Taurua endorses possible Bassett move to Magic
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua wouldn’t stand in the way of a possible move to the WaikatoBay of Plenty Magic for Australian captain Caitlin Bassett.
Diamonds great Bassett finds herself in a difficult situation with her Sydney-based Giants side in Australia’s Super Netball.
The introduction of the ‘super shot’ in Super Netball has largely made Bassett’s role redundant. She has been one of the premier goal shoots in world netball over the past decade, but is a player who scores her goals close to the hoop, rather than from long range.
Despite being the incumbent Australian goal shoot and a Diamonds centurion, the 32-yearold has largely been parked on the Giants’ bench this season.
The controversial ‘super shot’ allows teams the opportunity to score two goals by shooting from a 1.9m designated zone within the goal circle and is active in the final five minutes of each quarter.
Bassett’s minimal court-time and question marks around whether the ‘super shot’ will be used again next season has created uncertainty about her future in Super Netball.
Stuff understands the Magic have made a concerted effort to
snare the 1.96m Bassett, but whether she opts to play in New Zealand next year is up in the air.
The Magic have announced their defenders and midcourters for 2021, but are yet to confirm their shooters.
Taurua knows Bassett well from her time coaching the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
In the first two seasons of Super Netball in 2017 and 2018, Bassett was a key member of the Lightning side, which won premierships in both years.
Should Bassett feature in the ANZ Premiership, Taurua said she wouldn’t have any issue – believing it would be a boon for the competition.
‘‘If I look bigger than just my role as Silver Ferns coach, for netball in New Zealand it’s fantastic.
‘‘For her to come over to New Zealand and play in ANZ, I think there’s upside,’’ she told Stuff.
‘‘We’ve never had an Australian Diamond at all come over here, so that’s really positive and others of that same ilk, it may open the door for others to come over.
‘‘I think in the bigger picture, that’s only good for the game in New Zealand.’’
It is understood Bassett would be eligible for Diamonds selection if she played in New Zealand.
Taurua and the Ferns could be faced with a scenario where the Magic and ANZ Premiership play Bassett into form and build up her confidence. That could come back to bite them internationally.