Netball: Record-shattering Fowler 'unstoppable'

The 'unstoppable' Jhaniele Fowler in action. Photo by Peter MacIntosh.
The 'unstoppable' Jhaniele Fowler in action. Photo by Peter MacIntosh.
Former Silver Ferns captain Belinda Colling cannot remember seeing a player so dominant so early in her career.

It is a good thing then that this particular player plies her trade for our team.

You know whom we are talking about. Every time the Steel play, it is the team's Jamaican international Jhaniele Fowler who dominates the headlines the next day.

The 23-year-old has made a huge impact in her debut ANZ Championship season with 309 goals from just six games. She smashed the competition's record for the largest single haul in a game when, quite staggeringly, she scored 65 goals in the match against the Tactix in round two. The previous record of 58 was jointly held by two other Jamaicans - Romelda Aiken and Carla Borrego.

She was at it again on Monday with 59 goals against the Swifts. Amazingly she scored all but one of the Steel's goals in the 60-55 victory. It is the highest percentage of goals scored by a player in a single match at 98.3% of the team goals.

Colling watched the astonishing performance live. She was there commentating for the Sky Sports team and was just a little bit in awe of the 1.98m shooter's remarkable effort.

''I just think she is a bit unstoppable,'' Colling said.

''She obviously has the height which is her biggest asset. But she also has strength and is just so strong on the ball. She is unflappable and just seems very cool and calm, so I like her composure as well.

''And obviously her accuracy has been so phenomenal as well.''

The Steel has the most basic of game plans which just involves passing the ball to Fowler at the earliest opportunity. Steel captain Jodi Brown is a fine shooter in her own right but basically plays as an extra wing attack these days. She put up just three shots at goal in the win against the Swifts.

Teams know exactly what the Steel are trying to do but that does not make it any easier to combat.

The Swifts had an experienced and athletic defensive combination in Sonia Mkoloma and Mo'onia Gerrard.

''Mkoloma and Gerrard are no slugs, so if someone was going to get on top of Fowler and rattle her, it would have been them. But that didn't happen.

''They got a ball off her at the start of the game but I think that was the only one. They just really struggled and they were trying everything. They tried the hoist and different things but just didn't really have an answer.''

Perhaps frighteningly, Fowler can only get better. Passes she was missing seven weeks ago are now being hauled in and brought under control. She is not just tall, she is extremely skilled and her balance has improved markedly.

''I know for that very first game she was extremely nervous but she has found her feet and grown in confidence.

''One thing we have not seen from her is a mobile game. We don't see her coming out of the circle and changing things up in that way . But in some ways she does not have to at this point but that is probably the area, if anything, that she could develop.''

Perhaps the down side of importing stars like Fowler is back-up shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit has been deprived of an opportunity. Colling, though, does not view it that way.

''This is the top league - it is not a playpen. If you want to be on court, you have to be the best. Youngsters can learn in training and through those types of opportunities. They have to step up and prove themselves.

''Unfortunately, for Te Paea, she has the best shooter in the league at the moment in front of her, so that is tough. But I'm sure she is still developing as a player from just being in the franchise.''

At some stage the Silver Ferns may have to find a way to combat the shooter. But in the meantime, Steel fans should rejoice she is on our side.

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