Ferns light on depth as fitness issues hit Games build-up

Key unavailabilities and insufficient fitness standards mean the Silver Ferns don’t have the defensive options they once did. Brendon Egan reports.

Inadequate fitness standards and key unavailabilities have left the Silver Ferns light on defensive depth ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The Ferns’ 12-strong Games squad, which may include three additional reserve players, will be unveiled on June 27.

Trials will be held prior to that in Wellington from June 20-23, featuring up to 27 triallists.

Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua revealed their options in the defensive circle were limited, with several premiership players not yet having satisfied mandatory fitness requirements.

While pleasing progress had been made with conditioning since Taurua took over the job in 2018, they still had some way to go.

It isn’t the first time fitness has been an issue in the defensive end, with Taurua forced to name just three frontline defenders for last year’s Constellation Cup against Australia.

Jane Watson and Katrina Rore, who were pivotal members of the Ferns’ 2019 World Cupwinning side, are also unavailable due to pregnancy – further weakening the defensive stocks.

‘‘It’s similar to the other bookend [shooting end] in that we don’t have an over supply of in-circle defenders especially who are fit enough to meet the standards, which is a bit of a shame because there’s some really good players out there, but unfortunately once again selections may be a bit bare because of that fact,’’ Taurua said.

Taurua will still be able to name a talented defensive unit with Pulse goal-keep Kelly Jury, the form defender of the premiership, Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick and Karin Burger (Tactix) certainties to be picked in the 12.

That might leave Phoenix Karaka, Kayla Johnson, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and former two-test Australian international Kristiana Manu’a, who is eligible for the Ferns, battling for one spot – depending on the makeup of the midcourt.

Manu’a, who joined the Pulse this year after five seasons with Giants Netball in Australia, was born in Wellington, but moved to Sydney as a baby.

The standout play of 30-test international Jury in the premiership had been wonderful to see, Taurua said.

Jury has been the leading defender in the competition and among the best players in any position.

She tops all the individual defensive categories, sitting first for rebounds (20), deflections

(62) – 23 more than the next best, and intercepts (21).

She leads an unwanted category though, conceding the most penalties (122) – an area of her game she will be eager to tidy up.

‘‘I thought even last year she was just starting to make great strides in the international scene as well,’’ Taurua said.

‘‘I think with what she’s been able to show and do and demonstrate in the ANZ games has been really heartening, so I see those shifts overall and the work she’s done behind the scenes once again physically to get her body in better shape, but to also get her feet moving and having a bigger presence on the ball.’’

Taurua believed the 25-yearold had matured as a player after bursting on the domestic scene as a schoolgirl in 2015. Jury was better for past disappointments and injuries and was enjoying her netball, which had translated to her strong play.

‘‘The work she’s done physically is starting to show and probably her relationship in the Pulse and how she’s become a leader as well has helped her game.’’

Burger, who is thriving again in the Tactix defensive end, is predominantly used at goaldefence at premiership level.

She can comfortably slide between GD and wing-defence – a position Taurua prefers to use her in internationally.

Burger saw extended game time at WD in January’s Quad Series in England and could loom as the Ferns’ first-choice option there for the Games.

‘‘At the moment, wingdefence in the international seems to be the position where she’s turning over a lot of ball and really stamping her mark.’’

Taurua wanted to see premiership defenders picking up greater amounts of clean turnover ball – which was still too low for her liking.

With five weekends of round matches left, then the finals, Taurua said aspiring Ferns needed to deliver and prove they were the best in the competition in their positions with Games selection heating up.

Teams were playing multiple games in a week to make up for matches, which were postponed because of Covid-19.

That would serve players well heading into the Games, where the Ferns face seven games in 10 days.

‘‘In the ANZ now people need to stamp their mark and put their best foot forward . . . you don’t want to be in the hands of the selectors, you want to . . . dominate your position.’’

‘We don’t have an over supply of in-circle defenders especially who are fit enough to meet the standards, which is a bit of a shame.’ NOELINE TAURUA