30 Jul 2009

No team will look to lose matches

7:40 am on 30 July 2009

Trans Tasman netball officialdom doesn't believe franchises may be tempted to finish in the bottom two spots to gain extra funding that's now available to them.

Poor performing teams that finish last or second to last in consecutive seasons will be allowed to hire an extra non-eligible player and will be given a further $25,000 grant from the tournament organisers.

The Pulse are the only side that fill the criteria having finished last in the opening two seasons of the 10- team competition.

Competition general manager Anthony Everard is confident that a team that is sitting in eighth spot won't look to finish ninth in order to benefit.

Everard says having witnessed the athletes' commitment week-in, week-out, he's sure the rule won't have a negative impact.