News

In selecting a wider squad of 18 with a final 12 to be named in February, no stone is being left unturned as Central Manawa set their course for the 2022 National Netball League (NNL).

After being a dominating presence in the league since its inception in 2016, winning the title for three years in succession between 2017 and 2019 and finishing runners-up in the first edition, Manawa failed to make the grand final for the first time, last year.

And now, there’s a strong desire from the Wellington-based team to resurrect their fortunes.

There were pleasing results from the 31 triallists, the naming of 18 giving selectors another couple of weeks to take a closer look at the make-up of their final 12.

``Despite all the disruptions of Covid, the girls came in well-conditioned having done all the preparation work by themselves over the past couple of months and we were really pleased with their effort in the final trial,’’ Manawa head coach Anna Andrews-Tasola said.

"We’re pleased with the condition of the girls so early in the year. It has definitely lifted overall from previous years and we can see they’ve put in the hard yards, that they’ve taken ownership of that and accountability to be ready to go."

In the mix are seven players from last year and 10 overall who have previously played for the team, providing a strong foundation.

"There’s a really great balance of experienced players who’d be able to support the newer team members coming through," Andrews-Tasola said. "Central Manawa has a really proud legacy and we want those experienced players to be able to share what we expect and what the outcomes should be for the squad."

Team training kicks off in earnest this week with a get-to-know each other day included on Saturday to outline goals and expectations for the season while also assessing how to maximise the best outcomes for each athlete.

The NNL season starts two weeks prior to the ANZ Premiership with the draw yet to be confirmed but with Manawa expected to have a tough double-header opener to their campaign against the Northern Comets and Mainland on the weekend of March 5/6.

Last year’s assistant coaches Emma Weenink and John Atkins will be returning for 2022 and with a view to the Zone broadening its coaching base, ex-Pulse player Ngarama Milner-Olsen will also join Manawa as an assistant coach.

2022 Central Manawa wider squad: