Frew’s farewell dawns for Steel
The Southern Steel are vowing to keep their emotions in check as the sun sets on skipper Wendy Frew’s 16-year elite career.
Midcourter Frew, who is adored in Southland as much as cheese rolls, Bluff oysters, and Burt Munro, has at least three games left. It could potentially be four if the Steel make it through to the national netball premiership final on August 12.
The 33-year-old has remained loyal to her Invercargill roots, only playing for the Steel and before that the Southern Sting.
Monday’s 59-56 win over the Tactix all but secured the Steel second spot with two round games left. They are unlikely to catch the top-of-the-table Pulse, setting up a probable home elimination final on August 8 at Stadium Southland against the third place qualifier.
There have been suggestions the Steel could even pull one from the Crusaders book and rename the venue ‘Wendy Frew Stadium’ for the day to celebrate her final game at home. The Crusaders dubbed AMI Stadium, ‘Wyatt Crockett Stadium’ for their clash against the Highlanders to honour the departing Wyatt Crockett’s 200th game for the club.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham said they were mindful Frew’s days in the Steel dress were numbered, but didn’t perceive it being an issue for the players.
‘‘She’s a true professional in that space and we know if anyone can cope with that sort of pressure and emotion it will be Wendy.
‘‘She knows she doesn’t have to do it alone. She’s got her teammates and her team behind her to help her through that.’’
Frew announced her retirement two weeks ago which has given the Steel squad time to digest the news.
If anything, it has further galvanised them and provided extra motivation, winning two matches since then. The defending champions have hit form at exactly the right point in the season, winning three successive matches.
‘‘Even Wendy being able to tell her team-mates she was retiring was pretty tough. Knowing that we were there to support her decision made it a little bit easier,’’ Bloxham said.
‘‘As it comes to the end it all becomes reality. It does become tough. I wouldn’t expect anything less for her to be emotional, but it’s about making sure she can contain that.’’
Wing attack Gina Crampton has formed a dependable Steel midcourt with Frew and Shannon Francois over the past few years. Crampton described Frew as a natural leader and said she had been invaluable to her development since debuting for the Steel in 2012.
‘‘She epitomises so many things for us.
‘‘She’s been a huge impact in my years in the Steel. She’s so encouraging and gives you a bit of a kick up the backside if you need it. She’s someone everyone should look up to.’’
Playing an elimination final in Invercargill would be a huge advantage for the Steel, who haven’t lost at Stadium Southland since the former trans-Tasman league in 2016.
No-one deserved a memorable send off more than Frew, who returned to the court this season Gina Crampton talking about skipper Wendy Frew
‘‘She’s been a huge impact in my years in the Steel. She’s so encouraging and gives you a bit of a kick up the backside if you need it. She’s someone everyone should look up to.’’
after rupturing her Achilles tendon last July. She also needed arm and leg surgery and more than 70 stitches last June when she was one of several players travelling in a van that was hit by a car during a visit to Christchurch. Just 16 days later, Frew was back on court to help the Steel beat the Pulse in the final.
‘‘[Stadium Southland] is our fortress and we want to be here to play that game and for her to play her final game at home in front of our home crowd would be just amazing,’’ Bloxham said.
‘‘We know we’ve got the best [netball] supporters in the world and they really help to get us across the line.’’
The Steel’s final round games are against the Magic as part of the league’s Super Sunday round in Auckland this weekend. They conclude against the Stars, also in Auckland, on July 29.