Smile says it all for new Southern Steel recruit
There’s been plenty to take in for Sam Winders since joining the Steel, although she made sure she took time in her first outing in the dress to simply smile and enjoy playing.
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There was a moment or two early in Southern Steel’s first 2023 preseason outing when Sam Winders’ smile become prominent.
It did a pretty good job of suggesting her new netball home is a good fit.
The 74-42 victory over the NSW Swifts on Sunday was Winders’ first in the Steel dress after she made the shift from the Waikato/BOP Magic who she played nine seasons for.
The 47-test Silver Fern looks set to fill the wing attack position in the Steel’s 2023 ANZ Premiership campaign.
There’s been plenty to take in since joining the Steel, although Winders made sure she took those moments on Sunday to simply smile and enjoy being out on the court playing.
“That’s what we are searching for, is to get that fun out of it. Especially being a new position and I can get really focused on it and I’ve loved it.
“But I’ve become a bit of a netball nerd in the last couple of months where I’m watching videos and assessing all these wing attacks out there.
“I can get so focused on the ins and outs of the job that having fun in the moment gets lost along the way.”
Winders says she is thriving in the Steel setup agreeing with the saying “a change is as good as a holiday”.
“I feel like I’m holiday down here, the weather, it’s been very tropical.”
“I’m loving it so much, so fun. And enjoyment is a massive part of it.”
Getting to play at ILT Stadium Southland, with the crowd on her side, is an added bonus.
“Honestly, it’s so nice. I’ve played twice down here for the Silver Ferns and nothing beats it when the crowd is on your side.
“I know it wasn’t a packed-out stadium [against the Swifts], but for a preseason game it’s pretty impressive.”
While the Winders smile appeared regularly on Sunday she admits she is pleased to get preseason game No 1 over and done with.
“Honestly the first 60 minutes game of the season is always hard. I felt like there was no air left on court at one stage; ‘who’s sucking this air up? because it’s not me’,’’ she joked.
“Nothing prepares you for a season than a game does, especially against an Aussie side. I know they didn’t have their full-strength team but they are still tough to play against.”
The 27-year-old is happy with where the Steel is at at the moment as it prepares for the start of the ANZ Premiership on March 4.
“We are just kind of figuring each other out. We want to get to the point where we can play off each other without having to talk to each other, and I think we are getting to that point.”
While encouraged by the first-up preseason win over the Swifts Winders has little doubt its next game against the Central Pulse on Tuesday [Feb 7] will provide an even better indicator as to just where the team is at.
“No better team to prepare ourselves than playing the Pulse. They are obviously the defending champs, so they’ve got that on their belt.
“They play a bit of an Australian style, they are very man-on, very aggressive defensively and attacking-wise. They take the ball very strongly. It’s going to be hard but a good test for us.”
The first centre pass for the Steel-Pulse preseason game on Tuesday at ILT Stadium Southland is set for 12 noon.