Steel’s attacking trio back for 2017

Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel’s dynamic attacking trio of Shannon Francois, Gina Crampton and Te Paea Selby-Rickit will be back in action for the Club in the ANZ Netball Elite League.

Francois, Crampton and Selby-Rickit join captain Wendy Frew and Jamaican sharpshooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid as confirmed on the Steel’s playing roster for 2017.

“There was no place I’d rather be,” Crampton said.

“Now looking back on it, we had an amazing season with a great group of people but it still feels like we have unfinished business. We did so well to get to where we did but it would be nice to go the whole way. I’m excited to see what we can do in this new competition.”

Selby-Rickit will embark on her sixth campaign with the Steel since her rookie season in 2011 and has successfully made the transition from goal shoot to goal attack.

“Those first couple of years I was so young and just there soaking up the knowledge without all the pressure to perform. Now it’s the real deal,” she said.

“With another year under my belt at goal attack, I’m definitely feeling more confident there now and really enjoying it.”

Steel chief executive Lana Winders said she was thrilled to retain “one of the leading attacking trios in the country”.

“What’s most satisfying about this trio is that they have never played for another franchise. They began their careers in Dunedin and have thrived in our high performance environment originally driven by Janine Southby.

“Last year, under the tutelage of Noeline Taurua, this combination completely and utterly lost their ability to be intimidated by Australian teams and we’re really looking forward to watching them continue to grow and build on that.”