Netball: Mental preparation crucial, says Magic coach

Mental preparation has been the key focus for Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua ahead of tomorrow's national netball league final against the Southern Sting at Mystery Creek, in Hamilton.

The Magic made no race of it against the same opponents at the same stage last year, but the loss of a title they consider their own has sharpened the Sting's edge for the 2006 showdown.

Their sheer doggedness was displayed in a dramatic semifinal comeback against the Northern Force last week.

Both teams have had their hiccups getting to the National Bank Cup final with the Magic's twin losses ahead of the semifinals being described, in hindsight, by Taurua as a blessing.

"They were a blessing because it's made us look at ourselves as individuals and as a group," Taurua said.

"There has been a learning curve for these players in the art of winning and what has hopefully been learnt is you can't just walk in and expect it to happen.

"We have different personalities this year and that has also been part of the process, helping them gel and fit in. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."

After beating the Sting in their last four encounters, Taurua said the importance of keeping her charges fine-tuned mentally ahead of Friday's clash couldn't be understated.

For that reason, she has welcomed golden girl Donna Loffhagen's return to the playing fray for the Sting.

"With Donna coming in it has added something different and a bit of spice to our whole line of thinking," Taurua said.

"I think if she wasn't there and it was the same Sting team we played last time we could have automatically got complacent.

"The last time we played the Sting and got our season back on track, there was more trust in each other and support and those are the things that will either make or break us again this time.

"It's not actually the stuff that we do on court, it's the unseen values that count here -- the trust and respect of those around you."

Magic warmed up for the final with a game against a mixture of New Zealand and New Zealand A players last weekend and went into camp today to put the polish on their preparations.

The Sting bounced back to a semblance of their old form in last week's late charge in the semifinal, raising the intensity on attack and showing greater application on defence.

"Their belief in each other and ability to be able to come back from a deficit are their big strengths and that comes down to experience," Taurua said.

"Key things for us are first-up, to control our own possession and not to transfer pressure to others. If that happens the rest will take care of itself."

Happy with her attackers progress, Sting coach Robyn Broughton is looking for more defensive pressure through court in the hope of stalling the ball before it gets to the Magic's key shooting weapon Irene van Dyk.

Broughton has long sung the praises of Loffhagen, the pair having a close relationship throughout the Sting's successful nine-year history, and her return to the fold has strengthened the southerner's options.

The rangy netball/basketball international could be used as a shooter or at the defence end where the Sting lack height.

But with Tania Dalton under an injury cloud, it is more likely Loffhagen's value would be at the shooting end.

"She brings vim and vigour to the team," Broughton said of Loffhagen.

"She's just a competitor, it wouldn't matter what she was playing, she's right out there and into it.

"And she's not scared to talk it up which is good because I've got a fairly quiet team this year, who are not into screaming and yelling."

- NZPA