Tactix must sign standout coach
OPINION: The Mainland Tactix off-season coaching decision could save or completely sink Netball New Zealand’s problem child.
Monday night’s 65-46 loss to the Magic in Hamilton took the Tactix to 0-11 in the inaugural national netball league.
With just four round matches left, the Tactix are on the verge of a winless campaign, having won at least one game a season in the former trans-Tasman competition.
It’s been an alarming 395 days and 19 games since the Tactix last tasted victory in a competitive match against the Pulse last May, an unacceptable statistic for a proud sporting province, who crave success from their elite sides.
Netball Mainland’s board must advertise for their head coaching job and cast the net wide to see who is out there. Former assistant Marianne Delaney-Hoshek, who took over as Tactix coach when Australian Sue Hawkins resigned in late April, has made an impact, despite not guiding the team to a win in her six games in charge.
The Tactix have proved more competitive and look happier as a unit, playing with greater confidence. It would be negligent of the board not to test the market and find the strongest possible candidate.
Finding a coach, who can attract quality players must be a priority for a franchise, who simply haven’t had the firepower on court throughout their embattled history.
Neither Hawkins, DelaneyHoshek or predecessor Leigh Gibbs have been able to get wins out of the Tactix, and part of the reason has been their substandard playing squad.
The Tactix must look to appoint someone, who can lure a marquee Silver Fern or several rising New Zealand under-21 stars to Christchurch. Delaney-Hoshek, who is New Zealand A coach, is popular with the players, but this is her third year involved with the Tactix set-up.
She wants the job long-term, but will have to prove she has the ability and connections to entice top-level talent south – a vital factor if the Tactix are to turn it around and win on a consistent basis.
The Tactix need to aim high in their coaching search and work closely with Netball New Zealand to find the best person.
Noeline Taurua, the only Kiwi coach to win the trans-Tasman title with the Magic, would be a dream name, given her outstanding results with the Waikato side and Southern Steel last season.
But Taurua is thriving as coach of the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the new Australian league, steering them to 11 wins from 14 games and second on the ladder after round play. Her contract status is unclear, but you’d hope she’s locked in at the Lightning, given her excellent results.
The Tactix might be smarter to target someone like New Zealand under-21 coach Kiri Wills, who has been a previous assistant at the Mystics.
Wills, who coached the Fast Five Ferns last year, may have ambitions to continue her development and coach an ANZ Premiership side.
She would be able to draw some of her national youth players to the Tactix looking for court-time, who are potential future Silver Ferns.
Another possible option might be former Mystics coach Debbie Fuller, who led the Auckland side to a trans-Tasman final in 2011, where they lost to the Queensland Firebirds.
Steel assistant Lauren Piebenga should deserve consideration if interested, having been involved in their 11-0 start to 2017 and coaching South to the second-tier national development title last year.
Delaney-Hoshek will no doubt be on the shortlist, while Canterbury netball great Julie Seymour, a former Tactix assistant, and Wills’ assistant with the New Zealand under-21s, could also be in the mix. Whatever happens, the Tactix organisation can’t afford to muck this up. The future of the franchise hinges on it.