Netball Unlocked Podcast

Gains, goals and glorious sunshine: An SSN catch-up with Elmeré van der Berg

In a podcast first, we welcome back our first Big Interview guest, Adelaide Thunderbird Elmeré van der Berg, for a catch-up chat! Since departing the Netball Super League, the South African star has joined the ranks of the Southern Australian franchise and has taken Suncorp Super Netball by storm. From training against Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, to Norma Plummer’s choice emojis, the 24-year-old lifts the lid on life Down Under and the form she has managed to find in a club she loves.  Enjoy.

Who's in your England squad? Top 4 locked in and super star guests

As Nottingham Forest lock in the final place in the top four, Chloe and Paul review the latest round of Netball Super League action. Ahead of a big Roses 26-27 programme announcement, there's an international flavour to things as we pick a Roses squad for the Commonwealth Games - and hear from our two most recent Unlocked extended interview guests, Niamh McCall and Jayda Pechova. In the NSL, Forest's win over Lighting throws the race for the top three places into chaos with just a couple of rounds remaining. We debate a brilliant display from Forest and ask how damaging might defeat for Lightning be as Thunder roll on with a big win over Rhinos. Pulse complete a double over a Mavericks team for whom injury bites again, and Dragons thump Panthers to keep on winning - but ultimately fall short in their top four chase. We round things off by previewing Round 13, the penultimate round of the regular season, as Forest host Thunder, Lightning welcome Rhinos and Pulse prepare for the visit of Dragons in games that could have huge placing implications.

Niamh McCall Unlocked: The Big Interview

For the latest in our line of big interviews (recorded just before the start of Round 12!) Chloe is joined by Scottish Thistle and LexisNexis Risk Solutions Dragons’ Niamh McCall. Coined the ‘signing of the season’ for the impact she has had on the Wales-based franchise, McCall lifts the lid on her netball journey to now. From shooting basketball hoops to making her international debut at 16 years old, netball has played a pivotal role in McCall’s early years, but it has also challenged her as she’s risen through its ranks. McCall opens up on the reality of uprooting her life in Scotland after the Strathclyde Sirens folded at the advent of Netball Super League 2.0, and waiting for her chance to shine with the super shot.  She reflects on Scotland’s growing trajectory following the arrival of Kath Tetley and where their ambitions sit ahead of a home Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The conversation also pivots to the people who are supporting McCall: from her mum and brother to her Welsh teammates, who have embraced despite their great netball rivalry. Enjoy.

Jayda Pechová Unlocked: The Big Interview

We’re back with our Big Interview series, and we are delighted to be joined in an extended conversation by Jayda Pechová. In the midst of a second stunning season at Nottingham Forest, the defender opens up on the journey that has shaped her into the athlete she is today. From tough early beginnings, forged in the unforgiving world of artistic gymnastics, to a rapid rise through the London Pulse pathway, Pechová shares the highs, the lows and the ‘best foot forward’ mentality that has helped her through. We ask her about the fall of Team Bath and her initial omission from the Netball World Youth Cup squad, as well as the special relationships she has with teammates Tash Pavelin and Rolene Streutker. With evolving circumstances potentially demanding the 21-year-old Pechová to step up for her country, we discuss her future ambitions and where she hopes netball will take her one day. Enjoy.

Big wins, bonus points and no margin for error!

Chloe and Paul take us through a monumental weekend in the Netball Super League, with just one place in the playoffs now up for grabs. We round up the news, ask whether the bonus point really makes a difference, and consider the implications of Helen Housby's ongoing back injury. Manchester Thunder became the third team to secure a top four position. Chloe breaks down how they were able to get the better of London Pulse in defence and attack for a big win. Forest tightened their grip on fourth place for now, with a win over Mavericks that leaves no margin for error for Tamsin Greenway and her squad. It is now Dragons who are closest to Forest, a narrow win against an improving Leeds Rhinos enough to move the Welsh side up into fifth spot. And Lightning returned to winning ways with a comfortable win over Panthers, but are injury worries mounting for the league leaders? We turn our attention to Round 12, with a full-on preview of a busy derby weekend that starts with Thunder looking to keep their momentum going with a trip to Rhinos. Forest face a huge final three games against the league's current top three, and it starts away to Loughborough Lightning - where even a losing bonus point might be enough. Dragons need to keep winning, and they chase a third successive win when they travel to Coventry to face Panthers on Saturday. And the round finishes up at the iconic OVO Arena at Wembley, where Pulse and Mavericks meet in a must-win London derby.