Review cannot be ‘quick fix’

The review into the Silver Ferns’ staggering decline can’t be a ‘‘quick fix’’ and must provide solutions rather than point out problems, former national coach Yvonne Willering says.

A three-person independent panel, chaired by Auckland lawyer Don Mackinnon, has begun an investigation into the Ferns’ disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign, where they finished fourth and failed to medal for the first time.

It will be a two-pronged inquiry with the first part focusing on the failed Games campaign and the two-years leading up to it. The second will explore NNZ’S high performance structures.

Ensuring the review didn’t turn into a blame game and offered solutions to the Ferns’ woes was paramount, Willering said.

‘‘Normally in a review it’s about what didn’t work rather than what did work. They’ve got to be very careful that they’re not just there to destroy. There’s no point identifying problems and then doing nothing about it.’’

It is difficult to see how head coach Janine Southby and assistant Yvette Mccausland-durie will retain their jobs following the review, after a horror run of results over the past six months.

New Zealand won just six of 18 games since October 2017.

Willering was pleased the review would focus heavily on NNZ’S high performance programme and go back over several years.

The Silver Ferns’ downward spiral was multi-faceted and showed deficiencies in both the elite and grassroots systems from both a playing and coaching perspective, she said.

An independent review offered NNZ the rare chance to take a critical look at the sport and Willering said they had to get it right.

‘‘Some people say change the coach. This isn’t what this is about. It’s a lot deeper than that.

‘‘I just hope they go beyond a quick fix and I think this group are in a situation where they’re experienced enough to not just have a quick fix.’’

Willering and former Silver Ferns assistant Robyn Broughton, who guided the Southern Sting to seven domestic titles, are both expected to contribute to the review.

Broughton had major concerns about the Ferns’ freefall in world netball and wanted to see the review bring much-needed positive change.

‘‘At the moment we’re looking at pretty ragged netball,’’ Broughton said.

‘‘It’s quite gratifying to hear that things are going to be done. We’re not just ignoring it. It was a pretty dismal performance [at the Commonwealth Games]. It was embarrassing.’’

Broughton expressed frustration about the way netball had deteriorated in New Zealand from high school level to the elite ranks.

Willering and Broughton have been outspoken critics about a poor culture in the Ferns’ environment in recent tournaments, which was carrying over onto the court.

Broughton said it was one of many areas she wanted investigated.

‘‘I couldn’t see the culture [at the Commonwealth Games]. The Silver Ferns go back a long way and you don’t want that culture messed around with.

‘‘It’s part of our netball history.’’

Mark Williams celebrated winning his third world snooker championship title, 15 years after his last, by stripping naked after beating John Higgins 18-16 in a memorable final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield yesterday.

Williams, the world champion in 2000 and 2003, said at the start of the tournament that he would turn up to his press conference nude if he won the title, and he stuck to his word – well, almost. He turned up with just a towel around his waist.

At 43, Williams became the oldest winner of the sport’s biggest prize since 1978 when fellow Welshman Roy Reardon won his sixth and final world title.

Williams was talked out of retirement last year by his wife following a slump in form that was so profound that he didn’t even qualify for the Crucible.

‘‘I watched it in a caravan with a beer,’’ Williams said, typically deadpan. Twelve months later, he was lifting the trophy surrounded by his wife Joanne and kids, and pocketing a first prize of £425,000 (NZ$869,400) following the closest final in 13 years.

One of the more laidback players on the circuit, Williams started the two-day final jaded after a late finish to his semifinal against Barry Hawkins.

He was eating in a kebab house at 2:15am local time on Sunday and was seen snacking on crisps and chocolates – offered by a spectator sitting behind him –