Netball Mainland has again opened its doors for trials to find its Beko Netball League team and there will be more on the line for the netball hopefuls who take part.
A two-day trial will be held in Christchurch on October 27 and 28 and Mainland Performance Manager Jen Hooper said the loss of a key player from the franchise’s premier team, the Tactix, would add some incentive for the trialists.
The Mainland Tactix is on the hunt for a replacement for Silver Fern defender Temalisi Fakahokotau who injured her knee during the build-up to last month’s international Quad Series and was ruled out of next year’s ANZ Premiership with a ruptured ACL.
Hooper said the Tactix’ training partners for next season would also come from the two-day trials, providing another opening for those netballers ready to take the step into New Zealand’s elite competition, while a full contract to the team to cover Fakahokotau’s absence was also a possibility.
“We are excited to offer the opportunity to the up and coming talent in New Zealand to become part of a Franchise on the move,” she said.
“Netball Mainland has run open trials for the last two years for its Beko Netball League team and we are continuing with this tradition to provide opportunity for athletes to pit themselves against the best.”
The Mainland Beko team reached the grand final in 2017 and narrowly missed a spot in this year’s title decider, finishing third.
The trials will take place at the HPSNZ Apollo Projects Centre at Jellie Park with the 2019 Beko Netball League starting in February.