Netball: Fowler's MVP makes hat trick

Jhaniele Fowler
Jhaniele Fowler
At this rate, Jhaniele Fowler will have a Halberg Award, an Academy Award and a Nobel Prize by the end of her stay in New Zealand.

Fowler completed a remarkable hat trick yesterday when she was named the most valuable player in the ANZ Championship, an astonishing achievement for a player in her debut season.

The Southern Steel goal shoot was named the most exciting new player on Wednesday, and sealed a place in the all-star team a day later.

Scooping the MVP award capped a dream year for the Jamaican gunslinger.

''It is very special, because I think I was born to play netball and then to be so good at what I do and what I love, it's beyond special,'' Fowler said in a statement.

''Honestly, I was only going for shooting accuracy, not breaking records, so that is just a plus for me and I'm thankful for that, also.''

Fowler (23), who is back in her native Jamaica for the off-season but will return to the Steel for at least two more years, posted numbers that have already been immortalised.

She finished her maiden season with 666 goals, breaking the league's records for most goals in a season and most goals in a game - she scored 65 goals in a game twice this year.

She becomes the third import and second Jamaican to be named league MVP, following in the footsteps of compatriot Romelda Aiken (2008, 2009) and England's Sonia Mkoloma (2008).

Fowler said her aim next year was to help the Steel make the finals for the first time since 2010.

''Next year, I am hoping for a place in the top four. I'm going to train hard and keep up what I have now to make sure that, when I'm back next year, I won't have to start over.

''When we hit the courts and play, we'll be ready.''

Fowler finished the season with 19 MVP votes. She received votes in all but three rounds, and was player of the game against the Tactix (round two) and Swifts (round seven). Firebirds shooter Aiken finished second with 18 votes and Laura Langman (Magic), Natalie Medhurst (Firebirds) and Carla Borrego (Thunderbirds) finished in a tie for third with 17 votes.

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