Joline Henry limping into new netball season

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times

JOLINE HENRY: Suffered a calf tear a month ago.

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Joline Henry is in a race against time to be ready for the trans-Tasman netball opener on Saturday.

Henry still lives in Hamilton, but is commuting to Auckland to play for the Northern Mystics in this season's ANZ Championship after leaving the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

But a calf tear a month ago has slowed her progress and she yesterday said she was a "maybe" and a "hopefully" for this weekend's game against last year's beaten finalists, the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

But even if the calf isn't sufficiently healed for Saturday, Henry will surely be back for the team's third round clash, in Auckland, against her old team-mates. She said she would keep a close eye on the Magic this season, but wouldn't watch them as she didn't have Sky TV.

"It's a deliberate thing, so I don't sit down to watch a bit and then end up watching it for three hours."

She said her new team were strong individually, but yet to gel as a team. "We're working on it and it's something we'll grow into during the competition. We haven't had a lot of game time, so the girls can't wait to get out there."

Henry was confident her side would come together well and be more than just a strong team on paper. "Individually they're bringing a whole lot of skills and talent to the side. The challenge is bringing it all together; it's a waste of time having seven good players on the court who can't play together."

Henry will be joined by her old Magic and Silver Fern team-mate Maria Tutaia in the Mystics, who have also picked up internationals Jenny-May Coffin, Larrissa Willcox and Althea Byfield.

With Henry fully fit, the Mystics, led by Temepara George, have likely overtaken the Magic as New Zealand's top team on paper. But after two years with the Magic, Henry is only too well aware of what the hype and reputation can lead to.

Whether they are contenders, or once again pretenders, will depend on how well the Mystics work together as a team as that has been their biggest downfall in the past and now they have to include a host of new personalities.

The Magic have also lost Leana de Bruin for this season, the Silver Fern defender turning out for the Southern Steel. De Bruin's Steel host the West Coast Fever on Sunday, while the Magic start their season on Monday against the Melbourne Vixens.

- © Fairfax NZ News