The Central Pulse will continue to buck the trend by employing a man on man defensive structure this ANZ Premiership season, even if it means racking up a few more penalties.
Kelly Jury of the Pulse. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There has been a bit of chat about the physicality seen in the first two rounds of the season, while the Pulse and Magic finished their clash with a hefty 70 penalties apiece last weekend.
Pulse coach Gail Parata said it was something they continued to work on but she wasn't overly concerned.
"After the matches, we get feedback from the umpires so we work out whether we need to adjust things or tidy up and so we go away from those sessions and work on those in our training," Parata said.
Parata said higher penalties were sometimes a by-product of playing more of a man-on defence.
"There's no malice in what we're trying to do, it's just about being really competitive in everything that we do. Sometimes people are going to get tangled up in each other, fall over each other but no, I'm not too worried about the penalty count.
"I do want us to keep working hard to put the pressure on to get ball and that's what we're always aiming to do, that is the sole intent.
"As a coach you don't want to have that many penalties. I think it's just the start of the competition ...we will keep adjusting where we need to and they weren't that high in our first game so it's a balancing act."
Parata said aside from the Magic, who gravitated towards more of a man-to-man defence like them, most of the other teams were playing off-marking defence.
The Pulse committed to a one on one marking style last year when supremely fit defenders Karin Burger and Katrina Rore were in the side and Parata wants that to continue.
The Pulse found the winning formula in 2019 and 2020. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It goes against the trend in a country known more for its zone defence but Parata said when done well it yielded good results.
"To be able to do a good one on one strong defensive effort you need really good fitness conditioning.
"So obviously last year they were really well conditioned the Pulse players and so pre-season that's been a key work on for us up to try and get our players up to that level where we know we can stay on for 60 minutes real full on pressure.
"Last year I think you know fitness being a key area I've got three really fit Silver Fern midcourters, so they are able to carry that really really well for us and we just want to keep it going.
"It's still a work in progress but it is something that we do want to keep doing because we can see the effect of that one on one pressure and the amount of ball that we get."
Pulse coach Gail Parata Photo: Photosport
Parata, who coached Scotland for six years, said it was something that helped the side climb up the world rankings.
"We made it our mission to make fitness a real key super strength for us. I feel when I got to the 2019 World Cup with the Scots we were one of the fittest teams there so we were able to hold a man on game so that's something that I want to continue here that the Pulse have already started and keep that happening because I know the benefit of it and how it can wear teams down."
One player set to benefit is Kelly Jury, who missed out on the Constellation Cup Test series after failing to pass the fitness test at a Silver Ferns' camp earlier in the year.
Normally a goal keep, Jury has spent most of her time at goal defence this year and her fitness will soar as a result.
"The more we put her out there and keep her out there the better she will get at being able to manage a full 60 minutes full on man on defensive effort. At times we will change it up as we need to she's doing a great job out the front for us so we're really keen for Kelly to keep building on that and her fitness in that position."
Pulse midcourter Whitney Souness looks to clear the Magic defence Photo: Photosport
Parata has been pleased with the way Fiji international Kelera Nawai had slotted into the goal keep position.
"With how she came into the game especially against the Magic and the combination that her and Kelly are building in there so that's just one combo that we have but it's been going well and everyone's pleased about how that's working."
The Pulse meet the Southern Steel in Invercargill on Sunday and Parata knows it will be a tough clash.
"We know how good they are at holding onto the ball and so we've been working really hard on how we can break that and try and get ball. Also focussed on key areas that we need to work on. We're very mindful when you down to Invercargill you're not only playing the team but the supporters."
The Pulse still won't be at full strength with Silver Fern star Ameliaranne Ekenasio on a return to play plan, having taken some time out for fatigue.
Parata was happy with the way goal shoot Aliyah Dunn had led the shooting end in Ekenasio's absence.
"She's been a tower of strength for us in that goal shooting position she's so great at getting free for the ball as well as putting the ball through the hoop so she does her job very very well."