Players Promoted as Steel launches Preseason Campaign

Two familiar faces will join the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel when the team gathers to start preseason duties in Invercargill on Monday.

Dynamic midcourter Ivari Christie has been promoted as a replacement for Shannon Saunders, who is expecting her first child, and former defender Courtney Elliot returns to the ranks as a replacement for Sarahpheinna Woulf, who is now unavailable for 2023.

Head coach Reinga Bloxham was confident the pair would transition seamlessly into the team.

“Ivari is a young up-and-coming player who has huge potential in all three midcourt positions. She was a training partner with us last season and no matter what we threw at her she never backed down. She is raw and very explosive,” Bloxham said.

“She is excited about the opportunity and we don’t expect her to fill the shoes of an experienced campaigner like Shannon, we just want her to bring her best to our team.”

Elliot was a member of the ANZ Premiership-winning Steel team in 2018 and remained in the south in 2019 before joining the Mystics in 2020. After a season competing in Australia, she returned home to the Pulse in 2022.

“Courtney is a strong replacement for Sarahphienna. She has really good game knowledge and smarts and fits in well to our team culture. She has helped us win an ANZ Premiership title before so I know she can do the job for us,” Bloxham said.

She was “very excited” to get the 2023 campaign underway.

“It has come around very quickly with a shortened off season. I can’t wait to have all the team back in one room and am looking forward to the buzz and hype that comes with reconnecting again.

“My expectation is high. If we want to be in to win we have to turn up ready to hit the ground running.

We have limited time to prepare with the challenge of players being called for international duties in the mix as well.”

The initial focus and effort would set the Steel up for the demands of the competition ahead.

“Now is the time to set ourselves new expectations and values and always aim to push those to the limits,” Bloxham said.

“We have to be prepared to get into some uncomfortable spaces to make the shifts and gains we need for us to win. I want us to create a competitive performance environment where we train with intent and purpose to help us prepare for the condensed competition.”

Team-building would be high on the agenda during the Golden Homes Real Steel Great Southern Roadie to Central Otago next week, along with a range of community activations.

“Central Otago is such a beautiful part of our country and we are fortunate enough to have it in our zone. I am really looking forward to us heading off on our Southern Roadie and spending some quality time creating connections off the court,” Bloxham said.

“Creating a successful team environment takes time and effort and often we don’t have much of that.

But this time away gives us the chance to connect not only with our community but with each other. We need to learn the ins and outs of every person so when we are under pressure we know how best to support each other.”

Players will host drills sessions for local players in Queenstown, Cromwell and Wanaka on 2-3 December.

“Our zone and community are vital to our team. Without their support we would be lost. Getting out and about in Central Otago allows us to share some Steel love, connect with some aspiring Steel players and give back to our netball community.

“It’s fantastic to see the player numbers already registered for the sessions and reinforces how passionate the south is about this sport and our team.”