Change the only hope for Tactix

The Tactix need to be aggressive in their recruitment for next season, they need to request and be granted a second import again, and they need to stop believing the current crop of players have the ability to play themselves out of a three-year slump.

A 65-42 thrashing at the hands of a strong, but far from brilliant, Waikato-bay of Plenty Magic side on Saturday is simply not good enough.

Apart from the first quarter the Tactix were outplayed across the court by the Magic.

Most worringly for the Tactix was that as soon as things stopped going their way, they folded. The Magic walked away with the second quarter 15-5 to lead by 12 at halftime and from there the game was already over.

The Tactix shooting was mediocre at best, their defensive zip was lacking and their movement of the ball up court laboured.

For a team meant to be developing, Saturday’s thumping was another case of one step forward, two steps back.

The Tactix have lost their last three games by a combined 62 goals.

This season is one of rebuilding, and was always going to be, so the Tactix deserve some slack.

From the top the franchise is working on developing a more sustainable line of strong local talent (playing and coaching) that can be competitive and they’re working on a long-term plan of improvement.

But to borrow a well-worn phrase, the definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result.

If the Tactix do not improve their roster for next season, they will again be at the wrong end of the ANZ Championship ladder.

It’s easier said than done, sure, but if that is not high on chief executive Pete Smith’s list of things to do, questions should be being asked.

Players such as Anna Thompson, Ellen Halpenny, Anna Galvan, Keshia Grant, Jo Trip, Bessie Manu and Kiley Hikawai are all good netballers but none are superstars.

That’s fine. The competition only has a handful of genuine superstars and through sheer weight of numbers, it’s often how the good players perform, rather than the great ones that turns an average team into a great one.

One problem the Tactix have is they are naively expecting the current crop to develop into great players over time. They will improve but only at the same speed as every other side.

Recruitment to shaky ol’ Christchurch is clearly not easy and, like most teams, the Tactix aren’t rolling in spare cash, but something needs to be done.

More bending of the rules by competition organisers TTNL to extend the salary cap for the Tactix could be an answer as could a cash injection from TTNL, allowing the struggling franchise to shop for a genuine matchwinner.

Both would no doubt lead to an outcry from other teams but if something’s not done the Tactix will continue to struggle and when the seemingly inevitable decision of axing a New Zealand team comes up, all eyes will be looking this way.