Netball: Netball NZ deny Tactix request to sign new shooter

The Canterbury Tactix plan to ride out the season with just 11 players after Netball New Zealand denied their bid to sign young English shooter Jo Harten as a replacement player.

The Tactix applied to the national body for permission to sign Harten after their original import, veteran Australian defender Peta Stephens, was forced to withdraw from the squad just a week out from the beginning of the ANZ Championship with a shoulder injury.

Netball NZ turned down the application as they did not like the idea of playing a hand in developing Harten who, while talented, is still very green at international level.

But the revelation the Tactix have been shopping around for a shooter has raised questions over the circumstances in which Stephens left the franchise, with some suggesting she was pushed.

Less than a week after she returned home to Brisbane, the Tactix had an application in front of Netball NZ to sign Harten.

It is understood the Canterbury franchise also made a second approach to Donna Wilkins earlier in the year, but the former Silver Fern turned them down because she is pregnant.

However, Tactix chief executive Anthony Dawson insists Stephens was not axed so they could bolster their shooting end. He said they were only going to go to the effort of replacing Stephens if they could find a player who could add real value to the squad.

"There's certainly nothing in the rules that say you have to replace a defender with a defender, and the three defenders that we had left we felt very comfortable with," said Dawson.

"After three months of going through pre-season and getting ready, we felt a person who could come in and make the type of difference we would need was basically a goal-shoot."

Regardless of the level of premeditation behind the move, the Tactix' late attempts to sign a shooter is a clear concession they are worried about their lack of depth in their attack end.

The Tactix shooters are all under the age of 24, and while rookie Ellen Halpenny has done an admirable job in her first two starts for the franchise, their lack of experience in this key position means they are likely to struggle to be competitive this season.

The Tactix have no plans to apply for any further ineligible players.

"We gave it a go and it didn't pan out so we'll just stick with the 11 that we have," said Dawson.

While the Tactix will leave a spot open on their roster, they have been forced to make changes to their squad for tomorrow's clash against the NSW Swifts in Christchurch, after striking further injury problems in their defensive end.

Former Silver Fern Anna Galvan broke her wrist in last week's 18-goal loss to the West Coast Fever and has been ruled out for the next four weeks.

She has been replaced in the line-up by former Southern Steel stalwart Megan Hutton, who has been lured out of retirement to help the Tactix.