Silver Ferns, through the looking glass

All season it has been referred to in shorthand as the midcourt puzzle. With the Silver Ferns shooting and defensive ends having a settled look about it over the past few seasons, the make-up of the Silver Ferns’ midcourt for next month’s Netball World Cup in South Africa, has been the most vexing question of the 2023 ANZ Premiership.

The permutations, and speculation, was endless. Even veteran midcourter Gina Crampton admitted to playing amateur selector at times during the season.

In the end, poor office architecture helped provide the answer to the mystery.

As media gathered at the Netball NZ headquarters ahead of yesterday’s team announcement, the lift doors opened to reveal Pulse midcourt dynamo Maddy Gordon lurking in one of the glass-walled offices.

And just like that, the picture had revealed itself.

Official confirmation of her place in the squad came 15 minutes later when Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie, with all the gravitas of a war-time prime minister, stood unflinching at the podium to read out the 12-strong line-up and three travelling reserves to a live TV audience.

Gordon was one of six Silver Ferns who will be appearing in their first World Cup, alongside Maia Wilson, Whitney Souness, Kelly Jury, Kate Heffernan and Grace Nweke.

Then there’s the old hands. Six players remain from the side that took out the 2019 World Cup final in Liverpool, although only three of those – Crampton, Jane Watson, and Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who will captain the side, took the court in thrilling one-goal win over Australia.

But much of the early questioning focused on who wasn’t there – Mystics playmaker Peta Toeava, who has formed a lethal combination with Nweke over the past few seasons.

Taurua, in her upfront style, outlined the rationale for the decision with the same level of transparency as the walls of the Netball NZ meeting rooms.

Selecting a World Cup squad is very different to picking a side for a test series, she explained.

The demands of tournament play, in which teams are faced with a gruelling schedule of eight games in 10 days, means selectors need to apply a different set of criteria to their decision-making. Versatility, endurance and experience are key attributes.

‘‘World Cups are totally

Ferns winners Maddy Gordon

Unwanted for last year’s Commonwealth Games and January’s Quad Series, Gordon needed a breakout season to make the World Cup squad. She was the form centre in the ANZ Premiership. Able to play all three midcourt roles, her versatility will be an asset at the World Cup.

Whitney Souness

Some felt spending the ANZ Premiership season at wing attack for the Pulse could have hurt Souness’ World Cup prospects. It’s no secret Taurua prefers her in the centre bib. Souness offers spark and energy off the bench.

Mila Reuelu-Buchanan

Reuelu-Buchanan was a name that cropped up as a fringe World Cup midcourt contender. The Stars centre, who has played three tests, leapfrogged Peta Toeava for one of the three travelling reserve roles.

Losers Peta Toeava

No player was more unlucky than Mystics wing attack Toeava. A specialist wing attack, only being able to contribute in one position ultimately hurt her chances. Finding a way to get incumbent wing attack Gina Crampton and Toeava both into the 12 was always going to be challenging.

Michaela SokolichBeatson

Sokolich-Beatson was the best performed wing defence in the ANZ Premiership for the Mystics, but there was no way to fit her into the Cup squad.

Elle Temu

Temu would have been among a group of players scrapping it out for the travelling reserve defensive spot. The selectors decided to go for the vast experience of 27-test Fern Sulu Fitzpatrick.

BRENDON EGAN

different. Because of the games being back-to-back-to-back and the hardest games coming at the end, you’ve got to be able to run. We’ve known from experience that if you can’t, it impacts on everyone else,’’ said Taurua.

Taurua was also clear that Gordon made it impossible for the selectors to leave out.

‘‘That’s a great position that she put herself into.’’