Silver Ferns debut for Salmon on the cards

Silver Ferns goal attack Martina Salmon shoots during a Taini Jamison Trophy match against South Africa at ILT Stadium Southland last September. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Injury niggles could help determine who gets named in the Silver Ferns squad for the Commonwealth Games this morning. Netball writer Kayla Hodge takes a punt at who might be named for Glasgow.

Shooters

Grace Nweke is the first name on any team sheet these days. But there has to be a stable base around her, as the Silver Ferns found out the hard way when she was injured during the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Amelia Walmsley has been a proven back-up for Nweke in recent years and is a shoo-in, and Georgia Heffernan developed strongly last year and has been in form for the Southern Steel all season.

Assuming former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is still unavailable, Martina Salmon is likely to get the nod for her first pinnacle event.

Salmon can switch between both positions, offers a threat from long range, and is another who stepped up amid a messy 2025.

Stalwart Maia Wilson, if available, is an experienced reserve.

Midcourters

Maddy Gordon and Kate Heffernan — and then who?

Heffernan has been outstanding for the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Gordon has also been strong and forced a headache last year when she was the best for the Silver Ferns in two positions.

Mila Reuelu-Buchanan has been dealing with a ‘‘grumpy meniscus’’ and missed the latter rounds of the ANZ Premiership, while Kimiora Poi has been ruled out for the Steel with a calf complaint.

Both would have been selected and still are probably the ones that will be named today.

They were in great form before injury woes. There will be questions around whether it is a safe gamble on two injured players, considering the tournament features back-to-back games.

Peta Toeava has been back on the radar in recent years, but lacks big game experience and possibly has too much flair for the pressure moments of a Commonwealth Games.

Claire O’Brien, who debuted for the Silver Ferns in 2024, is a careful and crafty midcourter, who has always been a steady set of hands.

Depth in the attacking end of the midcourt could be a worry.

Defenders

How do you fit six into four? Someone worthy of a seat on the plane is going to miss out.

Veteran goal keep Kelly Jackson and captain Karin Burger are locked in. They bring big game experience and have been sublime for their Queensland teams.

Phoenix Karaka missed last year through the birth of her second child, but has returned in stellar form.

She adds so much and will have three Netball World Cups and one Commonwealth Games under her belt at Glasgow, and that type of experience is vital at pinnacle events. She will help guide the crew around her.

That leaves Parris Mason, Carys Stythe and Catherine Hall to battle for the final spot.

Mason is possibly the most experienced and could get the nod. She offers physicality and has played against several international countries.

But if selectors are going off form then Steel defender Carys Stythe should get the final spot. She leads the ANZ Premiership for deflections and has been strong all season.

Hall is nursing a foot injury and had surgery last month, so selectors will be sweating her return. Hall made a big impact off the bench for the Silver Ferns last year — and is one that would have been a certainty before injury — and could be named and later replaced under the Games guidelines.

If Burger is seen as more of a wing defence, that could free up another circle spot.

kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz