Silver Ferns provide glimpse into future with gutsy Constellation Cup ...

ANALYSIS: The Silver Ferns couldn’t capture the Constellation Cup, but it should feel like a series win for Dame Noeline Taurua’s resurgent squad.

Few gave the Ferns any hope going into the annual trans-Tasman series against Australia and for good reason.

Some in the netball community forecast a 4-0 clean sweep for the world champion Diamonds. Others predicted the Ferns might steal a game, but lose 3-1.

Australia did retain the Constellation Cup, but it would have been a hollow feeling for the Diamonds, who had to do it on goal aggregate after a drawn series.

After being outplayed in the first two matches in Australia, the Ferns rallied with some of their best netball over the past year, winning the final two tests in New Zealand.

The Ferns' play in the final two tests was a pleasing starting point for the new four-year World Cup cycle.

Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

The Silver Ferns thank the Spark Arena crowd after rallying to beat Australia in the final Constellation Cup test in Auckland.

Taurua’s side were at a low ebb after returning from the World Cup empty-handed, following a miserable fourth place finish – their worst placing in the history of the tournament.

Things got even bleaker with an embarrassing 55-54 loss to a second string England squad in the opening match of the Taini Jamison Trophy in September. To their credit, the Ferns did bounce back to win the next two matches and the series, but it was far from polished play.

Down 2-0 in the Constellation Cup, the Ferns could have unravelled and been swept 4-0 for the first time since 2017.

Instead, they stepped up in the pressure moments and outplayed and outsmarted the Diamonds.

Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Karin Burger and Maddy Gordon are all smiles after beating Australia in the fourth Constellation Cup test.

Australia led both of the final two tests heading into the last quarter. You would normally expect the Diamonds to close out the game for a win, but the Ferns forced them into uncharacteristic errors.

Presented with an opportunity, the Ferns pounced – winning critical defensive ball in both last quarters, and converting those gains into goals.

It was heartening stuff from a rebuilding Ferns squad and provided a glimpse of their untapped potential for the next World Cup cycle.

Grace Nweke’s return from injury was a huge lift. With Nweke at goal shoot, New Zealand looked a different side. Getting the ball into the attacking end is an easier proposition with the 1.93m Nweke offering a strong target for her feeders.

Brett Phibbs/Photosport

Grace Nweke provided a huge lift for the Silver Ferns in the Constellation Cup, returning from injury.

She outplayed standout Australian goal keep Courtney Bruce in Auckland and over the series, setting the tone for a spicy rematch in the January Quad Series.

With Nweke excelling, you had to wonder how far the Ferns could have gone at the World Cup, had she not been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury in their last pool game.

A Silver Ferns’ spine is starting to emerge.

Maddy Gordon seized her chance at centre in the Taini Jamison Trophy and Constellation Cup with Kate Heffernan impressing in her natural wing defence role.

Joe Allison/Getty Images

Maddy Gordon made the most of her starting opportunity at centre in the Constellation Cup.

Wing attack remains the position with the most question marks. Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and Whitney Souness had their moments in the Constellation Cup, but couldn’t quite make the position their own.

They remain front of the queue with Gina Crampton’s future unclear in the black dress. Crampton is on a break from netball until the end of 2024, living in the US with her rugby playing partner Fa'asiu Fuatai.

Kelly Jury was tremendous in the final two tests and has clearly established herself as the first-choice goal keep. Karin Burger and Phoenix Karaka offer different strengths at goal defence giving the Ferns’ two quality options depending on the opposition.

It says a lot about the Ferns’ newfound depth that two former locked in starters can’t get a run.

Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

Silver Ferns defender Karin Burger gets a hug from Dame Noeline Taurua after playing her 50th test on Monday.

Goal shoot Maia Wilson has suddenly slipped to No 3 in the pecking order with the emergence of 19-year-old talent Amelia Walmsley.

Defender Jane Watson has become the forgotten woman of New Zealand netball, barely being spotted on court in the Constellation Cup.

Once a clear-cut starter, Watson has battled for minutes in the crunch games since being hindered with a lower leg injury prior to the World Cup. The 33-year-old faces an important ANZ Premiership campaign in 2024 with the Tactix.

Squaring the series with Australia could help sway Taurua to stick around with the Ferns long-term.

She is signed on until the end of the January Quad Series, but these heartening performances will make her think hard about carrying on until the 2027 World Cup.

If this squad can keep setting high standards, improve with each series, and continue to grow their connections, they should be hitting their peak in Sydney.

The chance to atone for the anguish of Cape Town will surely be a powerful motivator for Taurua.