KEY POINTS:
Old rivals Yvonne Willering and Sue Hawkins will go head to head off court in the battle for coach of the new northern side in next year's Tasman Trophy.
Both Willering, the long-time Force coach, and Australian Hawkins, who has led the Diamonds for the last three seasons, want to put their names up for the new coaching job. But they will have to keep their powder dry until the position is created.
Other National Bank Cup coaches are holding off making decisions on their roles in the Tasman Trophy, as confusion surrounds the job description and pay.
The northern franchise - a blend of Netball North, Auckland Waitakere and Counties Manukau - will meet tonight to discuss advertising their coaching position. But chair of their steering group, Shirley Hooper, says they have unanswered questions for the Joint Venture board running the 17-week competition, starting next April.
"We still have a list of questions over things like the coaching appointment, salary caps, player eligibility and sponsorship," she said.
The new franchises have been told Netball New Zealand will have the right to veto coaches of the New Zealand teams. It may mean that Hawkins, as an Australian, might not be eligible for a job here. But Hawkins, coach of the Queensland Firebirds for four years and Australian Institute of Sport shooting coach for 14, said yesterday she was ready to relocate to Auckland if she had to.
"I certainly enjoy the environment over here - it's very positive. I have good friends here now," she said.
Willering and Hawkins have been rivals for more than 25 years, as opponents on court for New Zealand and Australia. The highlight of Hawkins' playing career, as a goal attack, was beating New Zealand at the 1983 world champs, where Willering played goal defence.
Former Silver Ferns coach Willering said she was interested in the new job: "Remember, netball is my occupation." Hooper said it was fantastic to have two of the country's top coaches expressing an interest in the role. She predicted others could come out of the woodwork - former top coaches and up-and-coming provincial coaches.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua said yesterday she wanted to see details and time frames for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty job before she made up her mind; ditto Shakers coach Wai Taumaunu on the Central job.
Sting coach Robyn Broughton said she would be keen in the Southern coach role once she had more clarification on whether it would be a full-time job. Canterbury is the only franchise to advertise so far, with the Flames' Marg Foster putting her name forward.
