Super Netball team the Melbourne Mavericks have come under fire in their inaugural season, after warning training partner Uneeq Palavi off her international commitments.

The 22-year-old goal shooter stands at 185cm tall and was signed as a prospect for the Mavericks this year, as the side replaced Collingwood in the Australian netball league.

It was just reward for Palavi, who has been on the fringe of selection for a few seasons now and consistently impressed for the Tonga Tala – who've shot up the rankings to number eight in the world since being involved in the Pacific Aus Sports Netball Series with Palavi up front.

Palavi was born in Melbourne but qualifies for selection as she has a Samoan mother and Tongan father. Her sister Beyonce is also a member of the Tala team.

Palavi shone bright for Tala at the 2023 Netball World Cup, shooting 234 goals and making her debut at a major international tournament, before finally getting a go domestically.

The eventual opportunity didn't come through the Mavericks though.

Palavi was called into NSW Swifts camp for Round 11 as a replacement player for Trinidad and Tobago shooter Sam Wallace-Joseph, who left the club mid-season in unprecedented circumstances for behavioural reasons.

Swifts head coach Briony Akle had been an assistant in Tonga's coaching staff at the World Cup and liked what she saw from the young target.

Shooting 21 goals at 88 per cent and scoring three two-point super shots, it was an impressive debut. Palavi will play again for the Swifts this Sunday in Round 12.

But a social media post from the Mavericks last week raised eyebrows, with some interesting wording in the caption about her opportunity with the Swifts.

"We want to congratulate Uneeq Palavi on her elevation to the NSW Swifts' game day squad for this upcoming round," the post read.

"Having offered Uneeq the opportunity to make her debut for the Mavericks throughout the season, and it not coming to fruition, we're excited to see her get this opportunity.

"We wish Uneeq all the best for this weekend's match and look forward to welcoming her back into the Mavericks environment."

Fan comments on the post indicated most thought it sounded like a backhanded compliment and the Mavericks later deleted it from their accounts.

ABC Sport tried to contact the Mavericks last week to clarify what the club meant by its statement on social media and never heard back.

It was a confusing stance to take, as the Mavericks have consistently been hampered by injury this season, particularly in the shooting end, but have not turned to Palavi in these instances.

Instead, there was a moment in Round Five where they even gave an opportunity to retired Diamonds world champion Nat Butler ahead of their training partner.

Forty-year-old Butler had not even played for a state league team since finishing up as a training partner with the West Coast Fever last season and taking a job in cricket.

The side lost that game 59-37 and Butler's return fell flat as she had not trained with the team before. Butler has not returned for the team since, despite ongoing injuries in their camp.