Netball: Pulse feeling weight of expectation

Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie (standing, yellow) watches as star signing Cathrine Tuivaiti autographs a water bottle at a clinic in Hastings. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

She doesn't know how it'll stack up but Yvette McCausland-Durie is not leaving anything to chance in her second attempt at coaching the Pulse netball team.

While working and trying to coach in that first 2007-09 stint, McCausland-Durie realises it was the best she could do but not the best she could be.

"I think we performed well at that time ... [because] we were a fledgling group so they played to their potential," she said while visiting Hastings to help conduct a clinic for budding talent with the help of some of her Pulse players a fortnight ago.

This time, when the opportunity arose, McCausland-Durie had no reservations about making it a fulltime commitment to netball.

The 44-year-old, who is based in Wellington but commutes to Palmerston every weekend to visit her family, was a fulltime schoolteacher until last year when she finished at Manukura School in Manawatu.

The assistant Silver Ferns coach is on a year-to-year renewable contract and that sits just fine with her, something she passes off as an integral part of sport.

"You're only as good as your win/loss record and we're very aware that winning is critical and that our sponsors want us to be there and it makes a big difference to our community so we care," said McCausland-Durie.

The challenge, when the premiership starts late this month, is that the new domestic competition, ANZ Premiership Netball, will be tougher.

"Certainly, with the player base that we've got and the changes to the competition to a 10-player format, means we just have to be fitter, faster and stronger."

Everyone involved is making a more concerted effort to ensure the Pulse have the resources required to claim their maiden crown.

"I'm really looking forward to the second chance, the second time around, and the pressure is well and truly on us so the expectation is really high and we tend to meet that expectation.

With the six-team premiership, the Pulse have recruited overseas players to bolster their homegrown stock of Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant and ex-Ferns such as Phoenix Karaka and Cathrine Tuivaiti (nee Latu) and Tiana Metuarau, a national under-21 rep, as well as former national under-21 reps in Sheridan Bignall and Whitney Souness.

Former England captain Sara Bayman is the overseas cog.

McCausland-Durie said the Pulse were refining their systems and would play a preseason match against an invitational side this weekend as well as hosting the opening tournament so they would be able to have some idea of the other five oppositions' composition and intent.

"That'll be our first check at where we're at."

McCausland-Durie said their 3-4-3 split of shooters, midfielders and defenders, respectively, offered them scope with a good mix of youth and experience.

"We're new to the environment but with some really experienced players at the franchise level," she said, revealing the recruitment process began in August with successful candidates buying into the franchise vision.

"With that I found there's been a growth from the good base. You know, not just skills base but people feel good about what we're doing."

McCausland-Durie said the end of the transtasman competition was a blessing in disguise and an opportune time to tweak the Kiwi style of play which would eventually help mould a template for Silver Ferns.

"There's been a bit of a merger in the last few years between Australia and New Zealand styles and I think it'll be a positive aspect for us to do what we do really well."

Style aside, McCausland-Durie reckoned the Ferns' challenge evolved around a sense of self-belief that they were capable of becoming world champions again.

With the Commonwealth Games looming next year and Australia supreme, she felt other nations were making inroads into the gulf with resources and investment.

"We have a player base although we don't have the biggest numbers in the world but we've got strength in the fact that our game's developed right from a young age."