1.00pm
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua is licking her lips in anticipation after Waikato's domination of the national netball championships.
Waikato obliterated their opposition last week in never winning by less than 15 goals in Palmerston North.
Now the task for Taurua is to translate Waikato's fine record at the national
championships -- four titles in six years -- to the National Bank Cup where the Magic have never made it past the semifinals.
"One of the things I've always wondered is why we can't translate that to the National Bank Cup," Taurua said.
"But from what I saw at the weekend it's looking good for us."
Taurua said there was no simple reason for Magic's failure to live up to their billing.
"I haven't got the answer but I'm still looking for it," she said. "But I do think we have a good basis, we've got experience and some good young ones coming through."
Waikato captain Jenny-May Coffin was another without the answer.
"Perhaps the difference is that we had half the season together so by the second half we've got everything sorted.
"The National Bank Cup, because it's six, seven or eight weeks, you have to keep the players enthusiastic and interested."
Coffin said she would not make a decision on her availability until January next year, but expected the Magic to do well.
"I don't know who Noeline is looking for in the mix," she said.
"But there's an experienced core. A successful team needs to have a really good base and we've definitely got that."
Taurua said the experienced players in the area would be key for the Magic next season.
"The older players there are still on their game," she said.
"That's quite exciting for the Magic comparing them with what's around in the other regions.
"There are quite a few gaps around."
Taurua said she hoped to have offers of contracts to Waikato's Silver Ferns in the next week to ensure they were not poached by other regions.
Key player Irene van Dyk's Waikato contract does not expire until the end of next season.
An initial 18-person squad will be given to Netball New Zealand on November 1 before trials begin in January.
- NZPA
