The Southern Steel cannot catch a break.
A cloud of doubt remains around whether George Fisher will be able to take the court for the Steel this season, after she suffered ruptured her ACL, and fractured her knee, during a Steel preseason game last year.
It was reported this week Fisher, who joined the Steel in 2021 and played 22 caps for the English Roses, underwent another surgery in October after her knee kept swelling.
Steel coach Reinga Bloxham confirmed Fisher had a setbacks, including another in recent weeks, regarding her knee, but was in the best place back home at the Roses intensive rehab unit in England.
"That’s where she’s been doing her rehab under their watchful eyes over the past few months, and even with all of that support around her, her knee’s still probably not doing what it’s supposed to be doing," Bloxham said.
"To be fair, things have been pretty . . . up and down for her."
From the Steel’s point of view, the timeframe around Fisher’s return to court remained "really unclear" at this stage, she said.
"We’re just hoping to get her out here as soon as . . . she’s able to travel and then get her back into the team, and get her back into that team environment and the culture really."
It raised questions around Fisher’s contract this season.
"As of now, yes, she’s definitely still part of the team," Bloxham said.
"We just keep going as if she’s another member of our squad, just knowing that we just don’t know when she’s going to be able to return to court just yet."
Jen O’Connell, who played for the Steel from 2017 to 2020, previously joined the team for preseason as cover during Fisher’s absence, but would now remain with the team for an extended period.
Being able to call on O’Connell early — compared with last season when the Steel had mere weeks to find Fisher’s replacement — helped settle the team.
"I’m really fortunate that she accepted the challenge and that she’s been there right from the start," Bloxham said.
"She can sort of understand the landscape, she knows the expectations and she’s been working towards getting herself out on court and putting together some consistent performances which is good."
Georgia Heffernan, who made her Silver Ferns debut earlier this year, will be a key for the Steel and Grace Namana — who was previously a Steel replacement player, Pulse training partner and played for the Severn Stars in England last year — impressed early.
Namana worked hard on her fitness, and strength, during the offseason and was a step ahead when the Steel gathered for preseason.
"She knows that this is an opportunity for her and so she’s willing to just take that on and she isn’t afraid to sort of put her hand up and say that she wants to be out on that court consistently."
Another player who impressed Bloxham during the preseason was South African defender Jeante Strydom, who had settled into life in Invercargill and already proved she set high standards.
Bloxham was pleased with how the Steel were tracking through preseason and had a hit out against an invitational men’s, and the Southern Blast, in Gore last weekend.
Captain Kate Heffernan was still sidelined with an injury she picked up while playing for the Silver Ferns, but Bloxham expected her to be back in the next couple of weeks.
"We’re still looking in a good position really.
"We’ve still got another month before we hit the court, still gives us plenty of time."
They will get a test run next weekend against the Pulse, Magic, Mystics and Tactix at the preseason Southern Showdown in Dunedin.
Most teams will also give their training partners a run and Bloxham said it would be a good test for the Steel.
"I’m looking forward to seeing the other four teams that are coming down and just seeing how we match up."
The Pulse, Tactix, Stars and the Queensland Firebirds are also playing in the preseason tournament in Otaki this weekend.
