BRISBANE - Australian coach Jill McIntosh has intervened to stop the Queensland Firebirds travelling to play New Zealand ahead of the three-match test series against the Silver Ferns in October.
McIntosh confirmed yesterday that she had vetoed the trip, saying it was against the interests of the Australian team because it
would assist the Silver Ferns.
But Netball Queensland officials intend to appeal to Netball Australia, saying such high-level match practice would be invaluable for their young national league side.
McIntosh said New Zealand had first approached the Australian Institute of Sport to play them ahead of the test series and that offer, too, was rejected.
"We did not want them to provide practice partners for New Zealand," McIntosh said. "After that happened they then approached the Firebirds. Having said no to AIS, I could not say yes to Queensland.
"There comes a time in the grand scheme of things when the Australian team hold precedence. The days of providing New Zealand with training partners are long gone."
New Zealand practised against the Firebirds in Queensland before going on to beat world champions Australia in their first match of last month's Tri-Nations series and went on to win that competition, despite losing the return game against the Aussies.
Netball Queensland chief executive James Cooper said he would meet Netball Australia executive director Pam Smith this week, seeking to overrule McIntosh's veto.
"We will be doing everything in our power to give our team the chance to gain experience against the Silver Ferns," Cooper said.
He said he respected McIntosh's opinion but believed the Firebirds could gain enormously by playing New Zealand and that was good for Australian netball in the long term.
