Netball: Silver Ferns triallists named

Maia Wilson in 2012. Photo / NZ Herald

Schoolgirl netball star Maia Wilson is among 30 players named to trial for the Silver Ferns and NZA teams later this month.

The 17-year-old student at Mt Albert Grammar School, who last night beat out St Kentigerns in the College netball final, will be pitted against seasoned Silver Ferns stars at the three-day camp in Auckland to trial for a place in the senior squad.

Other new faces included in national trials for the first time are young shooters Gemma Hazeldine (Tactix) and Brooke Leaver (Steel), Magic midcourter Samantha Sinclair and 1.93m defender Erena Mikaere, who has played as an import for the West Coast Fever this year.

None of these players are expected to be in contention for a place in the World Cup team, which will be announced at the end of the three-day trials on July 2. But with several veteran stars expected to step down following the August tournament in Sydney, there are opportunities for youngsters to push their case for selection in the Constellation Cup series against Australia at the end of the year.

The national selectors will also select an NZA team to will travel to Sydney for international fixtures prior to the World Cup.

The Silver Ferns / NZA trialists are:
Jodi Brown (Central), Gina Crampton (South), Kayla Cullen (Northern), Leana de Bruin (Netball WBOP), Temalisi Fakahokotau (Northern), Shannon Francois (South), Katrina Grant (Central), Ellen Halpenny (Netball WBOP), Gemma Hazeldine (Mainland), Joline Henry (Central), Phoenix Karaka (South), Casey Kopua (Netball WBOP), Laura Langman (Northern), Cathrine Latu (Northern), Brooke Leaver (South), Camilla Lees (Northern), Liana Leota (Central), Nadia Loveday (Northern), Bailey Mes (Northern), Erena Mikaere (Netball WA), Malia Paseka (Netball WBOP), Jamie-Lee Price (Netball WBOP), Storm Purvis (South), Grace Rasmussen (Netball WBOP), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (South), Samantha Sinclair (Netball WBOP), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Northern), Maria Tutaia (Northern), Ameliaranne Wells (Central) and Maia Wilson (NZSS).