Netball New Zealand is not expecting a raft of departures despite the supposedly big money on offer in Australia.
Netball Australia announced details of its agreement with the players’ association earlier this week, trumpeting the deal as "a giant step" towards full professionalism.
Under the new collective the players will be much better remunerated than their neighbours across the Tasman have been in the past.
However, Netball New Zealand’s head of high performance Steve Lancaster is confident the national body will be able to offer a competitive deal.
Lancaster was reluctant to comment specifically about the Australian agreement because there was "so much detail" he was not privy too.
"Hopefully it is a good deal because we want to see both leagues progress and prosper," he said.
"So a good deal on the other side of the Tasman is a great thing and, once we have concluded our negotiations, I’m sure we’ll be able to announce a really good deal for our players here, as well."
Lancaster was unable to elaborate as he is bound by the protocols surrounding the collective bargaining process.
"But in principle we absolutely want to do everything we can to make netball as attractive as possible," he said.
"We all have the same objective ... and that is to make netball a viable career for the players. The Australians have said this does not get them full-time professional status yet, but that is what they are aiming for and we are no different here."
At first glance, the Australian deal appears compelling.
Each of the eight clubs will have up to $A675,000 to divide between its 10 contracted players.
If the money was distributed evenly, then each athlete would receive a salary of $67,500.
The money on offer in this year’s ANZ Championship was significantly less.
The salary cap was set at $NZ380,000, meaning an equal share between the 12 contracted players amounted to just $31,666.
Broken down, the Australian agreement, is not quite as lucrative as it sounds, however.
Each club will have $500,000 to spend on player retainer payments.
There is an allowance of $150,000 to spend on bona fide employment.
Potentially, that could go to just one or two players.
And the remaining payments are made up of health insurance and technology allowances.
Former Steel coach Noeline Taurua, who will lead Sunshine Coast Lightning in the new Australian league next year, told The New Zealand Herald players in the New Zealand league would be better off financially than their Australian peers.
"There’s a perception there is more money in Australia, but that is not the case," she said.
"They have a hard salary cap over there, whereas [in New Zealand] it is a soft cap and there is more scope to earn more money.
"There’s only a certain pool of money to go around in Australia and the payments seem to be a lot more structured."
Lancaster does believe the Australian agreement will result in droves of New Zealanders heading across the ditch.
"Our squads are all contracted for next year and we are absolutely thrilled by the commitment our leading players have made. We are in great shape and it is a really good space to be in heading into the season."
