Fresh faces add to Tactix experienced core
Despite the absence of a familiar face, the retention of a well-performed core has left the Trident Homes Tactix with enough experienced clout to be serious title challengers in 2022.
Expecting her first child this year, dynamic defender Jane Watson will be missing from the on-court action but will remain a handy presence from the side-lines.
Over the last five years, the Tactix have built a strong culture, gaining more wins each year, with last year producing 10 for the season, a club record. The majority of the players who have been involved in the Tactix upward trajectory remain while 2022 also ushers in a sprinkling of new talent.
“We’ve got a lot of newness to us but I’d like to think we’ll still be a very competitive team and really challenge for that title,” Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said.
“We’d obviously love to put one away at some stage, we’ve been in two finals (back-to-back) now and we’ll be working our butts off again to get to that position and we’d love to take it out.”
With succession in mind, it had always planned to introduce new talent this year, resulting in well-performed shooter and former training partner Hannah Glen making the step up while defender Kate Lloyd makes a return to the Tactix after last appearing in 2019.
Moving closer to home, powerful Fiji defender Kelera Nawai-Caucau also joins the red-and-black ranks while training partner Vika Koloto, after excelling during the pre-season, earned a fulltime contract as Watson’s replacement.
“So, we’ve got that experienced core, the old girls, and then we’ve got some young guns as well,’’ Delaney-Hoshek said.
“It’s been really exciting to the see the shifts that these guys have made coming in with their fitness and skill development and the potential they have. It’s a really exciting mix.”
In shooters Ellie Bird and Te Paea Selby-Rickit, midcourters Kimiora Poi, Samon Nathan and Charlotte Elley along with standout defender Karin Burger, last year’s ANZ Premiership Player of the Year, the Tactix have plenty of talent in their arsenal.
Initially top-heavy with circle defenders, the coach believes the elevation of Koloto, who can play wing attack and goal attack, gives her side a more balanced look with options all over the court.
“Vika basically gave me no option but to choose her,” Delaney-Hoskek said.
“She just adds something completely different to our attack end, the speed and how she works with the circle.
“Hannah has been building nicely. And she’s another who gave me no option but to pick her. Her fitness is great, she’s a hard worker and she’s got a great shot.
“I’m very happy with Kate Lloyd and how she’s tracking. After being dropped a couple of years ago, she’s come back really strong. Fitness-wise, she’s really jumped out of the box and gone up a couple of levels in the yo-yo test and things like that. She could be one to watch.”
After making great strides in her first year at the elite level for the Pulse, Delaney-Hoshek believes former Tactix training partner Nawai-Caucau has plenty of untapped potential and is expecting further gains from her.
Involved in some of the pre-season trainings, Watson will add further expertise from the bench during the competition with her leadership and experience credentials.