Selection shock a crying shame

You want to know just how cold professional sport is? Ladies and gentlemen I present bighearted netballer Katrina Rore (nee Grant), and her heartless employer, Netball New Zealand.

After a decade, more than 100 tests for the Silver Ferns, some as captain, and a Commonwealth Games gold medal Rore was left out of the side to play England in the quad series next month.

Guess how her long service was recognised by NNZ in its press release announcing the squad? With. Not. One. Word.

It was a press release that might have been penned by the Christmas Grinch, a real Netball Nasty. Two players who were injured and not considered rated a mention. Not Rore.

It was as if she and her glittering career had disappeared into the Bermuda centre circle, all traces of her twinked out by an organisation intent on accentuating the positive.

‘‘New look Silver Ferns’’ the media release read. It prattled on about the ‘‘strength of the collective’’ ‘‘the journey’’ and ‘‘we will do it together’’.

Such positivity. But nothing about what might well be a devastatingly low key ending to the career of one of the most dedicated and personable Silver Ferns.

It was a PR disaster. How does it speak to you of brand NNZ? I see an organisation that uses its staff, then throws them away without. One. Word.

Can you imagine Kieran Read missing an All Blacks squad,

PHOTOSPORT Katrina Rore, nee Grant, took one for the team and Netball New Zealand when she fronted up as Silver Ferns captain during their dismal campaign at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year.