The Southern Steel have moved quickly in securing marquee shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid for next year's new elite domestic netball league.
Jhaniele Fowler-Reid of the Steel. Photo: Photosport
The Jamaican import would have been a potential target for the expanded Australian league, as they go it alone from next year.
Fowler-Reid has committed to her fifth season with the southern franchise and is excited about the new competition.
"Honestly I am just so keen to embrace it. I know it's going to be just as exciting and just as intense," she said.
"Family is so important to me and I feel like family here. Everyone looks out for me and wherever I go I feel like I'm home. This is my second home and happy players players make good players."
The most prolific shooter in ANZ Championship history, Fowler-Reid set a new league record of 779 goals during the recent season with an accuracy rate over 90 percent and snaffled 88 offensive rebounds.
The Steel recorded its most successful campaign in the competition's nine-year history, and Fowler-Reid was keen to see the team stick together and continue the momentum.
"It was more than a step up, I think we have taken a few steps up. I think we will be a force to be reckoned with this coming season. There is much more to come because we do have a lot of room to improve. Imagine if we improve on what we're already doing - we're going to be dominating," she said.
Steel chief executive Lana Winders said she was thrilled to re-sign Fowler-Reid.
"She's one of our first full signings for the new Elite League and provides an incredible platform from which to build the rest of the player roster," Winders said.
"I rate her as the best GS on the planet right now and we are thrilled she wants to come back to Invercargill again next year and take the court for the Steel in our new elite domestic competition."
Fowler-Reid departs for Jamaica tomorrow. She will have just two weeks rest before embarking on an international campaign with the Sunshine Girls, including a return trip to New Zealand to take on the Silver Ferns.
Confident her game had evolved, she was eager to perform on the world stage.
Fowler-Reid felt the gap between Jamaica and netball's Australasian powerhouses had narrowed.
"It would be a big achievement for us (to beat the Silver Ferns) and it would show that our sport has grown and as players we have grown. The mentality of standing up to these big guns, we're ready," she said.
"Being in New Zealand has played a major part in that. I've been exposed to all these awesome defenders and I know what to do. And with the coaching, I've learned so much and can give that back to home."
