The Southern Steel’s star player is heading home.
Kate Burley has signed with the Northern Stars for next season.
The goal keeper, who was named Steel player of the year at the franchise’s recent awards evening, was a training partner with the Stars from 2017 to 2018, before earning a full-time contract in 2019 and 2020.
She won an ANZ Premiership title with the Northern Mystics in 2021 before joining the Southern Steel.
Burley said her time with the Steel helped her grow on and off the court, but she was ready to return home to Auckland as a different person and player.
"I think it was the right time for me, so I could be around my partner and whānau and friends, just that life outside of netball balance and saw it as a great opportunity to come back, and what better place to do it than the club I started with,” Burley said.
She will replace Stars defender Elle Temu, who made herself unavailable for next season to relocate to Australia to be with her partner, West Tigers player Isaiah Papali’i.
Burley was a member of the 2022-23 Silver Ferns development squad and was part of the team that won bronze at the Fast5 Netball World Series in last year.
She looked forward to returning home and the Stars environment.
“I think the Stars are known for their whānau environment in general, the fans get behind them and I know our families are a big part of that environment too.
"I still see those familiar faces when I go back to play at Pulman Arena and have some really good friends at the team too, so it’ll be cool to be back."
