Netball Unlocked Podcast

Netball Unlocked

The 2026 Netball Superleague is here, and Chloe Merrell is alongside talkSPORT’s Paul Prenderville and a host of netball guests to bring you news, exclusive interviews, opinion and PLENTY of debate.

With big thoughts, big ideas and big contacts Chloe and Paul debate, argue and question where the league and the teams stand with players, coaches, experts and guests from across the netball landscape.

There’s no shortage of talking points as the sport prepares to go professional, so like, subscribe and follow us on the journey to netball unlocked #NSL #NetballSuperleague #Netball

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89 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes89

Newest first

Monday · 53 min
Commonwealth Games 2026: New Zealand Takes Gold; David Parsons Interview
Chloe and Lucy lead our final Glasgow-based episode to look back on two big medal games. From New Zealand's triumphant 56-48 victory over history-makers Jamaica to Australia's 68-50 routing of England, we consider the moments where the games were won and lost and what the results mean for each team going forward. In an Unlocked special, Chloe was able to interview England Netball Performance Director David Parsons straight after the bronze medal to further contextualise England's second fourth-place finish at a Commonwealth Games. Then, finally, Lucy and Chloe get a bit emotional reflecting on the Games and have some big thank-yous to share, including to you, the listeners!
Saturday · 51 min
Commonwealth Games 2026: Semi-finals Wrapped - Did We See The Greatest Game Ever?
Fresh out of an electric Hydro, Lucy and Chloe join Paul to review a sensational day of storylines at the Commonwealth Games. A day that has us asking: was this the biggest result in netball history? The best game in netball history, or both! At the end of it all, we have a first for netball: a New Zealand against Jamaica final. We’ll break down how we got there, with a performance for the ages from the Sunshine Girls enough to see off the Diamonds and hold off their late rally. For only the second time in their history, Jamaica will go for gold, and they’ll do so against the Silver Ferns, who flexed their muscles to beat England in the first semifinal. We’ll start the debate about what this means for the Roses, but just as important, talk about just how big this is for Dame Noeline Taurua and the global game. A tournament that started by being debated as the most open in the sport’s history now has a final that we’ve never seen before. The tactics, the fallout, the passion and the drama - all debated, and the reaction is on our unlocked socials. As it has been every step of the way. One more day to go, and we’ll be back to review it as well.
Friday · 1 hr 22 min
Commonwealth Games Day 6 - Pool Stage Done, It's Semi-Final Talk with Mikki Austin
It's semi-final time at the Commonwealth Games, so we've wheeled out some big guns to break down the drama at the end of the pool stages - and to look ahead to what we can expect over finals weekend. And we ask the question everyone wants an answer to - just how do you stop the Australian Diamonds? We're at Unlocked Towers in Glasgow as Chloe and Lucy depart the media room after England's victory over South Africa. They do so having caught up with Jenny van Dyk and Anna Stembridge for their immediate thoughts after the game. We get into the talking points about a Roses performance we've been waiting for and bring in Mikki Austin to talk tactics. What have we seen from the Roses so far; how do they tackle New Zealand, and what makes the Diamonds so special? Jamaica's Rob Wright - who was expecting an England win - spoke to us ahead of that final game of the day; he explained to us why that was the case and how the Sunshine Girls are preparing for Australia. And remember, stick with us on our socials for daily reaction from Glasgow, and the race for gold enters the final stage.
Thursday · 1 hr 10 min
Commonwealth Games Day 5 - Two Belters, One Big Question
The Commonwealth quadbox is back as ABC and The Netty Life’s Brittany Carter joins us for a massive Wednesday in Glasgow! The midnight hour in the UK and the early hours are no barrier as we break two huge games with Australia asked some serious questions for the first time. But did South Africa miss a gilt edged chance? England continued their return to winning ways with a record breaking Commonwealth Games total and New Zealand eased past Wales but injuries hit the squad hard. Fran Williams gives us the view from inside the England camp, and TNT Sports analyst, Comm Games legend and Goal Keeping icon Geva Mentor takes time out to review the tournament so far. We also get stuck into Scotland’s defeat to Jamaica that almost gave us the upset of the tournament and while the signs for Scotland are good - Jamaica are heading for the semifinals with more questions than answers. Finally we preview a Thrilling Thursday with all 12 teams in action on the same day for the last time, plus a little bit of SSN contract gossip from Britt! All that plus a reminder that our socials are the place to be for our instant reaction from the mixed zone and Chloe and Lucy continue a relentless week in Scotland.
July 29 · 1 hr 14 min
Commonwealth Games Day 3 & 4: Ferns and Diamonds shine, England plough on and stat chat begins
Paul, Chloe and Lucy are back for a late-night review of the last two days of action at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. After a Monday off pod duties, we rattle through the latest learnings and ask whether England might have found their mojo in a win over Malawi. Uganda run both Jamaica and New Zealand close, while Scotland and Tonga have enjoyed history-making tournaments. As the competition enters its business end, we look ahead to the latest clash between two superpowers with Australia and South Africa putting their 100% records on the line on Wednesday night. We’ll also preview Jamaica against Scotland and ask how close the Thistles might be to pulling off a shock. All that plus a statistical deep dive into the tournament so far as Chloe dives into some of the numbers. Follow us across our socials for reaction from all the teams and all the games as the push for medals and placings reaches its conclusion.
July 27 · 1 hr 6 min
Commonwealth Games Day 2 with Georgia Rajic: Questions for England, SA Shine & Sparkling Scotland
A monumental day 2 in Glasgow comes under the microscope as Chloe and Lucy bunker down in media rooms to discuss a day that delivered plenty of potentially consequential action. SEN Super Netball commentator Georgia Rajic joins Chloe and Lucy to give Australia’s dominant victory over England the full treatment. How good are the Diamonds? Where do the Roses go now, with no margin for error in Pool A? A thrilling Jamaica vs New Zealand contest has Chloe wanting another hour of it, while Scotland vs Wales says everything about a Thistles team that are going places. We also debate South Africa’s tactical diversity as they make it two wins from two and flex the full extent of their squad. Wins for Malawi and Uganda round off the day, and for the She Cranes it means they lead the way early in Pool B. Monday brings the first rest day, but not for us as we’ll be on the ground in Glasgow for all the latest. So stay across our social channels for instant reaction throughout the tournament, and they’ll be a review in your feeds every day throughout the tournament.
July 25 · 50 min
Commonwealth Games Day 1: Diamonds Dazzle & More First Impressions
It’s Day 1 in Glasgow and Paul and Chloe have Lucy Goodman for company for the duration of the Commonwealth Games. The first day of competition brought wins for all the big hitters, but what did we learn from wins for England, NZ and the defending champions Australia? A near-flawless display from the Diamonds is scrutinised, while both New Zealand and Scotland will take plenty from their game that kicked off the tournament. We dive into a win for the Roses that brought all 12 players on court, but did it pose more questions than answers ahead of their Super Sunday showdown with Australia? Game of the Day goes to Wales against Uganda, but it’s a sign of the Feathers ambitious that they’ll be disappointed to have suffered defeat against the world-ranked 6th She Cranes. We’ll take a quick look ahead to Sunday's action too, as well as England v Australia, games between Wales and Scotland, and New Zealand and Jamaica could shape the rest of the group stage. A reminder to follow us on our socials for updates through the day. Stacy Marinkovich, Noeline Taurua, Eleanor Cardwell and Uneeq Palavi are just a few of the names who spoke to us in Glasgow.
July 25 · 28 min
Latanya Wilson Unlocked: Commonwealth Games special
In a Commonwealth Games audio-only bonus treat, Chloe sits down with Jamaican superstar Latanya Wilson in person for an extended conversation. The talk begins with reflecting on Latanya’s electric season with the Adelaide Thunderbirds before pivoting to how it all started. A recommendation from fellow Jamaican Stacian Facey opened the door to netball overseas, and Latanya never looked back. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing in the beginning, with a crunch end-of-season conversation proving to be a critical turning point. Latanya opens up about her upbringing, its challenges and why it drives her every day to be the best that she can be both on and off the court. And with Jamaica in action in Glasgow, Latanya re-lives some of their recent highs and lows, and why they should not be underestimated. Enjoy
July 24 · 1 hr 4 min
Kath Tetley Unlocked: The Big Interview
In our final Big Interview special ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Chloe is joined by Scotland Head Coach and Director of Performance, Kath Tetley. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kath begins by charting her coaching origin story. Having always had one foot in the netball operations space, Tetley found herself brushing up with some of the greats of the game, not knowing, years later, she would be tapping them for coaching advice. After manifesting the Thistles role in 2024, Tetley saw the job opening - and with some encouragement - upped sticks from Australia to Scotland to get stuck in. Tetley shares some unique insights into her coaching style, as well as some of the terminology that has caught her out. She also reveals some of Scotland’s ambitions and where they hope to finish at Glasgow 2026.
July 23 · 23 min
Nat Metcalf OUT, Ella Clark IN & Anna Stembridge reacts
It’s a high-alert podcast special following the news that Nat Metcalf is out of England’s Commonwealth Games squad after sustaining a calf injury in training. Head Coach Anna Stembridge joins us to discuss Metcalf’s departure, the decision to select Ella Clark as her replacement, and where that now leaves England. Chloe is then joined by Lucy to give immediate reaction and thoughts before they head up to Glasgow to enter the fray. Enjoy.
July 22 · 55 min
Cerys Finn Unlocked: The Big Interview
As the Commonwealth Games draw ever nearer, Chloe is joined by Scottish Thistle Cerys Finn for an extended conversation.The main protagonist in one of the Netball Super League's most remarkable stories to date, Chloe and Cerys begin by re-outlining the defender's netballing odyssey, which, by the close of the season, saw her play in 71 games.Cerys shares the impact of that, mentally and physically, as well as what she learned from the coaches and environments along the way. With Scotland a team on the rise, we learn more about Coach Kath Tetley and her unique way of bringing the best out of her Thistles. And finally, Chloe asks Cerys about the person she is outside the game, including what her Master's thesis is on and some of her bigger ambitions now that she has officially signed to AO Manchester Thunder.
July 21 · 1 hr 39 min
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Preview with Karen Greig
The Commonwealth Games are here, and Chloe and Paul have whipped out the lesser-spotted quad box to help preview this mighty netball event. Joining us is five-time Netball Super League-winning coach Karen Greig and Sky Sports commentator Lucy Goodman, who will be part of our cast for Glasgow 2026. Before we get into the battle for gold, silver and bronze, we take the chance to grill Karen on a new-look Thunder as three players join the champions' roster for 2027 after a busy start to the Netball Super League signing window. Karen talks us through the battle to keep players in the NSL, and how to evolve a squad, develop players and continue to challenge for championships. After that, it's onto the Games themselves, and we start by looking at a tumultuous time for England as Sharni Norder becomes the latest high-profile departure from the coaching set-up. We break down Anna Stembridge’s options and how she navigates them through a brutal schedule - whether she sticks with the same starting seven or shakes it up, and whether the Roses risk missing a medal for the first time or can genuinely push for gold. We get Karen and Lucy's thoughts on Australia and New Zealand, debate whether South Africa is ready to challenge for a medal and ask if Jamaica can repeat the silver they won at the Netball World Cup despite their shooting circle concerns. The battle between Wales and Scotland promises to be one for the ages, while Malawi and Uganda will once again look to underline netball's growth on the African continent. Plenty to debate and enjoy in what looks like a competition to remember. A reminder: you'll be able to catch us daily through the tournament, so notifications on, subscribe to all our feeds and get ready for a netball summer to remember.
July 20 · 42 min
Kadie-Ann Dehaney Unlocked: The Big Interview
In our latest Unlocked Big Interview special, Chloe meets Jamaican defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney for a wide-ranging conversation. Landing in SSN in 2017 at the age of 20 for the league’s inaugural season, the veteran star has become an enduring presence - but life Down Under hasn’t always been easy for Dehaney. She discusses her surprise arrival, the challenges, and how she went from never unpacking her bags on the Sunshine Coast to being the happiest she’s ever been on the West Coast. The conversation then turns to Dehaney’s Jamaican teammates and this year’s Commonwealth Games, where they are hoping to improve on their silver medal from Glasgow 2026. From commenting on selection announcements to “netball nerd” Rob Wright, Dehaney reflects on what it means to get to represent her country as part of a golden generation. Enjoy. Apologies for the technical glitch towards the end of the episode, where Kadie’s video stops working.
July 18 · 1 hr
Tania Obst Unlocked: The Big Interview
In a true Unlocked Big Interview special, Chloe is joined by the Adelaide Thunderbirds' head coach Tania Obst for a unique extended conversation. Fresh from winning a record-breaking third Premiership title with her team, Tania looks back on a remarkable season and how it came to pass. Is this the best team ever assembled? It's a question that has been asked and debated, so Chloe puts it to Tania, as well as how she recruits and retains some of the world's top players. There is chat of culture, the defence genius of Cathy Fellows, and which other sports Tania draws influence from. With Commonwealth Games around the corner, Tania shares her memory of helping England win gold on the Gold Coast, and considers what she is looking forward to at Glasgow 2026. Does she ever get any bother for her role in sharpening some of the world's strongest international players? You'll have to listen to find out!
July 16 · 24 min
Catching Up with Jess Thirlby
Continuing our countdown to the Netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games, Paul catches up with former England Roses head coach Jess Thirlby, who will be covering the tournament for TNT Sports. Speaking to us for the first time since the difficult decision to step away from her role with the England team just a few months ahead of the Games, Jess speaks about her passion for coaching and why she will never be walking away from the sport. We also get into why adversity can be a strength for this England team, what they’ll be missing in Sharni Layton and why a toughest ever group stage can be a good thing for the Roses. With Jamaica, New Zealand, South Africa also looking to medal, and holders Australia as formidable as ever, we also get a health check on the state of the international game from Jess after seven years in charge of the Roses.
July 14 · 43 min
What is going on with netball in New Zealand? Nathan Limm explains
As the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games draw ever closer, there are plenty of questions swirling around netball, but perhaps none more so than in New Zealand. From the shock standing of Dame Noeline Taurua last year to the ongoing silence around the future of ANZ, the sport is currently standing on shaky ground with its future uncertain. To help understand the bigger picture, and the actors within it, Chloe is joined by New Zealand Herald sports journalist and Silver Ferns reporter Nathan Limm for an extended conversation. Drawing on his years following the sport, and speaking to those within it, Nathan paints a picture of confusion and uncertainty as players, staff and fans wait to hear what’s next for the ANZ - New Zealand domestic league. Where will the money come from? Have the Silver Ferns in SSN done irreparable damage? Could the Northern Mystics compete across the Tasman? All of that is discussed. Plus, Nathan relives the Noeline Taurua saga, shares what exactly happened and why it became the biggest news story in the country. With so much negative news around netball in New Zealand, the conversation then turns to netball’s upcoming major in Glasgow and how New Zealand might fare. Nathan shares his confidence in the Ferns and why we should all be looking out for Catherine Hall and Carys Stythe. Enjoy.
July 13 · 1 hr 37 min
Thunder squad confirmed, who's next? Three Roses interviews and Unlocked in Glasgow!
It's time to talk signings and franchise fine-tuning as both Nottingham Forest and the champions AO Manchester Thunder name their squads for 2027. Paul and Chloe ask whether Thunder have got better? And then debate what the knock-on effect might be with news on departures as well around the NSL - how does Tyler Orr's exit shape Pulse for 2027? Outside that, we look back on the SSN Grand Final, as Adelaide Thunderbirds complete a remarkable season with a record victory in the Aussie showpiece. We’ve got three England Roses interviews as well, as Sasha Glasgow, Imogen Allison and captain Fran Williams all check in from camp in Loughborough - none of them is to be missed. We spin through the Jamaica squad news and confirm Unlocked plans for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which include Chloe and friend of the show Lucy Goodman, on the ground in Glasgow!
July 2 · 1 hr 58 min
NSL 2026 Reviewed...Debated...and Awards Season
It’s time to review the NSL season, so settle in with Chloe and Paul for a bumper episode that covers all bases.We kick off with a round up of the latest news, which includes Wales and Scotland squad news ahead of the Commonwealth Games, and a potential crisis looming in New Zealand amid some worrying - and excellent - reporting on the ANZ. After that, it’s time to get the tuxedos and ball gowns out as we get into our Team of the Season, with plenty of difference from the NSL’s chosen seven, and a few more niche awards - as Paul names his I’ve got my eye on you eight, and Chloe has her Ins and Outs from the 2026 season. And finally, we break down all eight squads and ask where they may look to improve and what might be considered a sensible signing (or two), for the champions, the contenders and those looking to make the leap.
June 30 · 46 min
Karla Pretorius Unlocked: The Big Interview
Netball legend Karla Pretorius is our latest Big Interview guest, and after her making South Africa’s Commonwealth Games 12 at 36 years old, there’s plenty to chat about. The conversation begins by charting Pretorius’ inclusion following her sabbatical. The South African legend explains why she needed to step away and what she learnt about herself as she rebuilt herself piece-by-piece. She shares more about her special TNL season with the Free State Crinums and why the Proteas long squad in April gave her a much-needed boost to make her selection possible. We reflect on some of the coaches Pretorius has played under, their impact and why Coach Jenny van Dyk is the one to lead the Proteas in Glasgow. And finally, with the Games approaching, Pretorius restates her belief in this particular team, noting its depth and its aspirations with two key group games against Australia and England in wait. Enjoy.
June 27 · 45 min
Karla Victor Unlocked: The Big Interview
In this Unlocked Big Interview special, we meet South Africa's Karla Victor, the 21-year-old uncapped midcourter, looking to make a splash following a selection for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. How did Karla discover the news? What is her netball origin story? Was a six-week stint under Karen Greig at Manchester Thunder the secret to her breakthrough rise? We ask Karla that, and more. Enjoy.