Pulse ready to push the re-set button

With the return of successful coach Yvette McCausland-Durie and injection of bold new signings, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse are hoping to revive their form of old in 2022.

The most successful team in ANZ Premiership history after making the Finals Series for four straight years and winning back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020, all under the watchful eye of McCausland-Durie, the Pulse slipped down the pecking order during a challenging 2021.

Stepping aside in 2020 after four years at the helm, the popular McCausland-Durie has been lured back for another stint, assembling an exciting mix of new faces and proven talent while heralding a new-look Pulse.

“I left loving the job and it’s the same feeling coming back into the environment,” she said.

“There’s some fresh faces on the playing front which presents a new challenge, there’s some new members in the management team, so I’m really enjoying being back involved.”

With five changes, the equal most of all their rivals along with the Magic, the Pulse have lost a host of big-name players but McCausland-Durie is more than happy with her mix of talent which includes Australian recruits Binnian Hunt, Kristiana Manu’a and Courtney Elliott, who have strong family links to New Zealand, and the return after a season away, of dynamic play-making shooter Tiana Metuarau.

The Pulse will present with a relatively young team but there’s plenty of experience in the mix, particularly at the attack end.

“If we look at (shooters) Aliyah (Dunn)/Tiana (Matuarau), that’s a combination that got us through to the play-offs in 2018, was really strong and they’ve played together really nicely in the past. Tiana has had the opportunity to get more goal attack time (with Steel in 2021), she’s grown in confidence and that will add value,” McCausland-Durie said.

“Unfortunately, Maddy (Gordon) will miss the start of the season but her interim replacement Erikana Pedersen is a like-for-like fit and will slot in nicely with Whitney (Souness) in what is shaping as an impressive springboard at the attack end.”

With new players, the defence end is more of an unknown quantity but the coach has no doubts of its potential which includes Silver Fern Kelly Jury, rising young talent Paris Lokotui, an experienced Elliott and the robust Manu’a.

“For us, it’s just making sure we infuse our game plan into their style (Elliott, Manu’a and Hunt, all having played in Australia in 2021),” McCausland-Durie said.

“They are all so open to learning. It’s a really big commitment they’ve each made. They’ve decided to change their lives and invest in their game and New Zealand, so we’re really grateful for the effort they’ve made.”

As for her expectations of the Pulse in 2022, there was no hesitation from the coach.

“We want to make the Grand Final,” she said.

“As everyone else will have done, we’ve set a clear target, we know what it takes, we’ve been there four times before. It’s just hard work but most of all, it’s about bringing a group together that, 1) truly believe, and 2) will do what it takes for each other first and foremost. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”