Silver Ferns' coach Dame Noeline Taurua says there was no way selectors could leave wing attack Peta Toeava out of the national squad after her performances in the ANZ Premiership.
Northern Mystics' Peta Toeava Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Toeava was named in a 17-strong Silver Ferns squad today, along with her Northern Mystics team-mate Grace Nweke.
One of the highlights of the premiership was the feeding of Toeava to Nweke, which was on show in the ANZ Premiership grand final on Sunday when they beat the Tactix to claim the title.
Back in 2018 Toeava got one Test cap for the Silver Ferns. After that she didn't appear in any Silver Ferns' squads until today.
Dame Noeline said one of the main differences in her game now was her fitness levels.
"It means now that she's able to do repeated efforts but also be consistent in regards to her intensity and the way that she plays the game and I feel there's been a massive shift in that respect.
"And to be honest I feel she is as big a weapon as Grace has been and for her she provides us that point of difference in regards to that flair that I think will be a nice contribution to what we currently have," Dame Noeline said.
Grace Nweke Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport Ltd 2021
Dame Noeline said a challenge for Toeava would be how well she fed other shooters.
"That has been one of the discussions as selectors that we have been talking that through but also there comes a time where people deserve to have that opportunity and you can't leave them out and certainly for Peta there was no way that we could leave her out. What she has done consistently over the season to how she presented in the grand final."
Nweke has also worked on her fitness to be named in the Silver Ferns for the first time and Dame Noeline was also impressed with her physical strength.
"She has improved in that area and I feel in her game that has shown with the likes in the grand final of both Karin [Burger] and Jane [Watson] both going at her at the same time and she's been able to get the ball and put the ball through the hoop.
"When you add all those ingredients to her natural game ...with 50 plus goals per game that's definitely a weapon for us that I'm so excited to see what's going to happen when she does take the court."
Maia Wilson, who cemented her place as the starting goal shoot over the past 18 months, had some shooting wobbles for her Stars' franchise this season.
But Dame Noeline said a potential shift to goal attack could be good for Wilson, who was a stand-out in the Constellation Cup against Australia earlier this year.
"There's an opportunity, which we've been toiling away with over the last couple of years, of providing not only as a goal shoot, but also that slide of a goal attack as well.
"So you know, it's sort of like we've been building towards this for a wee while. So even the spark of playing the goal attack position and her being more of a ball carrier could hopefully help get her through some of the times that she's currently experienced."
Tiana Metuarau playing for the Southern Steel Photo: Photosport
Dame Noeline was pleased with the temperament she saw from newly named Silver Ferns' squad members Jamie Hume and Tiana Metuarau.
"We have shooters that are willing to commit to go to the post and in that goal attack position it definitely adds to the fuel of how we want to play the game."
Dame Noeline played with Metuarau's mother, former Silver Fern captain Wai Taumaunu.
"I think there are similarities with mother and daughter I think in regards to her no nonsense sort of approach ...definitely you know that she's out on court.
"Wai came in really young into the netball scene but also secured at a young age a starting seven whereas really Tiana hasn't apart from her time this year with the Steel so she's still learning her trade."
Southern Steel midcourter Kate Heffernan is the other new face in the mid-court after impressing in centre and wing defence.
Kate Heffernan playing for the Southern Steel. Photo: Photosport
"There's areas of Kate's game in her attacking game that needs work around positioning and feeding but that's understandable considering she's still relatively new to centre, coming from wing defence.
"However she is number one in regards to gains and defensive turnovers with her added height either at the centre or wing defence position and it provides us with a point of difference."
Dame Noeline said because they are short in the defensive end she's put more padding in around players who can cover both centre and wing defence so she can bolster up the defence end when they take the court in internationals.
The depth in the mid-court meant Kimiora Poi and Whitney Souness have been dropped down to the development squad but those players would still be able to push for selection for the international Tests.
Experienced Silver Ferns' defender Jane Watson, who would have been a strong candidate to be named stand-in captain, won't be available for the Constellation Cup in October.
"She had surgery yesterday to clean out one of her ankle, it's been a little issue for the last two years. Because we're heading towards the Commonwealth Games and the Worlds after, it was felt this was the best time she got that done. She should be good to go in November/December."
Former Silver Ferns defender Kayla Cullen Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 www.photosport.nz
A number of defenders are currently on return to play plans.
That includes former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson (née Cullen), who's spent the last three years in Australia with her rugby league playing husband Sean Johnson, who's returning to the Auckland based Warriors club next year.
Johnson, who became a first-time mother last year, is expected to return for next year's ANZ Premiership.
"I made the approach to Kayla a few months ago, just sort of seeing where she was at and whether the Silver Ferns or representing her country or even playing netball was still on her radar."
"Unfortunately, she's tied up in the MIQ stuff trying to get a spot in managed isolation. Even though she currently resides in Australia we were hoping to get her back in time for camp so unsure where that sits.
"But in the longer term as we lead into the Commonwealth Games and the Worlds the following year and probably looking at our defensive stocks, with that group that we have on the side, when they are ready to come back in the mix I feel overall we've got some great firepower.
"Kayla is definitely one of those players who has X-factor and has the ability to turn over the ball so I'm really happy that we can hopefully get to a space where she will be out on court and we can get her into our training camps."
Former Silver Fern Phoenix Karaka became a first-time mother late last year and is also working her way back to fitness.
Three training camps including all squad members will take place over the next two months, with a Silver Ferns team and captain for the international series to be selected following these.
