Titans eyeing net gain
Interest in Super licence
Gold Coast Titans have confirmed their interest in a future Super Netball licence but have ruled themselves out of the running for the 2024 season should Collingwood collapse.
The Titans field a team in Netball Queensland’s elite Sapphire Series and chief executive Steve Mitchell confirmed there remained a strong desire from the club to provide a pathway for Gold Coast’s 11,500 registered juniors to the elite level.
But the club was not yet ready for the move to Super Netball.
“It’s our second year in the Sapphire Series and Ruby Series and we’re working really hard to deliver success in that competition and particularly to the Gold Coast community,” Mitchell said.
“We do, at a point in time, want to get to a point where we can provide pathways from grassroots right through to the national arena for our netball communities.
“But to be successful at that we need to ensure we’re well placed to deliver a truly elite level program which is inclusive of comparable facilities, resourcing levels and coaching.
“That does take a real commitment and you’ve got to be ready to go on that. That’s our strategic intent over time but not immediately.
“When we do that, we want to do it really well and at this point in time, it’s probably a little bit early for us to get to move forward.”
Collingwood’s netball program is officially under review, with the club set to decide within days whether to hand back its Super Netball licence.
Netball Australia (NA) chief executive Kelly Ryan said the governing body was working closely with the Magpies ahead of their decision on whether to renew their Super Netball Team Participation Agreement. “I believe it’s critical we’re an active participant in what that looks like,” Ryan said of the working with Collingwood on reaching a decision.
“We are working through a number of different scenarios and options at the moment.”
Ryan could not expand on those but she said earlier this week it was the league’s preference that the Magpies remain in the league.
Whether it’s Collingwood or not, there will be an eighth team in the league next season, with NA adamant it will meet its broadcast obligation for an eight-team Super Netball competition in 2024.
NA is determined to make Super Netball the “commercial jewel in the crown of Australian netball” according to information finally released on the 2020 State of the Game Review in the sport’s annual report.
The report was released on Thursday night following NA’S annual general meeting, with a recommendation that a business case be built that supports investment in Super Netball from sources including private equity.
While Netball Tasmania has said it is ready to step in next season, there is likely to be a strong push for another Victorian team given the size of the commercial market.