England have selection problem and need more Helen Housby and Liv Tchine support, says Tamsin Greenway
Tamsin Greenway and Tracey Neville discuss England's 'selection problem' in the shooting circle as they call on more support for Helen Housby and Liv Tchine in the latest episode of 'Off The Court', suggesting there are England players that need to play more minutes in Super League.
Wednesday 25 March 2026 18:38, UK
England are lacking obvious support for Helen Housby and Liv Tchine ahead of the Commonwealth Games, say Tamsin Greenway and Tracey Neville.
Speaking on the Off The Court podcast, Greenway and Neville highlighted the eight players they believe are currently assured of a place in the England set-up.
Beyond that, they have questions over the team's depth in the shooting circle and suggested England face a 'selection problem'.
- Thirlby steps down as England head coach ahead of Commonwealth Games
- Results and fixtures for 2026 season
- Netball Super League standings
- Sky Sports' Off the Court Podcast
"There is going to be this problem for England selection because if we can only name eight (cemented names) at the minute, it's not like there are a load of players in SSN (Suncorp Super Netball) fighting for it," said former England international Greenway.
"Even in this country we've got players not necessarily playing full games or playing positions they aren't necessarily needed."
England are currently going through a period of adjustment following the shock departure of head coach Jess Thirlby just months out from the Commonwealth Games. Anna Stembridge has stepped into the role ahead of the summer, beyond which the World Cup moves into focus.
"The eight players we talk about being cemented in is Hali Adio, Funmi Fadoju, Fran Williams in the defence end, mid-court Lois Pearson, Jess Shaw and Imogen Allison, and then shooting circle, this is where I think it's a concern, Helen Housby and Liv Tchine.
"Not that they are a concern, but who on earth are we putting into this mix? When you go through the England shooters there are one, two, three, four, five, six that have got their hand up at the minute and I'm looking for that Helen Housby-esque.
"If you aren't playing out in SSN you should be starring every single week in Super League, 60 minutes unless you are 20 goals up and coach is resting you. You should be starring."
Neville pointed towards the duo of Ella Clark and Berri Neil at Loughborough, and so too Nat Metcalf and Eleanor Cardwell at Manchester Thunder as examples of England players competing for minutes at the same position.
"It feels like there is a pressure to play both of them (Clark and Neil)," she said. "We've got the same situation with Nat Metcalf and Eleanor Cardwell, there's a pressure potentially, because Nat Metcalf is going for that Commonwealth Games.
"For me they are not four shooters you would potentially be looking at. You're in a position where you've got all the shooters we would be looking at at the same teams, playing half the games. Is that good enough?
"When I was England coach and I had a player recommendation come to me, my thing was you need a playing percentage time to be able to be competing at the Commonwealth Games. The shooters that used to go would be playing 90-plus minutes for their teams, they were the shooters you'd be going with.
"You need to shoot out when there's pressure, when you're fatigued."
