Tutaia withdraws from season


With the Commonwealth Games netball final  month ago, it not surprising that many have forgotten that we still have plenty of international netball action on the horizon.

The Silver Ferns squad's were in Auckland last week attending a camp and trials to decide the squads for the Constellation Cup series against the Australian Diamonds as well as a series against England and the Fast 5 tournament to round out the year.

Early into the trials Maria Tutaia fronted the media and announced her withdrawal from the remainder of the 2014 season, citing her foot injury that she picked up during the Commonwealth Games against Northern Ireland.

Immediately fans around the country went into a frenzy, citing the potential of Australian-born GA Ameliaranne Wells to potentially be named in the squad, and possibly pushing out Ellen Halpenny.

Wells is eligible to join the Ferns through a Kiwi father, a fact that hardly anyone in netball circles were aware of prior to her signing with the Central Pulse for 2015, even Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu was in the dark about this key fact.

The squad was named on Friday and as expected Wells was named.

The argument that has continued over the weekend between fans on both sides of the Tasman, was whether this was the right decision.

When Ferns stalwart Irene van Dyk broke the bombshell prior to the Commonwealth Games that she would be putting away the black dress and retiring from International netball, suddenly Ferns fans were faced with the situation we had all been dredding.

The lack of depth across the board will always be a hinderance to the Silver Ferns, realistically we cannot compete with Australia when it comes to the enormous number of talented players they boast across the board.

However, with currently 3 out of the 5 New Zealand franchises in the ANZ Championship taking up import slots, we have a serious issue moving forward to take the number 1 ranking off Australia.

Netball New Zealand need to address this issue across the board by figuring out how and what pathways need to be put in place to nurture our future players.

It is rather sad that our number 1 women's sport in this country needs to rely on players that have grown up in Australia and even pulled on the green and gold at age group level.

Nothing against Wells, personally I hope she has a blinder if given a chance but it is a problem that needs addressing ASAP.

CONSTELLATION CUP SILVER FERNS SQUAD
Casey Kopua (c), Laura Langman (vc), Jodi Brown, Leana de Bruin, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Liana Leota, Cathrine Latu, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen and Ameliaranne Wells.
2014/2015 SILVER FERNS  SQUAD
Casey Kopua, Laura Langman, Jodi Brown, Kayla Cullen, Leana de Bruin, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Shannon Francois, Katrina Grant, Ellen Halpenny, Joline Henry, Phoenix Karaka, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Liana Leota, Bailey Mes, Grace Rasmussen, Courtney Tairi, Maria Tutaia and Ameliaranne Wells.
National Development Squad 2014/15 - accelerant tier: Malia Paseka, Jamie-Lee Price, Storm Purvis, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Whitney Souness, Jo Trip and Maia Wilson.

Ellen Halpenny has been one of the major casualties of the newly named squad, after an up and down outing at the Commonwealth Games, while Grace Rasmussen has been recalled in place of Shannon Francois.
Time will tell how the Ferns shape up against the Diamonds, and whether than can make any inroads after being on the back end of an 18 goal defeat in the Gold medal match.
From my point of view I hope they can, I have always been a fan of the tight, one goal games despite the nervousness and higher heart rate that follows.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

 

Popular Posts

Search This Blog

Contact Me

Name

Email *

Message *