The Silver Ferns game-day captain grabbed the microphone, looked down the barrel of the camera after their win on Sunday night and declared Noeline Taurua deserved to be back as coach of the national team.
Taurua was sensationally stood down as head coach ahead of the South African series — which the Silver Ferns won in a clean sweep with a one-goal win in Invercargill — after unresolved issues among the squad.
Nweke, whose vocal support was met with a loud response from the Southland crowd, reiterated her views during a press conference shortly after the final whistle, saying she felt it was important to recognise Taurua’s influence on the group.
"I think it goes without saying that Noels has built the programme for a number of years and the success of these players is because of the work she’s put into our group and invested in us for a very long time," Nweke said.
"She’s been working hard this entire year to prepare us for the international season, so our success is her success."
Asked how important it was for Taurua to be reinstated as head coach, Nweke was clear.
"My personal views are it’s very important.
"I feel that she knows what’s needed for this group moving forward and she has the capacity to do so.
"I say that with the utmost respect to La [Liana Leota] and Yvette [McCausland-Durie], who have been so important in guiding this group forward in this unprecedented situation, but as an individual, I feel that she’s the best person to take us forward."
Nweke, 23, is the first current Silver Fern to make her opinion on the coaching situation public, while others have said it had been a frustrating and emotional time.
Players now go home before heading into camp on October 6 for the Constellation Cup series — starting in Melbourne on October 17 — against Australia.
Interim coach McCausland-Durie said she had not heard whether Taurua would return for the series.
"We haven’t had any direct information at this stage," McCausland-Durie said.
"For Liana and myself, it was to get through to the end of this series. But in terms of the coaching, it’s still sitting out there with some negotiation and processes still in place."
Twelve months ago, Nweke was unsure when she would pull on the black dress again due to playing for the NSW Swifts. She was later granted an exemption after Netball New Zealand changed its criteria.
Captaining New Zealand on Sunday after her future was up in the air had been "incredibly humbling" for the Auckland-born daughter of Nigerian immigrants.
"Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be a Silver Ferns captain.
"I’ve never been a club captain before, so this is really new to me. I’m still learning to find my voice and be confident to take charge and be the loudest in the room."
She paid tribute to the leadership group of Kelly Jackson, Kate Heffernan and Karin Burger, whom she leaned on throughout the series.
Sealing a last-gasp 57-56 win over the Proteas in the final test set them up for the Australian series.
"I’ve been joking with the girls that I celebrated that win like we won the World Cup," Nweke said.
"That pressure we were under in those final moments — you only learn to play through that by being there in the moment.
"To be able to take the win is something that we can be very proud of."
