early next year ahead of the World Cup, this might be it, so they need to move pretty fast to think about how to cover her.”
The obvious choice for a starting pair might be Sunshine Coast Lightning teammates Steph Wood and Cara Koenen, she said. “But have we seen them produce the same level of quality at the Diamonds that we’ve seen from them in Super Netball in the past? We haven’t. Green believes the Diamonds need a true holding option at the World Cup.
“As much as Koenen can hold, at the international level, we’ve seen her move more than hold. Marinkovich needs to look at someone like Sophie Garbin or Donnell Wallam as an option to replace Bueta at goal shooter, but it depends on how they both performed at camp. They need to fast-track them pretty quickly though.”
Flames captain Froling joins FSN | 04:39
Saving Grace: Nweke is the answer at GS
While Ferns coach Taurua has selected a number of players capable of playing shooter, Green hopes she lets 20-year-old Grace Nweke shine in the Constellation Cup.
The 193cm holding shooter, who was a standout in the Ferns’ bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games, is “the answer”.
“When you look at when the Ferns have been successful, it’s often involved a tall, holding shooter. My goodness, to have someone like Grace, who is solid as a rock under that post, who can get the rebounds when in doubt … I think she’s it, the answer, for the Ferns long-term.
“She might not be playing as well as she should be, but I would be investing all my confidence in her, telling her ‘you’re staying on the court no matter what and I don’t want you to think about anything else’.
“Even if she needs guidance, to say, get off the baseline, where she sometimes gets stuck. Give her the direction, but with the follow-up that ‘you’re staying on for the whole game’. I bloody would, she’s that good,” Green said.
Unlike at the Commonwealth Games, Nweke will have domestic teammate Toeava feeding her this series too, Green added. That existing connection, combined with proven match-winner Ameliaranne Ekenasio at goal attack could prove deadly.
“Noeline will be tinkering, just like Stacey, meaning we’ll see quite a few changes for New Zealand, but they’ll all be out there to win. As much as they’ll both to find their squads for the World Cup, the competitive juices will be flowing. This is Diamonds versus Silver Ferns after all.”
Watch the oldest rivalry in Netball as Origin Australian Diamonds face New Zealand in the Constellation Cup Wednesday 5:00 PM Live & Free on Kayo Freebies. Join now and start streaming instantly >
CONSTELLATION CUP DETAILS
Wednesday 12 October
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
Men’s curtain-raiser: 3.20pm AEDT
Diamonds v Ferns: 5.30pm AEDT
Sunday 16 October
Trustpower Arena, Tauranga, New Zealand
Diamonds v Ferns, 5.30pm AEDT
Wednesday 19 October
John Cain Arena, Melbourne
Men’s curtain-raiser: 5.15pm AEDT
Diamonds v Ferns: 7.30pm AEDT
Sunday 23 October
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast
Diamonds v Ferns: 7.30pm AEDT
Watch live on Fox Netball Ch503 or stream on Kayo Freebies
