No quick outcome for Ferns review
The outcome of a review into the Silver Ferns’ Commonwealth Games capitulation won’t be known until the end of May.
The national programme is facing unprecedented public scrutiny following the Silver Ferns rapid decline over the past 18 months, culminating in their dismal fourth place finish on the Gold Coast.
A review of the campaign was always planned postCommonwealth Games, but given the depths the Ferns have plunged to and the obvious disconnect between the players and coaching staff, how the review process is handled has taken on an extra level of importance.
Many are calling for the axing of coach Janine Southby and an overhaul of the leadership of the team.
Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie is on leave until later this week and was not available for comment, but a spokesperson for the organisation said the review will get under way in two weeks once the players return from compulsory leave.
The review will take in the entire campaign, including the build-up matches in the Quad Series and Taini Jamison Trophy earlier this year, and canvas the thoughts of the players, management team and high performance staff.
Netball NZ are yet to confirm who will lead the review, but Stuff understands there will be two independent members on the panel.
The findings and any recommendations will be presented to the board at the end of May and any decisions be made from there.
While the Ferns’ frustrated fans are demanding immediate action from Netball NZ, it is important the national body take a thorough and considered approach to the review.
Allowing the players and management time at home to unwind and collect their thoughts will take the emotion out of the review process.
There is still the possibility Janine Southby will fall on her sword before the outcome of the review is known. Southby’s position at the helm appears untenable, after slumping to a 20 win, 19 loss record - the worst record of a Silver Ferns coach in the modern era. Only Myrtle Muir, who led the side to a 0/4 record in the 1930s and 40s back when New Zealand were still playing nine-a-side, has a poorer record.
Heading into the Gold Coast tournament, the Ferns had featured in every gold medal match since netball was added Commonwealth Games gramme in 1998.
This time, they were fortunate to even make it out of pool-play after dropping games to Malawi and eventual gold medallists England in the round robin. Predictably, the New Zealand side fared poorly in the finals, copping a 21-goal hammering to Australia in the semifinals before dipping out to Jamaica in Sunday’s bronze medal match.
Sunday’s 60-55 loss to Jamaica means the Ferns have won just one of their past 12 match-ups against top-five ranked nations, ensuring the New Zealand side will take a slide when the International Netball Federation updates its rankings.
Despite being pipped by England in a thrilling gold medal match on Sunday, Australia will hold on to their world number one status. to the pro-