KEY POINTS:
Force coach Yvonne Willering says a transtasman netball competition is a great idea but the bigger picture needs to be considered.
It has been tipped that a 10-team competition will replace New Zealand's National Bank Cup and Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy competition next year.
The proposal was one
of three put forward last July following Netball New Zealand's (NNZ) review of the National Bank Cup.
NNZ would not comment on the proposal but a statement confirmed the organisation "is in negotiations to finalise details of the shape of the enhanced elite competition for 2008".
"Due to commercial sensitivities NNZ is unable to comment on further detail," it added.
NNZ said an announcement on the new competition format was expected in mid-March.
The proposed competition is expected to run from March to July and include five teams from New Zealand and five from Australia.
Willering, who coaches North Harbour's Force in the National Bank Cup, said the concept was a good one but plenty of thought would need to go into the impact on the game in New Zealand and internationally.
"What does it do for the rest of the world when we are exposing ourselves to Australia all the time?" said Willering. "What about developing our players, what will happen to our provincial competition, will that be affected?"
She also questioned whether the competition would devalue New Zealand and Australia tests, which were the showpiece of world netball and attracted huge television audiences.
Willering agreed the transtasman competition was unlikely to turn the game fully professional, which meant the new competition was going to be a big commitment for players.
"How much travel is going to be involved? Will they all be reimbursed?"
Canterbury Flames coach Marg Foster had nothing but praise for the concept, which was being talked about when she was a player.
"I think it is fantastic," Foster said. "It is good for the players, the sponsors, the audience - everyone. This is our chance to show a women's sport can do it."
Foster said the lure of the Australian market could help entice potential sponsors in New Zealand. She also said it was timely for the Canterbury netball region, which now faces competition from the Australian Women's Basketball league.
Foster's only concern was that the teams have an even spread of international players so that a virtual New Zealand team didn't end up playing a virtual Australia one.
