Steel primed for opening game of new league

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew knows how important getting off to a winning start will be when the ANZ Premiership kicks off on Sunday.

The Steel have been billed as early title favourites, in part due to their settled line-up having retained the bulk of their squad including their entire starting seven.

“I think it’s a big advantage for us,” Frew said. “There are a lot of things we built last year – connections and all our off-court stuff, professionalism and that kind of thing. It sets us up nicely.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do to improve on our performances, but it’s a good start and we can only go up.”

GET TICKETS: 6 teams, 3 games, 1 ticket | March 26, Claudelands Arena

With Hamilton’s Claudelands Arena to host the opening round, including the first Super Sunday, Frew said Steel fans couldn’t wait to get in on the action in Round 6 when they host the next one.

“Everyone is already talking about it – the hype is big from all the fans,” she said.

“For us it’s really cool that fans won’t just come and watch our game but watch all three and have a big afternoon of Netball.

“I know the Club have some cool things lined up for the kids and some fun activities, it’ll be great to have everyone down south, getting amongst it and seeing some world class Netball.”

World class Netball is exactly what fans will see this weekend, with Super Sunday to herald the start of a new era of Netball in New Zealand.

The Steel have been given the honour of playing the first game of the new league against newcomers, the Northern Stars and Frew says they’re primed and ready to go.

“We’re pretty excited to be the first game of the new league,” Frew said.

“It’s an honour, so we want to make sure it’s a good spectacle for everyone at Claudelands Arena and on TV.

“We’ll be wanting to put in a good performance and let everyone know what this league is about and how good it’ll be.”

Can’t make it to the game? NZ-based fans can catch all the Super Sunday action live on SKY Sport 3 from 2pm, or via FanPass.