5 Jun 2015

Steel shooter named MVP

11:00 am on 5 June 2015

The Southern Steel shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Queensland shooter Romelda Aiken have been named this season's Most Valuable Players in the ANZ netball championship.

The Jamaican duo were both honoured as separate MVP awards were introduced to the competition this season to recognise the most outstanding player from both the New Zealand and Australian Conferences.

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid of the Steel.

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid of the Steel. Photo: Photosport

It's the third time that Aiken has won an MVP award and first since 2009. She was joint winner in the inaugural season in 2008. Fowler-Reid was the competition's MVP winner in her debut season in 2013.

Aiken and Fowler-Reid have again been among the dominant goal shooters in the ANZ Championship this season, both scoring more than 500 goals for the third consecutive year along with West Coast Fever's Caitlin Bassett.

Fowler-Reid says she's excited to receive the MVP award - adding to an impressive haul since her inaugural season which has included the 2013 Best New Talent award and selection in the ANZ Championship-All Star team for consecutive years.

She says it's an honour to be recognised as MVP over so many other talented players.

Fowler-Reid says her teammates play a big role in this, I can't do this without them and I wouldn't be the player I am without them.

She says the confidence that they have in me, just giving me some ridiculous balls and knowing I will haul it in, they push me to show my potential.

The Steel are making their first finals appearance since 2010 in Saturday's New Zealand Conference Elimination Final against the Magic in Hamilton for the right to take on the Mystics in the New Zealand Conference Final on Monday night in Auckland.

Aiken and her Firebirds teammates await the winner of the Australian Conference Elimination Final between the NSW Swifts and West Coast Fever in Sunday's Australian Conference Final in Brisbane.

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