Former Shooting Great Continues Pulse Connection

Press Release – Central Pulse

Losing a host of their core long-term players to overseas leagues in the off-season, the Pulse have come up with a diverse mix while setting the foundations of a massive rebuild with just three, back from last season.

Continuing her affiliation with Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse, former Australian captain Vicki Wilson has praised the recruitment and planning policies employed to shape a new ANZ Premiership netball era for the team.

Losing a host of their core long-term players to overseas leagues in the off-season, the Pulse have come up with a diverse mix while setting the foundations of a massive rebuild with just three – defender Parris Mason, midcourter Ainsleyana Puleiata and shooter Khiarna Williams – back from last season.

The vastly experienced and well-travelled Wilson is back for a third season as a specialist shooting coach, and so far, liking what she sees in the steady growth of a new-look Pulse in 2026.

“The recruitment has been spot-on, in terms of players that complement each other,’’ Wilson said.

“You can recruit and just have a group of players but this lot is like a bunch of grapes, where they’re all connected, but they’re very good in their positions, and they work well together.

“So, we’re talking a lot about units and that ability to work together. With those pieces, I’m looking forward to seeing how they go competitively but I have a real good feeling.’’

South African international shooter Ine-Marí Venter has played in leagues around the world, midcourters Lili Gorman-Brown and Emma Thompson have played in the Australian and England super leagues, respectively, and rising young defender Holly Comyns has come through the Queensland pathway.

Silky-smooth shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio has returned to the Pulse after several years away, and while staying true to their values of creating opportunities for their own, midcourter Erana Ngarimu and defender Madi Thomas have made the leap from sister team Manawa.

“There is some terrific experience as well as varied experience at all levels in there which is really important when you’re pulling together a team, and that united blend, that mix, is, I think, very positive,’’ Wilson said.

Wilson has just spent a week with the Pulse and recognised a significant shift in the team’s fitness and conditioning compared to her previous visit five weeks earlier.

“I could just see the hard work that they have put in and the change was very evident,’’ she said. “And what I like about it is their hardness to the ball in attack, the ability to shift their structures in defence, they have a lot of versatility.

“But just that lift also in conditioning, they know they’re fitter and stronger, so I think they’ll be ready to jump out of the blocks really well at the start. It’s only a short season and you need to be well prepared, but they look very balanced throughout the court and I like the way they work a lot on support play.’’

And at the scoring end, there’s also a lot to like for the former shooting great.

“That trio can just offer so much versatility,’’ Wilson said.

“Ine-Marí isn’t just a holding shooter, she has that capability of coming out of the circle, and having that skillset and repertoire is really very important.

“Meels (Ekenasio) is just getting better with age, she’s as strong as ever, as creative as ever and that shot just has so much fluency about it. And Khiarna is just a powerful athlete who enjoys finding the ball.

“She can provide that perfect foil for both of them, regardless of who she plays with. She can run out the front (goal attack) and she can also run behind (goal shoot), so very smart when it comes to court craft.’’

In building a new team, Wilson said planning was paramount but more importantly, was the buy-in from the athletes.

“And you have got superb buy-in from these athletes which is being very well led by (co-captains) Ameliaranne and Parris, who have done a wonderful job through the pre-season.’’

Wilson, who has coached on many fronts, including as head coach of the Queensland Firebirds and Fiji as well as an assistant with the Sunshine Coast Lightning and specialist advisor with the London Pulse, will spend one week a month with the Pulse during the ANZ Premiership.

The Pulse play the opening game of the season when they meet the Magic, in Wellington on April 11.

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
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