Netball: Cooper final player in Steel roster

The Southern Steel's roster for the 2015 ANZ Championship campaign is complete.

Former Central Pulse and one-cap Silver Fern Katarina Cooper (28) has signed with the franchise for next season and is the final piece in the 12-strong roster.

Cooper joins Shannon Francois, Wendy Frew, Gina Crampton and Stacey Peeters in the Steel midcourt and is looking forward to moving south.

''I'm really looking forward to the change and coming into a new environment.

"I'm going to be open-minded and just give it everything I've got,'' she said.

''I have things I want to achieve and in order to do that, I know I have to work hard for it.''

Despite an ACL injury ending Cooper's 2012 season with the Pulse, she was called into the national squad last year and is determined to add to her one test appearance and four Fast5 caps.

''I worked really hard to come back from that. Adversity makes you realise how badly you actually want something.

"It has the ability to shape who you are as a player.

''Watching the girls away for Commonwealth Games, it gets you thinking 'that's where I want to be'.

"That's my pathway ... I don't want to give up on it.''

While traditionally a wing defence, Cooper, who is 1.80m tall, can also play wing attack and plans to add the centre position to her repertoire.

''I would like to work on my centre game using my height as an advantage.

"I think I could really bring something exciting and unique.''

Cooper, who is from Otaki, a small coastal town north of Wellington, will make the move without her children.

Son Hennessey (9) and daughter Maika (7) will stay up north with family.

''I'm going to miss them terribly but I have huge family support.

"I am a real home girl but I need to look at the positives.''

Cooper was a member of the New Zealand under-21 side from 2001 to 2005.