Magic spell possible for Henry, Latu
WAIKATO-BAY OF Plenty Magic have ramped up their recruitment drive by targeting Silver Ferns stars Joline Henry and Cathrine Latu.
Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu has told leading players her preference is that their respective playing futures are sorted before assembling for national trials in Auckland early this week.
A hard taskmaster, Taumaunu doesn’t want negotiations causing distractions.
That could see Magic defenders Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin announce they are set to remain in Hamilton, but where Latu and Henry end up remains unclear.
The Northern Mystics chased Kopua’s talents – presenting an enticing offer – but the Ferns captain is favoured to remain loyal to the Magic, possibly for the next two years. Complicating matters is that her husband, Terry, works under Magic chairman, John Wiltshire, as a solicitor at Beattie Rickman Legal.
Despite receiving an offer from the Canterbury Tactix, de Bruin’s son Caleb starts school next year and the security of Hamilton is thought to appeal.
After losing Laura Langman to the Mystics and Irene van Dyk to the Central Pulse, the Magic have moved swiftly to fill those places.
The Sunday Star-Times understands Hamilton-based Henry is strongly considering an offer to rejoin the Magic for a second stint. Henry previously played for the Magic ( 2008- 09) and Mystics (2010-11) before joining the Pulse.
‘‘ She has been offered a few things. Joles has been part of our team for a couple of years now. She’s a wonderful team member and it would be really sad if she wasn’t with us,’’ Pulse coach Robyn Broughton said.
‘‘ Joles will make up her own mind. I talk to her a lot, but I give her space to make her decisions. She’s smart enough. I would be worried if I wasn’t going to have her, but I’m confident we can make it work in her best interests.’’
The dynamic and abrasive wing defence commuted to Wellington this year but, with a young family, minimising her travel is a factor. The 30-year-old is a prized signature.
‘‘ I can understand that,’’ Broughton said of the commute. ‘‘She’s been coming and going at this stage. She is very disciplined and does a lot of work away from the team. She knows the requirements of a professional player.’’
While the Magic have been linked to veteran Australian shooter Catherine Cox, they have made a generous play for Latu, who may benefit from a change of surroundings.
‘‘She’s been talking to other peo- ple and has every right to do that,’’ Mystics coach Debbie Fuller confirmed. ‘‘The talent pool is a little bit on the shrinking side. That’s why the recruitment decisions have to be made quite quickly.
‘‘ She [ Latu] would be a real strength to whatever team she went to, because of her skill set and understanding of the game.
‘‘It’s important for the Mystics to provide her with support to get her game back on track. I’m confident we can do that.’’
The final piece of the Mystics’ jigsaw is import Julie Corletto.
The Australian defender, nursing a foot injury, is currently in Diamonds’ camp in Canberra.
Fuller hopes to finalise discussions when Corletto returns to Auckland next week. If the Magic can’t secure Henry, Latu or Cox, their midcourt and shooting end are major concerns.
Behind the scenes, all is not well at the Magic. Major sponsors are disgruntled at the way the coaching appointment process was handled. The losses of Langman and van Dyk hurt marketing appeal and serious networking is needed to retain key financial backers.
To secure Cox, the Magic are attempting to terminate the final year of South Australian wing attack Khao Watts’ contract. And four of this year’s squad – Ellen Halpenny, Elias Shadrock, Jamie Lee Price and Jodi Tod- Elliot – have been left out in the cold. The quartet have received no contact from management about next year’s plans.
The Mystics have also poached New Zealand’s best under-23 wing attack, Nadia Loveday, from the Magic.