Netball: Leggat wants extended finals series

Extending the finals series would be the logical step if Netball New Zealand wants to revamp the country's elite domestic competition, former president Monica Leggat says.

Netball NZ is meeting franchise representatives on Monday to review the National Bank Cup structure.

On the agenda is a move to extend the competition to two rounds.

But Leggat, who stepped down as Netball Waikato president last month, said it would be difficult to fit in another round with the existing schedule.

"It's the same players involved in the international series and then the regional series later on," she said.

"I wouldn't think there would be enough time with the international series and then the regional competition."

Leggat said if there was to be any extension she would like to see the bottom-placed teams drop out while the top five play off.

"My personal view would be that it's better to stay with eight teams but look at the opportunity for a second round to give an increased chance for the top-placed teams to tussle it out."

Capital Shakers coach Sheryl George-Burns supports playing two rounds, saying the existing structure was boring.

Leggat said it was nothing new to have dissatisfaction with the format.

"Each year for the last two or three years individuals have popped up saying there should be two or three rounds and an increased amount of playing time but we have to be mindful of the burden on players.

"There's always anxiety with overuse of players and it's about getting the blend right."

While Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic chief executive Sheryl Dawson agreed with Leggat that it probably could not be extended much further than mid-June, when it currently finishes, she said there was an opportunity to come up with other answers.

"It's about thinking creatively. We could have double-header weekends or bring all the teams to one venue and have them play two or three games in a day."

Dawson said she would not like to see the National Bank Cup extended at the expense of the national provincial championships.

- NZPA