Tactix grab Australian defender

KELLY HODEL/Waikato Times

CLOSE QUARTERS: New Canterbury Tactix signing Peta Stephens (right) confronts Magic attacker Maria Tutaia during a game this season.

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Off-court attributes as well as on-court skills and Australian "mongrel" have drawn the Tactix to Peta Stephens for netball's trans-Tasman league.

The Queensland defender, who has captained the Firebirds for the past two ANZ Championship seasons, was yesterday confirmed in the Tactix team for the 2010 league.

It will be Stephens' second netballing foray to Christchurch. She played for the then Canterbury Flames in 2004 in the old domestic competition.

The Tactix hope to sign another import, to bolster their shooting circle, although this will need to be rubber-stamped by Netball New Zealand.

Chief executive Anthony Dawson believed they had a strong case to push for a second import because of the lack of depth of shooters in New Zealand.

He said they had approached other young prospects from around the country including former Canterbury Flame Jade Topia, who has played for the Northern Mystics since the league's inception.

But Topia appears to be stepping away from the netball court next year, while others were committed elsewhere.

The Tactix have retained Silver Fern Anna Thompson in the shooting circle, along with national under-21 player Ellen Halpenny. New signing Chelsea Pitman carries a New Zealand passport but has been living in Australia.

It is understood the Tactix have 11 of their 12-strong squad almost confirmed and a second import, for the shooting circle, would complete it.

Stephens was not wanted by new Queensland Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke and was immediately on the Tactix radar.

"This is the crazy time of the year when players start popping out of the woodwork," Dawson said.

"Learning on what has happened in the past and the types of players that have come in for a season and gone and caused all sorts of problems, we want to make sure of the off-the-court influence they will have and that's why Peta is a good signing." Stephens, a 31-year-old circle defender, flatted with Maree Bowden the last time she played in Christchurch and helped the Flames to the final of the National Bank Cup.

"We are really trying to focus on creating a positive team culture and knowing the type of player coming in is a huge part of that."

It was also important to find a good "foil" to team up with young Silver Fern defender Charlotte Kight, who made huge strides this season with the Tactix and will be looking to push for a spot at next year's Commonwealth Games.

"We believe Peta offers that experience in the circle for Charlotte," Dawson said.

Stephens spent much of last season battling a calf injury but is confident the problem has been "identified and corrected".

She is expected to move to Christchurch in the first week of January to begin pre-season training with the Tactix.

PETA STEPHENS

Age: 31
Height: 1.83m
Positions: GD, GK
Born: Brisbane, Australia

PLAYING HISTORY

ANZ Championship: Queensland Firebirds 2008-2009 (captain)
Commonwealth Bank Trophy: 9 years
National Bank Cup: 1 year (Canterbury Flames, 2004)

- © Fairfax NZ News