For 17 seasons in the elite ranks tenacious midcourter Wendy Frew epitomised the values of a champion netballer.
Her unrivalled journey spanned both the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and its predecessor the Southern Sting, earning her six premier championship titles.
Now the remarkable contribution Frew made has been honoured with a medal bearing her name – today’s announcement an apt way for the Steel franchise to commemorate the ANZ Premiership’s inaugural Heritage Round.
The Wendy Frew Medal will be bestowed annually on the Steel player who demonstrates excellence, commitment and loyalty – all hallmarks of Frew’s netball prowess.
“It is incredibly humbling to be acknowledged and respected in this way,” Frew said.
“My love of the game has always been what drives me and I’m incredibly proud of what I achieved wearing both the Sting and the Steel dress. To have that captured to be awarded to future players is a massive honour.”
Frew hung up her bib after leading the Steel to a second consecutive ANZ Premiership title in 2018.
“I do miss playing, the intensity of the competition and the comradery which you get from being in a team. I will treasure my Sting and Steel netball days forever.”
Frew, nee Telfer, was still a high school student at Verdon College when she was recruited by coach Robyn Broughton into the Sting team in 2002 to play alongside legends the calibre of Bernice Mene and Donna Wilkins, nee Loffhagen.
“On reflection, it truly was the best start to what would eventually become a professional career as the sport evolved. Those senior players taught me so much on the court but more importantly how to be a professional off it as well,” Frew said.
“They were special times and every season was unique in its own way. Different players injected a new dynamic and I always enjoyed seeing them embrace the values of our team culture.”
Steel’s class of 2021 will be determined to pay tribute to the franchise’s legacy when they face the Te Wananga O Raukawa Pulse in Porirua on Sunday.
An impressive performance in round two earned the southerners a 56-52 victory over the defending champions but Frew expected Pulse to up the ante on home turf.
“It will be a tough encounter and Steel needs to push for that confidence-boosting win away from home,” she said.
“I feel Steel is the stronger team and definitely has the edge when it comes to form, but both will be desperate for the win.
In particularly, Frew was eagerly anticipating the midcourt showdown between Steel captain Shannon Saunders and her Silver Ferns team-mate Maddy Gordon, along with the exploits of defensive pairing Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Taneisha Fifita.
“In the defensive circle, that’s a combination which continues to gain momentum and it’s exciting to see it evolve every week.”
Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse v Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel
When: 4.15pm, Sunday 16 May
Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
Broadcast: Live on Sky Sport 3 and Sky Sport Now (NZ), delayed on Prime, netballnz.streamamg.com (outside NZ)
Match Notes
- When the teams last met in Round 3 the Steel defeated the Pulse 56-52 in Invercargill. The Steel and Pulse have met 15 times in the ANZ Premiership with the Steel winning eight and the Pulse seven matches.
- The Pulse have won three of the past four meetings between the teams.
- The Pulse last played the Steel at a home venue in Round 5, 2019 with matches in Dunedin, Invercargill (3) and Auckland (2) between then and now.
- The Steel and Pulse have met 33 times since 2008 with Steel winning 19, the Pulse 13 and there has been one draw.
- The Steel are coming off a 45-59 loss to the Stars in Auckland in Round 4 and sit in third place on the ladder after four rounds with two wins and two losses.
- The Pulse are coming off a 47-58 loss to the Mystics in Wellington in Round 4 and sit in fourth place on the ladder. This is the equal lowest position on the ANZ Premiership ladder the Pulse has ever sat after also sitting in fourth place after Round 10 in 2017.
- The Pulse lost the third quarter 8-22 to the Mystics in Round 4 the most goals conceded and biggest margin in a quarter this season. This is also the biggest quarter loss the Pulse has suffered in ANZ Premiership history.
- The Steel have the best team shooting accuracy after four rounds shooting at 88% while the Pulse has the fourth best shooting accuracy shooting at 86.1%.
- The Steel has the second-best defensive record conceding 52.8 goals per match while the Pulse has the third best defence conceding 54.5.
- The Steel have won both home matches played in Invercargill (Tactix and Pulse) and lost both away matches played in Auckland (Mystics and Stars) played so far in 2021.
- The Steel didn’t make any positional changes or subs in their Round 4 loss to the Stars. The Steel only did this in two of their 14 matches in 2020.