‘Get us in the room’: Players Association make desperate plea to revive netball league deal

The New Zealand Netball Players Association is urging Netball NZ to resume talks with investors Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray over a proposed privately funded domestic league, and wants the players involved in efforts to salvage the deal.

Netball NZ (NNZ) pulled out of talks with the Auckland FC investors for a privately funded competition eight weeks after signing a non-binding term sheet. The governing body claims they are working on an alternative option for next year and are in talks with multiple other investors.

The Herald understands the initial proposal fell apart because NNZ wanted to retake control of the domestic competition after a set number of years, and Williams and Mowbray refused. NNZ has declined to comment.

The Players Association wasn’t part of the discussions between the parties, but boss Pippa Moore told Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan it would be disappointing if it all came down to sovereignty alone.

“Yes, it would, but only for the main reason that we haven’t been included in any of these conversations. We have repeatedly said to Netball New Zealand, and publicly, bring the players in. The players can be used to assist. Bring us into the conversation, and let’s work together collectively to find a solution.

“I’m holding out hope that we will be able to find a way. We’d really love an opportunity to take part in a mediation with Netball New Zealand and Ali and Anna, and perhaps we can find a solution we’re all happy with. That’s what I’m holding onto, and that’s what I’m telling the players.”

New Zealand Netball Players' Association general manager Pippa Moore (left) wants to be part of talks between Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennah Wootten (right), Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray. Photo / Dean Purcell

NNZ chief executive Jennah Wootten addressed the players on Monday evening, with some of them in tears. Moore last week expressed concern for the mental wellbeing of athletes, and admitted they have had to help some find financial assistance.

Moore said the players can help.

“We would have been able to have a conversation together around the table and hopefully find a way through and get a solution that everybody is happy with. The way we see it is you’re not always going to get what you want in a negotiation, are you?

• 'No reason. No call': Williams and Mowbray blindsided by Netball NZ axing domestic league
• Netball NZ pulls pin on private league, 2027 competition in doubt

“We know that when we go into collective bargaining with Netball New Zealand, we start over here on one side, Netball New Zealand starts on another side, and then hopefully you get to a point where you’re in the middle. You don’t get everything you want, but you get some of what you want, and the other side gets some of what they want.

“But you’re in the middle, and you reach a resolution, a solution. And that’s what we wanted the opportunity to do.

Ali Williams said he still does not understand why Netball NZ pulled out of their talks. Photo / Dean Purcell

“I just hope that we can all get around the table and talk about it, because at the moment, the players don’t really know exactly where it has fallen down. There might be a way through; there might not be. But let’s all get in a room and have a conversation and exhaust all options.”

Williams said he still does not understand why NNZ pulled out of talks. He has also shut down speculation he and Mowbray could start a rogue league without the governing body’s approval, and hit back at suggestions his proposal was financially unsustainable.

As things stand, Silver Ferns Martina Salmon, Parris Mason, Peta Toeava, Catherine Hall and Tayla Earle have no domestic contract for next season, with the World Cup looming in August.

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.