It's been a while since the Silver Ferns last played arch-rivals, Australia's Diamonds, and this year's star defender, Kelly Jury, has some unfinished business in the Constellation Cup, she tells Merryn Anderson.
Kelly Jury knows what it’s like to have a home crowd roar when she picks up an intercept, but this time she wants to silence a crowd.
The 1.92m Silver Ferns defender is likely to play a crucial role in defending the Constellation Cup starting next week. With two tests at home then two away, in Melbourne and the Gold Coast, Jury's looking forward to playing in front of a loyal Aussie home crowd.
The 25-year-old has had a few stints in and out of the team since her debut in 2017, dealing with injuries and fitness. But the MVP in this year's ANZ Premiership final, Jury has become a key figure in the Ferns' defensive end of late.
Despite her recent dominance in the goal keep bib, she’s only ever played in one Constellation Cup series - back in 2017, when New Zealand lost 4-0 under then coach Janine Southby.
“I just remember every game [against Australia] feels like three test matches combined when you walk off the court,” says Jury, who's earned 39 international caps in the five years since her debut.
“It’s so physical and you’re always having to go 110 percent just to compete.”
The last time Jury played in Australia was during the Ferns' forgettable 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games campaign. “I’m going back for redemption,” she laughs.
“It’ll be good to quieten an Aussie crowd, that’s always fun. I haven’t done that before so I’m really looking forward to that prospect.”
The Silver Ferns and the Diamonds last met in the Constellation Cup in March 2021, when they won three out of four matches to turn the tide and win the silverware for the first time in nine years.
Then for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, the Ferns didn’t face their trans-Tasman rivals this year in Birmingham. Instead, New Zealand were felled by Jamaica and England before defeating the Roses in the bronze medal match. (Jamaica went on to lose the gold medal match to Australia).
“Going home with that Comm Games bronze really gave us that confidence in our back pocket to keep grinding and keep growing,” says Jury, who played a full game at goal keep in the bronze playoff.
“I think where we are now compared to where we were leaving the Comm Games, we’ve improved immensely. That just reflects the work ethic the girls are willing to put in and the belief we have in ourselves as a group.”
The Silver Ferns were due to have a three-test series against Jamaica last month, but visa issues and travel troubles saw it reduced to two matches against a Sunshine Girls team missing most of their stars.
The games were won comfortably by the Ferns, by 25 and 40 goals - not quite the challenge they were hoping for after losing to Jamaica by 16 goals in the Commonwealth Games semifinal.
“Obviously it didn’t play out as planned but I guess we can take a lot from that,” says Jury.
“It was very character-building. Every day we’d wake up and there’d be something new going on, but we just had to keep adjusting and adapting, carry on and get on with the job. We just wanted to get out there and play, which thankfully we were able to do in the end.”
Jury stepped up into a leadership role this season, co-captaining the Central Pulse with Tiana Metuarau and leading them to ANZ Premiership victory.
“It’s had to make me grow in different areas, put me in uncomfortable situations because that was my first time leading a team. So I learnt a lot off-court and on-court,” she says.
Jury describes herself as a leader through action, as opposed to voice, with vocal players like Sulu Fitzpatrick often the loudest in the Silver Ferns defensive end.
Now Jury is aware more people are looking towards her to lead them. “So I also know I need to keep putting my voice out there because it needs to be heard,” she says.
Former Pulse player Elle Temu recently made her Silver Ferns debut, becoming Fern #183 and playing in the defensive circle with Jury against Jamaica.
“We love playing with each other," Jury says. "We always hoped we’d meet up again so it’s pretty special to share that debut with her.
“We’re close friends off the court so it just made it an extra special night. And she played out of her skin.”
Asked if she has a favourite defensive pairing, Jury is positive about the fact no one partnership stands out to her.
“I think the beauty of our defensive end at the moment is that there’s so many combinations, everyone can play with everyone which is awesome,” she says.
“We all complement each other and bring different strengths, and we can keep changing and adapting those combinations throughout the game if we need to.”
Jury could play in a few different combinations during the Constellation Cup, with coach Dame Noeline Taurua again thinking outside the square and naming two different teams for the series. Jury and Phoenix Karaka will be constants in the Silver Ferns defence for all four tests, but Fitzpatrick will join the team for the New Zealand games, and be replaced by Temu for the Australian leg.
The last time the Ferns played the Diamonds was the Quad Series in January, where Australia won by 14 goals, but Jury says the Ferns aren’t worried about the threat the world number one team poses.
“We’re very prepared for what they bring, that hard man-on physicality defence,” she says.
“But I think a big focus in this group is that we know our structures, we know our jobs and if we nail those, then we can compete against whoever we come up against.”
With just over nine months until the Netball World Cup (and the impending return of star defenders Jane Watson and Karin Burger), the four tests against the Diamonds might be the last chance for the Ferns to play back-to-back matches before the pinnacle event.
“It’s hugely important. It’s an opportunity to grow our 'dominance' - which has been a big word we’ve tried to implement in our environment,” Jury explains.
“We know we are the underdogs and Aussie have the target on their backs with the recent gold medal, And they are world number one, and you always want to take on the best in the world. We believe we’ve got a good enough team and good enough capabilities to challenge that.”
The second test in Tauranga on Sunday, October 16, has already sold out, while there are still tickets available for the first test at Auckland's Spark Arena next Wednesday.
“It’s going to be so exciting to play in front of a sell-out crowd," says Jury. "I think in the last year or so, we’ve had a lot of away games where we haven’t had many people cheering for us.
“So it's extra special because we just want to play for our fans and put out a product they can be proud of.”
*The Constellation Cup begins on Wednesday, with the Silver Ferns taking on the Australian Diamonds at Auckland’s Spark Arena at 7pm. Coverage starts on Sky Sport 1 at 5pm as the New Zealand men take on Australia’s men’s team. The second test in Tauranga is live on Sky Sport 1 on October 16, at 7pm, before moving over the Tasman for the last two games.
