By Ross Karl
The Pulse's Christmas present to central netball is the promise to be more competitive next season.
The perennial cellar-dwellers have called in star reinforcements for 2012.
Former Steel coach Robyn Broughton's arrival has regenerated a team, which now has four Silver Ferns and an Australian rep – so what are the goals for 2012?
"No pressure on any of us now," says Broughton.
"I thought that last year, that the Pulse team of 2011 played with a lot of passion and I would expect us to keep doing that and just add the finishing touches really, and just take two more steps forward."
Star addition vice-captain Joline Henry expects a franchise that's won just five games in four years to make major strides.
"We will be competitive this year. We will win more games. But it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to be a long, hard slog but it's going to make those wins and those moments so much better."
Captain Katrina Grant has felt the buzz growing.
"You know there's so many other people who want to come and buy season passes and are coming up to me in the street and going, 'Where can I buy one?' So I'm quite excited."
And even though the season starts in April, there won't be too much partying over Christmas.
"Netballers don't booze," says Henry. "I think we just have a bit of a sniff and we would be on our backs."
Team training starts next month, when there'll be less socialising and more focussing on the task at hand.
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