Netball: Player exodus set to hit Steel hard

Leana de Bruin could join the Magic. Photo / Getty Images

No deals have been finalised yet but up to five Steel players could leave the franchise in the wake of Robyn Broughton's messy departure.

At least three are expected to follow Broughton north to the Pulse, while star defender and 2011 ANZ Championship joint MVP Leana de Bruin looks set to join the Magic.

Erika Burgess and Daneka Wipiiti are among those tipped to play in Wellington next year. Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit is thought to be another Broughton may bring to the capital.

Paula Griffin is likely to stay in Invercargill given her close relationship with incoming coach Janine Southby. Liana Leota has played under Broughton since 2008 and was expected to also move north but is apparently contemplating taking time off to have another child at the end of this international season.

De Bruin is in demand, having been approached by the Magic, Pulse and Tactix, as well as the Steel.

"I'm in the process and I'm about 80 per cent there," she told the Herald on Sunday. "I was hoping to make it before we play Australia but now I will have to set it aside until after that series. At the end of the day, I have got to sit down and see where I am at with my career and be a bit selfish - without worrying about what other people might think or say and do what I believe will be the best for me."

It is unlikely that de Bruin, who lives in Cambridge, will relocate her young family to Wellington, while commuting to Christchurch may hold little appeal. It is still possible she could stay at the Steel but the most likely scenario is joining fellow Ferns defender Casey Williams at the Magic, as long as the Waikato franchise can come up with a suitable financial package.

The crux of the issue at the Steel is the lingering resentment among some of the players around Broughton's treatment by the Steel board. There are also reservations, to a lesser extent, about Southby and Natalie Avellino, appointed in her place.

Broughton was asked to re-apply for her job earlier this year, apparently as part of a succession plan put in place by the Steel hierarchy, who were concerned about their options for the future. But it was handled poorly, with communication breakdown on both sides, and played out in the public arena.

Broughton, a late contender for the vacant Pulse position (she applied after the closing date for applications), now has a big part to play in the future of both franchises.

The Steel are fighting hard to keep their players and the Pulse have to find a way to afford any 'imports'.

Current Pulse captain Katrina Grant recalls how hard it was for her to leave Broughton after two years at the Steel in 2008 and 2009.

"I tried to tell her twice but I couldn't," says Grant. "It took a week and eventually on the third occasion, I finally told her. It was hard though - I couldn't even look at her."

Grant talks of a tough taskmaster who demands - and gets - great respect from her teams but also has a softer side.

"She gets to you on a personal level, which in our sport as females is pretty important. She was very approachable. When she was coach, you could go to her house to sort something out if there was a problem, netball or otherwise."

"She will have a huge impact on the Pulse," says former Ferns captain Adine Wilson, who played for years under Broughton at the Sting and Steel. "She gets an amazing response from players; she will make you work hard and ask you to do things that you don't think you can do."

Broughton will face her own challenges at the Pulse. She will need to blend new players with an existing core, and current captain Grant admits that she hopes there are no more than five or six new players.

She will be expected to groom her eventual replacement - something that didn't happen in Invercargill - and going from probably the richest franchise to the poorest will take adjustment.

Back at the Steel, it all adds up to a challenging scenario for new coaches Southby and Avellino, though at least they have a substantial war chest to retain and entice talent.

"My heart does go out to them," says national coach Ruth Aitken. "I really rate Janine and Natalie - they are great young coaches coming up but there are some real challenges for them taking over from an established and long-term coach such as Robyn."