page_title: Southern Steel
section_title: 2011
hierarchical_section_title: Southern Steel / History / 2011
caption_attribution_description: English: To enhance netball description and that of the Invercargill ILT Velodrome of 2011.
context_page_description: The Southern Steel are a New Zealand netball team based in Invercargill that compete in the ANZ Premiership. The franchise was formed as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup: the Dunedin-based Otago Rebels and the Invercargill-based Southern Sting. After the National Bank Cup was retired in 2007, the newly formed Steel joined four other New Zealand franchises in the new ANZ Championship, representing the New Zealand regions of Otago and Southland. The ANZ Championship ran from 2008 to 2016, after which the Steel joined five other New Zealand teams in the new ANZ Premiership.
  In its first five years, the team colours changed three times. In 2016 the team kit was primarily cyan blue, with black and pink. The Steel play most of their home games at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill and the Edgar Centre in Dunedin. In 2018 the team are coached by Reinga Bloxham, with Lauren Piebenga as assistant coach. Veteran midcourter Wendy Frew continues as team captain.
context_section_description: Recruitment mode started early for the Invercargill-based Southern Steel franchise. The team started by confirming coach Robyn Broughton would return for another season. The franchise then moved onto re-signing its squad. The Steel confirmed that current or former internationals shooter Daneka Wipiiti, mid courters Liana Leota, Wendy Frew and defenders Sheryl Scanlan, Erika Burgess and Leana de Bruin would be back for 2011, along with up and comers Hayley Saunders and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit. The franchise then moved into signing four more names to its team. Silver Ferns star Paula Griffin and Australian international Natasha Chokljat were poached from the Central Pulse and Melbourne Vixens respectively and would be the franchises two marquee signings. Young gun shooters Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Sophia Fenwick were also included after impressing at National Provincial level.
  Four players would be missing from the 2010 squad. Promising shooters Julianna Naoupu and Jade Topia left the franchise, Naoupu heading to the Magic and Topia to the Pulse in a bid for more court time. Midcourter Emma Moynihan missed her spot in the team for 2011, while captain Megan Dehn was surplus to requirements at the franchise after three seasons. Failing to gain citizenship after the team signed fellow Australian Natasha Chokljat, Dehn said goodbye to the Invercargill-based team before linking with the Northern Mystics in what is expected to be her last ANZ Championship season.
  In late December, it was confirmed midcourters Wendy Frew and Liana Leota would take over the reins as co-captains.
  A freak snow storm in September, in which the roof fell in at the Steel's main stadium means the team will play their four planned matches in Invercargill at the ILT Velodrome, attached to Stadium Southland. A temporary facility will be set up for 2011 season. With reduced capacity, 4300 down to 2800, fans were required to line-up to book season tickets for the new ANZ Championship season.
  The Steel's home is expected to be re-built and ready for the 2012 season. Locals were asked what changes could be made, and one was increased capacity from around 4400 up to 5000. The stadium boasted a large capacity when it was first built in 2000, but increased popularity for the Steel and fellow basketball franchise the Southland Sharks now means a larger seating number would be ideal for the future.
  The Steel had an unfortunate start to the new ANZ Championship season. Injuries to key players such as Daneka Wipiiti, Natasha Chokljat and Sheryl Scanlan meant the Steel were unable to hit their straps from the start. The Invercargill franchise lost its opening two games to the Northern Mystics and Waikato/BOP Magic, but defeated the Central Pulse in Wellington in round three 45–43. The side then suffered another loss, this time to the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane before wins at home against the Central Pulse once again and the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Star import Natasha Chokljat returned for these two home matches, adding speed to the team's midcourt. The Steel later lost to the Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch, before another defeat to the Melbourne Vixens 42–33. The Steel matched up against the Canterbury Tactix a week later, this time winning 49-40. Paula Griffin was in great form shooting 34/39 from goal shoot. Coach Robyn Broughton was forced to move Silver Fern Daneka Wipiiti to goal attack, in order to fix the team's attacking problems. The Steel lost its final three matches at home, ending their worst ANZ Championship season. Going down the Waikato/BOP Magic once again 38–33, before defeats at the hands of the Swifts and Mystics.
  A week later, Steel CEO Julie Paterson confirmed the franchise would advertise the head coaching position, held by Robyn Broughton for the previous 14 seasons. She decided against re-applying, and was replaced on 20 May by New Zealand under 21 coach Janine Southby and former Australian international, former Southern Sting shooter and Southland coach Natalie Avellino, the pair taking over as co-coaches, and ending a 14-year Robyn
caption: A freak snow storm, and the collapsed roof of Stadium Southland, resulted in the Steel moving to a temporary facility at the Invercargill ILT Velodrome.
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