Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich is confident her team have created a safe place for Donnell Wallam to flourish when she makes a high-profile Test debut this week.
The Indigenous talent became the focus of messy off-court dramas after she took exception to new Netball Australia (NA) sponsor Hancock Prospecting's record on Indigenous matters dating back 40 years to offensive comments by owner Gina Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock.
The West Australian, set to debut on Wednesday against England, had the backing of her team and had reportedly agreed to wear the company's logo on her uniform after initially asking for an exemption.
But the $15 million deal was pulled in any event, while mining firm Roy Hill, majority-owned by Hancock, will also withdraw its sponsorship of Netball WA and the West Coast Fever.
Fever boss Simone Hansen described her Super Netball club as "collateral damage to the national situation" while Rinehart's company released a statement accusing NA of virtue signalling.
Wallam sat courtside on the Gold Coast on Sunday as the side launched an emotional comeback win against New Zealand to reclaim the Constellation Cup.
Part of the squad for a three-game series against England starting on Wednesday, Marinkovich said the Queensland Firebirds goaler was "itching to get out there".
"We've had some great support (from former players) when Donnell's not been in the group and once they're in it's under a performance lens," the coach said of Wallam.
"This is the place they feel most comfortable, doing what they love.
"As soon as you walk in ... (as) part of the Diamonds, they feel safe, they can be themselves."
Marinkovich rated Sunday's series win - one that came despite losing the first two games in New Zealand - as good as the dominant Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham earlier this year.
Her successes come on the back of considerable pressure when accepting the job in 2020 and ahead of a World Cup next year.
"I have a performance lane and my job is to connect the group, support them to be their best," she said.
"We're growing immensely and the sport's growing with that and we all learn incredible lessons along the way and my job is to make sure we perform at the right time.
"It's their happy place, my happy place to be on the sidelines with a packed house, against New Zealand."
