Aussie netball legends in war of words over stars’ awards ceremony boycott amid pay battle after Gina Rinehart pulled $15million sponsorship

Netball Australia has been plunged into further crisis, with two of the sport’s greats locked in a war of words over the players’ protests at last Saturday’s awards ceremony in Melbourne.

Hall of Fame legend Jill McIntosh described the Diamonds’ industrial move as “shameful,” which was in stark contrast to former coach Joyce Brown, who called NA’s actions “an incredible disgrace.”

It comes after many Super Netball players skipped the event due to an ongoing pay dispute and national team players only attended after a threat of legal action from the governing body.

‘I thought it was a disappointment for everyone involved. It was not the forum for the players to air their grievances. It’s an embarrassment to netball,” said McIntosh, a great player and coach from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Code sports.

“I thought everyone should have put their differences aside.”

Colleague Joyce Brown disagreed with Jill McIntosh and instead branded Netball Australia a ‘disgrace’ for threatening legal action against the Diamonds

Liz Ellis, another Australian netball great, earlier this week expressed her disappointment that Diamonds players were forced to attend the ceremony under threat of legal action.

Brown disagreed, pointing out that the players make the sport.

‘I’m amazed. How do you take legal action against the players? she said.

‘I think about the CEO’s performance [Kelly Ryan] and the chairman and her board must be evaluated…tHi [Netball Australia] have broken the entire fabric of the sport.”

The sport is in disarray after mining magnate Gina Rinehart withdrew her $15 million sponsorship from the Diamonds last October.

The team raised concerns at the time about comments made about First Nations people by Ms Rinehart’s late father Lang Hancock in the 1980s.

Indigenous player Donnell Wallam reportedly felt uncomfortable wearing the uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo.

Meanwhile, another Australian netball great, Liz Ellis, earlier this week expressed her disappointment that Diamonds players were forced to attend the ceremony for the award named in her honour.

“My disappointment and embarrassment at not being able to attend turned to anger when I was informed that current Diamonds players and their advisors were being threatened with possible legal action if they did not attend the dinner,” Ellis said Monday .

The sport has been in disarray since mining magnate Gina Rinehart withdrew her $15 million sponsorship from the Diamonds last October.

Donnell Wallam (pictured right) reportedly felt uncomfortable wearing the uniform with the Hancock Prospecting logo after comments made by Rinehart’s father in the 1980s

Netball Australia has reportedly threatened legal action against stars if they boycott the awards last Saturday – with members of the national Diamonds team contractually obliged to attend

Courtney Bruce (pictured) was the big winner of the evening, taking home the Liz Ellis Diamond Award for the second time and also being named International Player of the Year

“As a former Diamonds captain, I cannot believe that the governing body of the sport I love would treat its Diamonds athletes, who are brilliant role models and ambassadors for netball, with such callous disregard.”

Ellis also questioned the leadership at Netball Australia.

“So once again, netball is in the news for the wrong reasons: another crisis caused entirely by the sport itself,” she said.

‘These women [Super netball players] have not been paid for eight weeks. They fight for fair pay and conditions, not only for themselves, but also for the players who come after them.

“Questions need to be asked… and we need an immediate answer.”