By Cathy Walshe
Silver Ferns netball coach Waimarama Taumaunu has hinted at a slight shift in thinking as she looks to name a squad on Tuesday for next month's quad series against Australia, South Africa and England.
The Silver Ferns took out the three-Test Constellation Cup series with narrow wins in the first two Tests, but finished on a disappointing note in Christchurch on Sunday with a 59-53 loss.
Happy with the focus shown in winning two close matches, Taumaunu says a 3-0 series whitewash would have been a more pleasing result.
"I think we've made progress. But I would have liked to see us step beyond the fact that the series was won, and really put a better and more consistent performance out."
Taumaunu has a 16-strong squad to choose from for the quad series, which begins on October 14 in Adelaide when the New Zealanders play South Africa.
She's looking at giving a wider range of players court time in the following two weeks.
"We're hopeful of getting a few other players in through the quad series - I'm hopeful we'll get the remainder of the squad at some point into the international programme," Taumaunu said.
"That will start with the quad series - not all, and it won't be major. I'm hoping at the periphery we'll be able to do one or two changes to have the entire squad through the international programme by the middle of February."
NZN