Final Frew fighter
The Steel are aiming to see off their captain in style in today’s Premiership title decider.
The 2018 ANZ Premiership grand final is set to tip off this afternoon with plenty on the line. Defending champions, the Southern Steel, will contest their second consecutive Premiership final against the Central Pulse at Palmerston North’s Fly Palmy Arena after securing their spot with a playoffs victory over the Mainland Tactix on Wednesday night.
Winning back-to-back ANZ Premiership titles is high on the wish list for loyal Steel captain and Southland netball legend Wendy Frew, who will lead her side for the final time after announcing her retirement last month.
The 33-year-old will draw the curtain on an outstanding netball career after playing 152 games for the Southland side across 16 national-level campaigns.
The former Silver Fern’s tenacious defence tactics, competitiveness and leadership will play a key role in the Steel’s fight to retain the title and reign as the Premiership’s champions.
The title decider will mirror last season’s match-up when the Southerners decisively defeated the Pulse 69–53 at Invercargill’s Stadium Southland — better known as the fortress — to claim the spoils in front of an adoring home crowd.
With the key influence of Jamaican import goal shoot Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, the Steel first back-to-back in there fighting and screaming,” said Bloxham. “We know that it’s going to be tough to take them at home, we know what that home crowd advantage is like, but we’re happy to step up and have a go at it.”
The Pulse are the clear favourites as they take the court fuelled by their desire for redemption and led by influential captain Katrina Grant.
After a disappointing international season with the Silver Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham on playing the Pulse away
remained unbeaten for the entire 2017 season.
But after falling below the Pulse on the Premiership ladder this year, unable to retain top spot, the Steel won’t have the all-important home crowd advantage this time around.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said they knew how influential a home crowd could be but insisted her side would take the court with full of determination.
“We’re going to go
Ferns, Grant made a resounding return to the court and has shown arguably her best form yet.
Grant will be eager to secure her side the title after proving their strengths in a season littered with stellar results.
The Silver Ferns defender said she had full faith in her team to take the win and believed their tenacious defensive unit would be a key to disrupting the Steel’s play.
“We’re always in your face and it’s what we want, it’s what we’re doing, and it’s how we play, and we’re hoping that’s really going to get us over the line [this afternoon],” Grant said.
“We know that we can play well against them, we just have to all play well at the same time and just want it and be hungry.”
The Pulse have dominated the season since topping the table in round one, beating the Magic to kick off a six-game unbeaten run.
After suffering their first loss to the Northern Mystics in round six, minor cracks began to show, but the Wellington-based side soldiered on to close their regular season with a 55-48 redemption victory over their Northern rivals.
The Pulse will take the court fresh from a two-week break since playing their final fixture on July 29, while the Steel have had only four days to recover from the Tactix clash.
We know that it’s going to be tough to take them at home , we know what that home crowd advantage is like, but we’re happy to step up and have a go at it.