Cullen’s bridging gap to Sydney
Silver Ferns defender Kayla Cullen is moving to Sydney to be with her league star fiance Shaun Johnson.
The former Warriors half now plays for the Sharks in the NRL after signing a three-season deal last year.
The Kiwi star’s long-term move to Sydney raised suspicion that Cullen would follow and play in Australia’s Super Netball competition.
Cullen will leave New Zealand in the off-season but when that begins is yet to be determined.
She is signed with the South Auckland-based Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership, although that contract finishes at the end of this season.
If she was to make this year’s World Cup squad, Cullen would join Johnson after the July tournament.
It’s unlikely she would miss out on the event because of form as she’s one of the best players in the country in her position, with it more likely to be because of injury.
The 27-year-old has been plagued by injuries, restricting her chances in the black dress to 47 tests.
A serious knee injury, which resulted in surgery, kept Cullen out of the Silver Ferns and last year’s Commonwealth Games campaign on the Gold Coast.
But when fit, she is a likely starter in any side, and would be a valuable asset for the Silver Ferns at this year’s World Cup in Liverpool.
If Cullen was to sign with an Australian franchise, she would need to seek an exemption from Netball New Zealand to remain eligible for Ferns selection.
As a general rule, anybody playing outside New Zealand can’t be selected for the Ferns.
However, she wouldn’t have to look far for examples of flexibility regarding that rule.
Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman is playing for the Sunshine Coast Lightning and has been eligible for the Silver Ferns, while veteran shooter Maria Folau this season joined the Adelaide Thunderbirds and will also be allowed to represent New Zealand.
Cullen, though, reportedly hasn’t finalised her 2020 plans and is focused on the New Zealand domestic season.
She has played a leading role with a Stars side who sit third on the Premiership ladder with six wins from 12 games. The Takanini-based franchise have an eight-point buffer over the fourth-placed Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic with three games left in the regular season and look likely to make the top-three playoffs.