Who's in your Silver Ferns dozen for Birmingham? LockerRoom's netball pundits size up the candidates ahead of the national league grand final.
It’s the tournament all Kiwi netball fans wish to forget. The 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games campaign marked the lowest era for the Silver Ferns, missing the final for the first time since netball was included in the Games in 1998.
A dismal fourth placing under the coaching of Janine Southby was only redeemed by the events 15 months later, when New Zealand ended a 16-year drought with Dame Noeline Taurua leading the Ferns to victory at the 2019 World Cup.
With little international netball since due to the global pandemic, it’s hard to know exactly how teams will stack up going into next month’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but Kiwis – fans and players alike – will all want to erase memories of the Gold Coast and replace tears with a shiny piece of gold.
In a domestic season interrupted by Covid, many players were knocked down by the virus, missing games and trainings, forcing match reschedules. It’s not just the lost court time that made an impact - some players are experiencing long Covid and struggling to return to full fitness.
The lingering physical effects of the virus could have a significant impact on the Silver Ferns triallists, named after this weekend's ANZ Premiership grand final between the Pulse and the Stars. Especially for players who caught Covid late in the season and are still on return-to-play programmes.
Since 2019, the Ferns have seen legends retire, like Maria Folau, Laura Langman and Casey Kopua - all bowing out with a fairytale finish. And with Katrina Rore and Jane Watson, two more of the victorious World Cup team, both missing Birmingham through pregnancies, it’ll be a new-look Ferns side.
Taurua now has the dilemma of whether to choose young players to gain the international experience to usher the Ferns into a new era - like earlier this year where NZ finished third in the Northern Quad Series - or to go with the tried and true, picking those who’ve proven they have what it takes to take home the silverware.
While we here at LockerRoom don’t claim to have the netball intellect of Dame Noels, we’ve put together a list of who we might see go for gold. The Silver Ferns will take 12 players to Birmingham, with allocated spots for reserves too.
Shooters
The shooting circle has been the main area of question and concern in the last year for the Silver Ferns, with the attacking third likely to be the least experienced in the Birmingham squad.
Only just returning to a full 60 minutes of play after having her second child, Ameliaranne Ekenasio has been open about her struggles to meet Taurua’s demanding fitness standards. One of the standouts of the 2019 World Cup team, her return to form came late in the ANZ Premiership and with the Ferns playing five games in seven days, the gruelling schedule is sure to test the silky shooter’s endurance.
If Taurua chooses to look for another goal attack, young Tiana Metuarau should get a recall. The 21-year-old made her long-awaited Ferns debut in October, with five seasons of ANZ Premiership experience under her belt. What the Pulse shooter might lack in volume, she makes up for in her ability to move the ball through the midcourt, and her connections with her goal shoot.
Maia Wilson was not chosen for the last two pinnacle events, but has cemented her spot as the starting Ferns goal shoot ever since, and has proven capable of standing up to the physical Australian defence. Despite a few wobbles with the Stars, the 24-year-old always bounces back (she shot 96 percent in the Stars’ 63-57 elimination final victory over the Mystics this week). Expect to see Wilson named in the 12.
Stepping up for the Magic this year, veteran Bailey Mes showed a return to the form that’s kept her on the Ferns’ radar for the past decade. Able to slot in at either shooting position, plus wing attack, the 33-year-old’s recent form - plus her 72 international caps - make her a valuable choice.
But Taurua could turn to a younger shooter - like Jamie Hume, who’s made a real impression with her turn-and-shoot style in the Stars’ most recent games – or the experienced Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who had some strong performances for the hapless Tactix.
The fourth shooter spot should come down to the battle of the tall timbers. Aliyah Dunn and Grace Nweke stand at 1.90m and 1.93m respectively and are well-known for their accuracy under the hoop. Both have four international caps to their names, but Dunn has been absent from the Ferns for the last four years due to the tough fitness standards.
Nweke’s season with the Mystics and recent Ferns performance give her an edge, but her recent ankle injury is reason for concern. If Nweke isn’t able to fully recover in time, Dunn might just get the chance she’s been working so hard for this year and earn an international recall.
Midcourters
Taurua is spoiled for choice in the middle.
From the inexperienced but youthful and lively middies Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Kate Heffernan and Maddy Gordon, to a seasoned player like Kayla Johnson, who has pinnacle events under her belt, and made her post-baby comeback in the Northern tour in January.
One of the victims of the post-Commonwealth Games cull and missing the World Cup, Magic stalwart Sam Winders is nearing 50 Silver Ferns caps. Able to cover centre and wing defence, Winders brings grit on defence and a strong voice through the midcourt. The 2021 Silver Ferns player of the year would be an asset to the team.
The inclusion of Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton should be a no-brainer, sharing 137 international caps between them. The duo are solid in the midcourt, always maintaining a low error rate and have played many games together at the Steel and in the black dress, so have a strong connection.
If Nweke gets the nod at goal shoot, Peta Toeava might slip into the squad, as their seemingly psychic connection could throw off opposing defenders. But she has tended to struggle against international opponents.
Kimiora Poi is guaranteed to make the fitness standards – as the queen of the yo-yo test - although she hasn’t been on the selectors’ radar lately, while Whitney Souness could also be in with a chance of selection.
Poi's impressive yo-yo score: the average elite level for women and men combined is 18.8.
Taurua also could call on Claire Kersten as a centre/wing defence option, while Tayla Earle could be a surprise call-up after a solid season with the Mystics.
Defenders
Co-captaining the Pulse with Metuarau this year, Kelly Jury is having a standout season. Topping the domestic ladders for deflections and intercepts and second for rebounds, the 1.92m goal keep should be the No.1 pick to hold down the fort from the back, especially with Watson unavailable.
Another sure selection is Karin Burger, last year’s ANZ Premiership player of the year. With the ability to cover wing defence along with the in-circle positions, Burger is known for her ability to read the game and come up with athletic intercepts.
The Stars have one of the strongest, impenetrable defensive circles this year, and with Anna Harrison making herself unavailable for international duties, Elle Temu has a real chance of breaking into the Silver Ferns, despite not being part of the current squad or even the development squad at the moment. After the regular domestic season, Temu sits third on the table for deflections, and second for intercepts and would complete a meteoric rise through the ranks if the selectors look her way.
Sulu Fitzpatrick will surely be chosen, if not for her skills at goal keep, then for her leadership and knowledge. Always vocal on court, the captain of the Mystics only has 16 international caps, but 13 seasons of domestic experience, and is only getting better with time, having the most rebounds of any player this season. Her Mystics sidekick, Phoenix Karaka, got stronger as her season went on - returning as a mum - and her experience can't be underestimated.
Potentially on the fringe of the Ferns would be Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Holly Fowler and Kate Burley - all three of them performing well for their respective domestic teams, but may be pushed out by veteran defenders. Kristiana Manu’a has also impressed for the Pulse, but with little time in the New Zealand environment after returning from Australia, it would take a mighty performance at camp to make the step up.
The Pulse host the Stars in the ANZ Premiership Grand Final on Sunday at 3.30pm on Sky Sport 1. Next week, 27 players will be selected to trial for the Silver Ferns, with trials taking place on June 20-23 with the final team announcement for Birmingham a week later.
