Indigenous netball star Donnell Wallam smashes England again after Gina Rinehart row

Indigenous netball star Donnell Wallam smashes England again as Diamonds player scores with EVERY shot to wrap up clean sweep in Brisbane – after she was mired in $15m sponsorship fiasco with Gina Rinehart

Donnell Wallam helped the Diamonds wrap up a series clean sweep over England with a perfect shooting display in Brisbane.

Wallam, 28, has been mired in controversy in recent weeks after her stance over remarks made by the father of coal magnate Gina Rinehart resulted in Netball Australia losing $15million of sponsorship funding.

A Noongar woman from Western Australia, Wallam raised concerns about vile historical comments made by Hancock Prospecting chair Rinehart’s late father Lang Hancock about the Indigenous population.

Donnell Wallam smashed England again to help the Diamonds wrap up a series whitewash

She was said to be uncomfortable wearing a uniform bearing the company logo.

Teammates took a stand with Wallam; Hancock Prospecting responding by cancelling the cash-strapped sport’s financial lifeline.

But the Victorian government stepped in to fill the void, before Wallam did her talking on-court.

Last week, she came off the bench last week to score the winning goal in a thrilling opening game victory over the English.

The 28-year-old was back in action on Thursday after missing the second game through illness

The 28-year-old was back in action on Thursday after missing the second game through illness

She missed the second game in Sydney due to illness but returned in Brisbane, as Australia won 57-53 to wrap up a 3-0 series win. 

Goal shooter Wallam was a perfect 15-from-15 at the main break and finished with 25-from-26 before being substituted for Sophie Garbin (14-of-18) in the third quarter.

Australia led 9-2 after five minutes and by nine goals at halftime before England closed with five goals at the final break.

The margin was just three with 10 minutes to play, England rallying again as the clock ticked down to ensure a nervy finish in front of 8566 fans.

English goal shooter Eleanor Cardwell said the team had learned plenty from watching the controversy unfold, adamant they too would stick together if faced with a similar situation.

‘A lot of the limelight’s been on (Wallam), a lot of controversy in Australia’s house,’ Cardwell said.

Wallam shot a perfect 15 from 15 to help Australia to a 57-53 victory in Brisbane on Thursday

Wallam shot a perfect 15 from 15 to help Australia to a 57-53 victory in Brisbane on Thursday

‘When she came on in Newcastle it definitely lifted them.

‘We’re the opposition but it’s something bigger, way bigger, than netball. We were like, “That is awesome for her to do that”.’

There were no lay-up goals like the one Wallam produced to win the match off the bench in her Newcastle debut.

Instead, the 28-year-old patrolled the circle with authority, captain Paige Hadley (26 feeds, 16 assists) exploiting the height advantage to feed the Queensland Firebirds talent close to the goal.

Coach Stacey Marinkovich lauded Wallam’s hot start for establishing the decisive buffer, while Hadley admitted she was too focused to notice the huge cheers every time the hometown favourite touched the ball.

The 28-year-old hugs her mother after a tough few weeks, in which she was mired by a $15m sponsorship funding fiasco with coal magnate Gina Rinehart

The 28-year-old hugs her mother after a tough few weeks, in which she was mired by a $15m sponsorship funding fiasco with coal magnate Gina Rinehart

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich issues her instructions to Wallam during the game

Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich issues her instructions to Wallam during the game

‘What she’s been able to do in the two Tests is so exiting … she’s only going to grow, (I) can’t wait to see what she does in the future,’ Hadley said of Wallam.

Goal defence Maddy Turner had two intercepts and a rebound in the first quarter of her starting debut, setting the tone for Australia before she was replaced just after halftime.

Australia’s depth stood the test given captain Liz Watson and her deputy Steph Wood both missed the England series, while the Diamonds also won back the Constellation Cup from New Zealand despite the absence of pregnant star Gretel Bueta.

The Diamonds, now eyeing 2023’s World Cup in South Africa, also won the Quad Series in England earlier this year before storming to Commonwealth Games gold.

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