Southern Steel coach Robyn Broughton does not have a full
roster but is hoping to get plenty of value out of the
pre-season tournament in Queenstown this weekend.
The Steel faces five games over three days, and
in all there are 15 games involving some of the world's best
players for the Events Centre crowd to enjoy.
"It's a big weekend and it's a really good competition with
some varied teams," Broughton told the Otago Daily Times
yesterday.
"It's not life or death, whether you win or lose, so you get
a chance to introduce people.
"That's very hard to do during the season.
"You need a good solid core of very experienced players once
the competition starts."
Broughton has suffered an unexpected setback with the loss,
for today's opening games, of captain Megan Dehn.
Dehn's grandmother died earlier this week and the experienced
shooter flew home to be with family in Australia.
Dehn can't get to Queenstown until tomorrow morning, and with
Jade Topia struggling with a back injury, the Steel has just
two regular shooters, Daneka Wipiiti and Juliana Naoupu.
Wipiiti will play her first game since having daughter
Kilani-Mae in December.
"It makes it tough but this will make some of the others
stand up and be counted," Broughton said.
"It's a big weekend for Daneka but she's had a good taste of
this level of netball and she knows what's expected.
"Her strength isn't there yet but we've got a month to go."
Wendy Frew will captain the Steel, with plenty of leadership
support from Liana Barrett-Chase and Erika Burgess.
Broughton has called on Te Paea Selby-Rickit, younger sister
of Steel defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, to fill out the
roster in Queenstown.
"I've had a lot to do with her and I quite rate her.
"She's nice and fresh and strong and tall, so we'll use her
as well."
Broughton said former Silver Ferns defender Leana du Bruin,
who has joined the Steel this year and is also a relatively
new mother, was at full playing fitness and looking sharp.
She believes new Steel trainer Stephen Hill-Haas has had a
significant impact on the team's fitness levels.
"He's a bit different and he's very strict and strong,"
Broughton said.
"I'm really interested in what he's doing in terms of the
science.
"The girls have definitely had to step up and some of them
are finding it really hard."
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