Netball: Southby looking ahead, now her secret is out

Newly appointed Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby (left) and Netball New Zealand chief executive...
Newly appointed Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby (left) and Netball New Zealand chief executive Hilary Poole at NNZ headquarters in Auckland yesterday. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Janine Southby had to keep it to herself for a week, but the new Silver Ferns coach can finally talk openly about her new role.

Dunedin-based Southby was yesterday appointed as the 10th head coach of the national side, and replaces Waimarama Taumaunu at the helm.

The news came as a surprise to many, with experienced Australian coach Julie Fitzgerald, who guided the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic to the ANZ Championship final this year, tipped to get the gig.

However, Netball New Zealand [NNZ] opted to go with the Southern Steel coach over the Australian.

''It's really exciting,'' Southby said.

''I've had to keep it under wraps for about a week, and that's been a real challenge. I finally told the family and a few friends [on Tuesday night].

''I think it's just starting to set in now. And with that excitement, I know there comes a real responsibility.''

Southby takes over a team that appears to be transitioning, with a bunch of older players predicted to pull the pin on their careers shortly.

Shooter Jodi Brown - Southby's sister-in-law - announced her retirement after the Silver Ferns beat Australia in the final Constellation Cup test in Perth at the weekend, while defenders Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin are expected to follow suit.

''At this stage, it's a little bit of a wait and see,'' Southby said.

''Definitely transitioning out of the Steel and into the Ferns role, it's going to be a busy few weeks.

''I can for five minutes just take a bit of a breath, but I know the work will just continue and get more. I'm ready for that, and excited by it, and I know I've got some fantastic people around me to support me to do the best I can.''

After taking a ''breath'', Southby will start in her new position on December 1.

Her first job is to work with Netball New Zealand to appoint support staff, including a new assistant coach, before a group of Silver Ferns triallists will be in camp in Auckland from December 7-11.

She will then select the 2016 Silver Ferns squad.

Southby will commute between Dunedin and NNZ's Auckland headquarters to begin with.

''We will just judge how that goes,'' she said.

''I will commute for the first part of it, and then we will evaluate that at the end of that period of time and see how it's working for both parties.''

NNZ chief executive Hilary Poole said she was pleased to have secured a coach of the calibre of Southby.

''She is a highly professional qualified netball coach, and she understands what we need to address in our high performance system to ensure sustainable success with the Silver Ferns,'' she said.

''This has been a thorough process, but central to our decision was selecting a coach who can build on the team's recent performances and return us to the top of international netball.''

Southby was the Steel head coach the past three years, while she co-coached the team with former Australian player Natalie Avellino in 2012.

The team had 18 wins, two draws and 33 losses under her watch, and snuck into the expanded playoffs the past season, despite only winning three matches.

However, many of the past season's losses were close and it appeared that Southby had developed a youthful team with a bright future.

She has done a raft of coaching at primary school, secondary school, club, NPC and international level.

She played for the Western Flyers and Otago Rebels in the National Bank Cup competition, before retiring in 2003. In 2004 and 2005, she worked under Lois Muir as the Rebels assistant coach, and was the New Zealand under-21 coach in 2010-13.

Southby would like to think she has left the Steel in a good position, and said there was an element of ''sadness'' in leaving.

''Certainly there will be a period of transition, and I'm happy to support and help transition somebody into the [Steel] role,'' she said.

''There is already work gone on about the programme next year and what needs to happen. I know for Netball South it's a big job in finding the best person for the role, and I have confidence that they will make the right decision.''

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