Silver Fern Grace Nweke Signs Three-year Deal With Sydney Sirens in the UK

Fresh from helping the Silver Ferns claim gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Nweke joins the Sirens after two standout seasons with crosstown rivals the NSW Swifts. She is now the ninth New Zealand player confirmed for the 2027 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition — seven of whom are current Silver Ferns. New Zealand's leading netballers are heading offshore in unprecedented numbers as the future of the country's elite domestic competition remains uncertain.

Five top players have also inked deals in the UK, including some of New Zealand's brightest young talent. Her decision to join the Sirens represents a major coup for the SSN club, formerly known as the Giants, who have new owners at the helm. The Sirens describe Nweke as one of the biggest names in world netball, who has quickly become one of Super Netball's marquee players.

Nweke said the opportunity to help shape the future of the Sydney Sirens was a major factor in her decision. "The ambition of the organisation was really exciting, and I wanted to be part of that journey. Being able to help shape a club's identity and culture in its early years is a unique opportunity.

I'm in it for the long haul and feel so excited to be involved in this new chapter as part of the inaugural Sirens squad. I've fallen in love with Sydney over the past two seasons, and I'm excited to continue to build a life in this amazing city with a club that has such a bold vision for the future. Sydney Sirens head coach Nerida Stewart said securing Nweke's signature was a defining moment for the club.

"Grace is one of the premier athletes in world netball... she's a proven match-winner, a world-class competitor and someone capable of changing a game in an instant. She's become one of the most influential players in the competition and someone opposition teams must plan for every single week. Nweke's decision to play in the SSN league helped pave the way for other Silver Ferns stars to explore opportunities in Australia.

Nweke, who was the highest goal-scorer at the recent Commonwealth Games, essentially forced Netball NZ to revisit its strict selection policy when she joined the Swifts in 2025. At the Swifts, Nweke played under highly respected coach Briony Akle, who was the Silver Ferns' assistant coach at the Glasgow Games. But after a nine-year tenure as head coach, Akle was not retained for the 2027 season. Nweke will partner with Australian Diamonds' shooter Sophie Dwyer in the Sydney Sirens' inaugural roster.