Jhaniele Fowler says international player cap should remain open
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While acknowledging that playing in Australia has assisted in her development as a player to arguably become the best goal shooter in the world, Jamaica's ace Jhaniele Fowler says international players have given the Super Netball competition more flavour and flair.
Fowler, who represents the West Coast Fever shared her views in the midst of a debate about whether Super Netball should have a cap on international players, who currently make up 17.5 per cent of all players in the tournament.
Fowler, a five-time league MVP, believes the competition should remain open.
“International players do come in and make the competition rounded and exciting. We do bring a little bit of different flavour, a bit of flair, but just more talents and more skill set,” Fowler said in a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.
Though the Australia Football League (AFL), the Australia Football League Women’s (AFLW) and the A-Leagues don’t have any official caps on international players –with the caveat that salary caps can limit star imports –the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) limits imports to two per team, while the National Basketball League (NBL) is capped at three.
In a global context, the Women’s Super League soccer competition in England has a “home grown players” clause where in a squad of 25 players registered in their squad cap, there must be at least 15 registered home-grown players. A home-grown player is someone who, irrespective of their nationality, has been registered with a club affiliated to the Football Association for three seasons – or 36 months – before their 21st birthday.
In the UK-based Netball Superleague, teams are permitted up to two overseas players, but a team cannot have more than one overseas player in the attacking, midcourt or defensive positions on the court at once.
But, where Super Netball is concerned, Fowler is one of seven Jamaican players in the Australian league, including Thunderbirds defensive duo Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson and Collingwood’s Shimona Nelson.
For Fowler, moving to Australia has made her a more complete player, as she pointed to improvements to her craft under elite coaches and, by extension, playing against the best in the world each week. But in the same breath, she is of the view that it is also a two-way street, as the Jamaican players have made the game more exciting.
“They’re amazing, they’re so athletic,” said Fowler.
“Just week in, week out, when you see the Jamaican players go out there, the commentators, everyone, has to talk about them because they have made such an impact in this league in their teams,” she added.
Former Diamonds head coach, and a current coaching mentor, Lisa Alexander, didn’t think there should be a cap on international players, but her stance was different while she was Australia’s coach.
“As a national coach with a different purpose, I thought differently in the past and did call for restrictions to be two imports per team. If we eventually become the best in the world like the NBA [is to basketball], then we must have a draft and salary cap,” she said.
Alexander explained that, without a cap, the Super Netball competition would continue to provide a world-class competition for Australian athletes to compete in, week in, week out.
Netball legend and Hall of Famer Jill McIntosh praised the strength of the league but pushed for a cap on the number of international players allowed in the competition.
McIntosh, who captained Australia to their 1983 World Cup win, said that while imports have been good for the league, she is worried that without a limit, potential Diamonds players could be benched.
“We’re not in the Olympics, so our World Cup is our pinnacle,” McIntosh said. “I want to see the sport survive and thrive.”
Meanwhile, veteran netballer Ash Brazill said she would like to see more teams added to the competition to give more opportunities to local players, given the spots taken up by international players.
“I can’t wait to see extra teams added to our league because in the end there are only 80 spots, and we have 25 internationals. It’s pretty hard as Australians to get one of those 55 spots that are left. I think we definitely need some more teams for the Australian pool,” said Brazill.
However, Fowler reiterated international players also improve world netball by affording more opportunities for players in countries that don’t have avenues to develop or play.
“I reckon it should just stay open because, if you look, there are still teams in the league that do not really have an international player on their team yet. I reckon I can safely say that, and if anything, some teams just maybe have one international player,” Fowler argued.
She continued: “But I reckon, yeah, bring the international players in, also give them the experience because other countries don’t have the competition back home to develop players.
“So, it would be good for netball on a whole because then you will see that the competition is not just Australia, New Zealand, England or Jamaica in top four – other countries are putting out and delivering as well. And then netball is just going to be even more exciting. You just don’t want to see the same countries winning all the time.”
That international rivalry will be put on show at the upcoming World Cup in Cape Town in next month, but first Fowler has a Super Netball semi-final to win.
Despite West Coast having an inconsistent season with “ups and downs”, the 36-year-old Fowler said they are proud to have finished in third spot, meaning they take on Melbourne Vixens in a knockout grand final rematch in which the Fever will have home-court advantage.
“Definitely, it will be pretty good coming up against the Vixens. They’re going to be a really tough team to beat, but we know that we have what it takes to win,” Fowler declared.
“The green army, they’re really loud, and they also always help to get us over the line, so we’re going to make sure to capitalize on having the home court,” she ended.
A ray of sunshine: Caribbean players light up Round six of Suncorp Super Netball League
The Suncorp Super Netball league has no shortage of international superstars, but the clash between the West Coast Fever and Adelaide Thunderbirds well and truly showcased the Jamaican excellence the competition hosts.
With six Jamaican Sunshine Girls split evenly between the two teams, the battle was fierce and full of flair, as it eventually ended 57-56 in favour of the Fever.
Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard is no easybeat, and with the likes of Shanice Beckford serving her the ball on a silver platter, the Fever had no issue with scoring.
However, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson would not let it all go the Fever’s way, picking off deflections left, right and centre.
At the other end, Romelda Aiken-George and Kadie-Ann Dehaney went head-to-head in another enormous battle, which well and truly highlighted the impressive agility and elevation of the Jamaican superstars.
All close friends off the court, the six players united after the match for a brilliant Jamaican team moment, sharing a dance for the remaining crowd.
Shimona Jok (left) was one of many high-performing Jamaicans this week.
Elsewhere, Jamaican Shimona Jok won the player of the match award for her impressive 50-goal game in the Maverick’s 69-62 win against the Firebirds, while another Jamaican Jodi-Ann Ward worked in overdrive in the Sydney derby. However, her GIANTS team went down 52-76 to New South Wales Swift, led by Trinidad and Tobago’s Samantha Wallace-Joseph.
After another week of intense battles, it comes as no surprise that Fowler-Nembhard remains atop the Nissan Net Points leaderboard with 690.5 points to her name, with Sterling-Humphrey (539.5 points) fourth on that list.
With 355 goals to her name from 363 attempts, Fowler-Nembhard has scored over 100 goals more than Donnell Wallam (253 goals from 297 attempts), who sits second on both the goals and attempts leaderboard, while Aiken-George (214 goals from 245 attempts) occupies fourth on the attempts chart and fifth on the goals side.
Trinidad and Tobago's Samantha Wallace-Joseph (right) did some damage for NSW Swifts.
On the flip side, Aiken-George (30) leads the offensive rebound stats, with Fowler-Nembhard (16) in fifth. Fever’s Fran Williams (13) head the defensive rebound standing.
Sterling-Humphrey leads the pack for deflections with 43, while Wilson (32 deflections) is in fourth position, but both Jamaicans are locked on 20 apiece in first and second on the intercept leaderboard.
Beckford (124) sit fourth for centre pass receives, as Liz Watson (155) heads that chart, along with the goal assists chart where she has 154.
Meanwhile, Helen Housby continues to reign supreme on the Suncorp Super Shot with 39 to her name for the season from 55 attempts, ahead of Sophie Dwyer (31 from 48).
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey honoured with Suncorp Super Netball fan-voted MVP award
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, the formidable goal keeper for the Adelaide Thunderbirds, has been celebrated as the Round 6 fan-voted MVP in the Suncorp Super Netball League. This recognition follows a stellar performance of eight deflections, two interceptions and two gains, in her team's narrow 56-57 loss to the West Coast Fever over the weekend. Sterling-Humphrey showcased her defensive prowess with eight deflections, two intercepts, and two gains in a closely contested match.
The accolade comes on the heels of a poignant revelation by Sterling-Humphrey about her challenging journey in the Suncorp Super Netball League. In a recent interview with Fox Netball's Off the Court, the 28-year-old Jamaican star disclosed her initial struggles with homesickness upon moving to Australia in 2019.
"When I just moved here, I struggled a lot. Leaving Jamaica, coming into this environment, the hard training – I wanted to go back home," Sterling-Humphrey candidly shared. "I remember texting my friend back home like 'I can’t do this. This is too hard for me'. I remember crying that I wanted to go home. But I said to myself, this is something I always wanted as a netball player … You just have to embrace it."
Despite these early challenges, Sterling-Humphrey has emerged as one of the league's standout players, leading the Adelaide Thunderbirds to their inaugural Super Netball crown in 2023 and continuing to excel in subsequent seasons.
Reflecting on her journey, which began amidst personal hardship in Jamaica, Sterling-Humphrey expressed how netball became her lifeline during difficult times. "Netball was my only escape to make it better for me and my family," she revealed. "It was that or nothing, and you know you’re going to choose that because you want better for your family."
Her dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed, with Sterling-Humphrey becoming a role model both on and off the court. As she remains committed to her career, she credits her father, her "biggest fan," for his unwavering support and encouragement throughout her journey.
Fowler-Nembhard, Dehaney, Beckford outshine compatriots as Fever edges Thunderbirds by one goal
In a mouthwatering clash where speed, flair, defensive and shooting abilities were put to the test, Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, Shanice Beckford, and Kadie-Ann Dehaney toppled compatriots Romelda-Aiken-George, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, and Latanya Wilson as West Coast Fever extended their unbeaten run with an epic 57-56 win over Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Saturday’s clash at the RAC Arena, was always expected to be a spicy affair, and it didn’t disappoint as the mettle of West Coast Fever was tested against their Adelaide Thunderbirds counterparts, in what was their most formidable challenge this season.
The Fever overcame a sluggish start, as their tenacious defensive pressure and remarkable athleticism ensured they stayed in the game, and they maintained composure when it mattered most to make it six from six at the top of the table.
Dehaney delivered a standout performance for the Fever, as she amassed an impressive total of 68.5 Nissan Net Points. Her dominance was particularly evident in the first and third quarters, where she showcased exceptional skill and contributed significantly with 10 deflections and two crucial intercepts.
“We were below standard, especially at the start with our work-rate. We decided at half time that this is the line; when we get back out there, we need to apply the pressure and lift the standard of work-rate,” Dehaney said in a post-match interview, after she shared a dance with her compatriots.
At the other end of the court, Fever’s ace shooter Fowler-Nembhard stood tall with 51 goals from 51 attempts, including an uncharacteristic two-point Super Shot effort. Beckford got the other six goals from 10 attempts, as she was charged with tackling the Super Shot line, but never really found rhythm
A focused Jhaniel Fowler-Nembhard.
The Thunderbirds were again led by Aiken-George, who scored 34 goals from 40 attempts, while Lauren Frew had 11 goals from 12 attempts. Lucy Austin briefly found range from the Super Shot line and ended with eight goals from six attempts, with Georgie Horjus getting the team’s other three goals from four attempts.
Thunderbirds brought the pressure, as they burst out of the gates and dominated the court and the scoreboard early. Sterling-Humphrey and Matilda Garrett showcased incredible athleticism in defence, their aerial skills on full display, while Wilson proved vital in intercepting when Fever were in transition.
Horjus was also lively early on, as she racked up 20 Nissan Net Points, five goal assists, eight center pass receives, and seven feeds, consistently taking on Sunday Aryang, and also provided a reliable option through the middle.
Meanwhile, for the Fever, Dehaney racked up impressive stats early against Aiken-George, with her five deflections and two intercepts.
The Thunderbirds relentless effort, limited Fever’s attacking options, but the momentum gradually shifted when Beckford dropped the league leader’s first Super Shot. Fowler-Nembhard later secured a penalty goal right on the buzzer, to put Fever up 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.
Fever maintained the ascendancy in the second quarter, as they capitalised on their opportunities in front of goal and asserted their authority over the Thunderbirds, who struggled to maintain possession.
However, after a series of positional changes, the momentum again shifted back to the Thunderbirds, as Wilson tallied three deflections and an intercept as the ball swiftly moved from end to end. From there, Thunderbirds eked out a slim two-point lead at 28-26 at the half-time interval.
Shamera Sterling-Humphrey was again prominent for the Thunderbirds.
As the Thunderbirds pressed on in the third quarter, Fever found themselves in uncharted territory, with the unfamiliar feeling of being in a losing position for the first time this season.
Wilson's physicality on the ball proved pivotal for the Thunderbirds, as they chipped away and ramped up their defensive pressure. But in a pivotal moment for the Fever, Jordan Cransberg’s intercept at the centre pass, swiftly led to a conversion by Fowler-Nembhard, followed by a Fever centre pass.
Aiken-George then squandered a straightforward opportunity right under the post, which gifted possession to the Fever.
Fever pressed on from there, and Beckford landed her second Super Shot out of six attempts, bringing the team within two points, before Fowler-Nembhard scored consecutive efforts, the second of which was on the buzzer. Though Fever won the quarter 16-14, the teams entered the final quarter locked at 42 goals apiece.
Sensing danger, Fever, through an outstanding performance from Fowler-Nembhard quickly extended their lead to five within the opening five minutes of the decisive quarter, and though Thunderbirds battled tooth and nail to get back into it, the reigning champions came up just short at the end.
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