Jo Morrison
The incumbent Steel assistant is probably the obvious answer. Morrison, who has been the Steel’s assistant since 2021, has a great rapport with the southern netball community and has the credentials to back up those relationships. The former Silver Ferns and English shooter has been the head coach of the Southern Blast, is the current assistant coach of the New Zealand secondary schools side, and serves as a Silver Ferns selector. A coach with a big future.
Nat Avellino
The NSW Swifts assistant coach has a deep association with netball in the South. After wrapping up her playing career with the Sting, Avellino coached Southland to their first NPC title in nearly 50 years in the late 2000s. She was co-coach of the Southern Steel in 2012, and was assistant coach in 2013 before she was dismissed four games into the season. While in New Zealand, she had a long association with the national secondary schools team and was the assistant coach for the Fast 5 Ferns. Working alongside Briony Akle at the Swifts has done wonders for Avellino in the elite coaching ranks — dealing with world-class shooter Helen Housby must be fun, too — and possibly it is time for her next step if she is interested in a head role again.
Rob Wright
Everyone loves a wildcard with an interesting back ground. Wright landed at the Northern Mystics as the assistant coach in 2021 via an extensive background back home in Australia. He became the first male head coach in the former ANZ Championship when he took over at the NSW Swifts in 2014. He remained with the team until 2017 when he joined the now defunct Collingwood Magpies. Also served as a specialist coach for Jamaica in recent years and had been tipped throw his hat in the ring for the Silver Ferns gig.
Lauren Piebenga
Another who has had a proven track record of success. Piebenga, who coaches College in the Dunedin premier club competition, coached Otago to their NPC title in 2013, has previously coached the Southern Blast in the national netball league and has been the Steel’s assistant coach. Also led Columba College to their first South Island secondary schools title and a top-four finish at the national schools tournament last year.
Could the Southland stalwart be lured "home"? Selby-Rickit has been the assistant coach of the Mainland Tactix this season, while working as a teacher at a kaupapa Maori school in Christchurch. With Tactix head coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek also stepping down at the end of this season, Selby-Rickit might take up the chance there if she wants a top job. No doubt fans would love to see her in the blue and pink again.
