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Otago Daily Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
End of season came too soon for Steel coach
Wendy Frew would dearly love another round. The Southern Steel coach knows the potential her side possessed this season — and that they could have done even better had the ANZ Premiership not been slashed back to 10 rounds. They wrapped up their season on Monday night to finish fourth, their highest finish since 2022, with five wins and five losses. Preseason injuries stunted the Steel's preparation, and losing co-captain and Silver Fern Kate Heffernan for the early rounds was a big blow. The Steel were slow out of the blocks, and lost three on the trot in the middle of the season, but they came home strongly, and there is a general feeling they are on the right path. "We'd love another round," Frew said. "You kind of look back and think you're that one win away from the top three. "I feel like this group of players could have been really competitive in the top three, so that hurts us. "But we'll learn from it and we'll be better off for that experience. Especially those players who haven't experienced just missing out. "It'll grow them as players and just make them probably extremely hungry for the future." There are always highs and lows from every campaign, but it is hard to look past the Steel beating the Central Pulse 58-57 in round seven as the moment of the season. After getting a 25-point hiding earlier in the season, the bench erupted in pure ecstasy at the final whistle. "The Pulse game was a biggie for us. After the game, you just see pure joy." Several players flourished in their first season in the blue and pink. Defender Carys Stythe took a "massive punt" leaving the premiership-winning Northern Mystics to join the Steel. But she reached new heights in leading the competition for defensive rebounds (21) and ranking third for deflections (52) and intercepts (19), and was "exceptional", Frew said. Aliyah Dunn returned home to Invercargill and was rock-solid under the hoop, finishing second in the league for shooting accuracy. She nailed 383 from 400 attempts in the one-point zone. Her coach would not mind seeing her get an international recall. "Oh, I'd love to see Aliyah in a Ferns dress," Frew said. "That's up to the Ferns, and the Ferns selectors, but I think she's had a tremendous season." Young Serina Daunakamakama stepped up at wing attack early in the season and Frew said she was one to watch for the future. Daunakamakama, Summer Temu and Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa will all trial at the end of the month for the New Zealand under-21 side for the Netball World Youth Cup. Frew has grown in the role of head coach in her first season at the helm. The former Southern Steel captain has a proud history with the franchise — including being a centurion — and said there had been a lot to learn in her inaugural season. "I think you learn on the spot. "I've been really proud of the campaign I've put together, but there's always going to be work. "For me, I'm just so extremely lucky to have La [assistant Liana Leota] by my side. "She obviously had so much experience and she's guided me in ways where, as a new coach, I was trying to find my feet. "I'll be forever grateful to her, and all of the management team, just having my back and ensuring we're working as a team." Frew acknowledged the same 10 contracted players never returned to any franchise each year and many would get offers elsewhere. But she backed the talent among the squad and would love nothing more than to have the core back hunting for that elusive title next year. "It'd be great to keep the bulk of the squad. "From what we've created, and how we've grown this year as a team, if we can push on and get a good majority of them back, it'll be an exciting season for next year."
Otago Daily Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Steel need a favour, but focus on their own must-win
It is always an odd feeling when your fate could be decided before you even step on the court. But the Southern Steel are well aware of the scenario they are now in and no matter what, Monday's clash against the Northern Stars is being treated as another must-win. The Steel sit just outside the playoffs in fourth on the ANZ Premiership ladder. They have a record of 4-5 (14 points) and a goal for/against ratio of 101%. The Central Pulse are third with a record of 5-4 (16 points) and a goal for/against ratio of 111%. To make the playoffs, the Steel must first beat the Stars. But if the Pulse beat the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic this afternoon, they are through to the elimination final. However, if the Pulse lose by six or more, and the Steel win, the Steel will advance to the playoffs. If the Pulse lose by less than six, and the Steel win, it will come down to goal differential for the Steel to make it through. "Leading into the Stars game, yeah we'll know by then what our fate is, but we're still prepping for a really important must-win game for us," head coach Wendy Frew said. "We've put ourselves in that situation now being reliant on another team. That's disappointing, but we'll grow a lot from that as a franchise. "I think if you haven't been in the situation, and you've missed out before by a goal differential, or bonus points, it's really character building. Some of these girls haven't been in that situation before." The Steel head into the last regular game of the season off the back of a 56-52 bonus-point loss to the Northern Mystics last week. It was a tough encounter against the defending champions, but Frew asked her players "to leave everything out on court", and felt as though they had followed her instructions. "I was proud of the effort — obviously disappointed we didn't get the win. "There were moments that we could have taken the win, so we'll just learn from those." They need to put their foot down against the Stars, who have struggled with an injury-plagued season. The Aucklanders have recorded just the one win this season — but that does not mean anything. "They're still a threat to us. "We have a lot of respect for them and we will not be taking any aspect of their game lightly. "There's always a lot of emotion going into last games and the Stars will be the same. "It'll be a tough game for us and we just need to make sure we execute the game plan." The Steel are looking at another sold-out game in Invercargill on Monday. Frew credited the exceptional support for the franchise, saying both Otago and Southland had got right behind them throughout the season. Young attackers Serina Daunakamakama and Summer Temu are nursing niggles and are expected to miss Monday's game. The duo were being treated with caution as they could both be in line to play at the Netball World Youth Cup in September, Frew said. The Mystics meet the Mainland Tactix tomorrow. The winner will automatically go through to the final — and have hosting rights — while the loser will play the elimination final next week. ANZ Premiership Monday, Invercargill, 7.35pm Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan,Kimiora Poi, Kate Heffernan, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa. Northern Stars: Charlie Bell, Maia Wilson, Tori Kolose, Mila Reueli-Buchanan, Samon Nathan, Lisa Mather, Lili Tokaduaduda, Remi Kamo, Kayla Johnson.
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Midcourt Kate Heffernan poised for milestone in 'must-win' game against Mystics
Kate Heffernan will join Wendy Frew and Shannon Saunders as Steel centurions. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Silver Ferns midcourter Kate Heffernan will become just third player to bring up a century of games for Southern Steel, when she takes the court against ANZ Premiership leaders Northern Mystics in Auckland on Sunday. Heffernan joins fellow midcourters Wendy Frew and Shannon Saunders in bringing up the milestone. "To be on the list with them is really cool," she said. "Both are players I have looked up to from when I first started until now, so that is really special. "It means a lot doing it just for the Steel and home. One-hundred games anywhere is amazing, but being able to do it for just one franchise means so much to me is pretty cool." Heffernan, 25, made her debut for the Steel as an 18 year old. "I look back at the first couple of team posters and I'm just a baby." However, she won't let the milestone match divert her attention from the side's bid to make the top-three playoffs. The Steel are currently fourth on the competition ladder, equal with the third-placed Central Pulse on competition points and separated only by goal difference. The Steel went down to the Mystics by just one goal in their last encounter. "It's a must-win scenario for us, so I need to focus on getting that win against the team that's sitting top of the table," Heffernan said. "We're coming off a bit of momentum the last few rounds and I feel like we're in a good place. We're growing in confidence each week in our attacking game and honestly feeling really good about it. "We've had to win our last few games to be in contention for the top three. We need to approach this the same way, but continue to lift like we've been doing." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Steel stun Pulse as race for Finals Series heats up
The Steel celebrate. Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport How does a team go from losing by 25 goals to then beating the same opponent three weeks later? That's just what the Southern Steel did in Wellington on Monday night when they pipped the Pulse 58-57 to consign them to their third straight ANZ Premiership loss. There's just one spot in the finals series up for grabs with the Tactix and Mystics having already sewn up two. The Pulse and Steel, who have moved to fourth on the ladder, are well and truly in a race for that spot, with just three rounds left. Three weeks ago the Pulse were flying high after pulling off a 70-45 demolition job on the Steel in Invercargill. The Pulse then had losses to the Mystics and Tactix and knew they needed a win at home to get their season back on track. It looked like they were going to do just that when they led by nine going into the final quarter but the Steel, knowing their season was on the line, never gave up. They were starting to chip into the Pulse lead when wing defence Renee Savai'inaea was suspended for two minutes for a dangerous contact, with eight minutes left. Despite being down a player the Steel came through that period extremely well. Steel coach Wendy Frew said she was proud of the way her players responded in those moments. "We gave messages to the girls to just slow it down and we don't need to score quick, the girls really took it on board and Kimi [Kimiora Poi] and Kate [Heffernan] just showed massive leadership in those two minutes and just giving them clear messages of what we wanted when Renee went back on. Just proud of what they put out there, they got key messages and they executed it so well," Frew said. The Pulse made a couple of costly turnovers under immense defensive pressure and the Steel were calm with ball in hand. Pulse's Parris Mason (L) with Steel's Georgia Heffernan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan nailed a super shot with two minutes left to get her side within one of the Pulse. Tiana Metuarau then attempted a two-point shot for the Pulse but missed and the ball went into Steel hands and they scored off it. It was then the Steel's centre pass and Aliyah Dunn scored the final goal after the visitors ran down the clock brilliantly. Frew said her players stood up in the pressure cooker environment. "The girls just showed really big composure in those dying couple of minutes and we had that belief in our group. At the time-outs we looked at each other in the eye and we just felt like we had that belief and we just made really clinical decisions on attack. "Our leaders really stepped up in those crucial moments and everyone just played their own game and went about their own business really well." Frew was full of praise for Georgia Heffernan, who earnt MVP honours. "She worked so hard for that 60 minutes, she's grown every game for us, great performance from her but in saying that it was a massive team effort, everybody on that court contribute so well." The Pulse will be bitterly disappointed after leading for nearly the entirety of the game. The Pulse led 16-14 after the first quarter and you could tell that the message was to get more ball to shooter Amelia Walmsley. Walmsley was coming off two successive 100 percent shooting games. There were several long silky feeds into Walmsley and it looked like the Pulse had their mojo back with the likes of Kelly Jackson getting signature intercepts, and Maddy Gordon connecting well on attack and defence. Carys Stythe marked Walmsley for most of the game and it was a fascinating battle between the two up-and-comers. Parris Mason (R) and Pulse captain Kelly Jackson (L) with Steel's Georgia Heffernan in the middle. Photo: Marty Melville Stythe had her moments and Frew mixed up the defensive end a few times, which saw Abby Lawson inject a real presence. "I thought at times Carys had the edge and then at times Amelia did, it was a bit of back and forth but Carys is really performing every week for us and getting us some crucial balls and she really lifts the team. "I think her growth down with us this year has been massive and every game she's taking that next step up. "Abby did really well, she's worked hard on minimising contacts so she mixed it up, at times she was on Tiana and other times she pulled off the body. As a defensive unit we worked really hard, we needed fresh legs in a game like that and I thought we used that bench really well." The Pulse had their best quarter in the third term to lead 50-41 going into the final 15 minutes. Frew knew the game against the Pulse was going to be season-defining. "It was really important to keep our hopes alive for the top three. We know we're a quality side but at times we just haven't executed it so put that performance out against a really strong Pulse team, it does set us up nicely when we host the Magic next week. "We need to build confidence from this, there's still things to work on and make sure we come out stronger." Silver Fern midcourter Kate Hefferan was crucial in the 48 minutes she was on court, as she works her way back from injury. The Pulse will have some soul searching to do. There was an over reliance on Walmsley, who scored 49 from 53, with goal attack Metuarau shooting 7 from 9. It was in complete contrast to the Steel with a spread of goals between Dunn with 32 and Heffernan 24. The Steel and Pulse both have 10 points after seven rounds but the Pulse still sit third on the table courtesy of a superior goal percentage. The Tactix and Mystics have guaranteed themselves a place in the Finals Series with 19 and 18 points respectively. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Win boosts confidence for Steel
It is always easier to get back to business after a big win. The Southern Steel are riding high after beating the Northern Stars 62-46 last week, a victory that will have helped the team's confidence. Steel coach Wendy Frew said it had been a tough couple of weeks after three consecutive losses, and she was proud of her team's performance. "Really happy with the girls stepping up against the Stars and getting the win," Frew said. "We put some good netball out there and obviously also have a couple of things to work on. "A timely win for us and just keeps us in the hunt." Defensively it was a big step up from her back three, who picked up eight intercepts and 13 deflections, and their defence on the centre pass lifted another notch. Shooter Aliyah Dunn continued her dominant season, only missing one one-pointer, and one two-pointer, and Frew commended her performance. "She definitely is playing her best netball, I think," Frew said. "It's actually through so much hard work, she's doing extras two, or three, times a week. "Just really happy that all her hard work is actually paying off for her and you're seeing that on the court. "At times I think we can even look into her earlier. "She's got such a powerful hold and we'll see at times that we'll give her balls that aren't quite in the right space and ... she's putting her body on the line to pull those in." Co-captain Kate Heffernan also made her first start, after being sidelined for the opening rounds with a knee injury. The Silver Fern midcourter played only the first half as she builds back through managed minutes but provided a calm figure to lift her team. "It's been tough for her, she's been such a professional in rehab to get back on to the court," Frew said. "There would be other players throughout New Zealand who had that injury that wouldn't have been able to get back on the court like she did." Confidence will be crucial for the Steel this week, as they make the trip to Wellington to meet the Central Pulse on Monday. The sides' previous tussle was a game the Steel would rather forget; they lost 70-45 back in round four. "We know we didn't perform nearly our best. "For us, we've had a good look at it. "You obviously debrief games, and we've moved on and now we're looking to see how we can change our game plan up slightly and make sure we come out a different team than we were when we played them in Invercargill." It is a must-win game for both teams in the scheme of the ANZ Premiership this year, which has been cut back to 10 games. The Pulse are third on the ladder with a record of three wins and three losses for nine points. They lost 61-50 to top-of-the-table Mainland Tactix last week and 64-51 to the Northern Mystics the week before. Wing attack Whitney Souness leads the competition with 153 centre pass receives and shooter Amelia Walmsley has been accurate from the one-point range. The Steel are fifth on the ladder with a record of two wins, and four losses, for seven points. Kimiora Poi sits third for feeds with 196 and defender Carys Stythe leads the league for deflections (32) and defensive rebounds (15) and is second for intercepts (13). ANZ Premiership Monday, Wellington, 7.30pm Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Kate Heffernan, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson, Khayne-Lii Munro-Nonoa. Central Pulse: Amelia Walmsley, Amorangi Malesala, Tiana Metuarau, Gabi Simpson, Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Fa'amu Ioane, Parris Mason, Laura Balmer, Kelly Jackson.
