THE Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) is already home to a number of international stars making it one of the strongest netball competitions in the world. However, we as the Draft Central team are creating a list of top 10 players we would like to see join the competition. Coming in at number two, is none other than Silver Ferns defender Jane Watson.

Watson is one of the most dynamic and renowned defenders in the world with her nous to get up to the high ball and constantly pressure the shot. She is hardly ever out-positioned such is her netball understanding and impressive movement around the court to constantly get ball-side. She is a constant threat both in the air and ground level, able to track the ball and cause some sort of turnover with her long arms and speed off the mark. Watson can switch between both goal keeper and goal defence seamlessly credit to her high endurance and defensive skillset, while her ability to transition the ball down the court into attack is effortless. She is a commanding figure on court, throw in her spatial awareness and game sense and Watson would be a prized possession to any SSN side looking to bolster their defensive stocks. The highly skilled goal keeper oozes class and good discipline able to stay away from the whistle and adjust when needed.

Not only is Watson a formidable force out on the court for the Ferns but so too domestically with her leadership down back paying dividends for the Mainland Tactix. Standing at 183cm, Watson uses her height and lean to get in the head of opposition shooters and create doubt in the feeders minds with her unpredictable movement and consistent hunt for the ball. Her ability to clog up the space and make the most of the zone style defence makes her a nuisance for other teams, unable to move the ball down court with any type of ease. up against some of the most challenging shooters in the world such as Ameliaranne Ekenasio and up-and-coming goalers Maia Wilson and Aliyah Dunn, Watson has proven that she has both the strength and durability to mix it with the best. She is often unfazed by the physical nature, instead thriving off the push and shove to remain a constant barrier for opposition teams. given her defensive prowess she would be a great acquisition to any SSN team, with her leadership and general netball smarts. Despite only playing one game this season in the ANZ Premiership due to COVID-19 outbreak, Watson showed just a small sample of the year she was capable of having, hitting her stride with two intercepts and seven deflections.

She was a key aspect in the Ferns’ rise up the ranks with her partnership with the likes of Katrina Rore, Casey Kopua and Karin Burger proving too hot to handle for some attacking units. As shown with Rore joining the Swifts at the end of the year, the SSN can help to develop and provide a platform for international stars to further test themselves against some of the best netballers in the world, something Watson would enjoy the challenge of doing on a weekly basis.

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Top 10 players we’d like to see in the SSN:

#10 Joice Takaidza (Zimbabwe)
#9 Zanele Vimbela (South Africa)
#8 Joyce Mvula (Malawi)
#7 Razia Quashie (England)
#6 George Fisher (England)
#5 Fran Williams (England)
#4 Maia Wilson (New Zealand)
#3 Jade Clarke (England)
#2 Jane Watson (New Zealand)