'No reason. No call': Williams and Mowbray blindsided by Netball NZ axing domestic league

Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray have said Netball New Zealand abandoned their private domestic netball league without calling them. 

The governing body has pulled the pin on the Auckland FC investors’ attempts to save the ailing competition after a board meeting decision on Wednesday. 

The two parties signed a non-binding agreement eight weeks ago, leaving Mystics skipper Michaela Sokolich-Beatson in tears, but have been unable to agree on certain sticking points since then. 

The Herald understands Netball NZ (NNZ) informed Williams and Mowbray about their decision via email on Thursday. 

Mowbray provided a statement in response to the decision. 

“We are devastated. Ali and I gave this everything. Our time, our money and our hearts. We did it because we’ve seen what a team can do for a community. 

“With Auckland FC we’ve watched families come together, kids find heroes and a city find its voice. This was our chance to do that for netball, for women’s sport, at a scale this country has never seen. 

“Yesterday that ended with an email. No reason. No call. 

“While we have no explanation why Netball NZ have decided to renege on our agreement at the last minute, we still believe wholeheartedly in the netball community of New Zealand and the spirit behind it. We remain committed to being guardians and advocates of sport in New Zealand and see it as an important piece of our society.” 

The decision lurches the domestic scene back into uncertainty, where it has lived for most of the past three years due to one-year broadcast deals, the last of which has expired. 

New Zealand Netball Players Association boss Pippa Moore said they did not know what sticking points were, but they are addressing the players today. 

Moore said they have serious worries for the mental health of the athletes. 

“We’ve had a significant increase in players seeking mental health support. We’ve had to assist people to get financial support. There are a lot of players out there that we’re genuinely very, very concerned about. 

“They have been through a lot, and they’ve put their lives on hold. We’re really just worried about what the toll that this news is going to have on them.” 

Moore said they only found out about the decision yesterday. 

“We have been completely blindsided by this. Completely blindsided. We’re just devastated. 

“I feel pretty deflated, really devastated and gutted that we’re in this position. I feel like we’re back to where we were months and months ago, and I thought that we had a clear but difficult pathway ahead of us. 

Moore said sending the email informing the players this morning was awful. 

“It was so hard. I didn’t think I’d be sending that email. I thought this was all going ahead. I know these processes take a while and there’s a lot to work through, and it’s a big decision that Netball New Zealand made, but I never once thought that it would be Netball New Zealand pulling the pin on it. So it was incredibly difficult, and I just feel absolutely devastated for the players. 

“We were really genuinely looking forward to a fresh, exciting competition to see what Ali and Anna could do with the sport that we all love and which is so important to this country. So to be back here, it’s heartbreaking, really.” 

Moore said NNZ has not communicated what the issues with Mowbray and Williams were. 

“We have had conversations over the past couple of months in general just to try and build that relationship back up on the back of what happened a few months ago. 

“But we were not made aware that it was at this point. Netball New Zealand had made it clear to us that there were a few issues that they were working through with Ali and Anna, but it was never once made clear to us that it was at the point where this may not go ahead.” 

In August, Moore slammed NNZ for a lack of transparency over options for next year’s competition. 

Moore is confused why they have not communicated more effectively. 

“I just would have thought on the back of what happened a few months ago that we would have received clear communication from Netball New Zealand and it would have been transparent. 

“And that we would have been brought into the conversation when it started to look like things were not going to go ahead. Maybe we could have helped. And we’re still holding out hope, a little bit of hope, that they actually bring us in. 

“That’s what I’m really gutted about and disappointed that we haven’t been brought into this earlier, or we haven’t been brought in at all.” 

The drama comes off the back of the Silver Ferns’ 3-1 win over the Australian Diamonds in the Constellation Cup. 

Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Newstalk ZB Sport.