Going back to back has been goal right from start
DEFENDING a title is always impressive, but it would be particularly impressive if this Southern Steel team manages it.
It plays the Central Pulse in tomorrow’s ANZ Premiership final, the same team it beat to win the title last year. Only the situation is a little different this time.
Last year it entered as almost certain champion and duly completed an unbeaten season with a 6953 win in
Invercargill.
Tomorrow it heads to Palmerston North as underdog.
How the team would cope without
Jhaniele
FowlerReid and Jane Watson had been the big question coming into the season. There were a few early stumbles — including a 7140 thrashing by the Pulse — but it has formed into a strong unit without those two stars.
It has found everimproving youngsters in Jennifer O’Connell and Courtney Elliott to step into the gaps and they are combining well with the older hands. The scores have not been quite so big, the wins not quite so comfortable this year.
But this team has learnt how to scrap and its ability to win the tight ones has been key.
Given the losses of those two key players and the 31goal loss less than three months ago, it would be a huge achievement if this team can go the whole way and claim the title.
‘‘I think last year everyone expected us to win,’’ Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said.
‘‘It wasn’t about whether we’d win, it was about whether we were going to lose it. So this year it’s all about us being able to win it.
‘‘I’ve always had the belief we’ve got the team to do it.
‘‘It was one of our goals right from the start to go back to back and we’re going to make sure we do everything in our power to do that.’’
The Pulse has a different look to it as well and has become much more than purely a tough defence.
It lost key goal shoot Cathrine Tuivaiti, but it has added Aliyah Dunn and Ameliaranne Ekenasio to complement rising star Tiana Metuarau.
That has made its attacking end dangerous, while Sulu Fitz patrick has bolstered an already physical and energetic defence.
There is no doubt this is a better side than the one the Steel played at home last year.
Whether it is good enough to prize the title off the southern franchise remains to be seen.