Willering reveals plan on defence
and 26 intercepts — surely a shooin for the Netball World Cup squad.
MOST IMPROVED Saviour Tui
Tui was a beacon of hope under the post for the Steel. The shooter was plagued with limited court time as she recovered from injuries, but when she was on the court, boy, did she deliver. Showed amazing strength on the take, created space for herself and slotted 302 goals from 354 attempts.
TIME TO REBUILD Under attack
Let’s face it, the Steel needs a touch of class at wing attack. That position drives the attack line and cuts the lines, and that was missing, particularly in the first half of the season. We will wait with bated breath to see if Saunders returns. Otherwise, the Steel needs to find a replacement.
Keeping the core
No, things did not go the Steel’s way, but you get the feeling if the core of the young group return — with a couple of good recruitments in the mix — they can lift. Tui, Burley and Georgia Heffernan came on in leaps and bounds, and that bodes well for the future.
Looking back
The Steel coaching staff and players do not need us to tell them what a poor season it was. But a thorough review among the squad is needed to determine how it can avoid getting the dreaded wooden spoon again next season. Pick apart what went wrong, what went right and where they need to recruit in leadership and key positions next year. Then dump it and move on. The franchise, and its fans, cannot face another year like this.
AUCKLAND: Yvonne Willering has revealed her plan to derail the Australian attack at the World Cup.
The former head coach will oversee the Silver Ferns’ defence strategy as a quasiassistant coach at their Auckland pretournament camps.
The first camp takes place from June 27, the second on the Sunshine Coast from July 5 and the third back in Auckland from July 14.
If the Silver Ferns finish top of their group, they will probably face either the England Roses or the Diamonds in the semifinal.
Willering said Australia always discussed New Zealand’s defensive zone.
“They never play space marking; they’re always one on one. They actually never get a chance to practise it so obviously one of the things the Ferns will employ is the space marking.”
The role is nothing new for Willering, who has worked closely with Dame Noeline Taurua over the past few years as a sounding board for ideas and advice.
Willering sees her focus on defence as an extension of this relationship. She said they would plan both first and secondphase play heading into the major competition.
“And also just looking at the different aspects both off and on the court, cause it’s always another pair of eyes. Dame Noeline very much likes to tick all the boxes in her preparations and she wants to cover everything off.”
Willering predicts New Zealand’s biggest challenge leading into the tournament will be achieving clarity on strategy.
The veteran mentor said they needed a series of game plans the whole team agreed on.
“We want no confusion. We need to have a total player buyin. If they don’t think something’s going to work, there’s no point going on and on with it, because in a pressure situation they would not use that. —