Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic chairwoman Judith Taane has hit back at suggestions her netball franchise could trigger chequebook warfare in the national league.
Magic have signed high-profile Wellington-based players Irene van Dyk and Leana du Plooy, and Southern Sting boss Kate Leebody has voiced concern that the league is being endangered
as players pocket record amounts to switch franchises.
Reports this week said van Dyk was getting $40,000 to play for Magic in the National Bank Cup. Leebody reckoned this was fuelling excessive player pay demands at a time when Sting were seeking to replace the retired Bernice Mene, and was worried about mercenary trends.
"I would hate to think that the competition ended up with two [super] teams because those franchises had the biggest chequebooks," said Leebody.
Taane was amazed by this. "The suggested figure of a $40,000 package [for van Dyk] can only be speculation - perhaps based on what other franchises have offered in the past.
"At this stage there has not been an amount placed on a package for Irene. She has made it clear ... that her main desire was to make a move to the Magic franchise to enhance playing opportunities."
- NZPA
