Central Pulse have reached across the Tasman to complete their roster for the 2023 ANZ Premiership.
Reeling from the loss of former NZ captains Katrina Rore and Ameliaranne Ekenasio, the 2020 champions have recruited expatriate Kiwis Kristiana Manu'a and Binnian Hunt to bolster their line-up next season.
Both bring experience in the Australian Super Netball competition and strong NZ connections, as coach Yvette McCausland-Durie tries to rebuild a squad that finished just one spot off the bottom of the table this year.
Manu'a was born in Wellington, but moved across the ditch with her parents as an infant and rose to Australia Diamonds selection for the 2016 Quad Series.
The defender made her NZ domestic debut with Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in 2015 during the former trans-Tasman competition and because she has not played for Australia for five years, she is eligible as a Kiwi player on the Pulse roster.
Manu'a, 25, says working with former Silver Ferns captain and coach Waimarama Taumaunu is a major attraction back to the NZ capital.
"Obviously getting to work with one of the best defensive coaches was a massive plus in my move and I'm looking forward to see what we can do collectively as a defence group," she says.
"I'm a massive fan of the way New Zealand plays offline netball and hopefully having the chance to be coached in both will be a real benefit."
Hunt, 23, was born in Australia, after her parents moved there from South Auckland, and has been part of the Sunshine Coast Lightning programme for four years. Brother Hymel Hunt plays for Newcastle Knights in the NRL, while her cousin is cross-code star Karmichael Hunt - both born in Auckland.
"In terms of our game style, they bring a point of difference to our unit," says McCausland-Durie. "Kristiana has got height, mobility, is aggressive in hunting for ball and she brings that one-on-one style that we've worked hard to try and add to our game in recent years.
"Binnian is six-foot tall [1.83m], so as a wing attack/goal attack, she offers a real point of difference. With our other personnel who can also play in the wing and goal attack positions, she has the ability to provide variation and good slide cover across the two attacking positions.
"The other piece for us in making all this a good fit is that they're eligible for New Zealand and that gives us, as a franchise, the ability to add value to the national programme."
The full 2022 Pulse roster is Aliyah Dunn, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Maddy Gordon, Binnian Hunt, Kelly Jury, Paris Lokotui, Kristiana Manu’a, Tiana Metuarau, Whitney Souness, Amelia Walmsley.
