Much has been said about the Silver Ferns shooter since she burst on to the scene in 2019 as a teenager still at Avondale College.
Nweke, now 23, was called up initially as a replacement player for the Northern Mystics that season, later being elevated to full squad member in the same season, and stamped her mark as one of the most exciting talents in a generation.
The 1.93m shooter caught the eye of national selectors, after breaking ANZ Premiership records, and was called up to the Silver Ferns in 2021.
She won bronze at the Commonwealth Games the following year, played at the Netball World Cup in 2023 — until a harrowing knee injury cut her campaign short — and has amassed 38 test caps, some of those as vice-captain.
Many Australian defenders have gone on record saying they think Nweke is one of the best shooters in the world — and now they get to test themselves against her regularly.
Tomorrow, after six seasons with the Mystics, Nweke will take to the court in her new colours for the NSW Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball, a league many call the best in the world.
Nweke’s first task is against the West Coast Fever, where she will come up against Australian Diamond Sunday Aryang, English Rose Fran Williams or Jamaican international Kadie-Ann Dehaney.
That is what sets the Australian league apart — unlimited imports.
Week-in, week-out, Nweke will face the best defenders, including Jamaicans Shamera Sterling-Humphrey and Latanya Wilson (Adelaide Thunderbirds) and Jodi-Ann Ward (Giants), and Australians Courtney Bruce (Sunshine Coast Lightning) and Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens).
Nweke has cited that as one of the main reasons for her move, telling NZME last year she was leaving as she did not see another club in New Zealand able to help grow her game.
You have to admire her bravery in chasing a new challenge, and realistically, one day New Zealand Netball [NNZ] will benefit from Nweke having played against the best.
On the other hand, what does that say about the ANZ Premiership when the Silver Ferns star shooter feels the need to ply her trade elsewhere?
To be fair, things might not be all that great across the Ditch either. Former Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander and Diamonds great Sharni Norder this week called for New Zealand teams to be introduced to Super Netball.
"It’s stale as an old bottle of milk," Alexander said about the current format.
"We just need to take that stale milk and make it into a smoothie a bit more."
But the benefits far outweighed the rest for Nweke.
At the Swifts, Nweke will share a circle with arguably the best international goal attack in England’s Helen Housby, and will be coached by Briony Akle, who has been part of the Silver Ferns coaching set-up in recent years.
She has also been clear in saying part of her move was in service for the future of the black dress.
Her choice comes at a cost though — she is ineligible to represent the Silver Ferns while playing abroad under the current NNZ rules.
The criteria, which coach Noeline Taurua indicated could be up for discussion, has harmed New Zealanders playing in Australia before.
Laura Langman, one of the best to ever pull on the black dress, was barred from playing for New Zealand for several years after opting to play for the Swifts and later the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
The rules were eventually bent for Langman and shooter Maria Folau — who was with the Adelaide Thunderbirds at the time — in 2019 to allow them to play at the Netball World Cup — and everyone saw the impact that had when New Zealand won for the first time in 17 years.
Nweke follows other Kiwis Leana de Bruin, Cat Tuivaiti, Kimiora Poi and Katrina Rore who have played in Australia.
Gina Crampton (Giants) and Elle Temu (Swift) have also been involved but are currently both pregnant.
Nweke is not the only Kiwi across the ditch this season.
Kiri Wills has signed as the Queensland Firebirds head coach, after seven seasons coaching the Northern Stars where she led them to three finals.
It will be a big test for Wills, who previously coached New Zealand under-21 and the Fast Ferns, considering the turmoil the Firebirds have experienced over the past few seasons.
They have finished in the bottom two the past two seasons, coach Bec Bulley’s contract was terminated mid-season last year, and former players laid complaints about a toxic culture among the club.
Is this the biggest test of both of their careers? Time will tell.
