Tactix coach targets talent
Marianne Delaney-Hoshek plans to use her coaching connections to entice fringe Silver Ferns to the Mainland Tactix this off-season.
Former assistant DelaneyHoshek, who has been in charge of the side since Sue Hawkins resigned in late April, was confirmed as Tactix coach for next season on Friday.
With the 1-12 Tactix assured of last place in the inaugural national netball premiership with two games to go, Delaney-Hoshek has a clear idea of what players she could realistically look to sign for the perennial strugglers.
Teams can already start resigning players from their own teams, but can’t approach opposition players until the transfer window opens, which runs from July 12-August 23.
The Tactix have again been well off the pace, losing seven of their 13 games by more than 15 goals. If they are to prove a greater threat next year, they will need an upgrade in talent in several positions. Delaney-Hoshek will have to quickly decide what players deserve to be retained and who should be let go.
The nucleus of the Tactix squad have been together for the past three years and haven’t got the job done, winning just four games in that time.
Delaney-Hoshek, who coached New Zealand A last year and guided the New Zealand secondary schools team in 2013 and 2014, said she would look to chase some of those players.
‘‘The key thing is we do need some change. We have got a good core of players, but adding a couple of players into the mix would be great.
‘‘While I do think we have a really good core and we’re getting a really great environment, adding another couple of players into the mix would be benefecial.’’
Making sure they land a quality import will be imperative for Delaney-Hoshek. The franchise butchered their import slot this season with experienced English shooter Kadeen Corbin failing to fire. Corbin hasn’t taken the court in the last three games and hasn’t started a game since round three.
The Tactix can’t afford to have an import signing sitting on the bench and need to do all they can to ensure they land a player, who can make a key difference on court.
Three days after being thumped 56-37 by the Central Pulse in super Sunday’s round of matches in Auckland, the Tactix will be desperate to play well in their final home game.
They host the 13-0 Southern Steel at Horncastle Arena on Wednesday night and conclude their campaign away to the Mystics on Sunday.
The Steel have breezed through the season, but on Monday six team members were involved in a traffic accident in Christchurch, where their van rolled after a collision at an intersection.
Skipper Wendy Frew underwent surgery and will miss the game along with Silver Fern shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
The last time the Steel were in Christchurch in April they crushed the Tactix by a recordbreaking 90-41 scoreline with Jamaican import Jhaniele FowlerReid, slotting 70/75. It was a result that ultimately cost, the already under pressure Hawkins her coaching job. Delaney-Hoshek said the loss to the Pulse was a major disappointment, having picked up their first win of the season against the Northern Stars in the previous game.
They wanted to build on the victory, but went backwards.
‘‘It was a difficult one because we tended to play quite well for 12 minutes of every quarter and then just let it go for three mad minutes at the end.’’
The Tactix shooters struggled against the physicality of the Pulse defence and Delaney-Hoshek was unhappy about some of the umpiring.
‘‘Under the post, we weren’t getting any obstruction calls. They were just bashing the ball.’’