Steel boss ‘couldn't be more proud' despite missing playoffs

Otago Daily Times

4 days ago

"It's just an exciting season. The games have been exciting, and everybody's got really behind the Steel, and behind the team that we've created this year." — Netball South chief executive Sonya Fleming. Photo: supplied
Netball South chief executive Sonya Fleming takes heart from a much-improved Southern Steel season.
Fleming is busy reviewing and reflecting on the season after the Steel wrapped up their ANZ Premiership campaign last week with five wins and five losses to narrowly miss the playoffs.
"To be honest, I couldn't be more proud of the girls," Fleming said.
"Unfortunately it hasn't quite gone our way. Maybe if we had a couple more rounds things would've changed, or if we didn't have those injuries in the beginning of the season then we would've had a bit more time to make a difference."
Former player Wendy Frew took over the reins as head coach — "she's a legend of the South" — and was supported by assistant Liana Leota, who returned home with experience.
Frew has been open about learning on the go in her first elite coaching gig, but Fleming said what Frew had done for the franchise was "next level".
"I reckon Robyn Broughton would be incredibly proud of what both her and Liana have done," Fleming said.
"I believe the culture they've created ... the crowds that we've been able to bring into our fortress, both here (Invercargill) and Dunedin, we couldn't be more happy about that, really.
"We've got the best fans in the country and we're really grateful for that."
Fleming told the Otago Daily Times in January new memberships had "peaked higher than pre-Covid numbers" and that support remained throughout the season, attracting several sold-out crowds.
Initially, Fleming attributed crowd numbers to the shorter season, but as the season went on she had second thoughts.
"It's just an exciting season. The games have been exciting, and everybody's got really behind the Steel, and behind the team that we've created this year.
"Our fans just wanted to see some great netball and they have never walked away disappointed."
The ANZ Premiership has been through a handful of changes in 2025, including being reduced to 10 rounds, plus the traditional two rounds of playoffs.
Not knowing where the playoff series would be held — or who would grab third spot — until the final round robin indicated it had been an exciting competition, Fleming said.
She was a fan of the 10-round season, but encouraged more innovations, including larger squads — which could help teams manage injuries better — or changes to the finals set-up.
"I believe that netball will be better and stronger and has got great following ... and we just need to keep it that way from the grassroots.
"It's really important for that pathway to come through."
The Steel players still have community commitments in the coming weeks before wrapping up the season at their awards night.
After debriefing 2025, Fleming will be busying contracting players and staff for next season.
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