Can’t beat it, so coach embraces open rule on imports

IT’S a rule blamed for Australia losing its Commonwealth Games crown but new NSW Swifts coach Briony Akle is backing Super Netball’s open import policy.

England beat Australia 52-51 in the Gold Coast Games’ gold medal match with a side dominated by players signed to Super Netball clubs.

Akle, a former top-level player now in charge of the NSW Swifts, says the open rule has helped lift the standard of the game across multiple countries.

And while the Diamonds 12 who lost on the Gold Coast might have paid the price for creating a stage for rival talent to shine, Akle believes this is a good thing for the growth of netball.

“I have a view that its grows the game and that’s a good thing,’’ Akle said.

“Obviously you don’t want an entire team full of imports but I’d like to see the open rule stay.’’

Helen Housby, who plays for the Swifts, scored the winning goal for England in the Games thriller. England teammates Jo Harten and Serena Guthrie play for crosstown rivals, the Giants.

Before the start of the eightteam, Australian competition last year, there were strict restrictions on the number of imports allowed to play for each team in the now defunct trans-Tasman competition.

New Zealand, which for the first time finished without a medal in a shock fourth place at the Games, is the only country that bans any player wishing to represent as a Silver Fern from competing in Super Netball. The Super Netball season kicks off this weekend with the Giants hosting Sunshine Lightning and the Swifts playing the Queensland Firebirds in a double-header at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.

The match between the Swifts and Firebirds is a battle between the teams that finished sixth and fifth respectively last year.