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Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua would not stand in the way of a possible move to Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic for Australian captain Caitlin Bassett.
The great Bassett of the Diamonds finds herself in a tough spot with her Sydney-based Giants team at Super Netball Australia.
The introduction of the ‘super shot’ in Super Netball has made Bassett’s role largely redundant. Bassett has been one of the top goal shooters in world netball for the past decade, but she is a player who scores her goals near the rim, rather than from long range.
Despite being the Australian archery starter and a Diamond centurion, the 32-year-old has been stationed on the Giants’ bench this season.
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Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Former Australian coach Lisa Alexander, captain Caitlin Bassett, Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman and coach Dame Noeline Taurua show off their pavlovas ahead of last year’s Constellation Cup series.
The controversial ‘super shot’ has been used for the first time in this year’s competition. It allows teams the opportunity to score two goals by shooting from a designated 1.9m area within the goal circle and is active in the last five minutes of each quarter.
Bassett’s minimum court time and question marks over whether the ‘super shot’ will be used again next season has created uncertainty about his future in Super Netball.
Stuff She understands the Magic have made a concerted effort to catch the 1.96m Bassett, but if she chooses to play in New Zealand next year she is up in the air. The Magic have announced their defenders and mediators for 2021, but have yet to confirm their shooters.
Netball Waikato-Bay of Plenty CEO Rohan West declined to say Wednesday if they had been in talks with Bassett, but acknowledged they were reaffirming their sights.
Regi Varghese / Getty Images
Giants goal shot Caitlin Bassett scores her goals near the post.
Taurua has known Bassett well from her time as the Sunshine Coast Lightning coach. In the first two seasons of Super Netball in 2017 and 2018, Bassett was a key member of the Lightning side, winning prime minister titles in both years.
If Bassett participates in the ANZ Premiership, Taurua said he would have no problem, believing it would be a boon to the competition.
“If I look bigger than my role as Silver Ferns coach, for netball in New Zealand it’s fantastic. For her to come to New Zealand and play for ANZ, I think there are advantages, ” he said. Stuff.
“We’ve never had an Australian Diamond come here so that’s really positive and others of the same kind can open the door for others to come here and see the quality of the competition.
“I think in the big picture, that’s only good for the game in New Zealand.”
Paul Kane / Getty Images
Caitlin Bassett is all smiles after winning the Super Netball title for Noeline Taurua coach Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2018.
It is understood that Bassett would be eligible for the Diamond selection, if he played in New Zealand.
Taurua and the Ferns could face a scenario in which the Magic and ANZ Premiership will get Bassett in shape and boost his confidence. That could come back to bite them internationally, if Bassett retains his spot on the Diamonds.
During the last four Giants games, Bassett had taken the court only once.
Bassett had not scored a ‘super shot’ goal this season and it had impacted on his court time. Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald has favored Kiera Austin and England’s Jo Harten at the shooting end.
“For any player it is difficult to be on the sidelines. You have to be strong and mentally strong to be able to spend a lot of time on the bench, ”Taurua said.
“For a person like her, it is a new territory and a new space that she would not be used to.”
ANZ Premiership teams can sign a foreign player, but most have chosen not to bother in recent seasons.
While Bassett’s addition would be a boost for the ANZ Premiership, she would be consuming court time and possibly accepting the contract of a young Kiwi shooting talent.
Kelsey McPhee has been the Magic’s opening goal shot and may or may not find himself on the bench or not on the 10-player team.
Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images
Warm-ups have largely been Caitlin Bassett’s fate with the Giants in Super Netball this season.
Taurua understood the enigma of a team like the Magic, which was undoubtedly looking for the best possible player available at the shooting end. Players with Bassett’s experience and quality were not abundant.
New Zealand’s depth of fire remained a work in progress after Maria Folau retired last year.
The initial goal kick from Silver Ferns, Maia Wilson (Stars) and Ferns development team members Aliyah Dunn (Pulse), Grace Nweke (Mystics) and Ellie Bird (Tactix), would continue to be headlines for their respective teams.
Dunn, Nweke and Bird are encouraging prospects, but they have struggled with Ferns’ conditioning requirements. They would have to pass the 16.3 yoyo test standard to be considered for Ferns’ future selection.
Should Bassett end up serving as prime minister, Taurua said it would be beneficial to Kiwi defenders, scoring against a player of his ability each week.
“If it happens, it is really healthy for our sport.
“I think it’s amazing if it did. It’s great for our sport, great for ANZ, and keep in mind that not everyone needs to go to SSN (Super Netball) as they can get quality games here. “
