Why the Silver Ferns selectors got it right with brave Carys Stythe Commonwealth Games selection

Thursday, 18 June 2026

ANALYSIS: Carys Stythe’s selection in the Silver Ferns Commonwealth Games squad exemplified the brave, bold netball Dame Noeline Taurua wants from her side.

New Zealand’s 12-player squad for the Glasgow event, which begins on July 25 against hosts Scotland, was unveiled on Wednesday and largely picked itself.

Despite being mostly predictable, there was still intrigue with Taurua talking about a Ferns squad for the first time in 18 months after a drama-laden 2025 for the sport in New Zealand.

Taurua was stood down for 51 days last year after issues in the Ferns’ high performance environment and never coached the side in the Taini Jamison Trophy, Constellation Cup, or November’s Northern tour. She was eventually restored to the job in late October, but did not travel with the side to England or Scotland to end the year.

When Taurua coaches the Ferns in their opening match of the Games it will mark a whopping 634 days since she last guided them in the final match of the 2024 Constellation Cup.

“This has been a milestone actually for us to name this team, getting back on the ground,” Taurua said on Wednesday.

“It’s like riding a bike, I must admit. I can’t wait, man. That first training is going to be a boomer. Really excited to be able to work with this level of athlete.”

The two toughest decisions would have been for the final shooter and defender berths.

Head coach Taurua and fellow selectors Adrianne Hayes, Leigh Gibbs, Jo Morrison, and Gael Nagaiya ultimately went for upside and youth over proven veterans.

Southern Steel goal keep Stythe, who debuted against Scotland in November, has been one of the form defenders in the ANZ Premiership and deserved her place in the 12.

It would have been a close call between Stythe, the vastly experienced Phoenix Karaka, and Parris Mason, but the Ferns selectors made the right call.

Stythe has outplayed Karaka and Mason this season and has the height (1.92m) and ball-getting qualities the Ferns will need in a crunch finals match.

Captain Karin Burger and Kelly Jackson will be the Ferns’ first-choice defensive pairing, but with seven games in nine days, teams will need to rotate players in the pool stage.

Martina Salmon was the most contentious selection, edging the 66-test Te Paea Selby-Rickit for the last shooting spot.

Selby-Rickit, who played for the Queensland Firebirds in Super Netball, has been unavailable in recent years. She made herself available for selection and was named as a non-travelling reserve. Selby-Rickit could still be an option for the Constellation Cup or next year’s Netball World Cup.

Salmon did not have a great ANZ Premiership for the Stars, but showed her ability debuting for the Ferns last year.

Former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and 52-test shooter Maia Wilson were unavailable for selection.

The Ferns head to Glasgow knowing if all breaks their way they can capture their first Commonwealth Games gold since 2010 in Delhi, but they face a difficult task.

Australia start as deserved gold medal favourites with England and the Ferns’ recent tormentors, Jamaica, also capable of upending them in the title match on their day.

Even though Taurua was not court-side, the Ferns would have taken plenty of confidence from how they finished last year’s Constellation Cup and beating England 2-1 away from home. The Ferns won the final two matches back in New Zealand against Australia, but were denied the Constellation Cup in ‘series decider time’.

Burger, Jackson, Grace Nweke, Kate Heffernan, and Maddy Gordon are all world-class netballers and give the Ferns a chance in any big match they go into.

Goal attack is probably the team’s weakest area. Georgia Heffernan looms as the first-choice option and had her best outing in the black dress in the series-clinching win over England in Manchester.

Amelia Walmsley and Salmon will mix in at times, but all three will need to stand up alongside established goal shoot Nweke if the Ferns are to deliver in the high pressure moments late in the tournament.

Silver Ferns Commonwealth Games squad

Shooters: Grace Nweke, Georgia Heffernan, Amelia Walmsley, Martina Salmon

Midcourters: Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Kimiora Poi*

Defenders: Karin Burger (capt), Kelly Jackson, Catherine Hall*, Carys Stythe

*Subject to medical clearance

Travelling reserve: Parris Mason

Non-travelling reserves: Kate Burley, Aliyah Dunn, Tayla Earle, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Peta Toeava