Foundation Mystic looking for new franchise
Silver Ferns shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti is shopping around for a new franchise after parting ways with the Northern Mystics.
Tuivaiti, the Mystics last remaining foundation member, announced on social media that she would not be returning for the Auckland side next season.
“It has been one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make, but feel it is time to move, grow and be different,” Tuivaiti wrote in an Instagram post. “No matter where I end up, I will always bleed blue.”
There are conflicting accounts of what prompted Tuivaiti’s itially missing selection in the wider squad, brings the number of uncapped players in the team to four, joining Maia Wilson, Te Paea SelbyRickit and Storm Purvis.
The Ferns’ training hit- outs this departure from the club. While Tuivaiti’s comments on social media appear to suggest she made the decision to call time on her career with the Mystics — a narrative that is supported by chief executive Julie Paterson — other reports suggest the franchise opted not to renew her contract.
TheHerald understands Tuivaiti is yet to secure a contract elsewhere, with the new, as- yet unnamed, Auckland franchise also unable to offer the 24- test Silver Fern a place on their roster.
The news came as a triple blow to Tuivaiti, who last week missed week would have done little to bolster the young group’s confidence.
It is understood they suffered a sixgoal loss to the NZ A side in a warm- up match on Thursday — the same match in which Harrison picked up her in- selection in the Silver Ferns team for the Quad Series.
There are still options open to the 29- year- old, who has consistently been among the most accurate shooters in the ANZ Championship over the past nine seasons, with the Central Pulse shaping up as the best fit.
The Pulse, coached by Silver Ferns assistant Yvette McCausland- Durie, are a largely young and inexperienced side and would benefit from Tuivaiti’s scoring power. There is also likely to be a vacancy in their shooting end with Maia Wilson — the teenage jury. Norma Plummer’s South African side meanwhile, are believed to have lost to the NZ A team, which features seasoned ANZ Championship performers Cathrine Tuivaiti, Ellen Halpenny, Sam Sinclair and Jess star that effectively shut Tuivaiti out of the Ferns line- up — expected to link up with the new Auckland team.
Despite rumours linking Mainland Tactix and Ferns Shooter Bailey Mes to the Mystics, Paterson maintained Tuivaiti’s departure from the franchise was on her own terms.
“She thought to herself if there was ever going to be a time to make a change, this would be the time with the new competition coming into play next season,” said Paterson. “While we appreciate her reasons for moving on, it is really sad.” Moulds, by 10 goals.
It is not unusual for an A side to beat the top line- up, particularly when the Ferns would have been rotating combinations, while some of the players who missed selection in the test side would have been eager to prove a point to the national coaches.
One of the reasons for bringing the NZ ‘ A’ programme back last year was to try to return to the days in the later 90s and early 2000s when there was some fierce contests between the Ferns side and their understudies, putting the incumbents under strong pressure.
But with Southby trying to build confidence in her young group as they prepare for a tricky first- up test against the world No 3- ranked English, the loss was another major blow.
The less- than- ideal preparation also poses the first serious test of new captain Katrina Grant’s leadership qualities. The absence of Harrison in the defensive circle means Grant will be relied upon even more so to lead from the front today.