Will Tutaia be the next to go?
Netball New Zealand insists star shooter Maria Tutaia is in contract talks with an ANZ Premiership franchise although her immediate playing future remains unclear.
Tutaia will be the next top player in the spotlight after Laura Langman, Leana de Bruin and Cathrine Tuivaiti all confirmed they would play in next year’s Australian league in preference to their home competition.
Netball NZ head of high performance Keir Hansen said the retention of Silver Ferns is a key focus for the organisation, as it stands firm on its eligibility rule.
It states a player must be signed up with a New Zealand franchise for the 2018 season in order to play for the Silver Ferns at the Commonwealth Games in April and the following international season.
With franchise teams on both sides of the Tasman frantically signing players for the 2018 season and a number of quality New Zealand players not locked in, there is concern in netball circles despite the contracting period not closing till August 23.
Tutaia, who is engaged to Wallabies rugby star Israel Folau, is yet to confirm her plans after turning out for the Northern Mystics in the just-completed premiership.
Southern Steel goal attack Jamie Hume is joining the Mystics for the 2018 season, while goal shoot Bailey Mes also re-signed with the Auckland-based franchise.
Hansen said of Tutaia: ’’We know that she is in negotiations with a New Zealand team like a lot of players are at the moment.’’
Players taking sabbaticals, to get around signing for a 2018 competition team, would be ‘‘an exception.’’
‘‘It would be something that the Netball NZ board would have to consider,’’ Hansen said.
This week has provided some hefty knocks to the ANZ Premiership’s credibility. Joining the Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Langman and coach Noeline Taurua across the ditch will be Adelaide Thunderbirds duo of de Bruin and Tuivaiti, along with the leading goalscorer in the premiership, Jhaniele Fowler-Reid at the West Coast Fever.
Hansen believes that if they retain the services of international Silver Ferns playing in the national league, the standard of the competition will be strong.
‘‘Our priority is making sure that our key Silver Ferns stay here in New Zealand to play and are eligible for the Silver Ferns, so that is really our priority and making sure that happens and that is part of our high performance strategy,’’ he said.
‘‘We believe that if those players are in New Zealand, we will have a great competition.’’
While the mad scramble to retain players seems like an annual undertaking, as players and teams come to agreements, according to Hansen players can be signed up for greater periods of time.
One of the teams affected by player movements has been the champions, Southern Steel.
‘‘These things are always going to happen. I think we need to have a look at what we have got in our stocks and just mix things up,’’ Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said.
‘‘The wheels are in motion as we speak, we just have to look at who’s available and who we are going to target and just go from there. Anything can happen at the moment, players decide what challenges they want and where places are going to suit them best, it could be an interesting time.’’