Invercargill test: A glorious modern-day sporting anomaly
At a time in sporting history where big-time professional sport has become more and more restricted to bigger centres - this is a major win for regional New Zealand.
Take a moment to ponder this.
Invercargill will host a New Zealand-Australia netball test tonight [Thursday]. It is a glorious anomaly in modern-day sport.
It’s something Southlanders ought to reflect on proudly. It is also a major win for regional New Zealand.
The first two tests in the four-match Constellation Cup series were played in Melbourne and Brisbane. They are cities with a population of five million and two and a half million respectively.
The fourth test will be played in New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. A city home to about 1.7m people.
Before that, the third test will be played in Invercargill. At last count, Invercargill had about 57,000 living here.
At a time in sporting history when big-time professional sport has become more and more restricted to bigger centres, this is a major victory for regional New Zealand.
There are several factors why Invercargill bucks the trend here. They are reasons why Invercargill might edge out more populated cities such as a Dunedin, Christchurch Wellington or Hamilton to pick up a New Zealand-Australia netball test.
Community funding support helps, as does the quality of the venue in terms of ILT Stadium Southland.
Although Southland’s passion for netball over a long period cannot be underestimated. It’s stood the test of time.
There will be a 3000-plus crowd attend the first test in seven years in Invercargill on Thursday night. The passion provides Netball New Zealand with some confidence to bring games to a smaller region like Southland.
That 3000 or so crowd that will show up equates to just over 5% of Invercargill’s population.
If we were to use that same sort of math for test one in Melbourne, it would have attracted a crowd of 250,000.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua is well aware of what netball means to the Southland community.
She experienced it during her time as Southern Steel’s coach.
“[Invercargill is] a strong foothold of the traditions and history of netball. We’ve always been well-received here.
“And that is supported by knowing we are going to have a sell-out crowd here [on Thursday],” Taurua said.
“I definitely know the might and the power of Southlanders and what to expect when we get in the stadium.
“I’m so looking forward to it, we’ve been waiting for this - the roof is going to go off. It’s our ability to be able to contribute to that energy and to put a very good performance out there.”
Silver Ferns midcourter Kate Heffernan remembers vaguely attending a netball test in Invercargill when she was a kid.
“I do remember getting photos with Maria [Folau] after the game. I can’t remember when that was, so it’s been a long time,” Heffernan told The Tribune ahead of Thursday’s test.
“I’m so excited to be able to play down home at my home stadium. I love playing here and will get to have friends and family in the crowd. It’s really exciting.”
Heffernan said the Silver Ferns team was delighted to play a New Zealand-Australia test in Invercargill for a couple of reasons.
“It’s so nice being here, just being able to travel a few minutes to get to the stadium. It’s really nice for us.”
There’s also that small matter of the vocal Invercargill crowd. As a Southern Steel player Heffernan often gets to experience having that wave of support behind her.
Others in the squad were pleased they too would be on the side of the Stadium Southland crowd on Thursday night.
“All the girls are really excited to have the crowd behind them because they normally come down and play the Steel and hate how hard the crowd is to play against.
“So we want to give them a good reason to be loud and we use that. Hopefully, we have a good start.”
A good chunk of Southland’s infectious passion for netball is a hangover from the glory days of the Southern Sting.
It was a team which lifted the mood of a city in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the saying; “Last one out, turn the lights out” echoed around Invercargill.
The Sting won seven national titles over a decade in what was a remarkable dynasty that fuelled regional pride.
Coach Robyn Broughton was the puppet master pulling on the strings of that success. Her impact has been recalled a lot since her death last month.
On Thursday night Broughton will be honoured with ILT Stadium Southland renamed Robyn Broughton Stadium for the occasion.
Taurua said: “It means a lot to us, not only knowing that she is a stalwart of the Southland community but also of netball nationwide.”
“She’s been an assistant for the Silver Ferns for three years and also plied who trade overseas in England.
“It means a lot to come back here and honour her and acknowledge her contribution to netball, but to also draw the strength the community can bring.”
Centre pass on Thursday night is scheduled for 7.30pm.
The Silver Ferns are down 2-0 in the series and are desperate for victory. Not just to keep New Zealand’s Constellation Cup chances alive, but simply to inject some confidence into the playing group.
“We are a young side, I think it’s important. Confidence is massive for us,” Heffernan said.
“We know we can do it and I think sometimes it’s been quite disappointing that we’ve had a quarter here or there that has just let us down.
“We know if we put out a full 60, we really can do it. So, it’s just having that belief and also knowing how hard we are going to have to work to do it because they are the world champions.”
Great article, nice work Logan. The ILT Stadium is an amazing facility and the Steel fans are psyching up! Can't wait.