Steel retain midcourt trio for 2018

The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel has retained its powerful midcourt trio for next year’s ANZ Premiership title defence.

Forming a vital nucleus, captain Wendy Frew and Silver Ferns Shannon Francois and Gina Crampton are the first roster signings announced by the southern franchise which won both the inaugural ANZ Premiership and Super Club titles recently.

Frew, who had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon a fortnight ago, said she was stoked the combination they have worked hard to establish would remain intact.

“Playing with Gina and Shannon is just an unreal experience. I love everything about their game and the way they lead on the court but also everything they do for this team off the court,” Frew said.

“I think we’ve got a great combination going there and it’s exciting to have the chance to keep building on that.”

Crampton echoed her comments.

“It’s cool that the three of us are back and I can’t think of anyone else I’d like to be playing alongside,” Crampton said.

“It’s going to be important to have these connections going forward next year because we know all the other teams will be gunning for us.”

The absence of towering Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid would force a revamp of the Steel’s attack but Crampton was unfazed.

“It’s going to be great to see how we go having someone so different under the post. It will definitely change our game plan a bit and produce a different brand of netball but that will hopefully keep the other teams guessing and add a few new tricks to our toolbox,” she said.

Francois agreed.

“It’s going to be exciting for us middies and shooters to create new combinations and prove we can still be successful,” she said.