The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup, the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting. After the National Bank Cup was retired in 2007, the newly formed Steel joined four other New Zealand franchises in the new ANZ Championship, representing the New Zealand regions of Otago and Southland.
Home games in the ANZ Championship are usually played at Stadium Southland in Invercargill, with some matches also played at the Edgar Centre in Dunedin. For the 2011 season, most home games will be played in the Invercargill ILT Velodrome adjacent to Stadium Southland, after heavy snow caused the roof of the main venue to collapse.
The Steel were coached by Robyn Broughton from the teams inaugural season, until the end of 2011 campaign. She also coached the championship-winning Southern Sting in the former National Bank Cup from 1998 to 2007, winning seven titles. But in early May 2011 after a poor season, the Steel confirmed Broughton's head coach position would be advertised. On 20 May it was confirmed New Zealand under 21 coach Janine Southby would co-coach the side with former Australian international, former Southern Sting shooter and Southland coach Natalie Avellino, replacing Broughton who decided not to re-apply.
The Steel have since reverted to a traditional coaching structure for 2013, with Southby taking the reigns as head coach and Avellino returning as assistant. Both coaches applied for the top job, but Southby was appointed by franchise management due to her superior experience at the high performance level.
Silver Fern shooter Jodi Brown captained the Steel for 2012, and returns for next season. Wendy Frew has re-committed to the Steel after giving birth to her first child in August 2012, and has been confirmed as vice captain.
In five years, the team colours have changed three times: presently, the team kit is primarily cyan blue, with black and pink.
Read more about Southern Steel: Competitive Record, Venues, See Also
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