Netball New Zealand’s emerging youth talent faces a significant year ahead, marked by the announcement of the trialists for the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) team.

Netball New Zealand Emerging Talent Selectors and NZSS head coach Jo Morrison confirmed the 24 players who will trial for the NZSS team in Auckland from 17-18 April, in what she said would be an exciting campaign for secondary school players.

“This is largely a new group of players who are taking their first steps into Netball New Zealand’s Player Pathway.  It is fantastic that this year the NZSS team will travel to Australia in the first week of the July school holidays.  Where they will be involved in the U17 Australian camp, providing some vital international play”, she said. 

Morrison, who will be assisted by Ngarama Milner-Olsen said it was an exciting time for the players but also the coaches who would be able to work closely with the country’s top young talent.  The two-day trial in Auckland will involve fitness testing, specialist skill sessions along with trial matches and Morrison said she was looking forward to seeing how players perform in what will be a step up from the recent National Development Camps.

“The NZSS team holds a special place in New Zealand netball history, having first taken the court in 2001, and is the pinnacle for secondary school players around the country.  We can’t wait to see what these athletes will bring to the trials in what will be a good look into the future of our game in New Zealand.”

She said the team selection process would be based on the Emerging Talent Panel (ETP) and NZSS coaches’ observations from the trial.  The 24 trialists were named from the 90 players that were selected to attend three National Development Camps around the country in January and underwent a series of specialist skill development sessions, movement competency screening and match play opportunities.

New Zealand Secondary School Team Trialists
Anne-Theresa Napara-Williams – Northern - Mt Albert Grammar School
Aria Gardiner – Northern - Mt Albert Grammar School
Ariana Dawson – WBOP - Whakatane High School
Bella Gardiner – Northern - Mt Albert Grammar School
Bella Neru – Northern - Pukekohe High School
Caitlin Gabel – WBOP - Ngā Taiātea Wharekura
Charlee Farquhar  - South - St Hilda’s Collegiate
Destiny Aleka – Central - Scots College
Emily Crowther – Central - Napier Girls’ High School
Fo’i Lemana – Central - St Mary’s College, Wellington
Grace Giles – Northern - Rangitoto College
Hazel Mason – South - Twizel Area School
Imani Rasmussen - Northern - Westlake Girls High School
Kiaarah Wilson – WBOP - Hamilton Girls’ High School
Kiana Brown  - South - Columba College
Leira Wharewaka-Vai – Northern - St Dominic’s College
Lucy Trenberth – Central - Queen Margaret College
Maggie Shields – Central - Wairarapa College
Ruby Hore – South - St Hilda’s Collegiate
Shanti Kara – South - Columba College
Tatiana Makea – Mainland - St Margaret’s College
Tayla-Rose Mose – Northern - Mt Albert Grammar School
Te Ao Rangi Tawhara – Central - Wellington East Girls’ College
Zoe Jacob – Central - Scots College