Double Premiership-winning attacking duo Helen Housby and Sam Wallace have re-signed with the NSW Swifts for another two seasons of Suncorp Super Netball.
The pair, who joined the Swifts from the English Super League in 2017, are the latest players to re-commit to the seven-time Premiers as the Super Netball competition enters a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with both athletes and clubs.
The England and Trinidad & Tobago internationals join Australian Diamonds Maddy Proud, Paige Hadley, Sarah Klau and Maddy Turner in signing two-year extensions.
Wallace and Housby were at the forefront of the Swifts’ second Premiership success in three years when Briony Akle’s troops overcame local rivals Giants Netball in the 2021 Grand Final in Brisbane last month.
Housby has also grown into a world-class attacker since joining in 2017. A Commonwealth Gold medal winner with the English Roses on the Gold Coast in 2018, she has backed that performance up with two Premierships in three years and made a title-sealing intercept against the Giants.
An accomplished shooter and link player, Housby has played 66 games for the Swifts since making her debut and formed a potent partnership with Wallace.
Calypso Girl Wallace was named the Swifts’ MVP for the third time this year, a feat which equalled the record of club legend Cath Cox.
Since joining the Swifts five years ago Wallace has quickly become a fan favourite. Over her 75 games for the club she’s been the pillar of the Swifts’ attack and is now regarded as one of the best shooters in the world game. In 2021 she scored 585 goals at a success rate of 93 percent.
Head coach Akle said she was delighted to have secured both players’ services for another two years.
“Sam and Helen have been instrumental to our growth and success since they joined the club, and now have an extra maturity and intelligence to their netball knowledge,” Akle said.
“When we’ve needed them to step up in big games they have delivered time and time again, and we are thrilled both will remain in Sydney for the next chapter of this club’s history.
“As well as their telepathy on the court they are very close off it and are more than just team-mates. They are friends who care deeply about each other and that’s the bond we are looking for across this club.
“From a performance perspective, a lot of hard graft goes in from our defenders and midcourters to earn extra possession and I know having targets like Helen and Sam in the attack circle is a real reward for them.
“We might have added a seventh Premiership to the cabinet recently but there is no intention to rest on our laurels and both Helen and Sam are key to where we want to go next.”
The Swifts will announce further signings for the 2022 season in the near future. The club has already announced six of its 10-strong roster and all squads must be finalised by October 8.
