After dipping to their first loss, a week off has given Central Manawa the opportunity to reset and reload heading towards the pointy end of the Synergy Hair Netball League (NNL).
Upended by Waikato Bay of Plenty two weeks ago, last week’s bye round came at an opportune time for the defending champions as they set their sights on a strong finish to the season, starting with the Northern Marvels in Auckland, on Saturday.
"The girls had been going for five weeks in a row without a break and I think it showed against Waikato Bay of Plenty. We just weren’t as sharp as we would have liked to be,’’ Manawa coach Ngarama Milner-Olsen said.
"We made more errors in that game than we have in the whole competition to date, so we take the learnings from that and move on to this week’s game.’’
Despite the loss, Manawa are comfortably placed on the table, edging the Comets in top spot courtesy of a superior goal differential with both teams posting four wins apiece to date.
"It’s very close at the top of the points table, so these last three games for us are really important to ensure we can secure a place in the final,’’ Milner-Olsen said.
"Up to this point, we’ve been very consistent but there were learnings from that last game, the most important being consolidating our centre pass attack.
"That’s been our bread and butter and something we’ve been very proud of up to that point and it just wasn’t as solid as it has been and we didn’t get as many gains as normal. So, our key focus over the past week has been treasuring our own possession first and foremost and then ensuring we’re relentless on defence.’’
With four titles under their belt, Manawa are the most successful team since the inception of the NNL in 2016, and consequently are the team everyone wants to beat. For Milner-Olsen that may mean a change-up for the remaining rounds.
"All opposition have had a good look at us now and that means we have to show a little bit more scope, a little bit more depth so we can offer some different dynamics, particularly in the attack end,’’ she said.
"We’ve been working on that and using different personnel in the last couple of weeks and I’m looking forward to seeing what that looks like out on court.’’
With a game in hand, the Marvels sit in fourth place on the table but the Manawa coach is taking nothing for granted, believing this year’s league is showcasing more depth of talent and more evenly-contested games.
"Across the court, the Marvels are very strong and we need to be prepared for that,’’ she said.
"I think this year’s competition is a lot more even. Across the country, we’ve got more depth, our wider squads have grown which is a good thing because it means succession plans across each zone are working well.
"It’s a great competition and plays an important succession role leading into the ANZ Premiership. That has born fruit for us in the past with multiple Manawa players going into the Pulse environment and other teams around the country.
"That’s our legacy and one we want to continue.’’