England captain Ama Agbeze can bring winning mentality to Northern Stars
England captain Ama Agbeze gives the Northern Stars a defensive leader who is flying high right now.
If winning is infectious, the Northern Stars will be hoping to catch what Ama Agbeze's got.
It's been just over two weeks since the veteran defender captained England to Commonwealth Games gold for the first time, and it's clear the good vibes that win has given her are still a long way from wearing off.
She will be a key figure at the defensive end for the Stars, having effectively traded places with former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin, who has joined the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Agbeze's previous team.
If Agbeze plays with some extra confidence after the events of the past month, that can only be a good thing for the Stars, who finished fifth last year in their inaugural season, and begin their second campaign against the Mainland Tactix in Palmerston North on Sunday.
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Given the widespread consensus that Australia's Super Netball competition is more intense than the ANZ Premiership, it might seem odd at first that Agbeze has left the former for the latter, especially with a World Cup on home soil a year away.
Then you remember she has a Kiwi husband, so it begins to make sense, but as Agbeze tells it, that wasn't a factor.
"I wouldn't make a decision based on anything other than netball, much to my husband's disagreement and disappointment," she said.
"I just basically say at the moment my netball career is what I'm doing, so I want to put myself in the best position. Adelaide was the best last year, New Zealand is the best this year, and it just so happens to be that my husband lives here and we get to live at home for the first time in five years.
Helen Housby, who scored in the final second, and her England team-mates celebrate winning gold at the Commonwealth Games.
"It's been a good decision for me in terms of my netball. I think my game's suited to the New Zealand style of play, so that's perfect for me. Also, Kiri Wills and Temepara Bailey are great coaches and their style lends itself well to me, so I'm excited to work with them."
The second edition of the ANZ Premiership has been a long time coming, thanks to the extended international season which ran from last August through to the Commonwealth Games.
That has made Agbeze's integration into the Stars a stop-start affair, albeit one that has still been smooth.
"I've been to lots of teams, but the Stars were the first team I've come to where I felt comfortable coming into the environment. I felt like I knew people and I just got on with people, so that's a good thing for me, because I've travelled a lot around the world.
"I think we're an exciting team, it will just be whether we can pull it all together. I know lots of other teams have had disruptions and people missing, so everyone's in the same boat, so it will just be what team can connect the best."
Reflecting on England's Commonwealth Games triumph, Agbeze said one thing it showed was that they had learned how to win, and in particular, how to win against the best in the world.
"Australia and New Zealand had that down pat for the first 10 to 15 years of my career. They've been in crunch situations where it's tied and they're the one that always comes out on top, and England have struggled to do that for many years. Only now we're learning how to do that."
As the season starts, the Stars will be without Silver Fern Kayla Cullen, who is still recovering from the knee injury that ruled her out of the Commonwealth Games.
Other than Agbeze, there are five new faces in their squad this season, including Silver Fern Grace Kara, who will be their captain, as well as a new coach, Wills.
The extent of Kayla Cullen's involvement with the Northern Stars remains to be seen.
Northern Stars
2017: Fifth; four wins, 11 losses
Coach: Kiri Wills
Shooters: Maia Wilson, Paula Griffin, Ellen Halpenny; Midcourters: Fa'amu Ioane, Grace Kara, Christina Oscar, Kayla Cullen; Defenders: Ama Agbeze (Eng), Olivia Coughlan, Holly Fowler
In: Grace Kara (Magic), Paula Griffin, Ellen Halpenny, Christina Oscar, Ama Agbeze, Olivia Coughlan (Tactix)
Out: Leana de Bruin (Australia), Sulu Fitzpatrick (Pulse), Emma Iversen, Afa Rusivakula, Courtney Tairi, Malia Vaka
- Stuff
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