World News – AU – Caitlin Bassett called Dame Noeline for advice on moving to New Zealand

Australian netball captain Caitlin Bassett says Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua helped convince her that a historic stint in New Zealand was a good career move on

Dame Noeline Taurua and Caitlin Bassett after winning the Suncorp Super Netball title in 2018 with the Sunshine Coast Lightning
Photo: DCimages | Daniel Carson / Photosport

It seems an unlikely scenario The captain of rivals Silver Ferns, contacting the coach of that team, to ask for advice on a possible move to enemy territory in order to revive his netball career

During Super Netball’s first two seasons in 2017 and 2018, Bassett was a key member of the Sunshine Coast Lightning, which won premier positions both years while Dame Noeline was in charge

« Noels is one of the people I called very early on I really respect her opinion and obviously played some of my best netball players under her so after a few conversations with her I felt pretty confident in my decision, « said Bassett

« And I think the opportunity to do something different while playing a sport I love, meeting a country so passionate about netball and playing at a club that has hosted superstars like Irene van Dyk, Laura Langman and Casey Kopua I think it’s an exciting thing to do and a big challenge « 

The 32-year-old will become the first current Australian netball international to play in the New Zealand ANZ Premiership next season, signing a one-year contract, with an option for two with the Magic

The signing of the veteran 100-Test is a major coup for the Waikato Bay of Plenty franchise, which finished last this year

During the Lightning, Bassett also played alongside current Magic defender Erena Mikaere and the recently retired Langman.

Bassett will combine with new recruit Chiara Semple and rising young talent Khiarna Williams in the end of the filming of Magic

Bassett makes the choice to have more time on the pitch after spending much of this year’s Australian national season on the bench for his Giants club

Two points were awarded for goals scored from the outside of the shooting circle, so the team’s long-range shooters were preferred over Bassett’s style of play.

The Magic approached her at the same time as she was frustrated with the lack of time in court and when she asked the Giants to release her from her contract earlier, they forced her

« They [the Magic] have been so patient with me the last few months as I sort through and make sure I’m still eligible to play for Australia, so I’m really grateful to them.

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« I’m really grateful that Netball Australia supported me and allowed me to come and play It’s been a tough 12 months for me I guess and so signing with Magic is really exciting »

It remains to be confirmed whether the Australian competition will continue with 2-point shooting next year, but Bassett did not want to take the risk

« For me playing international rules is a given to me I think it will be better to prepare for the 2022 Commonwealth Games which are coming soon »

« I’m really lucky to have Temalisi [Fakahokotau] and Erena [Mikaere] on my squad and play against them in training week after week as well as against the Silver Ferns defenders throughout. the competition is only going to get me where I need to go and really challenge myself before the big competitions to come « 

« I don’t come for fun netball is a serious thing for me so my goal is to help them climb to the top of the ladder and be really stimulating for the finals and for the championships

« I really think we can do this with the team that was put together so excited by the challenge I always find that when I step out of my comfort zone this is where my best growth occurs and when i play my best netball »

The six-foot-plus shooter has been a thorn in the side for the Silver Ferns for nearly a decade and admits he’ll feel a little odd having played New Zealand so many times in the green and gold

« I know how passionate the fans are I hope Kiwi fans cheer me on, maybe it will be a bit difficult for them to start but I feel like coming to New Zealand for all the right reasons

« I want to help the sport grow and I’m going to put in as many hours as possible to go out and help the younger generation, grassroots netball to develop as well as the two young shooters on our team. Kiwi fans are just amazing and can’t wait to go out and play in front of them « 

Bassett said new Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich understood she was not going to develop her game sitting on the sidelines

« I need to be there to play actively and although she [Marinkovich] and Netball Australia would ultimately like me to play netball in Australia, this is the situation we are in So they have been fantastic these past few weeks I wouldn’t have left without his blessing « 

While Bassett isn’t a fan of the 2-point shot, she felt it was more the way the Giants approached him tactically that left her sidelined

« I don’t think the rule change itself had such an impact on me, it’s just how the coach of our team decided to play with these rules You see the Melbourne Vixens and Sunshine Coast Lightning, they actually didn’t use the 2 point shot much, they kind of continued their fixed game and it worked really well for them

« Unfortunately we’ve been in situations at the Giants where we’ve been late so we need that two-point shot to try and catch up as quickly as possible I’m not really a particularly big fan of it now but I think it can be worked around and smart teams got around it « 

The Magic have secured a bye to field two ineligible players, 24-year-old Semple who represented the England Under-21 team at the 2017 Youth Netball World Cup

Kelsey McPhee and Abigail Latu-Meafou weren’t hooked but one of them could be picked up by the Pulse, who lost Tiana Metuarau to Steel

Caitlin Bassett, Australian National Netball Team, Suncorp Super Netball, New Zealand, ANZ Premiership, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Sunshine Coast Lightning