Co-captains ready for challenge

Olivia Merry and Megan Hull know they have big shoes to fill, but they’re ready for the challenges.

Their first assignment as cocaptains of the Black Sticks women comes this week in Auckland, where they have four tests against Australia’s Hockeyroos, starting today.

The matches are their first since the Tokyo Olympics last August and their squad looks quite different.

The most notable change has been at the helm, with captain and influential player Stacey Michelsen calling time late last year on a career that spanned almost 300 matches.

In charge now are forward Merry, who is approaching her 250th appearance, and defender Hull, who is coming up on her 50th.

‘‘When we first got asked to cocaptain the team, it was a bit of a shock,’’ Merry said. ‘‘But I couldn’t think of anyone better to do it alongside. My weaknesses are probably where Megan’s strengths lie, so I think co-captaincy is a fantastic way forward.

‘‘I couldn’t imagine doing this by myself. This is such a new team and getting across the more experienced side and the less experienced side, with Megan, is fantastic.’’

Hull said Merry would set the tone for the side by leading by example, and they were both eager to ensure that even the newest members of the Black Sticks felt they could speak up in the team environment.

Former Black Sticks men’s coach Darren Smith was announced yesterday as the interim women’s coach through to the end of the Commonwealth Games in August.

His appointment follows the decision of Graham Shaw in April to resign and return to his family in Ireland.

Smith moved into an overarching high performance role with Hockey New Zealand following the Olympics but has been working with the team for the past three weeks. His job will be to support the team’s three assistant coaches – Shea McAleese, Bryce Collins, and Verity Sharland – who were appointed at the start of the year and each has different responsibilities.

This week’s trans-Tasman clashes are a chance for the Black Sticks to lay down a marker ahead of a seven-week stretch in July and August where they have a World Cup in Spain and the Commonwealth Games in England.

As the Black Sticks look to improve on their 11th-place finish at the last World Cup in 2018 and defend their Commonwealth Games title, which they won earlier that year, Smith feels they have the leaders they need.

‘‘Those two are unbelievable,’’ he said. ‘‘With Olivia Merry, there was a period of time when every time she touched the ball, she scored a goal. She was just popping them in for fun.

‘‘With Megan Hull, her leadership at the back and her commitment and drive and determination is just a great example for the team to follow.

‘‘In those two ladies, you’ve just got fantastic examples of people to follow and that includes myself. I can follow their lead and their determination and passion for their country and the Black Sticks.’’