Star shooter sticks with Steel
NETBALL: Star shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid has knocked back several other offers to stay with the Southern Steel in 2017.
The Steel have pulled off a major coup in retaining the 1.98m Jamaican shooter for next season.
Fowler-Reid has been outstanding for the southern franchise since joining the Steel in 2013.
It has included winning the MVP title for the New Zealand Conference in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
The 27-year-old was a key figure in helping the Steel in their unbeaten run through the roundrobin series this year.
The most prolific shooter in the history of the trans-Tasman league, Fowler-Reid set a new league record of 779 goals during the recent season with an accuracy rate over 90 percent and snaffled 88 offensive rebounds.
Fowler-Reid’s signature is not just a major signing for the Steel but also the new New Zealand competition in 2017.
Fowler-Reid confirmed on Sunday she had received plenty of offers to make a switch to other teams.
It included from Australian franchises as they up the ante for their new eight-team league next year which does not have any restrictions on how many overseas imports each team can include.
Fowler-Reid said ‘loyalty’ was the key reason behind knocking back those offers.
‘‘It wasn’t a hard decision to make because I’ve always said the Steel have done a good job in taking care of me.
‘‘It boils down to being loyal to those that have taken care of you. I know other places were interested in having me but this is where my heart is at the moment.’’
Fowler-Reid concedes when she first moved to Invercargill to play she didn’t think it would extend to a five-season stint.
‘‘I’ve been growing in this competition, not only in my game but personally, I am getting a lot more mature.’’
The prospect of building from what was an encouraging 2016 season also excited Fowler-Reid.
They finished the season as top qualifiers and were just pipped by the Queensland Firebirds in the knockout semifinal.
The Steel will take part in a new six-team New Zealand league in 2017 which will be made up of the five teams which contested the trans-Tasman league as well as a second team based out of Auckland.
‘‘I think if we keep most of the girls together we can become a dominate team in the New Zealand league and hopefully we can come out as the first champions.’’
Steel chief executive Lana Winders said she was thrilled to re-sign Fowler-Reid.
‘‘She’s one of our first full signings for the new Elite League and provides an incredible plat- form from which to build the rest of the player roster,’’ Winders said.
‘‘I’m very excited for our savvy Steel fans who know just how crucial Jae’s contribution on the court is.
‘‘I rate her as the best GS on the planet right now and we are thrilled she wants to come back to Invercargill again next year and take the court for the Steel in our new elite domestic competition.’’
Together with husband Andre and their six-year-old daughter Drehannah, Fowler-Reid departs for Jamaica on Tuesday.
She will have just two weeks rest before embarking on an international campaign with the Sunshine Girls, including a return trip to New Zealand to take on the Silver Ferns.