New look Magic a 'different product'

A new-look Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic will take the court in this year's transtasman netball league, coach Noeline Taurua promises.
Beaten finalists for the second time in three years in 2010, the Magic endured a roller-coaster of a season where their netball veered from the sublime - a superb 53-44 late-season triumph over Adelaide Thunderbirds - to the ridiculous with a meek 42-52 capitulation in the grand final three weeks later to the same team.
Taurua has retained the heart of her team this year, with Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk, Laura Langman and Casey Williams providing an even spread of strength right through the court.
Midcourter Frances Solia, under-rated defender Jodi Tod and the versatile Jess Tuki are also back, as is Australian Peta Scholz, who impressed at wing defence last year before a season-ending injury early in April.
Taurua has picked up promising young shooter Julianna Naoupu from Southern Steel, Central Pulse all-rounder Jamilah Gupwell and Northern Mystics' 18-year-old defender Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick.
After the ups and downs of last season, Taurua and new assistant coach Marg Foster are demanding a different style of play from the Magic this year. They open their account against the Southern Steel at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua on Sunday night.
"I'm hoping people will see a different product out there on court," Taurua said yesterday.
"The Magic have always been renowned for the fact that when we see things, no matter where we are, we just let the ball go into Irene.
"But sometimes there's a place for that, and sometimes there's not."
That flair won't disappear entirely, but this season's Magic focus will be centred on retaining possession, showing patience and building pressure.
"It's not going to happen overnight, because it's something totally different to what's been our playing culture," Taurua said. "But this season, we'll be looking more at possession of the ball that we've ever done, and probably being more disciplined."
Another change, enforced by the shortened, more intense season, will see a greater use of the 12-strong squad.
"It's definitely the plan to use depth of the squad more, and that's what we were looking at when we starting recruitment," Taurua said.
"There'll have to be more rotation of our players than there's ever been."