Former Silver Ferns captain confirms Super Netball move
Former Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has signed a one-year deal with the West Coast Fever in Super Netball.
The 79-cap goal attack is leaving the Central Pulse, with no confirmation about the future of New Zealand’s domestic competition.
About 15 Kiwi players are expected to sign with Australian and United Kingdom clubs, including the five current Silver Ferns who played Super Netball this year.
Ekenasio last played for the Silver Ferns in the 2024 Constellation Cup, making herself unavailable for the team last year.
The 35-year-old was born in Australia and debuted for the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship in 2011.
She made her first appearance for New Zealand in 2014 and was part of the 2019 World Cup-winning side.
Ekenasio will form a formidable shooting circle with Jamaican powerhouse Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.
Speaking about the opportunity to compete in the Super Netball League, Ekenasio said joining West Coast Fever was a dream come true and an honour.
“I feel so genuinely excited about the season and the opportunity to grow my game. Knowing I’ll be moving my family over, feeling supported and understood as a Mum is important to me,” she said.
“Being able to play with Jhaniele will be special as well, that circle will be a lot of fun. I’ve always wanted to shoot super shots and it’s a closer distance, I can’t wait!
“I’m someone who is all in and to be able to come over and experience a new environment is a privilege, I just want to work hard to be my best for Fever and play great netball.”
Ameliaranne Ekenasio with Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua after victory in the 2024 Constellation Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Auckland FC investors Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray are in talks to privatise the Kiwi domestic competition in 2028. They have also proposed a professional league for next year to help bridge the gap to full privatisation.
Netball New Zealand maintains it has multiple options available for next year, but the New Zealand Netball Players’ Association says Williams and Mowbray’s proposal is the only professional option they are aware of.
NNZ has changed test eligibility rules to allow overseas-based players to be available for Silver Ferns selection.
Last month, NNZ board chairman Alastair Carruthers encouraged athletes to take opportunities to play netball abroad.
“Absolutely, we understand and respect why a number will be looking at opportunities abroad,” NNZ chief executive Jennah Wootten said.
“My focus is on making sure that what we do land on in terms of the form of our domestic competition in the future is attractive enough to compel many of those players to stay or indeed to return in the years to come.”
Last month, the Herald revealed the ANZ Premiership attracted more than 1.05 million unique television viewers and an average audience of 51,800, not including anyone who watched on TVNZ+, either live or on demand.
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 Gold Sport.
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