Steel keep coach Broughton, sign Jade Topia

Netball mastermind Robyn Broughton will return for a third season with Steel next year as the southern franchise look to build on their top-four finals effort from this season.

Broughton coached Steel during their first two campaigns in the new trans-Tasman netball competition and has signed a one-year contract extension.

She is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in world netball and led Southern Sting to seven titles in 10 seasons in the old National Bank Cup competition.

Steel chief executive Julie Paterson was delighted Broughton would be at the helm again.

"It's fantastic for our whole netball organisation. She brings a wealth of experience and is one of the New Zealand netball selectors."

Steel will have a settled look to their lineup next season with eight of this year's squad returning. Broughton said she was excited about the chance to continue the good progress they had made this year.

"I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully we can do a bit better than last year."

Broughton said that she loved being involved in the best netball competition in the world.

Steel will have a new assistant coach next year with Margaret Foster not returning. Paterson hoped to name her replacement next week.

The franchise also revealed their 12th and final signing yesterday with Mystics shooter Jade Topia agreeing to terms. Topia played for Mystics in the past two seasons, but was deemed surplus to requirements by the Auckland-based side for next year after they signed Silver Fern shooter Maria Tutaia.

Topia was one of the stars of this year's national netball championships for the title-winning Auckland Waitakere side and will add to Steel's depth in the shooting circle. Australian Megan Dehn has been cleared to play for Steel next year by Netball New Zealand's eligibility committee.

- © Fairfax NZ News