In a very special Big Interview episode of the Netball Unlocked podcast, Chloe is joined by the one and only Sharni Layton, Australian netball legend, two-time world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist.
In a wide-ranging chat, Chloe and Sharni go right into the deep end, discussing the Super Netball grand final and Sharni’s role in helping the Vixens secure an unlikely title.
They then get into the weeds of Sharni’s budding coaching career, including how she has fallen in love with her role at England Netball, where she’ll be over the international window.
The conversation also touches on Sharni’s neurodivergence, the importance of empowering players and looks to the future of netball, with a call to arms for current players to start building stronger communities for themselves and the sport.
Enjoy!
Chloe Merrell is rejoined by a returning Paul Prenderville to deliver the latest news from around the netball world and there is a lot to get through as the final announcements of the Netball Super League squads are dissected.
Paul delivers his verdict on some of the notable movers and shakers from the signing window and what it might mean for the 2026 NSL season, while Chloe offers her thoughts on the big picture for domestic netball.
After that it's onto the Netball World Youth Cup, and a tournament that delivered plenty on the court, but what about off it? Chloe and Paul get stuck into the issues that meant the impact was not as big as it could have been.
And with a busy international window now underway, the Unlocked crew deliver their thoughts on NZ v RSA and the drama surrounding Silver Ferns coach Nolene Taurua.
Next up in our line of longer interviews, we welcome Leeds Rhinos’ blockbuster signing Sanmarie Visser to the chair.
In an engaging conversation, Sanmarie reflects on her transformative year in netball, from her turbulent debut with the SPAR Proteas to her stunning move to SSN and now to Leeds Rhinos for the Netball Super League 2025/25 season.
She shares her journey of overcoming adversity, the sisterhood she uncovered at the Thunderbirds, and what she believes makes Latanya Wilson so special.
Away from club netball, Sanmarie also shares her unique origin story, starting in Upington, and why she decided to pursue netball over a promising athletics career.
We turn to the Proteas and their upcoming test series against the world’s best and discuss Sanmarie’s own personal goals before she heads to the UK to team up with Rhinos.
If you enjoy this episode, please do comment, like and follow the podcast. We appreciate all the ongoing support!
In the latest instalment of our Big Interview series, Chloe is joined by Manchester Thunder’s star recruit Sophie Fawns to discuss her blockbuster move from Suncorp Super Netball to the Netball Super League.
At 21 years old, Sophie stands apart with four years of Super Netball after diligently rising up the New South Wales netball pathways from her home in Wagga Wagga.
The wide-ranging conversation touches on a series of different topics, from Sophie’s decision to leave the Swifts to her upbringing in Wagga Wagga, and to her dream of one day becoming an Australian Diamond.
Sophie also shares details about her life away from the court, including her ambition to raise awareness around the importance of female health after losing her mother to ovarian cancer in 2021, before she could see her become a fully fledged Swift.
If you enjoy this episode, please do like, subscribe and share the podcast.
After a short summer break, The Netball Unlocked podcast is back in action, and there’s more than enough to discuss with the Netball Super League signing window in full swing.
With Paul away, Chloe is joined by friend of the podcast Kerry Almond to assess the lay of the land in what has been a busy offseason.
Going team by team, Chloe and Kerry reflect on the most up-to-date announcements, analyse what they say about the club’s intentions, and imagine what might still be on the way with signings still coming in.
Spoiler alert: there’s some exclusive intel from Kerry!
And with that all done, they then look ahead to what promises to be an exciting international window with top teams (women, mixed and men’s) in action across both hemispheres.
It certainly feels good to be back!
In the latest instalment of our Unlocked Big Interview series, Chloe sits down with London Mavericks and England goal keeper Razia Quashie to discuss the highs and lows of life in netball.
The hour-long conversation touches on a range of topics, from Raz’s recent injury to life at London Mavericks, to the loss of her father, to her continued struggle with online abuse and how it nearly caused her to walk away from the sport altogether.
Raz tells the story of rebuilding her love for the game through coaching school children and how she is determined to bring home a title to Mavericks, come what may.
The second part of our Netball Super League season 2025 wrap-up is here!
Paul, Chloe, and Clare Jones look back on the season that was, starting first by assessing the All Star VII and how that stacks up against our own Netball Unlocked season VII.
We then take on the role of Franchise Director and go team-by-team, assessing what personnel changes we might make ahead of 2026.
Finally, we think big picture and answer some listener questions before teasing our next Big Unlocked interview with Razia Quashie.
It's the first of a two-part double to end the Netball Super League season as Paul and Chloe are joined by their very first guest Clare Jones.
As well as dropping huge news of her own, Clare is on hand to help the guys break down the Grand Final as London Pulse beat Loughborough Lightning to claim a first ever NSL title.
Big occasion nerves, stellar shooting and basics done well are all part of the conversation as the key talking points decide where the game was won and lost.
We'll hear from the winning team as Sam Bird opens up on Pulse loyalty and Funmi Fadoju describes what makes Pulse winners.
Plus Vic Burgess and Shadine van der Merwe give us the view from a defeated Lightning camp.
Come back for Part Two later in the week, when the Unlocked Team of the Season is decided, we hand out our awards and debate what might come next during the signing window.
Paul and Chloe prepare for the final netball match of the domestic season, the 2025 Netball Super League Grand Final with a preview fitting the occasion.
England icon Serena Kersten is on hand to offer her take on London Pulse vs Loughborough Lightning at The O2 and why the time is right for Pulse but Lightning have a formidable weapon in their favour.
We also get Serena's thoughts on netball's new era, her own possible return to the England setup and why a head coach role is not for her.
As well as breaking down the Preliminary Final victory for Lightning over Manchester Thunder, Paul and Chloe take a closer look at where the season's showpiece will be won and lost.
Vic Burgess looks ahead to the final and Karen Greig offers her thoughts on a tumultuous season for Thunder. And we check in with the first team through to the Grand Final, as Halimat Adio takes us inside the Pulse journey they hope will end with a first ever NSL title.
With two games left to go, Paul and Chloe dive into two very different Netball Super League Semi-Finals and look ahead to this week’s Preliminary Final.
London Pulse’s epic victory over Loughborough Lightning is on the menu as Chloe gets her Clip Art tools out to break down how the game was won.
Paul was at the Copper Box, so we hear from Zara Everitt, Olivia Tchine, and Nat Panagarry after one of the games of the season.
Meanwhile, Chloe was in Manchester for a big Thunder win as they ended London Mavericks' season with an emphatic victory to reach the Preliminary Final.
Suzie Liverseidge gives us a Mavs perspective with Nicola Smith, and Elmeré van der Berg takes us inside the celebrations, and they reveal all on their paddling pool...
Paul and Chloe then look ahead to Thunder v Lightning and the right to face Pulse at The O2, and on top of all that, break down the news, including huge details on changes to the Netball World Cup.
It’s Netball Super League semi-final week and of course here at Netball Unlocked we’ve gone super sized. Clear your schedules and prepare to go inside all four camps with Grand Final dreams at stake
We talk to the defending champions Loughborough Lightning and captain Nat Panagarry, the regular season table toppers London Pulse and Sophie Kelly, plus there is Izzi Phillips on London Mavericks potential to cause some chaos, and Nicola Smith on Manchester Thunder getting full strength at the perfect time.
Paul and Chloe dive into the talking points from the final round of Netball Super League action, marvel at Nottingham Forest’s Rolene Streutker’s debut season and break down where the minor and major semi-finals could be won and lost.
Plus both make their prediction for a huge semifinal night.
With Paul out of action this week, Chloe is joined by podcast favourite Ella Powell-Davies to look back over a consequential Round 13, in which Nottingham Forest were eliminated from the top four race, giving us our teams for the semi-finals.
We look back at the round and consider where games were won and lost, and reflect more broadly on how injuries have shaped the season so far and how they could still play a part in what’s to come.
Meaty analysis to one side, we then take a quick break from the Netball Super League and pivot to England with Paul leading an exclusive one-on-one interview with head coach Jess Thirlby. With the dust now settled over selections, Jess shares more about the process, including what exactly the role of “Futures” is in the overall program.
Ella then opens up on the differences between England's and Wales' selection processes, sharing special insight into the gruelling fitness tests the players must endure to show they’re ready for the international stage.
Back to the NSL, we then preview Round 14, after which we will learn who our regular season winner is and consider what it’s like to have a “dress rehearsal” of the 3v4 match-up with Thunder v Mavericks due to meet at Wembley ahead of their semi-final date.
In the latest of our series of extended interviews we speak to one of the stars of the Netball Super League season so far - Nottingham Forest and South Africa shooting superstar Rolene Streutker.
Chloe and Paul chat with Rolene about her arrival in the NSL and Chelsea Pitman's vision for Forest that was in keeping with her own ambition.
Rolene tells the story of remodelling her shooting action after a crisis under the post that is barely believable given the way she has taken to the Super Shot.
There's also plenty to discuss on career goals, inspirations and a South Africa international team with big plans for medals as the sport goes from strength-to-strength in the country.
In the latest episode of Netball Unlocked, there's a bumper news round up as Paul and Chloe reflect on the career of netball icon Geva Mentor after she announced her retirement.
There's plenty from the Birmingham Panthers to dissect as Jo Trip will leave Panthers at the end of the season and Sigi Burger's injury prompts a raid of Loughborough - what does that say about the NXT Gen pathway and how might it evolve.
We hear from one of the stars of the season so far in Leeds Rhinos Cassie Howard who chats with us after defeat the Copper Box.
We'll reflect on big wins for Nottingham Forest, London Mavericks, London Pulse and Manchester Thunder as the race for the top four places is now down to two teams chasing one spot
With that in mind we look ahead to Round 13, as Nottingham Forest face Birmingham Panthers, Loughborough Lightning host London Mavericks, London Pulse travel to face Manchester Thunderand Leeds Rhinos meet Cardiff Dragons.
Paul and Chloe hand out the latest Netball Unlocked debut to London Mavericks Assistant Coach Mikki Austin, who opens up on the heartbreaking decision that saw NSL stalwarts Surrey Storm dropped from the new era of netball in the UK.
We discuss Mikki’s new role as Director of Netball at Epsom College and the fuel-firing Mavs to end an eight-year absence from the Super League playoffs.
Mikki and Paul look back at Round 11 and a huge win for the Mavericks over Forest and how that came together.
We also reflect on wins for London Pulse and Loughborough Lightning over Cardiff Dragons, which secured their places in the top four, and Manchester Thunder’s win over Leeds Rhinos, featuring the return of Paige Reed.
That rounds off our review before we look ahead to Round 12 and the reality that two more teams could complete the top four with two rounds to spare.
Finally, Chloe arrives back from holiday to finish up the podcast with Paul and review the latest England Roses squad, which has been announced for 2025-26.
Twitter/X: @NetballUnlocked
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George Inger (nee Fisher) joins Paul and Chloe for the latest instalment of the Netball Super League season as a huge weekend of NSL action comes under the microscope.As well as a tour of Fisher family home, we get a chance to discuss a whole host of topics with George who reflects on just how far she has come since an horrendous knee injury.With an incredible sense of perspective George looks back on how her move to New Zealand has changed her whole life - on and off the court, with the incredible support of family and friends across the globe.Now indulging in a spot of commentary as well as coaching and playing NXT Gen, George is perfectly placed to cast her eye over the Round 10 action alongside Paul and Chloe.Loughborough Lighting's win over London Pulse, and the questions it poses are among the main talking points, while Manchester Thunder see off Birmingham Panthers and London Mavericks and Nottingham Forest are on a collision course after wins over Leeds Rhinos and Cardiff Dragons.We also look ahead to Round 11 and that huge Mavs v Forest showdown and there's reflections on Paul and Chloe's interview with NSL Managing Director Claire Nelson, and a shout out for an incredible England Netball U14s Nationals Clubs competition.
In the latest episode of Netball Unlocked’s series of extended interviews, Paul and Chloe are joined by the Netball Super League Managing Director, Claire Nelson.
As the league unveils a host of statistics revealing the growth at the start of 2.0, Claire reflects on the season so far - how things have gone and how things will continue to improve.
With so much to cover, we look back at the tender process, the introduction of the super shot and the myriad of issues the league has faced through nine rounds of action.
Claire also looks ahead to an offseason of putting learnings into practice, as the league's journey to professionalisation prepares to learn from its first season of action.
Twitter/X: @NetballUnlocked
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Paul and Chloe are flying solo this week with some chunky netball super league action to get stuck into as we reach the business end of the season.
They kick off with a look back at the Jace Bode interview and what it says about the global game, plus there’s reaction to the Leeds Rhinos' response to the NSL’s decision on that Super Shot controversy.
It’s onto the action as Paul and Chloe look into the keys to Cardiff Dragons' first win of the season and what that says about Birmingham Panthers.
London Pulse return to top spot with a Wembley win over London Mavericks, but it’s Mavs who have questions to answer.
Manchester Thunder motor past Nottingham Forest with ‘the most impressive display of the season’, so that victory gets the clip art treatment from Chloe.
And Loughborough Lighting’s win over Leeds Rhinos completes a trio of wins that have set the top three apart.
Before we finish, Paul and Chloe rank the Round 10 games by importance, including a battle for top spot and win-or-go-home time for those chasing the top four.
Twitter/X: @Netball Unlocked
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Adelaide Thunderbirds’ General Manager of High Performance, Jace Bode, joins Chloe and Paul as they go Down Under for the latest episode of their ‘Unlocked’ extended interview series.
Jace begins by opening up on how the Thunderbirds navigated the news of Shamera Sterling-Humphrey’s pregnancy and the integration of South Africa’s Sanmarie Visser, detailing the sensitivities involved and why the timeline unfolded as it did.
From limited funds to contracting quirks, we hear what it’s like to work day-to-day as a General Manager of High Performance, including working alongside renowned coaches Tania Obst and Cathy Fellows. What keeps Jace up at night? How does he rest, if at all?
Turning to the future, we discuss bigger picture ideas, including what netball should be doing to keep pace with the rest of the sporting landscape in Australia and worldwide.
Enjoy!
Twitter/X: @Netball Unlocked
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Chloe returns from her curling travels in Canada in time to join Paul and former Stars and Wales player, Ella Powell-Davies, and dissect one of the most dramatic weekends of netball in Super League memory.
We discuss the Panthers v Rhinos game and the controversies surrounding the result before turning to the news of the early retirement of Gabby Marshall following her consecutive concussions.
We hear from Ella about her netball origin story, why she decided not to be part of the initial relaunch of NSL 2.0 and life as an expectant mother.
Ella also helps us run the rule over the weekend's games and previews the upcoming action with an exciting slate of games sure to whet any fan's appetite.
Twitter/X: @Netball Unlocked
Instagram: @NetballUnlockedPodcast
