Netball: Sinclair makes Ferns trials

Magic player and former John Paul College student Samantha Sinclair (pictured here in 2013) has been selected to trial for the Silver Ferns. Photo / Stephen Parker

John Paul College's former head of netball says she is not surprised Samantha Sinclair has been named to trial for the Silver Ferns.

Maree Stewart worked closely with Sinclair during the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic player's time at the school, and said the student's talent had always been clear.

"She certainly had the potential, and she was very driven to do her best," Stewart said. "And she managed to inspire the other players as well."

Stewart was confident this latest milestone was the fulfilment of a goal that Sinclair, who turns 20 tomorrow, had harboured since her time at John Paul College.

"I'm sure that from a young age, she would have dreamed of being a Silver Fern ... she had the skills."

Sinclair was unavailable for comment yesterday as she prepared for Saturday's NZ Conference Elimination Final against Southern Steel in Hamilton.

She was one of 30 players named this week to attend a three-day training camp with the Silver Ferns in Auckland at the start of July.

Another trialist who cut their teeth on Rotorua's school courts will be former Rotorua Lakes High School student Erena Mikaere, who currently plays for West Coast Fever in Perth.

Twenty-six year-old Mikaere made history last year when she became the first Kiwi to be imported by an Australian franchise, joining West Coast from Southern Steel.

West Coast are preparing for an elimination final of their own this weekend.

Neither Mikaere nor Sinclair are likely to be in contention for the Silver Ferns squad travelling to Sydney for the World Cup in August - but if they impress selectors at the camp, they could feature in the Constellation Cup against Australia later this year.

Players attending the training camp can also be selected for an NZ A team to play pre-World Cup games in Sydney.