Netball: Henry moves to Pulse

Joline Henry. Photo / Supplied

Silver Ferns defender Joline Henry has once again been forced to find a new transtasman league franchise after a contract dispute, this time with the Northern Mystics.

The Central Pulse yesterday confirmed they had signed Henry for next year's ANZ Championship, adding a fourth Fern to their roster.

Fellow Silver Fern Paula Griffin and promising young defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit also jumped ship to the Pulse in the off-season.

But while Griffin and Selby-Rickit followed former Steel coach Robyn Broughton to the Pulse, Henry was left with little choice but to explore her options when she was not offered a contract with the Mystics.

"We never got to the point where she was offered a contract," said Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron, who would not go into the reasons discussions broke down.

"We're extremely disappointed to lose a player of Joline's experience but we appreciate the Pulse may have been a better fit for her."

It is believed the Mystics did not have the funds to match Henry's contract from previous seasons - in a situation eerily similar to her departure from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in 2009.

Cameron admitted Henry would leave a massive gap in the Mystics ranks but was confident they had the depth to cover the position.

It is believed the Mystics are negotiating with an English import who can cover wing defence as well as offer back-up to veteran Temepara George at centre. With Serena Guthrie announcing this week she is taking a year off from netball to travel, Jade Clarke is tipped as the player on their radar.