Player retention has provided a healthy foundation for defending champions Central Manawa to launch their 2024 Synergy Hair Netball League (NNL) campaign starting with their season-opener against the Comets in Auckland on Sunday.
Netball Central's Ngarama Milner-Olsen was quick to acknowledge a cast of many after taking out the National Netball League (NNL) Coach of the Year title at the 2023 New Zealand Netball Awards.
Led by the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award winner, rangy defender Kelly Jackson (nee Jury) capped an outstanding return for Netball Central personnel as the cream of the sport's finest in 2023 have been celebrated.
With eight players returning from last year's National Netball League (NNL) winning team, Central Manawa have named a strong squad to defend the title in 2024.
After a successful start to their tenure, title-winning trio Ngarama Milner-Olsen, Renee Matoe and Cushla Lichtwark will be back to coach Central Manawa in next year's National Netball League (NNL).
With six from the Zone included, Netball Central players feature strongly in the recently-named 16-strong NZ U21 squad, the focus now firmly set towards the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
After a career working in the public sector in health and education, Sarah Boyes has made the transition into sport with her recent appointment as CEO of Netball Central Zone.
Central Manawa added another chapter to their legacy after coming from behind to win the Synergy Hair Netball League crown, their fifth national title.