Central Manawa coach Ngarama Milner-Olsen admits her team needs to rediscover their links if they are to add to the legacy of the most successful side in the Synergy Hair Netball League.
Manawa host the Robinhood Comets in the national league’s Grand Final at TSB Arena in Wellington on Sunday, hoping to add to the four titles they have won since the competition’s inception in 2016.
They head into the season finale finishing second on the table, four points shy of the Comets who nabbed one more win than Manawa.
But they will have to break a two-game losing streak following a narrow defeat to Mainland and last week’s loss to the Northern Marvels.
Milner-Olsen said they dug deep against Mainland and the crucial bonus point secured was enough to book their place in the Grand Final.
Manawa finished the nine rounds with five wins, after opening their campaign with four straight victories.
“We started really well but the bye round for us kind of stopped that momentum and we lost a few a links along the way,” Milner-Olsen said.
“This week is about re-setting. We’ve had a rest at the start of the week and now it’s about ensuring those links are working well and have pride in what we do.
“This is the last hurrah for the season though and nothing else leading into this game really matters now. We’re grateful to be in this position and I know the girls are really excited to play in the final.”
Milner-Olsen said it had been a long season for her squad, many of whom were playing their first season at this level.
“Like other teams, we’ve had injuries to overcome – we lost Ainsleyana (Puleiata) early on – and we’ve had to adjust and adapt along the way. It’s a young squad but I’ve seen such a lot of growth which has certainly been a goal of ours.”
Standing in their way are the Comets, ranked number one after nine rounds but having lost to Manawa 38-52 in Round 3.
Coach Michelle Parsons said the club was proud to be playing in its second Grand Final in two years, having gone down to the Marvels in 2021 when she was then assistant coach.
Two members of this year’s Comets team, Lisa Putt and Crystal Maro, were part of the side which went down by nine goals and Parsons believes all three will bring that big game experience to Sunday’s decider.
“I think we’ve all probably taken something from that Final that we can bring into this week’s preparations,” she said.
“They also remember that hurt in the changing room afterwards and that is a bit of a learning moment for them.”
Parsons said it was important for her players to soak up the experience this week which would include bringing in former Silver Fern and Stars defender Leana de Bruin for some “words of advice on big game moments”.
“It’s a great opportunity to hear what it’s like to be there (in a final), what she’s learned from it and the thinking that comes with it,” she said.
“These players work so hard at either end of their day so they can play this game, and no-one sees that, so we want them to celebrate the moment.”
Parsons said the SHNL Grand Final would also be a special moment for the whole of the Stars and Comets netball community.
“There has been a real shift at the club which I think started with (former Comets coach) Temepara Bailey saying we need to build a new legacy, we need to start a new culture here – it’s paid off and it’s up to us now to keep that going.”
The Synergy Hair Netball League Grand Final between Central Manawa and the Robinhood Comets will be played at TSB Arena in Wellington on Sunday at 2pm, live on Sky Sport