Topia almost gave up game

Talented shooter Jade Topia was considering pulling the pin on top-level netball until Southern Steel came calling and offered her a contract.

The former Silver Ferns training squad member endured a frustrating season with the Northern Mystics in this year's trans-Tasman competition with court time limited because of Catherine Latu and English international Pamela Cookey's combination in the shooting circle.

When Mystics snapped up Silver Ferns goal attack Maria Tutaia early this off-season, Topia saw the writing on the wall and contemplated having time out from the sport next year to concentrate on her teaching career. "To tell you the truth, I wasn't thinking about playing next year. Then this opportunity came up. I love to play netball and it's a new challenge."

Topia – who works as a sports assistant at Tamaki College in Auckland, said she was looking forward to linking up with her new team-mates in January.

She was impressed by how Steel was shaping up for next season and believed they had the potential to once again be a force in the competition. "There's a lot of experience there with Leana (de Bruin) and Sheryl (Scanlan). Then there's Megan Dehn, who I can really learn off."

The 1.82m Topia will be no stranger to the deep south, having been part of the Southern Sting and Southland national provincial championship sides in 2005. She then played two seasons with the Canterbury Flames in New Zealand's old domestic competition, before relocating back to Auckland for the ANZ Championship with Mystics.Topia will scrap it out for starting positions with Daneka Wipiiti, Megan Dehn and Julianna Naoupu in Steel's attacking end next season. Her addition also gives coach Robyn Broughton the option to switch Dehn into wing-attack.

The 22-year-old said she was still hungry to force her way back into the Silver Ferns after being part of their extended squad two years ago.

"Yeah definitely. That's every young girl's dream, to wear the black dress."

She said her preference on court remained at goal-attack but she was more than happy to wear the goal-shoot bib for Steel if required.