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Team Preview: Central Pulse

March 22, 2017
Team Preview: Central Pulse

The Central Pulse have high expectations in 2017 and are determined to deliver their fans more excitement and more wins on the board. ANZPremiership.co.nz puts them under the microscope in our final team preview before the season opener on March 26.

Home venues: Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North; Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua; TSB Bank Arena, Wellington

Coach: Yvette McCausland-Durie

Captain: Katrina Grant

Team: view player profiles

Game changer: Cathrine Tuivaiti

A new city heralds a new start for Cathrine Tuivaiti who makes her way to the nation’s capital, Wellington, to kit up for the Central Pulse. Her ability to swing a game with a no-look pass, a steadying goal or a bag of 30 is what makes her a fan favourite. As the senior shooter in the team, she’ll need to bring her A-game every game if the Pulse are to feature at the business end of the season.

Match winner: Katrina Grant

Katrina Grant bleeds yellow and black. The Pulse captain will once again lead her team into battle and look to propel them into the Finals for the first time in the side’s history. She has an ability to play all three defensive positions but expect to see her used more at goal defence – her dogged defence and determination a feature of her play.

Key signing: Sara Bayman

English import Sara Bayman is relishing her opportunities with the Pulse. The midcourter will form a vital link for the Pulse through the midcourter; offering plenty in attack and in defence.

What the coach says:

“We want to play a really fast, agile game so we want to see lots of ball movement on attack and then lots of player movement on defence,” coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said.

“The biggest piece really is just creating enough variation within the 10 so we can make critical changes that add variety and value.”

First Match:

The Central Pulse will open their ANZ Premiership campaign against the SKYCITY Mystics as part of a blockbuster Super Sunday featuring all six teams at Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, on March 26 – GET TICKETS.