Stars return, unsatisfied Diamonds hunt elusive NZ win

While Australia has only dropped one Constellation Cup series against New Zealand in the past 10 years, Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich is far from satisfied.

Australia’s past three series wins against the fierce netball arch-rivals have being on aggregate, with the four results split 2-2.

The Diamonds have struggled to win games in New Zealand with Marinkovich only tasting victory once, a triumph coming in 2021 when all four games were played across the Tasman due to COVID.

New Zealand claimed that series 3-1, which is the only breakthrough win since 2012, with Australia dominating each year apart from 2020 when there was no contest.

The first Constellation Cup match is in Wellington on Sunday, followed by an Auckland clash next Wednesday.

Games in Perth and Melbourne follow but Marinkovich doesn’t want to have rely on home wins to take the trophy.

“Yes, absolutely,” the coach replied when asked if the aggregate victories left her unsatisfied.

“We’ve had our challenges when we’ve gone to New Zealand and New Zealand, vice versa in Australia.

“The last two have been won on aggregate, and I think that’s something that we’re looking for … consistency, to be able to get the game on our terms.

“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes, coming into this camp, and we’ve really been able to focus on just this series, as opposed to this and one following or anything like that.

“We’ve been able to target some things a little bit different and I guess all eyes are set on that trophy.”

Australia have welcomed experienced defending duo Courtney Bruce and Jo Weston back into the squad after they missed the 2-1 England series win through injury.

“They’re fully available, and have gone through all the training in the volume that we’ve needed and they’ve been involved in our practice match play,” Marinkovich said.

“Adding their experience and their voice around the group is certainly something that boosts us and it gives us more versatility and variation with what we can do.”

The home side also have an experienced campaigner back on deck in Phoenix Karaka while former Australian under-21 representative Claire O’Brien has been included after making her New Zealand debut against England.

The Silver Ferns were surprise 1-2 series losers to England but Marinkovich didn’t expect that to lessen the challenge her team is facing.

“I certainly don’t see their loss to England saying that there’s a gap between us, I certainly see it close,” she said.

“And I certainly see that the way in which they finish their series is probably their launching pad as to the standard that they’re going to bring against us.”