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It’s time to get the war paint on. The Southern Steel netballers have launched a new ‘‘tribal’’ facepaint design in the team’s colours of blue and pink and are encouraging fans to adopt it ahead of this Sunday’s New Zealand conference finals at home.
Steel takes on the Waikato/BOP Magic at ILT Stadium Southland at 4pm and a sell-out crowd of about 3100 is expected. Steel captain Wendy Frew said the team was eager to see everyone attending the game embrace the new tribal theme and show their support. 
Photo: Gregor Richardson.
‘‘Absolutely, it feels like we’re going into battle. This is the business end of the season when everything is on the line and you can bet no-one will be holding anything back, including us.’’ Emerging from the round-robin phase of the ANZ Championship unbeaten, the Steel could potentially host all three games of the 2016 Finals Series in Invercargill if the winning streak continues.
Frew said earning the right to host its first final since the competition’s inception nine years ago was immensely satisfying. ‘‘This is what you strive for every season — a shot at the title. And to be in a position to do that on our home turf feels incredibly special.
‘‘We want to walk onto that court and see a stadium full of fanatical Steel fans, decked out in our blue and pink with the decibel levels at fever pitch. That’s what home advantage is all about.’’ Chief executive Lana Winders said ‘‘war paint’’ would be available in the foyer before the game.
Story Republished courtesy of southlandexpress.co.nz