Not many would have put the Steel in their top four before the ANZ Championship got under way in March.
And even fewer would have rated the combined Otago-Southland team a chance of reaching the play-offs midway through the campaign.
But what the critics overlooked was the side's incredible determination and tenacity. The Steel battled back to win four of its last five round-robin matches. That was good enough to reach the play-offs.
Predictably, though, the Steel was eliminated by the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 50-42 in the minor semifinal in Auckland. It always felt like the Magic would be too strong for the over-achieving Steel if it played to its potential. So it proved.
But fourth place is a solid base from which to build.
Two points to make here. With the tournament starting earlier and the season compressed next year, the Steel can not afford another sluggish start. And the franchise has to put sentiment aside and take a hard look at the make-up of the squad.
Ageing defender Sheryl Scanlan was sidelined for all but one match with a calf injury and missed the business end of 2009 with a similar complaint. From all accounts the 32-year-old makes a huge contribution off the court but it is performances on it that count.
Loyalty is important but so are results. Perhaps the Steel should get on the phone to former Silver Ferns defender Anna Scarlett, who recently announced her intention to return to top level netball.
The midcourt could do with a shake-up as well. Liana Barrett-Chase, Wendy Frew and Erika Burgess form a useful trio, but the combination lacks a little zip.
Which players the Steel target will probably be determined by whether captain and former Australian shooter Megan Dehn returns. The 35-year-old is still playing good netball but is in the twilight of her career.
While the Steel performed admirably with the talent it had, it was apparent, with three losses from its first five matches, it lacked the personnel to compete with the tournament's frontrunners.
The unavailability of experienced duo Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins had seemingly relegated it to middling at best. And there was more concern than confidence in regards to the team's fitness.
First choice shooter Daneka Wipiiti struggled to regain her fitness after giving birth to her first child late last year. But she was not alone, with the majority of the squad blowing hard and struggling to maintain the pace for 60 minutes during the opening four or five rounds.
Defender Leana de Bruin, who was also returning after time away from the game to start a family, was a notable exception.
The Steel's early lack of fitness was never more evident than its alarming capitulation against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide during round four.
Having matched the Australians for 45 minutes, the Steel was outscored 19-5 in a devastating final spell. It was not just the Thunderbird fans who were left breathless. Hands were on knees instead of hearts and rock bottom was still to come.
The Steel followed that 17-goal drubbing with arguably its worst performance - ever. After being pummelled 56-41 at home in Invercargill by the Queensland Firebirds, running the match report in the obituary column would have seemed like a good idea.
Thankfully, two gimme matches followed - a 64-40 win against the hapless Central Pulse and a one-sided 66-38 annihilation of the rapidly receding Canterbury Tactix.
A narrow loss to the Northern Mystics left the Steel's play-off prospects dangling precariously. But the tenacity and fight expected from the Steel finally emerged in round 10 in the form of a brilliant 52-47 win against the Magic in Invercargill. It proved to be just the tonic needed to resurrect the season.
The Steel promptly dispatched the defending champions the Melbourne Vixens 52-39 in Dunedin. While the Vixens were a shadow of the side which was so impressive last season, it was still a mighty effort. It is also worth noting the Steel has never lost a match in Dunedin.
The most significant result, though, came against the Mystics in Auckland in round 13. The Steel reversed its earlier loss, winning 50-43. Ultimately, it was that result which secured a top-four spot.
De Bruin was the best player most weeks for the Steel and is likely to earn a recall when the national team is named later this month.
Fellow defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit was easily the most improved player and may have played her way into contention.
Wipiiti's shooting percentages were good and she will line up alongside Jodi Brown, Maria Tutaia and Paula Griffin in the short queue to join Irene van Dyk in the Silver Ferns' attack.
Barrett-Chase is arguably the best wing attack in the country, Dehn worked tirelessly and Burgess and Frew were solid rather than impressive. Back-up shooter Julianna Naoupu made an impact when she got on the court.
ANZ Championship
- Steel's season at a glance
• Record
Played 14, won 8, lost 6
Fever W46-44
Magic L47-41
Pulse W56-44
Thunderbirds L53-36
Firebirds L56-41
Pulse W64-40
Tactix W66-38
Mystics L52-49
Magic W52-47
Vixens W52-39
Tactix W53-39
Mystics W50-42
Swifts L55-38
Minor semifinal, Magic L50-42
• Shooting
Steel 686 goals from 825 attempts (83.1%)
- Daneka Wipiiti 330/390 (84.6%)
- Megan Dehn 222/268 (82.8%)
- Julianna Naoupu 130/162 (80.2%)
- Jade Topia 4/5 (80%)
• Appearances
Liana Barrett-Chase 14, Wendy Frew 14, Erika Burgess 14, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit 14, Megan Dehn 14, Leana de Bruin 14, Daneka Wipiiti 13, Julianna Naoupu 9, Jenny Ferguson 5, Hayley Saunders 2, Sheryl Scanlan 1, Jade Topia 1, Emma Moynihan 1.
• Player of the season
Goal keep Leana de Bruin was outstanding as the last line of defence. She snatched 41 rebounds and made 27 intercepts. But perhaps de Bruin's greatest contribution was the way promising goal defence Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit developed under her watchful eye.
• Most improved
Selby-Rickit (21) had a breakthrough season with decisive play belying her years.
She is deceptively quick and has a bright future. Do not be surprised if she is included in a Silver Ferns training group.
• Best performance
The Steel revived its play-off prospects with a super 52-47 win against the Magic in Invercargill and dispatched the defending champion Vixens in Dunedin the following week. Take your pick.
• Worst performance
The second-half performance against the Thunderbirds in Adelaide in round four was pretty dismal but the following week was worse - outclassed 56-41 by the Firebirds in Invercargill.
