PREVIEW | 2024 Constellation Cup
THE INTERNATIONAL netball season continues at full force today, with the Constellation Cup kicking off in New Zealand. Perhaps more so than in recent editions, Australia will come into this series as overwhelming favourites.
Despite coming unstuck once against England, the Diamonds continue to be a dominating force in world netball and with New Zealand continuing to slip down the rankings, it is crunch time for the Silver Ferns.
The problem for the Kiwis is that their strategy of using Grace Nweke’s height advantage and just bombing it into her has become a bit predictable, and with Nweke about to spend at least a year away from the Ferns, the Silver Ferns need to change up their game plan and add some spice to it.
They do get a huge boost this series though with the return of Phoenix Karaka, who will partner well with Kelly Jackson down in defence, and her return and the leadership that it brings will be huge as they battle the in-form Australian shooting end.
Speaking of Australia, the Diamonds have their own selection headaches this series. Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston are back from injury, but Sarah Klau and Sunday Aryang both shone in the series against England, so who gets the starting defence spots on court?
Game one of the series kicks off tonight at 7:30pm local time, and fans can watch the series via either Kayo (in Australia) or NetballPass.
Australian Diamonds 2024 Constellation Cup squad
Sunday Aryang
Kiera Austin
Courtney Bruce
Sophie Dwyer
Rudi Ellis
Sophie Garbin
Matilda Garrett
Paige Hadley
Georgie Horjus
Sarah Klau
Cara Koenen
Kate Moloney
Jamie-Lee Price
Liz Watson
Jo Weston
2024 NZ Squad Constellation Cup Squad
Karin Burger
Ameliaranne Ekenasio
Maddy Gordon
Kate Heffernan
Kelly Jackson
Phoenix Karaka
Parris Mason*
Erena Mikaere
Grace Nweke
Claire O’Brien
Kimiora Poi
Amelia Walmsley
Maia Wilson
* – subject to medical clearance
Constellation Cup Fixture
Sunday, 20 October – 5:30pm AEDT/7:30pm NZDT – TSB Stadium, Wellington
Wednesday, 23 October – 5:30pm AEDT/7:30pm NZDT – Spark Arena, Auckland
Sunday, 27 October – 7pm AEDT/9pm NZDT – RAC Arena, Perth
Wednesday, 30 October – 7pm AEDT/9pm NZDT – John Cain Arena, Melbourne
PREVIEW | 2024 Constellation Cup
THE INTERNATIONAL netball season continues at full force today, with the Constellation Cup kicking off in New Zealand. Perhaps more so than in recent editions, Australia will come into this series as overwhelming favourites. Despite coming unstuck once against England, the Diamonds continue to be a dominating force in world netball and with New Zealand […]
PREVIEW | Taini Jamison Trophy 2024
INTERNATIONAL netball never takes a break this time of the year, and merely days after the series between Australia and England, the next series is about to commence with the 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy between New Zealand and England kicking off tonight. Unlike last year’s edition of this series – which New Zealand won two […]
PREVIEW | Australia vs. England
TOMORROW sees the international netball season in the southern hemisphere get underway, with the first test between Australia and England happening in Adelaide. After they met in the Netball Nations Cup earlier this year, this is the first time the Roses have travelled to Australia since 2022. That particular series saw three tight matches despite […]
2024 Netball Super League Preview – Surrey Storm
THE 2024 Netball Super League season is almost upon us, and to celebrate the build up to the season, Rookie Me Central will be previewing each of the 10 competing teams and seeing how this year might unfold for them. Today’s penultimate preview is on the Surrey Storm. Overall, 2023 was a year of progress […]
PREVIEW | Nations Cup 2024 – New name, same dream
WITH a fresh name, a new team, but the same format, the Netball Nations Cup is back for 2024, and is set to kick off this weekend. Formally known as the Quad Series, the 2024 edition will have a new team on board with Uganda replacing South Africa in the line up. The She Cranes […]
PREVIEW | Wales vs Uganda
THE 2024 international netball calendar gets underway tonight with Wales hosting Uganda. Last time these two countries met Uganda picked up their first ever win over Wales in a World Cup at last year’s tournament, but will history repeat itself this time around. Uganda will take its build up to the Nations Cup another gear […]
PREVIEW | Northern Ireland vs Republic of Ireland
THE international netball calendar has not quite wrapped up yet for 2023, with one last series to go before Christmas time. The last series of the year is in Northern Ireland, with the Warriors of the north set to face their southern neighbours the Republic of Ireland in a two match series. Both sides would […]
PREVIEW | England vs South Africa
TONIGHT is the beginning of the end of the year in women’s international netball. England and South Africa begin their three match test series in a series that still has plenty to play for. For England, it is a way to try and cap off a year of grow in a positive way, while for […]
PREVIEW | 2023 Australia vs South Africa series
WHILE everyone may still be coming down from the Constellation Cup, the international netball calendar continues to go at full pace. A mere 48 hours after the end of the Constellation Cup, tonight the Australian Diamonds are back in action, this time against South Africa. The series could see a number of firsts across the […]
