Netball: Elle Temu heading to Australia, defender shortage looms

Silver Ferns wider squad member Elle Temu won't be a part of next year's ANZ Premiership as she's heading to Australia.

The exciting young defender is going to join her partner, Wests Tigers NRL star Isaiah Papali'i, in Sydney.

The couple have been together for seven years but have spent six seasons apart as they chase their sporting dreams.

Temu spent two seasons with the Pulse as a rookie, then moved to the South Auckland based Stars in 2021, where she's had a lot of success.

"It has been a hard decision for me and it's one that I've faced for a while now. It's been difficult but I've had lots of support around me which has been awesome," Temu told RNZ.

"A lot of us girls do long distance, it's no easy feat, especially with Covid thrown in, it's been really hard. It's been better this season being able to travel but I think it's time just to have a little go at this and see how this goes."

Stars' coach Kiri Wills said it was a decision that had been weighing on her.

"Every year is a huge decision for her about whether she stays. I literally begged last year for her to stay. She had a break out season.

"I'm gutted because she is a massive part of this team, looking after her team-mates on and off the court, we're very much going to miss her," Wills said.

The Stars played a few do or die matches late in the season to make it all the way to the grand final, where they were beaten by the Mystics last weekend.

"When we made it through the stages to stay alive, we knew that these were going to be the last games for her, that's where some of the emotion came from."

The 24-year-old, who made her Silver Ferns' debut last September, hopes to pick up a contract in the Australian league even though it would affect her eligibility.

"Netball is still a huge goal of mine and I'm still quite young so if I get the opportunity to go over and play in Australia I think it will help benefit me, expose me to different coaches, players, different style of play, training techniques, so I'm looking forward to it," Temu said.

In the past Temu has trained with the Sydney based Giants, who are part of the Suncorp Super league.

"I went over there for a few months after Covid and I just reached out to them and trained with them and it was pretty awesome, even just their environment and their set up was pretty cool.

"If I get the chance that would be ideal, but I know that league over there has got some of the best players in the world too," Temu said.

Wills believed it was important that Temu continued to play while she was in Australia.

"She needs to maintain momentum, she can't really afford to have a year off completely, she has to keep pushing on all of her strength and conditioning work and her game because I know she still has ambitions to put on the black dress and I think at the stage she's at it's critical that she continues to play," Wills said.

Under Netball New Zealand policy, to be eligible for selection in the Silver Ferns players must be signed with an ANZ Premiership team.

It was a rule that saw Silver Ferns' legend Laura Langman barred from playing for New Zealand when she opted to play for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2017.

When Dame Noeline Taurua was appointed Silver Ferns' coach in 2018, Netball New Zealand granted exemptions to Langman and Maria Folau - to compete in the 2019 Super Netball competition.

Folau moved to Australia to be with her husband, rugby player Israel Folau.

It's a rule that hasn't been tested since then.

"Definitely still want to play in the black dress but that's just something we're working through in terms of how that will work because I know that if I'm not playing ANZ it's a bit harder for me to play for the Silver Ferns," Temu said.

"But I'm hoping if I can still play netball in Australia and keep in contact with Netball New Zealand then hopefully, who knows what the future will hold."

Once Temu made the decision earlier this year she told Wills and Dame Noeline, who announced a squad of 12 yesterday for the upcoming World Cup.

"They've been pretty awesome and it has been good for me keeping that honest contact with them, I let everyone know as soon as possible."

Wills said Temu's main priority was to find somewhere to play next year so that she continued to grow her game.

"I think she's resigned to the fact that she wouldn't be in the mix for the Ferns. Getting an exemption I don't think is the priority at the moment."

Wills said the timing could work out well for Temu.

"A year over there in their system is going to do her good and she can still come back and get into an ANZ Premiership team and then be available for Commonwealth Games and the next World Cup cycle. I know that she still has those ambitions and she's thinking very carefully about how that will work."

As Temu has played her netball in New Zealand this year she would still be eligible for the Silver Ferns' series later this year against the England Roses and Australia.

With potential retirements post July's World Cup, Temu would be right in the mix at the start of a new four year cycle.

The six ANZ Premiership coaches don't have long to complete their 2024 rosters but they might be competing over a smaller number of experienced defenders.

Pulse defender Kristiana Manu'a is expected to return to Australia after two seasons with the Wellington based franchise.

Mystics stalwart Sulu Fitzpatrick has confirmed her retirement, while other veterans like 34-year-old Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit have yet to confirm if they will play another year of elite netball.

"The defensive end has been in a little bit of a shaky position for a couple of years now with the retirements of the Casey Kopua's, the Katrina Rore's and Anna Harrison and Leana de Bruin," Wills said.

On a positive note Oceane Maihi could be coming back into the defensive pool. The Magic player suffered an ACL injury in October last year and is working hard on her rehabilitation.

Carys Stythe and Parris Mason are two young defenders with exciting futures that will get plenty of court time next year after biding their time behind more senior players.

Mystics training partner Catherine Hall is a lanky defender, who would have caught the eyes of franchise coaches.

Papali'i has got two more years with the Tigers and Temu said she didn't have any fixed plans for how long she might stay in Australia.

"I still actually can't believe I'm going to move over and I'll take it as it comes year by year. I definitely want to return and play netball in New Zealand if possible but that will happen when it happens."

Temu will move to Sydney soon after she packs her life away "in a couple of suitcases which is pretty scary but exciting.

"Netball is really all I've known my whole life. I just want to stay in the environment. Alongside that, I'm really looking forward to the off court, just spending some time with my partner."