By Ravinder Hunia
OPINION: Despite what critics say, Netball New Zealand had no choice but to go it alone after Australia opted to leave the trans-Tasman competition - but was it a blessing in disguise?
If we've learnt anything from competing with Australia, it's not only their dominance of the ANZ Championship, just one New Zealand team winning the comp in eight years, but the continuous time and faith they gave to developing players was second-to-none.
Now players such as Kim Ravaillion, Gabi Simpson and Paige Hadley lead on the international stage while we struggle to keep our veteran players replenished to counter their evolution.
In a roundabout way they've done us a favour, and have forced our hand to court young players to revive Kiwi netball from regional to international level.
Not one Kiwi franchise has recruited a star Australian player, instead looking to the Beko Netball League and further offshore to England and South Africa, building international interest in the sport.
So should we be thanking Netball Australia?
They have single-handedly started their own competition, not because they were bored with us, but to force the growth of the sport globally giving our own game the resurrection to make it relevant again.
The same could be said for England, with more than 80 percent of its international squad now dispersed over New Zealand and Australia.
In addition, we have also welcomed a new team - the Northern Stars - to further tap into the giant pool of talent. But if one message has rung true in the off-season, it's the loss of the Kiwi-style of play.
Who better to take netball back to its roots than the ones who created it? Former Silver Ferns Temepara George, Sandra Edge, Jenny May Clarkson, Waimarama Taumaunu and Irene van Dyk are now in coaching roles doing just that.
There was the discrepancy of losing Noeline Taurua and Laura Langman to the dark side which was a loss for sure, but when you measure it up, not all hope is lost.
The result is six even netball teams fully recruited and booted to hit the court on March 26 in a revamped ANZ Premiership competition, starting with a triple-header that you can view in one sitting.
Will it be enough to conquer the world number ones one day? We won't know yet, but something needed to change and starting in our own backyard is a good way to start.
Ravinder Hunia is a sports reporter for Newshub.
