Former Silver Fern Donna Wilkins has had a change of heart and will play for the Steel next season.
The 33-year-old shooter had said she would not play for the franchise again after she felt let down by the organisation the last time she wore the colours in 2009.
Wilkins cited a lack of support following the birth of her first child, Cooper. She took a year off to expand her family and joined the Canterbury Tactix this season.
But the dual international has recon-sidered. Her family situation has changed - she is expecting a third child in January - and, after talking with the Steel, she is confident the issues she had have been addressed.
"I wanted to play netball again and the only option for me, without upsetting my family too much, was to play down here," she told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
"At the end of the day I can't put myself first. I've got to put them first. I've had a lot of meetings with the franchise over the last few weeks and they have been really supportive.
"We're definitely not going in with our eyes shut, which is probably what we did a wee bit when I came back after having Cooper.
"It was the first time the franchise had had such a young baby travelling with the team. It was a learning curve for everyone and we've addressed those issues."
Wilkins' due date is in mid-January, which will not leave a lot of time to get fit in time for the Steel's opening game against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in April.
"It probably isn't enough [time]. My aim is to be on court for that first game and to give myself a chance to play. I have high expectations of myself..but I'm realistic, too.
"I might not be at my best but I'm hoping that that is going to be good enough to be out on court. If not, then I'll support from the bench but I intend to be out there and playing to the best of my ability."
Wilkins does not have much left to achieve in netball but loves the game and believes she still has "a lot to offer".
"I was quite pleased with how I played for the Tactix and I'm only 33 and still have a couple of more years left in me. And I just think, why not share some of the knowledge, and if I can get out there on the court then that is a bonus as well."
She is looking forward to teaming up with Jodi Brown in the shooting circle. The pair have mostly played against each other but have teamed up for the Silver Ferns.
Also joining Wilkins in the squad is promising shooter Ashleigh Smith, who has played well for Southland in the national championship this year and was a member of the Tactix squad in 2010.
The pair join Wendy Frew, Louise Thayer, Hayley Saunders, Demelza McCloud, Courtney Tairi, Sheryl Scanlan and fellow shooters Brown and Te Paea Selby-Rickit as confirmed players for 2012.
Smith, who hails from Gore, described securing a Steel contract as a "surreal" feeling.
"When you're a little kid, you always aspire to play for the region you grew up in and I'm excited to now have the opportunity to do that."
