Netball: Full circle for shooting star

Netball was the last thing on Jo Steed's mind when she followed her heart to England, but the former Silver Fern is now poised to square off against her old team-mates.

Barring a major mishap, the 26-year-old Steed is certain to be named in the England team to tour Australia and New Zealand in July.

"To be quite honest, I didn't come over here to play netball," said Steed, who was born in England.

"I came over here because I wanted a bit of a break and my boyfriend was living here, so I followed my heart. It's turned out really great."

Steed first played for the country of her birth against South Africa last year, and featured with a strong showing in the recent series against Australia.

Part of the all-conquering Rebels and Otago teams in 1996, Steed was the most accurate shooter in the country at the time and ultimately won selection for the Silver Ferns tour to England in 1997 and the Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games the following year.

A teacher, originally from Nelson, Steed received limited court time and failed to break into the Silver Ferns top lineup under coach Yvonne Willering.

"I wasn't negative towards netball at all when I left," Steed said.

"I'd had a bad run with injuries and was a bit gutted ... This was the next step and I'm glad I made it."

English netball is slowly restructuring, helped by the hiring of former Silver Ferns captain and assistant coach Wai Taumaunu as a high-performance manager, £1.25 million ($4.44 million) a year from Sport England, and the employment of highly regarded former Australian coaching director Julie Hoorweg.

"I think where we are lacking is the domestic season," Steed said. "Our county and club games are just nowhere near the level you play in New Zealand and Australia."

A new Super League starts soon.

Steed will eventually settle in New Zealand, but would like to represent England in next year's Commonwealth Games and the 2003 world championships.

While England had opened a door for her, Steed said her heart remained in New Zealand.

"It's going to be quite weird [in New Zealand] because they're all my mates that I've played with. I guess on the positive side, I've played against them so it's not as daunting as playing Australia."

England's tests against the Silver Ferns are on July 7, 11 and 14.

- NZPA