LockerRoom

After their World Cup crash, the Silver Ferns have rolled the world champions - twice - to finish 2023. But is the coach happy with that progress? Merryn Anderson reports.

As Netball New Zealand brainstorm ways to improve the quality of the ANZ Premiership and in turn the national side, a Silver Fern has made a brutally honest admission when asked about a potential avenue to do so.

Faced with a must-win scenario, the Silver Ferns kept the Constellation Cup series alive after posting a gritty 56-53 win over the Australian Diamonds in Invercargill.

Trailing 2-0 in the four-Test series, the Silver Ferns turn their attention to home court advantage after losing 55-46 to Australia in the second Constellation Cup match in Brisbane.

The Silver Ferns were given reminder of Australia’s power and depth after dropping the first of the four-Test Constellation Cup series 50-40 to the Diamonds in Melbourne on Thursday.

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua’s contract has been extended until the end of the international calendar in January 2024.

The Silver Ferns have edged out England 59-52 in the third and deciding netball test in Hamilton to retain the Taini Jamison Trophy 2-1.

The Silver Ferns ended a five-game winless streak and leveled the Taini Jamison series with a 57-36 win over the England Roses at a sold-out Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on Wednesday.

Dame Noeline Taurua says England were better than the Silver Ferns on Sunday but she takes “100 per cent” responsibility for the result.

Silver Ferns 54

England 55

Maybe it’s a good thing England didn’t send their top team down to New Zealand for their series against the Silver Ferns.