Silver Fern Kelly Jackson has pulled back the curtain on the Queensland Firebirds’ flat of Kiwi stars as they transition into life in Australia’s Super Netball.
Coached by New Zealander Kiri Wills, the side has been dubbed the “Fire Ferns” due to their strong Kiwi flavour.
Silver Ferns Kelly Jackson and Maddy Gordon, plus former New Zealand international Te Paea Selby-Rickit, are flatting together at former Diamonds World Cup winner Kim Ravaillion’s house.
The residence is an ideal set-up for a group of high-performance athletes, with a pool and home gym.
It marks the first time Jackson has lived with other netballers, and she told the Herald they share the cooking.
“Turns out we’re all great cooks, so that makes it easier. But it was just really nice to be able to walk straight into a house that’s fully furnished, got a pool, so it made the transition pretty seamless in moving countries.
“Everyone’s great [at cooking], and I think our nutritionist is very happy with what we’re putting out on the table.”
Jackson’s husband Cameron remains in New Zealand, with the 83-test defender to return home for Silver Ferns duties after Super Netball.
“I’ve forever either lived with flatmates or my partner. So, I feel like I’ve done things backwards - bought a house, got married, and now I’m back flatting.
“But I’m really enjoying it. It makes things easier when you know you’re not going to be left behind with trainings and stuff like that because everyone else is in the same boat, and both Maddy and Te Paea are both very professional and get things done.”
Gordon has been hit with an early setback, suffering a hamstring injury in training, days after her strong Super Netball debut in the 60-49 loss to the Melbourne Vixens. The midcourter will be sidelined for several weeks.
The Silver Ferns will have a tight transition from domestic to international netball ahead of the Commonwealth Games, starting late July. Due to the finals dates of both Super Netball and the ANZ Premiership, the full squad will likely get only three weeks together before the major tournament.
It will also be the first time the Ferns have convened under head coach Dame Noeline Taurua since she was stood down and subsequently reinstated last year.
“Once we finish here, we’re straight on the plane back to New Zealand to start prepping for the Comm Games, all going well with selection,” said Jackson.
“But yeah, right now we’re just focused on our job at hand, which is Firebirds and the SSN. We know the better we prepare and the better we play here, it sets us up to be more successful heading into the Comm Games campaign.”
Jackson is keeping an eye on the other Kiwis dotted around the competition.
Kate Heffernan produced a barnstorming debut for the Adelaide Thunderbirds - including three intercepts and 14 goal assists - and Gina Crampton returned to action with the New South Wales Swifts after having a baby.
“Kate definitely had a blinder. She looks pretty sharp down at the Thunderbirds. It was really awesome to see Gina out there the other day, her first game back since having a baby. So it’s pretty special to see our Kiwi mates doing so well.”
Jackson said the main difference between the New Zealand and Australian netball scenes is the sheer number of players.
“The depth is huge, and we’ve got the luxury of having multiple training partners at training, and there are hundreds of thousands of players just in this state.
“I also look at the resources and facilities available to the girls over here, and the staff here are on full-time contracts, which is just something you don’t see over in New Zealand.
“But reflecting on it, it actually makes me pretty proud of what we do achieve in New Zealand with the resources we’re given, because it’s a fraction of what we get over here.
“The budget in New Zealand is a fraction of what they get given over here as well. So I just think, man, we do so well to compete on the international stage against these girls who are given such incredible resources for eight months of the year.”
The Firebirds tackle state rivals the Sunshine Coast Lightning to open round two on Saturday night. Jackson said improving from their loss to the Vixens is about nailing the basics and managing pressure.
“As a team, we had our opportunities where we just didn’t capitalise where we could have really put the pressure on them. But I think that’s a positive we’ve got to take out of it, that we did have the opportunities to take that game. But now focusing on converting that ball we get and converting our centre passes.”
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.