Why the Silver Ferns' play at goal attack could determine their Commonwealth Games success

Saturday, 18 July 2026

Silver Ferns goal attack Georgia Heffernan puts up an attempt against South Africa in Auckland last year.

ANALYSIS: It’s the one position in their starting seven where the Silver Ferns are the most vulnerable.

Dame Noeline Taurua’s first-choice side for the Commonwealth Games, which starts next Saturday against hosts Scotland, largely picks itself.

Inevitably, there will be plenty of rotation in the latter half of pool play as Taurua balances players’ workloads and mixes combinations with five games in seven days.

Goal attack looms as the position that could make or break the Ferns in Glasgow as they chase their first Commonwealth Games gold since 2010 in Delhi.

The unavailability of former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who has likely played her final test for the Ferns, leaves a gaping hole next to superstar goal shoot Grace Nweke.

Georgia Heffernan looms as New Zealand’s top goal attack option for the Commonwealth Games.

Ekenasio had a monopoly on the goal attack bib for most of her Ferns career, but did not take the court internationally last year either.

Taurua opted against picking 66-test veteran Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who played for the Queensland Firebirds in Australia’s Super Netball this season, in her travelling squad. Selby-Rickit, who surprisingly made herself available for selection, was instead named as a non-travelling reserve.

Georgia Heffernan is the incumbent Ferns goal attack, but her grip on the starting job is not locked in.

Amelia Walmsley and Martina Salmon, both more comfortable at goal shoot, will see court time at goal attack in the group stage. Perform strongly when they get a chance and they could potentially usurp Heffernan.

Amelia Walmsley should see plenty of court time at goal attack in the pool stage in Glasgow.

Heffernan should get first crack alongside Nweke in the shooting end with the Ferns needing to roll out their best combinations from the start.

While they will be far too strong for world No 10, Scotland, in their opener, all eyes will be on their second pool match against Ferns’ tormentors, Jamaica.

The showdown with Jamaica on July 27 is a pivotal one and will almost certainly decide who tops group B.

Lose to the Sunshine Girls and the Ferns could be set for a semifinal clash with Australia, who will be favoured to top group A – especially with England missing outstanding goal attack Helen Housby, ruled out of the Games with a back injury suff–ered in April.

Salmon started the first two Constellation Cups tests against Australia across the ditch last October, but from then on Heffernan was the preferred option.

Martina Salmon will be eager to impress in the group stage in Glasgow to win back the Silver Ferns’ starting goal attack bib.

The Southern Steel player replaced Salmon to begin the second quarter in test two in Sydney and played the remaining 45 minutes.

When the series returned to New Zealand for the final two matches, Heffernan started in both – games the Ferns won.

Heffernan’s stock only grew on the Northern tour in November, starting all three tests against England.

She delivered the finest outing of her 13-test career in the series decider against England in Manchester, playing the full 60 minutes and and converted 12 of 15 attempts in the 55-49 win.

With Nweke putting up the majority of the Ferns’ shot attempts in the big games, New Zealand need a goal attack, who is more of a distributor. When Nweke is under pressure and double-teamed, it is vital whoever plays goal attack is not afraid to turn and shoot.

Heffernan fits the bill for both. She is a capable long range shooter, landing nine two-point Super Shots in this year’s ANZ Premiership, tied for third most in the competition.

Taurua would have been impressed with her overall shooting volume, also having a fine outing in the elimination final win over the Tactix, where she shot 22 from 24 and added eight goal assists.

Heffernan is clearly the Ferns’ best option at goal attack, but how she fares against brilliant Jamaican defenders Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson, then whoever New Zealand face in the semifinals, could determine just how far they go.

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

Schedule (NZ time): All at OVO Hydro, Glasgow

July 25: 8pm: v Scotland

July 27: 8am: v Jamaica

July 29: 6am v Uganda

July 30: 6am: v Wales

July 31: 1am: v Trinidad and Tobago