Young shooter set for Magic

DIANNE MANSON/Southland Times

HEADING NORTH: Julianna Naoupu shoots for the Steel during a game for the southern side.

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The appeal of playing with sharp-shooter Irene van Dyk was the major carrot which lured young shooter Julianna Naoupu from the Southern Steel to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

As it was for Jodi Brown a year ago.

Brown ruled herself out of Silver Ferns and Commonwealth Games contention for "family reasons" and those reasons can now be revealed: Brown is pregnant with her second child and will not play in next season's ANZ Championship.

Her starting goal attack bib will likely be taken by Naoupu or the Magic's other new signing, Jamilah Gupwell.

Naoupu was buzzing about the move to the Magic when she spoke to the Waikato Times yesterday, but originally thought the offer could not be true.

"I never thought they'd be interested in me," she said. "I didn't even know they were looking. But I'm really excited."

Naoupu heaped praise on her new team-mates. "When you get an offer that means you get to play with the best goal shoot in the world you take it," she said, referring to van Dyk. "And the best defender in the world and the best midcourter – of course I was going to say yes."

By playing alongside van Dyk, Naoupu is hopeful of improving her stock with the national selectors and pushing for a spot in next year's world championship squad.

"I'm hoping it will help my game," she said. "I know just because I'm in the Magic squad I won't automatically get to play goal attack with Irene. I can't be complacent. I'll have to prove myself, and learn how to play with Irene and Laura Langman, that will help my confidence."

Magic coach Noeline Taurua raved about her new charge's abilities, especially her confidence to turn and shoot from anywhere, like her predecessors Brown and Maria Tutaia. "Yeah, she's very good at that and she's, well I guess she's unorthodox in her movement and unorthodox in her passing, she's unpredictable and I like that about her."

Taurua said Naoupu and Gupwell would likely compete in a tight battle for the goal attack bib.

But on past form, it would appear Naoupu will likely have the inside running and she does come with high praise.

Australian Diamonds coach Norma Plummer last year suggested the Christchurch-born Samoan should have been selected in Ruth Aitken's Silver Ferns squad.

"It's nice to hear things like that, but it's a bit embarrassing, because I still think I have so much more to learn; hopefully I can do that with the Magic next year," Naoupu said.

- © Fairfax NZ News