The southern franchise confirmed late yesterday shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is heading to Australia.
After five years with the Steel, Fowler-Reid said yesterday it was a tough decision to leave but it came down to needing a new challenge.
The 1.98m Jamaican international has been an utterly dominant figure in netball since she arrived in the South.
Her lanky and powerful frame had been able to land goal after goal for the Steel in the past five years.
She holds all the Steel goal-scoring records, landing 56 in the Steel's ANZ Premiership-winning 69-53 victory over the Pulse in Invercargill late last month.
The prolific goal-scorer has slotted 3678 goals from 4020 attempts, with an accuracy rate of 91.4% over the past five seasons. She credits the Steel environment with her evolution into one of the world's best shooters.
Fowler-Reid, who will turn 28 later this month, said she had grown so much in her time at the Steel.
She is expected to join the West Coast Fever in the Australian league, with the signing scheduled to be announced today.
Fowler-Reid took a while to make up her mind to move away from Invercargill.
``It wasn't easy because I had to do heaps of thinking around leaving behind something that I've grown to know for five years and just the culture and everything so the decision to move away from that has been hard,'' she said.
``It definitely comes down to me needing a new challenge and me broadening my horizons and seeing what else is out there for me.
``It's going to be a new lifestyle and a new environment with different people but I adapt easily so that's a good thing.''
She looks back on her time with the Steel with fondness.
``My game has changed tremendously. I have many tricks up my sleeve now to keep defenders thinking. I'm not a one-trick pony any more.
``It [time with the Steel] has changed me and it has grown me so much and the opportunity to come over to New Zealand is something that I really appreciate.
``The Steel have had such patience with me and supported me so much in feeling like I'm at home.''
``They helped me find the best that I have. Even though I know there's better to come and much more room for improvement, I feel the Steel has paved the way for all that goodness in me.
``I will miss the Invercargill crowd. The Steel fortress is something incredibly special and when any opposing team comes there I know it's hard for them and that's something I love to see.''
She is looking forward to the Australian league and its tough competition.
``There's some tough defenders but I've played them before so I know them. They may not know me because I think I've evolved in the past season so it will be a good thing for me to go in even stronger.''
Silver Ferns defender Jane Watson is moving to the Tactix next season while the Mystics announced yesterday they have secured attacker Jamie Hume.
Veteran captain Wendy Frew ruptured her achilles on Friday night in the Super Club final in Nelson.
