The Men’s Metro League Grand Finals delivered ferocious defence and aerial contests that thrilled all who watched. Two Inner West sides rose to the occasion to claim both Division 1 and Division 2 titles with identical, statement-making scores of 50–41 at Netball Central, Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday night.
The Division 1 showdown came with its own subplot — Inner West star Dylan Nexhip taking on his Kelpies teammate and St George captain Liam Forcadilla in a clash of friends-turned-rivals that produced one of the most gripping matches in the league’s four-year history.
From the opening whistle, the contest lived up to every expectation. Both sides came out swinging, trading goals in a tense, low-scoring first half that showcased the best defensive skill in the competition.
“It was quite an intense battle from start to finish,” Nexhip said post-match. “St George started really well and really tested us early… it was a see-sawing battle but really competitive.”
The game’s turning point came after halftime. Inner West made subtle but decisive changes that shifted the momentum sharply in their favour.
“In the second half, a couple of little changes really worked in our favour,” Nexhip explained. “Our moving circle came on and opened up some space, and that was a really big move for us.”
The other game-changer? The introduction of Solomon Howard at goalkeeper.
“Solomon came on at halftime and made a huge impact. He moved so well in the circle and any ball that went into the air — he contested it. That was massive for us.”
As Inner West surged ahead, their depth once again proved their superpower.
“Everyone stood up at different times,” Nexhip said. “Our depth has made us so strong all year. Noah Stephenson played 60 minutes in centre and was an absolute workhorse, and our experienced players did their jobs when it mattered.”
When the final whistle blew, Inner West 1 had powered to a nine-goal victory and claimed the Division 1 championship with authority.
The Division 2 decider mirrored the drama — and the final scoreline — of Division 1, as Inner West 2 completed the perfect double, defeating Campbelltown District 2 with a full time score of 50 - 41. Their clinical ball movement, relentless defensive pressure and composure under finals pressure saw them pull away late to secure the title.
The victory cemented Inner West as the powerhouse club of the 2025 season, sweeping both divisions in a defining night for the program.
As proud as Nexhip was of the premiership, he was just as passionate when speaking about the growth of men’s netball and the role the league has played.
“Netball NSW have done an incredible job building Men’s Metro League,” he said. “Stacy Harding and the competitions team created a vision and worked incredibly hard with the Men’s Netball Association (NSW) to bring it to life. I’ve been here since the start and each season has just kept building.”
He emphasised the importance of visibility and momentum.
“For anyone that watched last night — live or online — they would have seen the quality of netball that’s played. What we want to show is that netball is a sport for everyone. It’s fun, competitive and skillful.”
Nexhip hopes the pathway continues to expand for the next generation.
“We want to encourage young boys to join from the grassroots and make netball their sport. And I hope Netball Australia provide additional support so that can happen, while Netball NSW keep leading the way.”
There’s no rest for the elite. The NSW men’s state team — featuring several standouts from last night’s finals — begins training next week as preparations ramp up for the 2026 Nationals campaign.
After a night of high-energy netball, clutch performances and club-wide success, one thing is clear: the Men’s Metro League is rising fast — and Inner West is setting the pace.
Frances Cordaro, Netball NSW
