Hawkins frozen out at Tactix
OPINION: Player power contributed to Sue Hawkins’ downfall as Mainland Tactix coach.
The situation was so dire in the final days of her coaching tenure she was asked to be excluded from one training session, sources have confirmed.
An unhappy Tactix squad requested they train alone, indicating she had lost the respect of the squad.
Hawkins stepped down on April 24, five winless games into the campaign. It was a fascinating turn of events given the Tactix granted her a two year contract extension last August through to the end of 2018.
Hawkins has refused to comment on her departure and will return to her native Australia.
Netball Mainland remain adamant, at least publicly, Hawkins, who only accrued three wins from 31 matches in charge since 2015, wasn’t pushed to resign under pressure from the board.
Two events seem to have had a catastrophic effect on her demise.
Following a sub-par 48-37 home loss to new entity, the South Auckland-based Northern Stars in round two, Hawkins berated shooters Brooke Leaver and English import Kadeen Corbin, who admittedly turned in poor performances.
Hawkins told Stuff, ‘‘Both need to get that rocket and I’m happy to give it to them’’ – threatening to drop the duo down to their secondtier Beko League team unless they started delivering.
While Hawkins’ comments were on the mark, many felt they should have been delivered in the safe confines of the dressing room, away from media.
It’s difficult to picture franchises like the Steel and Magic, traditionally the benchmark of domestic netball in this country, blasting their players via the fourth estate. Hawkins’ fate was sealed 12 days later when the Tactix suffered a record-breaking 90-41 loss on their home court to the Steel. Four days after that she coached the side against the Magic, a 61-46 loss, her final act in the job.
Less than 24 hours later, she was gone with assistant Marianne Delaney-Hoshek taking the reins for the rest of the season.
It’s unfair to entirely blame Hawkins for the Tactix dreadful results. She never had the talent most of the other Kiwi sides possessed.
Malawi international Mwai Kumwenda and Silver Ferns shooter Bailey Mes were the only two genuine stars at her disposal.
The finest coaches in any sport have the knack of getting the best out of their players and uniting them, even when they are devoid of world class performers, something Hawkins couldn’t do.
It was hoped Hawkins, an experienced coach with strong contacts, might be able to entice leading players to the Tactix, which never happened.
She certainly tried with the Tactix sometimes offering more money to players than rival franchises, but proved unsuccessful. The Tactix feeble winning record over a long time, the earthquakes and a lack of excitement in Christchurch have all been cited as key reasons. Delaney-Hoshek has stated she wants the Tactix coaching job beyond this season.
The remaining eight games will very much be an audition for her. If she can get the side playing with greater conviction and eke out the odd upset win, she won’t do her chances any harm. She won’t be the only one fighting for her future. Not too many of the Tactix squad have covered themselves in glory and need to prove they’re up to this level of netball over the second half of the season.
With 2017 already a write-off, Delaney-Hoshek and the franchise must start thinking towards next year.
Rookie shooter Ellie Bird, not even an original member of the squad, slotted 22/25 in her debut against the Mystics on Wednesday.
While Bird is a work in progress and needs to be managed carefully, she looms as a long-term option at goal shoot with her 1.94m height. She and promising young defender Kate Lloyd deserve increased court-time over the back half of the season.
Bird showed more in 21 minutes on court than most of her senior team-mates have all season. It’s time for them to step up and show they belong.