Steel pair court Commonwealth Games berth

BY BRENDON EGAN

Southern Steel midcourt maestros Liana Barrett-Chase and Wendy Frew have the netballing world at their feet this year.

With the Commonwealth Games looming in India in October, the athletic duo have a massive incentive to perform in this year's ANZ Championship as they look to secure a spot in the New Zealand side.

Barrett-Chase and Frew (nee Telfer) have been in the Silver Ferns squad during the past two years, but with Tactix captain Maree Bowden hungry for a recall and Pulse young gun Camilla Lees also knocking on the door, the pair know competition for places in the Silver Ferns midcourt will be fierce this season, alongside established stars Laura Langman and Temepara George.

The Commonwealth Games is as good as it gets for netballers, besides the world championships, and competing in the Games for the first time would be a dream come true for the Steel pair.

"Being in the (Games) village and meeting all those athletes would be amazing," Barrett-Chase said.

"You'd be in shock half the time. The Commonwealth Games would be awesome to be part of. We've got to get the ANZ (Championship) right first, though, and enjoy it and have fun."

Barrett-Chase will be out to impress the Silver Ferns' brains trust during the ANZ Championship after a frustrating end to the 2009 season. The 25-year-old finally nailed down a starting spot in the Silver Ferns midcourt in her favoured position of wing attack, but then succumbed to a calf injury during the first test against Australia in Sydney.

When she finally recovered from the blow, she found herself sitting on the bench for the Silver Ferns' end-of-season tour to England and Jamaica.

After two years in the Silver Ferns setup, she said she no longer felt overawed, and believed she was starting to become a much more confident player.

"When I first made it I was just in awe, because you look up to them up.

"Now we're one of them and part of it and trying to push them for their positions."

Born-and-bred Southlander Frew will also be looking to take her game to a new level as she attempts to break away from her tag as a fringe Silver Ferns player. Frew has been part of the national squad during the past two years, but stepped on to the court only once against Australia in 2008.

In the previous two ANZ Championship seasons, Frew has been Miss Versatility, playing all three midcourt roles for Steel. With former Silver Fern captain Adine Wilson no longer with Steel, though, Frew has a chance to shine at centre and establish herself in one position.

"It will be good to get back to centre and work on my game," she said.

"I'm looking forward to focusing on that one position and doing it well and trying to cement it."

Barrett-Chase and Frew have the potential to be one of the best midcourt combinations in the ANZ Championship this year. They have played together for six seasons with the New Zealand under-21 side, Southern Sting, Steel and the Silver Ferns, and Barrett-Chase said it was a partnership that was really starting to flourish.

"When someone knows what you're thinking and knows where you want them to be, it makes your life on court easier.

"We talk a lot on court and always look for each other. I always know Wendy will be there for me if I get stuck."

With the inspirational Adine Wilson no longer anchoring the Steel midcourt, Frew and Barrett-Chase will be expected to lead the way and take on greater responsibility, which Barrett-Chase said they were excited about.

"Definitely this year, I have to step up my game.

"For both of us, we have to be the rock in this team. When things aren't going well, we have to pick ourselves up."

Some pundits have written off Steel for this year's ANZ Championship, with experienced campaigners Wilson, Donna Wilkins and Megan Hutton not returning and Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant defecting to the Pulse.

Although they have lost some big names and a wealth of leadership, Steel still have a side that has the potential to back up its semifinal effort from last season.

"We've got eight back from last year, which is a huge bonus," Frew said.

"We want to certainly make the top four and assess things from there."

Steel have played more preseason matches than any other ANZ Companionship side and been training flat out since October, and Frew admitted the team just wanted tomorrow night and its season opener against the West Coast Fever to finally roll around.

"We've had a huge preseason. We're looking forward to getting into the business end, when the games kick in and the points count at the end of the day."

BARRETT-CHASE

Born: October 31, 1984

Position: WA, C

ANZ Championship History: Southern Steel 2008, 2009

Silver Fern caps: 6

- © Fairfax NZ News