Changes all round for club netball
Another season of club netball is upon us, so sports reporter George Heagney gives you the inside scoop on the eight premier one sides.
Defending champions Massey, who won the title last year for the first time in 25 years, have had a few changes.
Tireless midcourter and captain Laura Lobb has moved to Melbourne after eight seasons with the team, which will leave a big hole.
But experienced defender Hapai Selby-law has taken over the captaincy reins and coach John Atkins is back for another season, too.
Also gone from last year are defenders Vicki Miller, who has moved to Wellington and Kate Milne has work commitments.
Massey should still have enough quality players to feature at the business end of the season, with their strengths at either end of the court.
Theresa Hunt is back in the defensive circle and will make a formidable pair with Selby-law
They also have three good shooters in Keaghan Seymour, Sam Murphy and Kamie Veikoso.
Midcourters Eleanor Hogan and Olivia Tilyard are both back, as is Steph Collins, but she has an elbow injury and may not be available until later in the season.
They have picked up Maddie Wells, a midcourter from Taranaki, and Kahurangi Sturmey, a tall defender out of Whanganui High School who is in the Pathway to Podium squad.
Otaki club are in a rebuilding year, but don’t count them out of contention.
Veteran coach Oriwia Raureti will blood a couple of younger players to make up for the absence of some of her older heads.
Former Silver Fern Katarina Cooper was playing in England before she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament earlier this year and is unlikely to play again this year.
Rahui are also unlikely to see Southern Steel defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-rickit, who usually makes a few cameos, but will be busy with Premiership commitments.
Centra Alana Fraser has injured her foot and could miss a big chunk of the season, midcourter Potiki Cooper-roa has moved to Perth and midcourter Erena Cooper is having a baby.
Back though is top defender Maraea Murray, who is also capable at the shooting end, and defender Hinekura Winiata.
Rahui
Defenders Jamie Ratapu and Kendall Stevenson, centre Kirsty Maheno and Erana Harrisonpaurina are all back for their second year with the team.
Experienced sisters Kylie Gardner and Bonnie Matahaere have returned to play and they have picked up a promising 16-year-old from Horowhenua College, Shaniqua Tamakaha, a tall defender.
have a new coach in Cat Scoon, who has taken over from Kelly Morris, and wants to rebuild the team.
They have had a big loss in captain and defender Jodi Mcfarlane
Feilding A1
(nee Beaumont), who is focusing on triathlons.
Stepping in to Beaumont’s role are co-captains, defender Jess Brett and midcourter Kahu Brown.
Returning from last year are midcourter Hayley Sharp, and shooters Tessa Marsh and Anania Kerehoma-cook.
Emma Sharland, who played for the A2 team last year because was overseas for part of the season, will slot into the defensive end.
Midcourter Brenna Romley has come from College Old Girls, gun shooter Kesa Talka has joined the club now she’s finished at Palmerston North Girls’ High School.
They have gained another former Girls’ High shooter in Shayna Hata.
Defender Jayne Darbyshire, who left Manawatu two seasons ago, is back, and Maila Muliaga, who last played for Massey in 2014, is back in town.
Tori Ratima, Stacey Weri, Janelle King have all left, experienced shooter Brooke Clark is in the United Kingdom, Ashleighkate Araroa isn’t playing, Nicola Cross has gone to College and Kristi Atkins is playing for the A2s.
Feilding A2
have a new side and will be looking to improve on their last-place finish last year.
Annette Totoro is their new coach. She coached the Marist premier three team last season, but coached the Switch team in the premier one grade in 2014.
Returning from last season are shooter Iri Tuhura, shooter Sam Rowe, wing defence Kayla Hemopo, midcourter Ashleigh Te Patu and defender Darnelle Nugent-o’leary.
Midcourter Bardo Tuhakaensing is back, having taken last season off due to injury.
They have gained Jordyn Rogers-holden, a midcourter from
Palmerston North High School
are blooding a group of new players this season to try and build depth at the school.
Coach Lana Mccarthy, in her third year coaching the schoolgirls, has named six year 11 players in her squad, who may struggle initially playing against adults.
The new players are midcourter Brianna Crawley, defender Lin Tokalautawa, defender Kahleia Gerrard, midcourter Monique Whiteman, shooter Zara Cullen and midcourter Quincy Jazz-ellis.
Girls’ High still have key players in defender and captain Jessica Pease, and Sia Muliaga, who is adept at either end of the court.
Also back is midcourter Maya Jones, shooter Charlotte Williams, wing attack Edyn Boyes and midcourter Shekereih Wardhanson.
They have lost school leavers Madi Daysh, Kaitlyn Couchman and Kesa Talka, as well as Aaliyah Williams, who has moved to Australia.
Renee Matoe will be running the netball programme at Manukura this year because Yvette Mccausland-durie is busy with her Central Pulse commitments.
Top shooter Matoe will be one of the key players for powerhouse
this year, but only in the second round once her duties with the Central national league team are done, the same as defender Rhiarna Ferris.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Manukura has essentially the
Manukura Black Girls’
same team back, but have also been boosted by the addition of three top schoolgirl players from the Manukura Red team.
Shooters Emily Autagavia and Diahn-tepania Strickland, defender Antonia Hei Hei and utility Braxton Te Riini give the Black side more depth.
Gun midcourter Renee Te Riini will be available for the whole season too, but they won’t see Central Pulse centre Sheridan Bignall.
Priyani de Silva-currie will help coach the Black team until Matoe’s return.
Black will still have enough class to be one of the top sides until Matoe and Ferris return and are strong all through the court. The schoolgirl team
will be in a rebuilding year, with five players coming up from the premier two team.
Colleen Trembath will coach the Red team until Matoe is back.
Allazae Turahui-te Uawiri has gone to Australia and Emily Autagavia has graduated to the old girls team, while losing Tepaniastrickland, Hei Hei and Te Riini are all losses.
Connie Marshall-waiwiri, Seasons Turahui-te Uawiri, Diaz Tepania-strickland and Tahlia Runga will be their experienced heads this year. Tepania and Turahui-te Uawiri are cocaptains.
New players are shooter Madison Awahou, midcourter Pipar Awahou, midcourter Ariana Tepania, defender Kiwi Hunterrogan and defender Cecelia Autagavaia.
Manukura Red are always strong, but have lost a lot of class players.
Red
have four players returning from a hard campaign last year.
Golda Smith is focusing on coaching now and won’t be playing
Joyce Ohlson, Kuini Chase, Billie-jean Lambert and Katherine Cornelius are all back, and Mere Butters, who was in the team two years ago, has returned.
Nicola Cross has come from Feilding, goal shoot Manta Maxwell has moved from Australian, and they have gained midcourter Brooke Walker and Lorissa Edwards, a former Girls’ High player. Lisa Patelesio, Alison Macgillivray and Sarah Woods have moved on and Katrina Taiaroa is pregnant.
College Old Girls Manukura