@deucelow I 100% agree with you. To be the best you have to compete with the best.
As @Ian has said on other posts, NZ use to have a strong competition back in the NBC days. So what’s changed?
I personally think it’s fitness. I think there’s a massive reason why DNT had/made fitness standards for the Ferns. Even though I didn’t agree with some of her selections, however I do think as an elite athlete you should be easily able to hit the fitness targets.
When I look back to the NBC days, all our midcourters could play C at an international level. Even if they were specialist WA/WD. Adine Wilson, Anna Rowberry, Lesley Nicol, Vic Edwards, Jenny-May, Amigene Metcalfe, Sonia Hardcastle, Langman, Bowden, Frew, Leota, Lees and the list goes on. There was no question about them playing C. Julie Seymour and Temepara were just a given at C, so there was never a question mark there.
Now-a-days when we look at Toeava and Crampton, I could not see them run out a full game at C. Don’t get me wrong they are both amazing WAs, and it’s the only position I’d want them in. But I think it’s sad that one of them couldn’t run at C with the other at WA.
