Latest news with #DonnellWallam
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Diamonds star left ‘in agony' as NZ move lasts just three games in ‘big blow' for her team
Diamonds squad member Donnell Wallam has been sent for specialist scans after injuring her wrist in a nasty fall while playing in New Zealand. The star goal shooter's return to play now remains unclear, with Diamonds medical staff to be consulted on the best option for the 31-year-old. Watch every game of the 2025 Suncorp Super Netball season, LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Wallam, playing for the Northern Mystics, had been attempting to keep the ball in play off a rebound when she turned to shoot and fell awkwardly, landing on her left arm. It's the same arm Wallam broke while playing under Dan Ryan in England for the Leeds Rhinos before she would go on to light up Super Netball and earn a fairytale Australian call up. Wallam's injury late in the third term of her side's thrilling win over the Southern Steel was described as a 'big, big blow' for the Mystics. 'She took a hard fall,' commentator Jeff McTainsh said. 'She's coming off here, not happy. She landed hard trying to keep it in. 'Just tried to break her fall Wallam, stuck out her left wrist. 'A big, big blow for the Northern Mystics.' Fellow commentator Kruze Tangira said his 'heart dropped' watching Wallam immediately clutch at her injured wrist. 'My stomach was in knots seeing that,' Tangira said. 'She tried to attempt that shot and just fell heavily on her left wrist. 'She was attempting to get the ball back in, we've seen that in previous games where she does a little flick behind the post. 'As soon as it happened, she grabbed that left wrist obviously in agony.' Wallam stayed on court for almost a minute before she was able to head to the bench and not return for the remainder of the contest. The Aussie star recruit was clearly in pain as she made her way from the court. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Mystics confirmed Wallam would be sidelined indefinitely. 'Donnell Wallam is currently undergoing treatment for a hand injury that she suffered in the Mystics Round 3 clash with the Southern Steel,' the club said. 'Donnell will be seeing a hand specialist this week and a return to play plan will be confirmed following consultation with Mystics and Australian Diamonds medical teams. 'We wish Donnell a speedy recovery and can't wait to have her back on court.' Wallam was only in her third game across the ditch after moving on from Super Netball when not offered a deal at the Queensland Firebirds. The goal shooter was sitting inside the league's top five for goals scored – alongside fellow Aussie recruit Charlie Bell at the Stars – before she suffered the arm injury. Wallam is the player who replaced Super Netball's superstar recruit Grace Nweke at the three-time ANZ Premiership champions.
RNZ News
02-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Netball wrap: Can Mystics survive loss of shooter in shortened season?
The Magic beat the Stars in Hamilton. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga The Magic kept their ANZ Premiership season alive in emphatic fashion after beating the Stars 72-51 in a must-win game in Hamilton on Monday. Coming into the game, the Magic had the worst attacking record of all the teams but Silver Ferns shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Saviour Tui enjoyed their best outing by far. Searching for their first win of the season, the Magic led 17-14 after the first quarter thanks to slick work in feeding the ball into their shooting end. At half time the Magic led 33-25 over the Stars. The Stars came out strong in the second half and forced the Magic into a team time-out when they got within two goals. But the Magic finished strongly and led by seven going into the final spell. Magic shooter Saviour Tui was a stand-out with 56 goals. Magic defender Georgia Tong said letting go of the pressure they put on themselves worked in their favour last night. "That's what we were doing to ourselves at the beginning of the season, the fact that it is a short season and that we were a team that had been together for a while we felt that we had all this pressure on us so I think we finally let go of that pressure and we were able to play freely," Tong said. The Tactix sit at the top of the ladder after four rounds, just ahead of the Pulse. Donnell Wallam Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Australian import shooter Donnell Wallam could be out for a few weeks with a wrist injury according to Mystics assistant coach Rob Wright. Wallam, who injured her wrist in round three, will know more after seeing a specialist this week but the Mystics will be keen to get their strike shooter back as soon as possible. The Mystics missed her when they lost to the Tactix 61-50 in Rangiora on Saturday. Last year former Mystics shooter Grace Nweke was out of action for a few weeks after injuring her knee. Without her, the Mystics dropped down the ladder but managed to hold on to the crucial third spot to get into the elimination final and Nweke returned for the business end of the competition, which they went on to win. Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson said they were no strangers to having to adapt to losing a key player. "It does give us confidence, we have been here before, we make sure that we train all our combinations every time we train so it's nothing new for us," said Sokolich-Beatson. But with the season cut from three rounds to two, it will be a race against time to get Wallam back on court. Wing attack Peta Toeava played goal attack again for a few minutes of the final quarter on the weekend. Sophia Lafaiali'i got her ANZ Premiership debut, playing 17 minutes at goal shoot for the Mystics and at over six foot provided a nice target. Georgie Edgecombe (right) Photo: Photosport Magic midcourter Georgie Edgecombe has been the most consistent performer in a team that only started hitting its straps last night. The 24-year-old has shown explosiveness off the mark and an ability to cover a lot of ground to win ball for her side at wing defence. The Pulse circle defence pairing of Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason are again proving to be the best in the competition as they make life difficult for shooters. That was highlighted big time when they beat the Southern Steel 70-45 in Invercargill on Sunday and restricted Aliyah Dunn to just 24 goals. Pulse player Amelia Walmsley is consolidating herself as a strong high volume goal shooter, and converted 50 goals from 51 attempts on the weekend - her second half-century of the season. After four rounds, Walmsley is the top goal scorer of the competition and her accuracy is superb at 95 percent. Tactix shooter Ellie Bird seems to have picked up where she left off last year, and is putting up high volumes when she's on court. The Tactix defensive duo of Karin Burger and Jane Watson were a little quiet by their standards at the start of the season but the pair have improved, with Burger in particular starting to win a lot of ball. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Mystics survive loss of star shooter to pip Steel
Filda Vui Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ A chaotic last couple of minutes saw the Mystics pip the Steel 55-54 courtesy of a super shot in the dying minutes of the match in Dunedin last night. The Mystics are top of the ANZ Premiership netball ladder after three rounds but will be crossing their fingers that Donnell Wallam's injury is not too serious. Wallam landed heavily on her left wrist to break her landing just before the third quarter break and had to leave the court. At that point the Australian import had shot 32 goals from 35 in Dunedin. The Mystics led 47-42 going into the final quarter. Filda Vui took the goal shoot bib and Hannah Glen went to goal attack. Intercepts to defender Carys Stythe and Kimiora Poi set the Steel up for a spirited comeback and the home side went on a 7-1 run at the start of the final quarter before the Mystics called a time-out and composed themselves. With around six minutes left, wing attack Peta Toeava then switched to goal attack, something that the Mystics have experimented with at training. At 169cm tall Toeava is the shortest player in the competition. And with Vui standing at 180cm, it was most likely the shortest shooting combination ever seen at the ANZ Premiership level. The scores were locked 52-all with five minutes left, when the super shot period kicked in. The home side then scored off a turnover, Vui then missed a super shot attempt, and the Steel scored again to lead by two. Donnell Wallam Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ But Vui wasn't done. The 29-year-old sunk a super shot and the scores were tied with over a minute left on the clock. A hesitant Steel then coughed up possession and Vui added what would be the final goal of the game. "Honestly it was a bit ballsy from me to take a two when it was that close but Peta trusted in me to get it but I missed but luckily we had centre pass and I got it back," Vui said. The Mystics have experienced losing a starting shooter to injury before with their former strike shooter Grace Nweke. But Vui said they had practised for different scenarios. "Luckily we had some practised some different combos at training so it wasn't too new, we got there in the end. "With me and Peta, we know we're short so we have to really open the circle up and make the defence choose who they have to mark." The Steel will be disappointed. They led the Mystics 17-13 at the first break and there were plenty of great phases of play from the home side. Silver Ferns midcourter Kimiora Poi, who moved to the Steel after several seasons at the Tactix, was the ultimate pivot at centre and picked up the MVP. The Steel maintained a buffer until Vui replaced Hannah Glen at goal attack with just over five minutes left in the second quarter. Vui sunk three successive super shots and the Mystics took a 31-30 half-time lead. Neither sides were giving up possession easily. By half-time, the Mystics had only committed five turnovers and the Steel six. The Mystics defenders started applying more pressure on the Steel in the second half. In the end Vui nailed four out of seven attempts at the two-point shot, while the Steel shooters sunk three. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Donnell Wallam: From country netball to Australian Diamond in four years
New Mystics shooter Donnell Wallam. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Donnell Wallam's rapid rise up the netball ranks must be one of the quickest in the history of the sport. To say the Australian shooter was a late bloomer to netball is an understatement. Wallam , 31, is now playing for the Mystics in New Zealand's ANZ Premiership. In 2022, she got her Australian Diamonds debut at the age of 28. Four years before that no one had heard of Donnell Wallam because she wasn't even playing state league netball. Wallam grew up in rural Western Australia, in a town called Harvey, 140 kilometres south of Perth. She had minimal access to sporting development pathways and gravitated towards basketball. "My Dad played footy, Mum played basketball and growing up with lots of cousins you'd always play some sort of sports together and I guess that's probably where my love of sport came from," Wallam said. "I played netball at school and played social netball for my little home town against the other country towns. But when I was young I was in basketball pathways so I was kind of locked into that path." She went on to play in the Western Australia state basketball league. Wallam got to a stage in her 20s where she had had enough of basketball and picked up social netball again. Then she started travelling to a nearby town to play more competitively. Crucially it was there that she was coached by Daniel Cools, who played in the Western Australia men's state team and later the Australian men's team. After one season Cools encouraged her to try out for the West Australian Netball League (WANL) and put her in touch with a team. "He said 'you've got nothing to lose' and I was a bit nervous at first but went to the trials and played two years for the West Coast Warriors and loved my time there." Wallam, who by now was living and working in Perth, picked up the 2019 league MVP award in her first year in the WANL and then again in 2020. Wallam was selected in a WA All-Stars team to take on the West Coast Fever in a pre-season game in 2020 where she came up against the Australian goal keeper Courtney Bruce. Playing in front of a crowd of over 4000 people, Wallam took the court part way through the first quarter and finished with 49 goals and was a real handful for Bruce. "It was pretty crazy and I guess for me seeing my performance against Courtney Bruce who is one of the best defenders in the world, to see that I could match it with her gave me a lot of confidence and made me want to go further because I was like 'if I can match it with Courtney Bruce, what else can I do?' So playing in that game was really fun and I guess eye opening for me." The West Coast Fever then turned around and signed Wallam as a training partner, following her standout performance. In 2021 Wallam went right outside her comfort zone when she took up her first full contract for the Leeds Rhinos in the UK Netball Superleague. "It was my first time overseas so it was scary but really exciting ...it was really good to be exposed to a high performance environment and just learn what's expected at that level and I really enjoyed my time in England." Wallam then earned her first contract in the Australian league when she was signed by the Queensland Firebirds for the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season. In 2022 she was named SSN Rookie of the Year and in October that year got her Diamonds debut. It was an extraordinary rise up the ranks. Donnell Wallam in her debut for Australia. Photo: Bradley Kanaris When did Wallam start thinking she might good enough to make the Diamonds? "I guess it wasn't until I got into the environment, I remember making the team but then not sure how I was going to go and then it's not until you get into the environment and you start to relax a little bit that you know your capabilities so I guess it was not until I was in there. "It is crazy to think what I've achieved in the few years that I've been playing, but for me it's just enjoying the journey." Wallam, who likes to follow the WNBA, brings a bit of basketball flavour to the netball court. "Sometimes the court opens up for me to do a lay-up in the circle and it's a bit of fun I enjoy it but for me the main thing is just getting the goal in the post," she laughs. Does Wallam wish she had gone down the netball path earlier? "I sometimes do wish I got into competitive netball a bit earlier but I am also a firm believer that every happens for a reason so this is the path I'm on and I'm just trying to enjoy it." Perhaps Wallam's success in netball has been in part due to her later start. "When I started playing competitively I was a bit more mature, knew my body better and what I really wanted to get out of the sport I guess, and I really enjoyed playing it competitively and then I just loved the game and wanted to go further. Then I had the opportunity to go over to England for my first contract and I've just gone from there. I guess once you're older you have a new outlook in life." It's a little surprising that Wallam has only played five tests for Australia since her 2022 debut. Wallam just missed out on selection for the Diamonds squad for the 2023 Netball World Cup, but was one of three travelling reserves. She's competing for one of the four shooting spots in the national team with Kiera Austin, Cara Koenen, Sophie Garbin, and Sophie Dwyer. Last year, Wallam shot more long-range super shots than any other goal shooter in the SSN. She had the second highest tally for total goals in 2023 and 2024, just behind the most prolific shooter in the world - Jamaican Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard. It came as a shock to fans in Australia when the Queensland Firebirds let go of her after three seasons, instead signing 2.01m Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok. It underlines how cut-throat the Australian competition has become. With its unlimited imports policy, just two out of the eight teams in the SSN have Australian players in the starting goal shooter position in 2025. Wallam is still eligible for the Diamonds despite playing in the New Zealand league. She's enjoying her time at the Mystics and leads the goal scoring after two rounds of the ANZ Premiership. "For me I'm not really focussed on getting to the end point or anything like that, it's just enjoying every moment because I have come into the sport so late so I just don't know when I'm going to be finished with netball or when something else will come up so for me it's just enjoying it."
NZ Herald
09-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
ANZ Premiership 2025: New coaches and changes shake up netball season
Steel fans may also have a second team to root for, with two more Southerners heading north to the Tactix. Donna Wilkins (head coach) and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit will lead the team in red and black, having both worked for Tactix last season. And Temepara Bailey returns home from coaching in Australia to take charge of the Stars, with Silver Ferns veteran Leana de Bruin as her assistant. There are many changes to the competition itself this year, with the introduction of the two-point shot being the biggest. Teams will have the last five minutes of every quarter to score long-range goals for two points. So, look for quick substitutions and new tactics as the minutes wind down. The competition is also much shorter this year, with each team facing each other only twice (rather than three times). No team can afford to have a slow start, with every game now counting more than ever. Northern Mystics 2024 finish: 1st 2025 team: Donnell Wallam, Filda Vui, Hannah Glen, Peta Toeava, Katie Te Ao, Tayla Earle, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Catherine Hall, Holly Rae (née Fowler), Charlotte Manley In: Wallam (Australia), Rae (Stars), Manley Discover more Out: Grace Nweke (NSW Swifts), Phoenix Karaka (maternity), Carys Stythe (Steel) Coach: Tia Winikerei It was the biggest off-season news – Grace Nweke departing the Northern Mystics after six seasons to compete in the Australian domestic league. Searching for an ANZ Premiership three-peat, the Mystics may be without their star shooter, but have found themselves with a transtasman swap. Standing at the same height as Nweke, Donnell Wallam moves over from the Queensland Firebirds, a strong goal shoot option. Keep an eye out for Peta Toeava moving into goal attack during the two-point period, for her dead-eye long shot. Michaela Sokolich-Beatson will lead the defensive end, with Phoenix Karaka welcoming her second child in April, and Carys Stythe departing to the Steel. Once the strong midcourt trio of Toeava, Te Ao and Earle learn to feed Wallam, coach Tia Winikerei will be confident in her systems to get the reigning champions firing again. Central Pulse 2024 finish: 2nd 2025 team: Amelia Walmsley, Tiana Metuarau, Khiarna Williams, Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon, Fa'amu Ioane, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Laura Balmer, Parris Mason, Kelly Jackson In: Puleiata, Balmer Out: Kelea Iongi, Parris Petera (Tactix) Coach: Anna Andrews-Tasola Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Plagued by injuries last season, the Pulse still managed to finish top of the table, with their adaptability coming into play as players rotated. Coach Anna Andrews-Tasola will be bringing confidence into her second season with the side, who were just one goal short of winning the title last year. Walmsley and Metuarau have a solid combination in the circle and will be bolstered by the addition of Amorangi Malesala for the beginning of the season. The former Stars shooter will temporarily fill in for Khiarna Williams, as she recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in pre-season. Defender Kelly Jackson continues to show her form, being honoured with the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award last year – her third consecutive time being awarded the trophy for the top Kiwi netballer across domestic and international games. She'll team up with new Silver Fern Parris Mason. Mainland Tactix 2024 finish: 3rd 2025 team: Ellie Bird, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Martina Salmon, Holly Mather, Erikana Pedersen, Paris Lokotui, Parris Petera, Karin Burger, Jane Watson, Charli Fidler In: Salmon (Pulse/Steel), Mather, Petera (Pulse), Fidler (Australia) Out: Aliyah Dunn (Steel), Jess Allan, Kimiora Poi (Steel), Greer Sinclair (Stars), Kate Lloyd Coach: Donna Wilkins When Aliyah Dunn was rehabbing a knee injury last season, Ellie Bird stepped out of netball retirement to fill in for the shooter. One year later, she's back in the Tactix side, having one of her best seasons last year. She'll be teaming up with rising star Martina Salmon, who played for both the Steel and Pulse as injury cover last year, and stalwart Te Paea Selby-Rickit. New coach Wilkins has been working with the Tactix side for years, so will be familiar with their systems, but will have a new midcourt to train, with a short season to find new combinations and connections. Australian Charli Fidler joins the always lethal combination of Burger and Watson in the defensive end. Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 2024 finish: 4th Advertisement Advertise with NZME. 2025 team: Saviour Tui, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Kate Taylor, Reeghan de Bono, Claire O'Brien, Ali Wilshier, Georgie Edgecombe, Oceane Maihi, Georgia Tong, Erena Mikaere In: Taylor Coach: Mary-Jane Araroa The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are the team with the fewest changes from last season. Coming very close to last year's elimination finals, they've only made one change, with training partner Kate Taylor being elevated to a full contract this year. Ameliaranne Ekenasio was named the 2024 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year, and will continue a promising partnership with Tui in the shooting circle. Fresh off making her Silver Ferns debut, Claire O'Brien will team up in the midcourt with Ali Wilshier – who returns from a knee injury. The Magic defensive end remains the same, with Mikaere signing for her sixth consecutive season with the side, after a return to the Ferns last year. Northern Stars 2024 finish: 5th 2025 team: Maia Wilson, Monica Falkner, Charlie Bell, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Samon Nathan, Lisa Mather, Greer Sinclair, Kate Burley, Lili Tokoduadua, Remi Kamo In: Bell (Australia), Nathan, Sinclair (Tactix), Kamo (Australia) Out: Amorangi Malesala, Rahni Samason, Emma Thompson, Holly Rae (Mystics), Khanye'-Lii Munro-Nonoa Coach: Temepara Bailey Advertisement Advertise with NZME. The Stars were unfortunately the queens of the bonus point last year, with a number of narrow losses leaving them near the bottom of the ladder. An ACL injury to midcourt star Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was tough for the Stars, so her return will be welcome. She teams up with Samon Nathan, back from having her first child, and Greer Sinclair, moving north from the Tactix. Monica Falkner was used as injury cover last year, but returns to a full contract this year, shooting alongside Maia Wilson and Australian Charlie Bell, who at 1.96m is the equal tallest player in the competition. Former head coach Kiri Wills has departed for the Queensland Firebirds this year, where defender Remi Kamo comes from, as Bailey returns home to coach the Stars. Southern Steel 2024 finish: 6th 2025 team: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kate Heffernan, Renee Savai'inaea, Kimiora Poi, Abby Lawson, Carys Stythe, Dakota Thomas In: Dunn (Tactix), Temu, Daunakamakama, Poi (Tactix), Stythe (Mystics), Thomas (Australia) Out: Grace Namana, Jen O'Connell, Shannon Saunders, Ivari Christie, Jeanté Strydom, Taneisha Fifita Coach: Wendy Frew The Southern Steel have a tough ask this season, with only four remaining players from the 10 who signed contracts at the beginning of last year. After a winless 2023, they managed two victories last year, but will be looking for a fresh start under new head coach Frew – a Steel stalwart. Aliyah Dunn returns to her southern roots, and teams up with Summer Temu, who made her premiership debut last year. The Heffernan twins provide much needed experience to the side. Midcourter Kimiora Poi makes the move south from the Tactix, and promising young defender Carys Stythe joins the team all the way from the Mystics. With a shorter season this year, the Steel will have to hit the ground running with all their new combinations.
