THE HIGH FLIERS
Who have been the top performers by position in the inaugural national netball premiership? Brendon Egan runs the microscope over the leading candidates.
Goal shoot: Jhaniele Fowler-Reid (Steel)
Jamaican sharpshooter FowlerReid has been an integral contributor in the Steel’s 9-0 unbeaten start to the season. She’s slotted the most goals in the competition (448 at 91 per cent) and has surpassed 50 goals in a game on four occasions. Fowler-Reid terrorised the Tactix for 70 from 75 attempts in Christchurch last month.
Take her out of the team and there’s no question the Steel aren’t nearly as dominant, as witnessed in their other match against the Tactix this season in Dunedin, where she sat out two quarters. Magic’s South African import Lenize Potgieter and Cathrine Tuivaiti, who looks rejuvenated at the Pulse, gain an honourable mention.
Goal attack: Tiana Metuarau (Pulse)
Silver Ferns Maria Tutaia (Mystics) and Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Steel) deserve consideration, but they’ve been upstaged by the Pulse 16-year-old schoolgirl. Metuarau, the daughter of former Silver Ferns coach and defender Wai Taumaunu, has looked more than comfortable in her first season of elite netball and the sky is the limit with her potential. She wasn’t even an original member of the Pulse squad, but was called in when Ameliaranne Ekenasio withdrew due to pregnancy.
After being used off the bench in the early games, Metuarau has shouldered a decent chunk of the scoring volume since starting at goal attack, scoring 24 or more goals in her past four games. She’s been more accurate than both Tutaia (79 per cent) and SelbyRickit (76 per cent), landing 184 of 229 (80 per cent). Metuarau will surely be named tomorrow in the New Zealand under-21 squad for July’s World Youth Cup in Botswana.
Wing attack: Gina Crampton (Steel)
Crampton has been arguably the form midcourter of the competition. After debuting for the Silver Ferns last October, she has developed her consistency this season and taken her play to an even higher level.
The 25-year-old is starting to place pressure on incumbent Grace Rasmussen, who herself has been in strong form for the Magic, for the Silver Ferns’ starting wing attack bib. Crampton is averaging 15 assists per game, among the best in the ANZ Premiership.
Centre: Shannon Francois (Steel)
It’s hard to go past Francois at centre, given her high work rate on both attack and defence.
She’s one of the fittest players in New Zealand netball and makes smart plays at crunch moments in the fourth quarter when others falter. The challenge for Francois will be to reproduce her standout netball for the Steel in the international arena, which has been a criticism in the past.
Wing defence: Samantha Sinclair (Magic)
Sinclair switched between centre and wing defence for the Magic last season, but has found her home at WD in the ANZ Premiership. The nuggety Sinclair links well on attack with those higher up the court and is adept at gobbling up turnovers and loose ball on defence.
Sinclair gains the nod over Claire Kersten at the Pulse, who has been one of the most improved players in the competition, in between balancing her high school teaching job. Kersten is worthy of a Silver Ferns trial, given the consistent netball she has been delivering for the Pulse.
Goal defence: Katrina Grant (Pulse)
Several past and present Silver Ferns have put their hands up in the defensive end through the opening nine rounds, but the Pulse combination have been influential in their 6-3 start.
The Pulse are conceding 47 goals per match, the lowest of any side, and Ferns captain Grant and her partner in crime, Phoenix Karaka, are a key factor why. They hunt well as a combination and snaffle plenty of defensive ball.
Goal keep: Phoenix Karaka (Pulse)
Some wondered if Karaka could deliver on the potential she showed at youth level, but the 23-year-old is finally starting to flourish. She has been in excellent touch at goal keep and delivering the finest netball of her career. Insiders say she’s happy off the court and it’s firmly showing in her displays for the Pulse.
Combinations are vital when it comes to the defensive circle. Keep going the way she is and Karaka has the ability to leapfrog Jane Watson, Anna Harrison and Kelly Jury in the queue for a Silver Ferns defensive starting spot with Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin retired from the international game.