10 Jul 2017

Fowler-Reid and De Bruin heading to Australia

6:00 pm on 10 July 2017

Southern Steel's powerhouse shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid is heading to Australia to compete in the 2018 Suncorp Super League.

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid

Jhaniele Fowler-Reid Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fowler-Reid from Jamacia has spent five years playing netball in New Zealand in which she scored 3,678 goals from 4,020 attempts, giving her an accuracy rate of 91.4 per cent.

"It wasn't easy because I had to do heaps of thinking around leaving behind something that I've grown to know for five years and just the culture and everything so the decision to move away from that has been hard.

"It definitely comes down to me needing a new challenge and me broadening my horizons and seeing what else is out there for me," Fowler-Reid said.

She said moving to Australia will provide a new lifestyle, environment but she is hoping to adapt quickly.

Fowler-Reid said being with The Steel who won the ANZ Premiership Competition this year has helped her blossom into one of the worlds best.

"I've grown so much - not only within my career but also personally, my game has changed tremendously, I have many tricks up my sleeve now to keep defenders thinking I'm not a one-trick pony anymore."

De Bruin heading to Adelaide Thunderbirds.

The former Silver Fern Leanna de Bruin is to play out her netball career with the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

The 40 year old de Bruin captained the Northern Stars in their inaugural season in the ANZ premiership this year and contemplated retiring until Adelaide came knocking.

She says the move will give her the chance to try something new.

Leanna de Bruin

Leanna de Bruin Photo: Photosport

"I had had thoughts of retiring but Adelaide approached me and it was an opportunity to try something different before I hang up the netball dress for good," she said.

"I've loved my time with the Northern Stars. It was a great leadership role for me in helping to establish a new team and culture with some of New Zealand's next generation of netballers."

De Bruin joins fellow former Silver Fern Laura Langman in the Australian domestic competition, however she said it will not be a permanent move and she'll return to New Zealand after the netball season.

De Bruin ended her international career last year having played 138 tests - 104 of those for New Zealand and 34 for South Africa.

She was part of New Zealand's victorious 2003 world championship campaign and took part in five World Cups and also competed at three Commonwealth Games.