Cullen angry with Cox’s comments
HOPEFULLY Cath Cox can introduce the Silver Ferns for the rest of the Netball World Cup.
The former Australian shooter and captain, along with ex-Silver Fern Temepara Bailey, gave spectators a brief summary of each player, before Sunday’s clash with the Diamonds at Allphones Arena.
New Zealand’s players later turned on a stunning performance, none better than that of Kayla Cullen. The wing defence played like a woman possessed, as the Silver Ferns beat Australia 52-47.
And with good reason, given Cox’s description of her.
‘‘What really got me firing was when Coxy was announcing the players on the court and she was like we have [Australian wing attack] Kim Green and all this really good stuff and then we have Kayla Cullen ‘she hasn’t really got this [wing defence] position and they haven’t really got this position covered and whatever’,’’ Cullen said.
‘‘And I was like, what, that is my position. Excuse me. And then I got really mad and I took it out on Kim.
‘‘I was like, why are they doing this right now? That’s not fair. Even when she said about [goal shoot] Bailey [Mes]: they haven’t really got this position covered, they’re still trying out line-ups and stuff.
‘‘[I was thinking] excuse me you don’t know anything.’’
One of the features of New Zealand’s win was the determination the whole team played with. Cullen was particularly impressive, refusing to yield to Australia’s pressure. She likes to think she’s a tough cookie but the 23-year-old was especially motivated on this occasion. ‘‘I’m pretty staunch on court and I like to scare my opposition, but [Cox] did get me firing a little bit. I was pretty pissed off,’’ said Cullen.
It was all to the Silver Ferns’ benefit. Whatever anger Cullen felt, it was channelled in the right way. She played hard, clean netball and was one of several Silver Ferns to enhance their reputations. Mes was another.
Despite being the No 1 goal shoot in the squad, Mes hadn’t convinced everyone of her qualities. Frankly, if there were weak links in the team, then Mes and Cullen would’ve been two that many folk nominated. Not any more.
Mes’ return of 18/21 against Australia was a bit misleading. The umpires whistled Australia’s circle defenders for a number of penalties, from which New Zealand’s plan was for Maria Tutaia to shoot, with Mes to recover any rebounds. The plan worked a treat, with Mes snaring five rebounds and Tutaia netting 34/48.
‘‘It was pretty rough out there. My volume was down but I knew Ria was going to shoot those penalties all day, so if that works then I’m happy,’’ Mes said.
‘‘Obviously there’s been a lot of criticism and my performances haven’t been that great thus far. Or not where I want them to be anyway.
‘‘So I did want to show everyone that I could do it and that I deserved to be there and I hope I did in some way. But I know I’ve still got a long way to go.’’
As do the team. Sunday’s win over Australia might’ve set the tournament alight, but it hasn’t inflated the Silver Ferns’ opinion of themselves.
They know they’ll meet Jamaica today, even if the draw for the remainder of the tournament isn’t officially confirmed.
Having already played Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand are ideally prepared for another Caribbean clash.
The Silver Ferns and Sunshine Girls last met last July, when New Zealand were 50-42 winners. They also played in January last year with the Silver Ferns taking that one 52-46.