Sport

Foster says trans-Tasman split could help New Zealand netball

05:23 am on 15 May 2016

The former Silver Fern Margaret Foster believes a split in the trans-Tasman netball competition could help New Zealand netball in the long run.

Netball coaches Margaret Foster and Noeline Taurua. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Australia appear certain to ditch the current format and instead each country will run their own round robin competition with the possibility of the best teams then meeting in a finals series.

New Zealand sides have struggled in the competition and in last weekend's round all of the New Zealand teams, except the Steel, were beaten by Australian sides with three of them losing by more than 20 goals.

Foster, who also coached Canterbury, said a split would allow New Zealand teams to get back to their type of game.

"What's happened is that when we play against Australian teams we tend to lose our style and then we try to do what they do," said Foster.

"So maybe it's best to come back to the drawing boards in New Zealand, look at what we do well and it could be like highlighting our zone defence and our finesse at what we are strong at as New Zealanders."

Any changes to the competition are expected to be announced next week.