Heffernan joins star Silver Fern exodus to Australian clubs
Photo:
photosport
Star Silver Fern Kate Heffernan says her decision to play in Australia's Super Netball League will be a wrench.
The midcourt juggernaut and Southern Steel stalwart became the
third New Zealand international
in the space of three days to announce she will take her domestic game across the Taman next year.
Heffernan will align with the Adelaide Thunderbirds, while Pulse team-mates
Kelly Jackson
and
Maddy Gordon
both announced they will play for the Queensland Thunderbirds.
The trio were key figures when the Silver Ferns crushed Australia 3-1 last year to reclaim the Constellation Cup, along with shooter Grace Nweke, who played this year for the Sydney Swifts.
Netball New Zealand last month updated its eligibility policy, allow more flexibility for Silver Ferns players wanting to play overseas.
Heffernan, who was this week named in the Silver Ferns squad, has been granted an exemption to play in Australia by Netball NZ.
Kate Heffernan of the Steel and Georgie Edgecombe of the Magic.
Photo:
Aaron Gillions / Photosport
The 25-year-old said it will be a painful experience not lining up for the Steel, who she has represented in 101 games since a debut in 2018.
"I'm incredibly proud to play all of my ANZ Premiership games for my home team and this decision to take my netball in a new direction has not been made lightly. It will be so tough to leave my Steel family and I am grateful for everything the franchise has done for me," she said.
"On the other hand, I am excited to see what the future holds in a new environment with the Thunderbirds. The opportunity to experience the intensity of a new competition and different opponents can only enhance my netball even further and I'm ready to embrace the challenges ahead."
Steel head coach Wendy Frew said she wasn't surprised Heffernan had attracted the attention of Australian clubs.
"I have had the privilege of both playing alongside and coaching Kate during her time with the Steel and she is such a standout player. She brings real leadership and experience, along with her defensive flair, and her signature is a real coup for any team," she said.
"It has been so exciting to see how she's grown throughout her career and, as much as she is a massive loss for us as a team, I am proud to see her embark on this new chapter."
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
All Blacks victorious in Argentina: what we learned
Analysis: The more things change, the more they stay the same - at least for the Pumas and their attempts to beat the All Blacks on home soil. This morning's test, won 41-24 by Scott Robertson's side, followed a now well-established script for those played between the two sides in Argentina and ticked off every box along the way. The All Blacks shot out to a big halftime lead, then fell asleep at the start of the second half, just long enough for the Pumas to get themselves back in the match. A second-half All Blacks yellow card even gave the hosts a sniff of victory, with Billy Proctor now joining the South American sin-bin inmate club started by Joe Moody and Liam Squire in 2016, then subsequently adding Matt Todd, Kieran Read and Sonny Bill Williams. Anton Lienert-Brown punched his ticket too, just for good measure, but his yellow for a head clash with moments to play was meaningless in the wash-up. Not meaningless was the importance of this result. Yes, the All Blacks established that lead, but the way they finished was more impressive, given how clinical and crowd-killing Samisoni Taukei'aho's powerful efforts were. The All Blacks seemed to flick a switch, something we'd become perhaps too accustomed to during the 2010's, and one of some pretty notable good points. . Samisoni Taukei'aho scores against the Pumas. Photo: ActionPress Halfback Cortez Ratima was under the microscope and stepped up very well, the scrum again earned plenty of key field position and Robertson's stripped back Plan B proved to be very effective. The All Blacks leaned on their forward dominance and Beauden Barrett's boot when they needed to, and it worked, with Ardie Savea's decision-making at the end empowered to go for tries, rather than shots at goal. Importantly, this time last year, the All Blacks' biggest issue was their inability to score at the backend of games, something now in the rearview mirror through this season's first four tests. Not that they probably knew it at the time, but it also sent a serious and ironic message out in regard to what had transpired a few hours earlier in Johannesburg. South Africa had racked up a 22-0 lead after only 20 minutes against a sorry-looking Wallabies side, who somehow got hold of Asterix's magic potion and piled on 38 unanswered points for a famous victory . The Springboks seemed to forget who they were, trying to run it from everywhere, without setting a platform. Cortez Ratima stepped up at halfback against Argentina. Photo: ActionPress For a while there, the All Blacks seemed likely to do the same thing, especially after Tomas Albernoz stepped past some very confused defence close to the All Black line to draw the Pumas within a converted try. Where the Springboks faltered, uncharacteristically letting the occasion get to them and losing their heads, the All Blacks screwed theirs back on. All it took was one penalty, one chance in the 22 and, suddenly, Taukei'aho's first try solidly gut-punched the resurgent Pumas. His second was the left hook follow-up that knocked the hosts out, pushing the score to a far more comfortable and familiar looking one. While the cold-as-ice ending should rightfully be lauded, plenty of things remain to work on, before the sides meet again next weekend in Buenos Aires. At times, the backline looked like they'd just met each other before kickoff, heading backwards with possession and bringing back horrific memories of the turning point in last year's loss to the Pumas in Wellington. The aforementioned lack of discipline was concerning, especially since Proctor's yellow came after a frenetically unhinged period of defence, and Ratima's early subbing was a headscratcher, but the impact of Taukei'aho and especially Patrick Tuipulotu off the bench was extremely heartening. Tuipulotu's shift was about enough to gain a man-of-the-match award, with a couple of huge tackles and vital lineout intelligence at the right time. Most of all, coach Robertson will be pleased with the fact that he brought on the right amount of experience to manufacture that clinical finish. Along with the Wallabies win, the result sends the All Blacks back to the No.1 ranking in the world - for whatever that's worth. There were patches in Cordoba where they certainly played like a team befitting that title, but with plenty more to work on, if they want to hang onto it and eventually win back the Rugby Championship. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
NPC Rugby live updates: Wellington v Otago
Cam Millar. Photo: ActionPress Wellington bounced back from an opening-round defeat to beat Waikato last weekend, meanwhile Otago went down to Hawke's Bay. Kickoff is 2.05pm.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRLW: Pregnant Warriors winger Michaela Brake to miss rest of season
Michaela Brake has cut short her season with the NRLW Warriors. Photo: Alan Lee/Photosport Warriors winger Michaela Brake won't be available for the rest of the NRLW season after confirming she is pregnant with her first child. The 29-year-old played the first four rounds of the season, but hasn't played since due to personal reasons. She told her teammates and staff about her pregnancy on Wednesday night. "We're really thrilled for Michaela and Michael. It's an exciting time for them and for their families," Warriors CEO Cameron George said. "Michaela has been terrific around the club since joining us but now she can focus on this next stage of her life. She has our very best wishes for what lies ahead." Brake was playing her first-ever game of rugby league when she made her NRLW debut for the Warriors against the Roosters on 6 July. Brake is a two-time Olympic champion in rugby sevens. This year, before the code switch, she became the most prolific try scorer on the World Rugby sevens circuit. In her four appearances in the NRLW she scored tries - against the Eels and the Knights - and averaged 133 metres a game, with a total of 29 tackle breaks. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
