Inside the Fight for Player Pay, Contracts & Maternity Rights | Liz Bloor (NPA)

Inside the Fight for Player Pay, Contracts & Maternity Rights | Liz Bloor (NPA)

Formed in secret, told she didn't have the right to do it, now representing 75 of the NSL's 80 players… meet the woman running netball's equivalent of a union. This week on Here If You Need - The Netball Pod, Emily and Nia sit down with Liz Bloor, founder of the Netball Players Association, for a rare look behind the curtain of pay, contracts and player welfare in the NSL. Liz Bloor joins us to talk about: * How the NPA was actually founded - in secret, in a basement hotel room in Loughborough * England Netball's response when they found out ("you don't really have the right to do this") * Growing from a spreadsheet and 59.2% sign-up to 75 of 80 NSL players * Why compulsory medical insurance for NSL players didn't exist until the NPA pushed for it * Injury pay: how a 5-week cap became the rest of your contract * Why players are still "not the best" at reading their own contracts * The signing window problem - and why she thinks it's built backwards in favour of clubs * How NSL rest and recovery compares to Australia and New Zealand * Do you actually need an agent? Liz's honest take * The maternity policy gap netball still hasn't fixed * The mental health support most players don't know they have access to * Image rights, sponsorship money, and who actually benefits Plus: * NPA's paddle tournament fundraiser at the Commonwealth Games * Her surprisingly serious golf handicap * The one NSL club she's naming and praising on air 🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube📲 Follow us on socials for clips, chants and more #Netball #NSL #NetballSuperLeague #EnglandRoses #LizBloor #NPA

Squad Drama & Signing Chaos

Emily and Nia are back to break down the latest Commonwealth Games squad announcements, with Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand all under the microscope. Nia gives her honest take on Wales’ squad selection, the key omissions of Millie Carter and Celyn Emanuel and why the appeals process matters so much for athletes. She also opens up about her own experience of missing out on a Wales World Cup squad, what she learned from it, and how it shaped the rest of her career. There’s also plenty of chat on Scotland’s chances, Northern Ireland’s returning stars, Australia’s “safe but scary” squad, New Zealand’s selection shake-up, Trinidad and Tobago’s confusing double-squad situation, and the early NSL signing window chaos including Berri Neil to Nottingham Forest and the rumours already sending Netball Twitter into meltdown. Smart analysis, mild chaos, and Nia teasing yet another Wales Netball story she’s not quite ready to tell.

Thunder Are Champions + Roses Squad REVEALED

Manchester Thunder are champions, the England Roses squad has been announced, and we sit down with Anna Stembridge and Amy Carter following one of the biggest weeks of the netball season. Emily and Nia break down Thunder’s Grand Final victory over London Pulse, discussing Karen Greig’s game-changing substitutions, Cerys Finn’s impact from the bench, Sophie Fawns’ Player of the Match performance and whether Pulse simply lacked the depth to get over the line. We also review the Co-op Live event, the broadcast, the atmosphere, the trophy presentation and the talking points from Grand Final day. Then, following the Commonwealth Games squad announcement, England head coach Anna Stembridge explains her selection decisions, tactical philosophy and what fans can expect from this Roses team, before Amy Carter reflects on becoming England vice-captain just days after lifting the NSL trophy with Manchester Thunder. Plus: South Africa’s stacked squad, the NSL Team of the Season explained, and Emily finally beats Nia in the Grand Final Predictor.

Claire Nelson Answers The Big NSL Questions + Grand Final preview!

Big questions. Straight answers. This week on Here If You Need - The Netball Pod, Emily and Nia sit down with NSL Managing Director Claire Nelson to talk about everything fans have been asking this season. From broadcast issues and league growth to the bigger picture of where netball is heading, this is a proper look behind the scenes of the Netball Super League. We get into: * The reality behind NSL broadcast issues - and what’s actually being done about it * The Liv Tchine situation and why mistakes like that can’t happen again * What NSL 2.0 really means for the league, players and fans * How sponsorship, money and investment are shaping the future of the sport * Arena games, attendance and what “growth” actually looks like * Whether the league has the right level of jeopardy and competition * What success looks like for the NSL right now No noise. Just answers. Plus we discuss London Pulse's epic win over Loughborough Lightning and preview the Grand Final!

Brilliant Netball, Basic Broadcast Errors & Thunder Into The Final

Liv Tchine deserved better. Loughborough made a statement. Thunder are into the Grand Final. Episode 17 has plenty to unpack. This week on Here If You Need - The Netball Pod, Emily and Nia react to a huge NSL semi-final weekend, from the serious off-court conversations to the big on-court performances. We discuss: - The NSL apology after Liv Tchine was misidentified in a 100-cap post, why it was so hurtful, and why “sorry” cannot be where this ends - More broadcast issues across semi-final weekend, including dark pictures, missed restarts, sound problems and a rogue pre-recorded interview moment - Loughborough Lightning beating Nottingham Forest 77-57, and why the scoreline does not tell the full story - Whether Forest emotionally peaked by making top four, and why that does not take away from a brilliant first season - Loughborough’s knockout experience, shooting accuracy and Jo Trip’s brilliant job shutting down Suncorp star Shamera Sterling-Humphrey’s impact - Manchester Thunder beating London Pulse to reach the Grand Final - Why Thunder look like they are peaking at exactly the right time - Liv Tchine growing into the game after a difficult week - Alicia Scholes returning and changing the feel of Pulse’s attack - Sam Bird’s emotional post-match reaction, and whether it helps or worries Pulse going into the prelim - What Pulse need to fix with their live turnover to goal rate Then we’re joined by Manchester Thunder team manager Phil Thomas, also known as Jeeves, to talk about life behind the scenes at one of the league’s most successful franchises. Phil tells us: - What a team manager actually does - Why team managers are absolute gold dust - Washing dresses, sorting sweets and chasing match-day logistics - The Thunder players who always pick up the bags - The time Karen Greig had to buy a microwave before a game - Why players come back to Manchester Thunder - How Thunder have grown from a poor Super Cup to a Grand Final - What NSL 2.0 has changed behind the scenes - Men’s, mixed and para netball at Thunder - Why arena games matter, but why double headers might be the smarter route Plus: - Nia is officially the Louis Theroux of netball - Emily gives a pregnancy and Mini Eggs update - We discover Jade Clarke is very good at Fantasy Netball, because of course she is - Nia explains why players do “top ups” after matches - Prelim final predictions: Loughborough by seven or Pulse by two? Big semi-final energy. Big behind-the-scenes insight. And yes, netball still has some standards to sort out.