Super Netball newcomers Melbourne Mavericks criticised for warning Uneeq Palavi off Tonga commitments

Uneeq Palavi made her debut for the NSW Swifts in Round 11. (Getty: Daniel Pockett)

Super Netball team the Melbourne Mavericks have come under fire in their inaugural season, after warning training partner Uneeq Palavi off her international commitments.

The 22-year-old goal shooter stands at 185cm tall and was signed as a prospect for the Mavericks this year, as the side replaced Collingwood in the Australian netball league.

It was just reward for Palavi, who has been on the fringe of selection for a few seasons now and consistently impressed for the Tonga Tala – who've shot up the rankings to number eight in the world since being involved in the Pacific Aus Sports Netball Series with Palavi up front.

Palavi was born in Melbourne but qualifies for selection as she has a Samoan mother and Tongan father. Her sister Beyonce is also a member of the Tala team.

Palavi shone bright for Tala at the 2023 Netball World Cup, shooting 234 goals and making her debut at a major international tournament, before finally getting a go domestically.

The eventual opportunity didn't come through the Mavericks though.

Palavi was called into NSW Swifts camp for Round 11 as a replacement player for Trinidad and Tobago shooter Sam Wallace-Joseph, who left the club mid-season in unprecedented circumstances for behavioural reasons.

Swifts head coach Briony Akle had been an assistant in Tonga's coaching staff at the World Cup and liked what she saw from the young target.

Shooting 21 goals at 88 per cent and scoring three two-point super shots, it was an impressive debut. Palavi will play again for the Swifts this Sunday in Round 12.

But a social media post from the Mavericks last week raised eyebrows, with some interesting wording in the caption about her opportunity with the Swifts.

"We want to congratulate Uneeq Palavi on her elevation to the NSW Swifts' game day squad for this upcoming round," the post read.

"Having offered Uneeq the opportunity to make her debut for the Mavericks throughout the season, and it not coming to fruition, we're excited to see her get this opportunity.

"We wish Uneeq all the best for this weekend's match and look forward to welcoming her back into the Mavericks environment."

Fan comments on the post indicated most thought it sounded like a backhanded compliment and the Mavericks later deleted it from their accounts.

ABC Sport tried to contact the Mavericks last week to clarify what the club meant by its statement on social media and never heard back.

It was a confusing stance to take, as the Mavericks have consistently been hampered by injury this season, particularly in the shooting end, but have not turned to Palavi in these instances.

Instead, there was a moment in Round Five where they even gave an opportunity to retired Diamonds world champion Nat Butler ahead of their training partner.

Forty-year-old Butler had not even played for a state league team since finishing up as a training partner with the West Coast Fever last season and taking a job in cricket.

The side lost that game 59-37 and Butler's return fell flat as she had not trained with the team before. Butler has not returned for the team since, despite ongoing injuries in their camp.

Palavi had also still been waiting for an opportunity until the Swifts made the call.

Tongan Netball chief executive Salote Sisifa has now been able to shed light on the situation, speaking to ABC's Pacific Beat..

Two weeks ago, Palavi appeared for the Tonga Tala in the Pacific Aus Sports Netball series in Brisbane where her team won their fourth straight title and Palavi was named tournament MVP.

But Sisifa says the side were in danger of not being able to field a team, with the series being scheduled smack-bang in the middle of winter and her players tied up with commitments.

Captain Hulita Veve was missing as she took the court for the Queensland Firebirds and vice-captain Kelea Iongi was busy in New Zealand with Central Pulse.

Palavi also ran into an issue, as Sisifa said conversations with the Mavericks became frosty as the series grew closer and the club did not want to release her to play for her country, despite Palavi not being on a full-time contract or being one of their top 11 players.

Now there is thought that Palavi might not return to the Mavericks at all, after they warned Palavi that the trip to Brisbane could cost her a Super Netball debut, despite there being no guarantees she would even get on court with them.

ABC Sport again tried to contact several people at the Mavericks today but did not receive an answer.

"That was very unfair what they did that right there, to hold her back from representing her country and to say you might get a chance," Sisifa told Pacific Beat.

"We all knew they weren't going to play her, that's the reality, they weren't going to play her, but that's what they've been doing the whole time that she's been with us and the truth is, it's like you don't know what good you have until it's gone.

"Uneeq is still very young, it's not about the money, I think for her it's about a team that cares about what matters to her, which is why she stayed this long with us at Tonga.

"Valuing our culture, valuing the family that's supporting her, valuing her face – those are the things that come into account and if the clubs would consider that, there'd be no problem."

Sisifa said Palavi had also clarified with the Swifts that if she played for them she still wanted to be allowed to head back to Tonga in July, where the team are set to receive medals for their success at the Pacific Aus Sports series.

"The team are receiving medals from his Majesty (King Tupou VI of Tonga) in recognition for their hard work," Sisifa said.

"So Uneeq said that if they allow that, then she'll go and that's what happened.

"But the truth is, she did bend them down just like that and I think that goes to show that this is every netball girl's dream right, up there in the mighty league.

"This girl here, she's special and I think she's got values beyond just the court that she could say no to things like that – rightfully so, she knows her value."