New coach ready to forge new Steel era

Wendy Frew had no problems winning titles as a player, her challenge now to fashion a similar outcome as she steps into the role of head coach for Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in the 2025 ANZ Premiership.

A legendary figure in the Deep South, Frew was a member of six premiership-winning teams across the Southern Sting and Southern Steel, during which she played 176 national league matches in a decorated 16-year domestic career.

Frew, one of a handful of new coaches for this year’s ANZ Premiership, embodies the Steel legacy, and with it her hopes of a revival following a disappointing couple of seasons for the southerners.

"It’s been a big step-up for me not having coached at this level before but so far I’m really enjoying the environment, enjoying the job and just can’t wait to get under way,’’ she said.

Four players, the Heffernan twins, Georgia (shooter) and Kate (midcourter), midcourter Renee Savai’inaea and defender Abby Lawson return from 2024, while not unfamiliar with the environment, replacement players for last season shooter Summer Temu and midcourter Serina Daunakamakama have been rewarded with full contracts in 2025.

Frew has recruited wisely with new additions being proven performers in shooter Aliyah Dunn and midcourter Kimiora Poi while rising young defenders Carys Stythe and Australian Dakota Thomas add an exciting blend to the mix.

"In terms of the dynamics of the team, I’m really happy,’’ Frew said. "It’s a big move coming to Invercargill and away from loved ones. As the coach, I’m so grateful the new ones have taken the plunge and come here. They’ve fitted in so well and you’d think they’d already been here for a year the way they’re handling the environment, the training loads….just fitting in and making a real good go of it.’’

With some significant rule innovations being introduced in 2025, most notably the two-point shot, and the league being reduced from three rounds to two, Frew believes those two elements, particularly, will have a major bearing.

"I think the two-point shot will change the dynamics of the game and the tactics around it,’’ she said. "The players are really going to have to think on the spot on whether they go for the one or the two.

"It’s adding a real different element. You could be down by 10 with a few minutes to go but still turn things around and win it with the extra points on offer.

"There will be a lot of players having to think on the spot in those crucial moments and making decisions on which shot they go for. It’s a timely change and pretty exciting for the competition.’’

A traditionalist at heart, Frew enjoys the 15-minute quarters of the one-point shots but has welcomed the innovation as a necessary addition, where two-point shots will come into play for the final five minutes of each quarter.

"A lot of other international competitions are doing it, so it’s probably the right thing for where we’re headed and we need to attract the fans and just get a bit more thrill-seeking elements as part of the game,’’ she said.

"Going down to two rounds also makes it exciting. You really won’t be able to take two or three games to get into the competition this season. It’s certainly going to be challenging in that space to start well and that’s why all the hard work’s going into the pre-season and that we can come out firing.’’

As a first-time coach at the elite level, Frew’s primary focus has been to create a strong culture with a foundation set in high standards and solid values.

"I guess if you get that off the court then the performance on-court will come,’’ she said. ``Ideally, I’d love to make that top three and that would be our first goal as a team and see what happens from there.

"It’s going to be a tough comp. There’s a lot of good teams, a lot of good players around, so I’m just looking forward to getting into it and seeing how we compete at this level.’’