TRIO MAY HAVE FINGER ON PULSE
ELEVEN years after playing her last game in black-and-gold colours, star netball player Irene van Dyk could be on her way to the Central Pulse.
The 41-year-old van Dyk spent three seasons with the old Capital Shakers, before signing with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
Van Dyk has lived in Wellington throughout her Magic years and is now considering a move to her hometown trans-Tasman Netball League franchise.
The former New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year is one of three key Magic players thought to be eager to leave the franchise after the departure of longtime coach Noeline Taurua.
Magic captain Laura Langman is another, along with defender and Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua, formerly Williams.
Sources have indicated the trio are interested in joining the Pulse or Canterbury Tactix en masse, although van Dyk said it was too early to say anything definitive.
‘‘We haven’t actually talked about it because they [the Magic] haven’t announced the new coach yet,’’ she told The Dominion Post. ‘‘I can’t say, ‘Yes, we’re moving,’ or ‘No, we’re not,’ because noone’s made a decision.’’
The Magic are expected to name Taurua’s successor this week. Rival teams are not permitted to speak to players until after the completion of the transTasman league on July 14.
Pulse board chairman Ian Collier called suggestions of the Magic players moving to his franchise ‘‘purely speculative’’.
The Pulse’s recruitment team began working on next year’s roster a fortnight ago and its No 1 priority was re-signing coach Robyn Broughton.
It would then set about securing whichever players were on Broughton’s wish-list and name a squad by the end of this month.
One sticking point for teams wanting to sign the Magic stars is the league’s $380,000 salary cap. The trio are all thought to have a market value of between $50,000 and $60,000.