Steel looking forward to ANZ Premiership opposition
THE Southern Steel has been flying under the radar of late, but it is set to take back the spotlight.
It begins its preseason tournament in Otaki tomorrow when it plays three games in as many days over the weekend.
It will play the Northern Mystics in its first game, before facing the Central Pulse and Northern Stars on Saturday and Sunday.
The team has been working hard since its matches against the Sunshine Coast Lightning and has several practice matches against its Beko League team.
However, the chance to expose itself to some ANZ Premiership teams has it excited.
‘‘I think the main thing is to get through the weekend and give all the players an opportunity to get out on the court,’’ coach Reinga Bloxham said.
‘‘Make sure we try out some combinations; just get everyone out there, really.’’
The side will be without Silver Ferns Shannon Francois and Te Paea SelbyRickit.
Both are on a mandatory twoweek standdown period following the Commonwealth Games.
Bloxham said the team had been planning for that and hoped to reintegrate them as smoothly as possible following the tournament.
While it had been a tough past week for the duo, she hoped getting back in the Steel environment would help them move forward.
‘‘They definitely have had a rough time.
‘‘I think the good thing about girls and women is that we love to talk.
‘‘So I’m pretty sure that they’ll have plenty of ears in the sisterhood of netball friends in the Steel that they’ll be able to download and debrief with.
‘‘I think that sort of thing is going to be beneficial for them.’’
Stepping into the void left by the pair would be several youngsters.
That included rookies Dani Gray and Olivia Bates, as well as training partners Taneisha Fifita and twins Georgia and Kate Heffernan.
Also travelling were Beko League squad members Diahn Strickland and Kendall McMinn.
Bloxham had been happy with how the youngsters were progressing and was hoping to get them all out on the court over the weekend.
Wendy Frew remained the side’s only major injury concern, as she continued her comeback from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
She had played a limited role in last month’s matches against the Lightning, although was up to playing two quarters a game.
It was still hoped she would be fully fit for the season opener on May 6.