Silver Ferns head coach Noeline Taurua. Photo credit: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
photograph: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Four players were ruled out for selection for the Silver Ferns’ match against England after failing to meet fitness criteria.
Trials are underway in Wellington with the 12-man squad for the series against England due to be announced on Thursday. The players underwent fitness tests on Monday morning.
The fitness targets include a mandatory yo-yo test of 16.3 or above and this is not the first time a Silver Ferns candidate has missed out on selection after not reaching the target.
This may not be surprising given that 28 players were invited to try out, some of whom had only one year of ANZ Premiership netball experience.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua said it had affected her team’s strength.
“I’d like to think that everyone here has the potential to be a Silver Fern, so it reduces our pod so to speak and the people we can choose from, but that’s just how it is,” Ms Noeline said.
“Overall I am very satisfied [but] There are a few players who are not eligible for selection because they do not meet the fitness standards and are still under consideration in terms of their place in the development squad and their future needs.
“These are things that we have to impose on the players themselves as well as the clubs and we are very clear about what is expected and it’s backed by the players. We’ve put it in the players’ hands: ‘Do you want to carry on doing this?’ And they have said. [they do]”
Are there any particular areas of the court that the Silver Ferns coaches are concerned about?
“The shooting end is there because there are some guys we can’t pick. And it’s the same with in-circle defence. We have to see if we can select them quickly, whether it’s guys who are just a little bit more ready or guys who need more time on the court in ANZ. There are a lot of heroes in the midcourt so we can’t pick everybody.”
On Friday, Silver Ferns starting shooter Grace Nweke announced she will play for the New South Wales Swifts in the Australian league next year, which means she will be ineligible to play for New Zealand next year.
New Zealand’s Grace Nweke takes a shot against England during a Nations Cup test match.
photograph: Photo Sports
In terms of how it will impact the Silver Ferns as they prepare for the 2027 Netball World Cup, Ms Noeline focused on the silver lining.
“The doors are wide open because it opens up opportunities for other people, it’s just whether they choose to go to these places.”
Ms Noeline said Nweke had kept her well informed and “her aim, as always, is to be the best Silver Fern and the best netball player she can be.”
“We’ll support her when she goes over there and we’ll support her coming back when she decides to. We’ll support her like we do many others depending on their personal circumstances.”
The Silver Ferns coach was pleased that England have selected a near-full squad to send to New Zealand for the Tiny Jamieson Trophy, in stark contrast to the team selected for last year’s series.
England Netball sent a development squad to play against the Silver Ferns last year but no players were named for the World Cup.
But a young Lord’s team shocked New Zealand in the first Test and the Silver Ferns won the next two Tests.
The only notable player the Silver Ferns will not be competing against is shooter Elle Cardwell, who also plays in the Australian domestic league.
“I’m really happy in a way and very interested to see what it will bring us on the court. I’m looking forward to the match.”
Ms Noeline said she was pleased with the enthusiasm the athletes showed at the trials.
“It’s going to be exciting to see what they can do here with each other. I know this isn’t club territory… you can see guys who are mentally capable of competing and are ready for it.”
“A lot of them will have the potential to play by 2027. There are probably three or four who haven’t been selected yet. It’s all about who can move up, who can do the job and get in for a fourth trial.”
The first of three Test matches against England will be played on September 29.
