Covid-19's financial strain has been felt across the Kiwi sporting landscape, and less than 24 hours after the NRL announced a massive pay cut for its players, Netball New Zealand is bracing themselves for the inevitable fall out.
After winning the 2019 Netball World Cup, new Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio was looking to build on that success until Covid-19 took the wind out of their sails.
"It's definitely a bit of a shame for all us athletes but it is also a good reminder for us to have other things to go to," Ekenasio told Newshub.
"You know you can't play sports forever. It's a really good wake up call for all of us."
But it's more than a wake up call for Netball New Zealand. The ANZ premiership has been postponed indefinitely and the development Beko League cancelled altogether.
Next up, pay cuts across the board?
"We feel like it's almost inevitable," said Ekenasio.
"A lot of the other sports have done it. I don't think that we as individuals would be able to say no I am not taking a cut, I think we are all in it together.
"For the longevity of our sport we are going to have to tighten the belt a little bit."
Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie is well aware the sport is in for a rough ride.
"People's livelihoods are really challenged," McCausland-Durie told Newshub.
"We are realistic… some of the things that face Netball New Zealand they face us as a franchise, they face all of us as employees,"
Netball New Zealand is prepared to do whatever it takes to be back on top.
