For this was the gold medal that Australian netball helped deliver to the sport's newest global powerhouse.

When NSW Swifts shooter Helen Housby drained a last-second goal to secure England their first netball gold at a Commonwealth Games last week, it confirmed the techtonic plates underlying this ever-growing sport had shifted forever.

There is now a place for England at the head table, which for so long has hosted only Australia and New Zealand.

That New Zealand failed to even snare a bronze medal at these Games further strengthens the argument that Suncorp Super Netball is now shaping the international game.

When the ANZ Championship fractured, the majority of New Zealand's stars went back home to play domestically, told they wouldn't be considered for international selection if they remained in the newly formed Australian competition.

Laura Langman was the exception, one of the Silver Ferns' finest ever products who helped Sunshine Coast Lightning win the inaugural premiership last year. Yet despite playing 141 consecutive tests for her country, as per the country's new policy, she was told her presence at international level was no longer required.

Meanwhile, there were six England players sprinkled across Super Netball last season, including Housby at the Swifts, and compatriots Jo Harten and Serena Guthrie who play their trade at the Giants.

"It has had an impact on my game, not necessarily in terms of skill level but the intensity each week is greater than I can get anywhere else week in week out," Harten said.

"A lot of us English girls, we've always had the raw talent and raw skill but haven't been able to put it together back home for 60 minutes. Coming out into this other world into Super Netball and before that the ANZ [Championship], it allows you that opportunity to play with the best each week, pick yourself up after each game and try and back it up.

"That's the real benefit of playing out here, we're playing against the best players every single week. You have to be up on your top level each time you step on the court."

England came excrutiatingly close four years ago in Glasgow, pipped by a point in a semi-final against Australia before falling apart and failing to win bronze.

The building blocks have long been in place, but they needed polish and and extra layer of professionalism to piece it all together.

International stars based in their home country have benefited from a full-time program in recent years in which players are paid to train at England Netball's facilities in Loughborough, but it's only the best of the best who are granted that privelege.

The majority of Super Netballers can pursue their craft full-time in Australia, and it's the growing professionalism of the game in this country which is offering the avenue of improvement for England, and countries like Jamaica, Malawi and South Africa who are all represented.

"Four years ago we didn't have enough people that were used to playing in that pressure," Guthrie said.

"From that perspective I do think Suncorp has played the role definitely in enabling us to understand what it means to see out a game.

"In the past eight years the results against the Aussies have only been four or five goals so we knew we were getting close to them. That belief then started to grow from Glasgow, we know the result didn't go our way but that was one positive we did take from that loss in Glasgow.

"Suncorp's definitely played a role but I also think our girls have managed to get our heads down. That goes for the girls back home as well, they've tried to do all the extras that they possibly can."

The location of the Commonwealth Games also played into England's hands. Much of their squad had been preseason training with their respective Super Netball franchises for months before they came together for a five-week camp to prepare for the Games.

"It's a long period of time but we tried to make the most of it, it's nice to see such a long prep can become successful," Guthrie said.

"It easily could've gone the other way, all that time together, getting sick of each other but it was really good fun and we loved it."

So where to from here for the Diamonds?

Fret we must not, because Super Netball is only going to benefit Australia's athletes as well.

As the competition improves, so will Lisa Alexander's team which on any other day could well have triumphed in that gold medal match.

Writing for Players Voice during the week, former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis said Super Netball's facilitation of international growth is the best thing for the game.

"This is truly an international competition now, a bit like the Premier League football in England, and fans understand that," Ellis said.

"Helen Housby, who scored the winning goal for England in the Comm Games final, is playing for the New South Wales Swifts again this season, and I hope Swifts fans still cheer for her.

"The international players should absolutely stay. I think it’s critical for the success of world netball and for the success of Suncorp Super Netball because I want it to be the premier league, a competition where the rest of the world want to play.

"This can only be good for netball and I think it’s short-sighted to think that should be curtailed. We churn out so many good players. The Australian netball team is still phenomenal and it’s not like we’re getting flogged. They just had their bad day on the wrong day."