Latest news with #Nweke
Otago Daily Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Silver Ferns coach's Australian foray allows her to ‘stay sharp'
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has been spreading her wings across the Ditch. Taurua returned home yesterday after a three-week professional development stint with the New South Wales Swifts, strengthening the connection between the Silver Ferns and the Australian Super Netball club. The Swifts are home to Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke and coach Briony Akle, who is a specialist coach with the Silver Ferns. Taurua previously spent nine days as a specialist with the club last season. Taurua joined the Swifts for their past three games, the Swifts beating the Adelaide Thunderbirds 65-57, the Queensland Firebirds 71-63 and the Melbourne Vixens 59-51 to remain the only unbeaten team after five games. Those games allowed Taurua to sight Jamaicans Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, who is now pregnant, Latanya Wilson and Romelda Aiken-George, Ugandan shooter Mary Cholhok and English Roses Imogen Allison and Helen Housby. Netball New Zealand head of high performance Stephen Hotter said the relationship benefited everyone and helped build connections. ''Coaching opportunities such as this engagement are essential for Dame Noeline to stay sharp and engaged at an elite level during the domestic season,'' Hotter said. ''It also enables Noeline to observe top international talent and note the progress that they've made in their game and it enables us to stay connected and support Grace where needed.'' Taurua had been impressed by Nweke's performances in the tough league, where she already looked fitter, stronger and had adjusted her game. Nweke leads the competition with 249 goals from 266 attempts — Melbourne Mavericks Jamaican shooter Shimona Jok is next on 235 — and is third for offensive rebounds with 15. Nweke is ineligible to play internationally at present due to NNZ criteria requiring players to hone their craft domestically in New Zealand. Taurua told Newstalk ZB last week her stance had not changed on wanting Nweke to be available for the Silver Ferns, but understood the NNZ board's point of view as well. She hoped they could meet in the middle in the near future. Taurua is no stranger to the Australian league. She was the inaugural coach of the Sunshine Coast Lightning and led them to back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. She returned home in time for the ANZ Premiership season, which got under way at the weekend.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Silver Ferns skipper criticises test eligibility criteria, calls for Grace Nweke exception
The 34-year-old told Newstalk ZB she will never meet the requirements, and will have to choose when to cut ties for an opportunity abroad. 'Reaching 100 is impossible for me. I won't reach 100 if I look to still play over in Suncorp [Super Netball]. The eligibility is quite tough because we have only got a handful of centurions. 'If we stick with that eligibility criteria, there would've only been a couple of people who would've been able to actually go and play [abroad]. Who knows if that needs to be revisited?' Nweke put up 54 goals to help the top of the table Swifts to their fourth victory of the season over former Stars coach Kiri Wills' Firebirds on Sunday. Ekenasio said Nweke's presence is vital for the Ferns. 'Grace is a one-of-a-kind type of player. Purely as a player, I'd love to see her playing because she's an asset to our team, massively. I love playing with her. I'll be eagerly awaiting whenever that decision is locked in.' Nweke has been vocal about her desire to still represent the Ferns, telling the Inside Netball podcast she is still holding out hope of playing tests in 2025. NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said at the ANZ Premiership launch there is no update on the board's plan to review the selection policy, but it is 'on the agenda'. Wyllie last month said they are aware of Nweke's comments and the board will examine the criteria. 'They are continually reviewing and revising their views on it, so that's certainly something for our board to discuss.' Wyllie said she will stand by the board's decision. 'But I am encouraging them to make sure we continue to show flexibility and review these policies as they are needed.' Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has also expressed her desire for Nweke to receive an exemption. The 23-year-old has been retained in the national side's leadership group and Taurua is in regular contact with her. New Zealand will play South Africa in three home tests in the Taini Jamison Trophy series in September. The Ferns will then attempt to defend the Constellation Cup against the Australia Diamonds across four tests, two either side of the Tasman.
Perth Now
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Nweke scores 54 as Swifts beat Thunderbirds
Star New Zealand goalshooter Grace Nweke has produced yet another dazzling display to help lead the NSW Swifts to a 71-63 win over the Queensland Thunderbirds at Ken Rosewall Arena. Scores were level at half-time of Sunday's Super Netball match, but the Swifts broke the contest open with a 23-13 third quarter to improve their season record to a perfect 4-0. Nweke was the star of the show, nailing 54 goals from 56 attempts The 23-year-old shot 148 goals across her first three games for the Swifts, and she was unstoppable yet again. "I'm learning on the job and really enjoying it," Nweke told Fox Sports "I'm happy with how I played. I think it's a pretty standard game for me. "I'm working on keeping my losses down. Just wanting to be a bit better in that regard. "I feel like I was available to the ball and pretty accurate with my shots, so can't complain too much. Nweke has been working on her movement in order to become a more complete player. "I'm not wanting to be a one-trick pony," she said. "I want to be able to diversify my skill sets, and know that in moments where I need to change up what I'm doing, I can do that." Swifts wing attack Paige Hadley was also a powerhouse, earning player of the match honours for her 32 feeds and just one turnover. "I was just so in the moment," Hadley said. "We knew it was going to be a grind. I'm really proud of the girls in that third quarter. We stuck to our game plan beautifully." Firebirds goalshooter Mary Cholhok led the way for the visitors with 42 goals from 50 attempts.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NZ powerhouse Nweke stars as Swifts crush Fever
New Zealand star Grace Nweke has made a stunning start to her Super Netball career, scoring 52 goals to lead the NSW Swifts to a 67-49 win over the West Coast Fever in Perth. Nweke tore Australia to shreds during last year's Constellation Cup series, and she was in fine form at RAC Arena on Sunday to ensure NSW got their season off to a winning note. The 23-year-old was unstoppable close to goal, with Swifts players able to simply lob it over the top to her time and again. "She's a freak of an athlete, and she's only going to keep getting bigger and better, which is quite scary," Swifts veteran Verity Simmons told Fox Sports. "She's a beautiful girl off the court, and an absolute beast on the court." Grace to Grace: Swifts know their target 🎯Watch every game live on kayosports & foxtel plus for the first time, now on binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) April 6, 2025 The match also marked the return of Simmons, albeit in very different colours. Simmons became a fan favourite during her 140-game career at the Fever, helping the club to the 2022 premiership. The 33-year-old spent last year playing AFLW with West Coast, but she joined the Swifts after being delisted by the Eagles. Despite now being on enemy territory, Simmons received a loud cheer from Fever fans when she entered the court early in the second quarter following a heavy fall from Grace Whyte. Simmons played a key role in helping the Swifts build a match-winning lead. "It was a crazy feeling out here, being in red and being with the Swifties in my hometown," Simmons said. "It was amazing to get out there to get such a big win. "The girls dug deep. I wasn't expecting a score like that. "I am loving (being back). Footy was awesome, and I loved it. Maybe too physical for me. "I'm really excited to have a round ball back in my hands." SWIFT #112 | Verity Simmons#WeFlyTogether — NSW Swifts (@NSWSwifts) April 6, 2025 The Fever made a strong start to the match, edging out to a 6-3 lead before Nweke turned the contest on its head. From 10-10 in the first, the Swifts scored the next eight goals to take an 18-10 lead into quarter-time. Fever closed the gap back to five in a hard-fought second quarter as Fever shooter Olivia Wilkinson nailed a pair of Super Shots. But Nweke hit back to give the Swifts a 33-25 advantage at halftime. It was game over in the third when the lead swelled to 19 goals, with the Swifts able to cruise to victory from that point on.
