Maia shoots to the top
On the outer this time last year, young goal shoot has had a stellar past 12 months and capably filled the void left by Ferns great Maria Folau. Brendon Egan reports.
MAIA Wilson has quickly developed into aworld-class goal shoot and Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua thinks she’s only getting started.
No Silver Fern enhanced their prospects more in a Covid19 disrupted 2020 than 23-yearold Wilson.
When Ferns shooting great Maria Folau retired after last October’s Constellation Cup series against Australia some wondered how she would be effectively replaced at goal shoot.
In the space of 11 months, Wilson has answered developed the potential to be amainstay of the Ferns’ shooting end for the next decade.
Handed a starting opportunity at January’s Nations Cup in England, Wilson thrived in substantial court-time as the new-look Ferns captured the title.
She was a tower of strength for the Northern Stars in the domestic premiership this season, and was among the best performed Silver Ferns in last week’s 3-0 Taini Jamison Trophy series triumph over England.
Wilson converted 116 goals from 127 attempts (91 per cent) across the three games – again flourishing alongside Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio in the shooting end.
‘‘She’s still very young. She’s got two more [pinnacle event] cycles and really she’s at the start of her career,’’ Taurua said.
‘‘First of all her shooting percentages and attempts are world-class. She’s still improving on her positional play within the circle, but people are seeing glimpses of what she can do, whether it’s a holding shooter or moving.’’
Wilson’s sharp improvement this year had been testament to her pleasing progress with strength and conditioning.
Early in her career, fitness and an inability to stand up to physical defenders was sometimes a knock on her play, but she has addressed those issues.
Wilson battled to reach 14.5 in the yoyo fitness test in her early years in professional netball, but told Sunday News in January she was hitting the 16.6 mark and was the fittest she’d ever been.
Taurua said it was clearly evident watching her play on court and the hard toil she had done behind the scenes was paying off.
‘‘She’s been doing a lot of work, and she’s at the stage now where she is fit, but she can also keep the balance of her body strength. She’s reaping the rewards for the work she has
done over the last one or two years.’’
Wilson got plenty of kilometres under her belt running on the road last Christmas prior to heading to the Nations Cup. Pounding the pavement was the easiest way for netballers to improve their fitness base, Taurua said.
‘‘You’ve just got to get out there and do the hard yards. She did that at Christmas and in that space of time when she did come back into the Silver Ferns that’s whenwe noticed her [growth].’’
Wilson was among the most impressive Ferns in the Taini Jamison Trophy, with recalled midcourter Claire Kersten another to shine.
Having largely been on the Ferns’ outer since Taurua took over as national coach in August 2018, Kersten backed up her stellar play with the Pulse in the ANZ Premiership.
With Laura Langman calling time on her illustrious netball career, there was a
major chance for the Ferns midcourters to impress at centre against England.
Shannon Saunders started the first two tests, but Kersten created such spark off the bench, she was preferred in the final game.
Kersten’s consistent play across the three games should see her rewarded as the starting centre if a Constellation Cup is possible against Australia in January.
Taurua had originally planned to use Kersten at wing defence against England with Sam Winders and Karin Burger also splitting time in the position. Kersten, who is equally comfortable at centre orwing defence, excelled when brought on to replace Saunders.
‘‘Very low maintenance is how I would describe her, but very effective with what she does, whether it be attack or defence. She’s a person that just gets the job done,’’ Taurua said of Kersten.
‘‘Very pleasant to see her out there and she did a phenomenal job at centre.’’
Goal defence remains the position of most concern to Taurua with the stocks relatively low with centurion Katrina Rore and fellow World Cupwinner Phoenix Karaka both pregnant. Michaela Sokolich-Beatson ruptured her Achilles tendon for the second time in nine months just prior to the Cadbury Series and faces a long stint on the sidelines. Taurua had hoped to use Burger at goal defence and Jane Watson in her preferred goal keep role more often against England, but Burger was on a restricted workload because of a calf injury.
Defenders on the fringes like Erena Mikaere, Georgia Tong, and Kate Burley will have a chance to stake their claim for the Ferns’ goal defence mix in the ANZ Premiership.
New Zealand under-21s player ParrisMason is highlyrated, but will be in her first seasonwith the Pulse next year and needs to establish herself in the elite ranks.
‘ She’s reaping the rewards for the work she has done over the last one or two years.’ NOELINE TAURUA, RIGHT