Thorough review of season needed

The Southern Steel’s deflating season has come to an end without a win. Netball writer reflects on the franchise’s toughest season and ponders what might happen next.

OVERALL

It is a season the Steel would rather forget. It became the first team in ANZ Premiership history to go through the season winless, and notched up the competition’s longest losing streak of 18 games, including three losses at the end of 2022. The Steel badly missed stars George Fisher (injury) and Shannon Saunders (pregnancy), and struggled for leadership in the attack end. The first four games stung the most — the Steel lost each by from 17 to 34 goals, lost its flow on attack and failed to pick up ball on defence. The second half of the season was better as the Steel pushed teams the entire way, but still could never grab that elusive win.

BEST GAME

5352 loss v Magic

The Steel saved its best till last. The home side was dogged in defence and was right by the Magic the entire game.

Every player stepped up and it looked as though the Steel would sneak its first win of the season. Plenty to be proud of from that performance.

WORST GAME

7440 loss v Stars

Hard to look past a 34goal thumping in Auckland. The team was already licking its wounds from big opening losses against Mystics and Pulse, but nothing went right when it met the Stars the first time. Pleasing to see the Steel pushed the Stars in their other two encounters.

BEST PLAYER

Kate Burley

The goal keep’s statistics speak for themselves. Burley finished her season second in the league for deflections (67) and defensive rebounds (21) and seventh for intercepts (22). That speaks volumes of the calibre of

The grim numbers

Played: 15

Won: 0

Lost: 15

Goals for: 652

Goals against: 859

player Burley has become, fighting for ball constantly at the back of a team struggling and reaping the rewards. Kate Heffernan had another solid season as well with 366 feeds