Never interview Steel coach Robyn Broughton in a hallway of Stadium Southland.
Next to Mayor Tim Shadbolt, Broughton is arguably one of the most recognisable faces in Invercargill. And people just cannot help themselves from interrupting to discuss the prospects of the Steel in the inaugural ANZ Championship with the amicable coach.
Positioned a couple of lazy strides from a section of wall plastered with newspaper articles and photographs chronicling the Sting's outrageous success during the past 10 years, Broughton is inundated with well-wishers.
This team certainly won't lack support if the half hour spent in the corridor is anything to go by. The city, it seems, is teeming with netball fans eager to see how the new Otago-Southland combined team goes in the 10-team transtasman tournament beginning today.
But behind the tide of rosy complexions and warm greetings, a burning question brews: Can Broughton do it again?
‘‘You want to know where I think we'll finish?'' Broughton said, pre-empting the most important question.
‘‘Well, when we talked about our team goals we decided to aim for the top four and go for that. I think most sides will be aiming for the top four and then going from there.''
The wily coach is too experienced a campaigner to promise the stars and only reach the moon. But don't be fooled - Broughton did not become one of New Zealand's most successful netball coaches by setting the bar low.
‘‘I'd clearly love to [win another title]. But it is a pretty big call for a little place,'' she said, doing her best to squash the hype.
Broughton would like to start with a blank slate but it is hard not to reflect on previous glory. The master coach guided the Sting to seven titles in 10 years and presided over a sporting dynasty which is perhaps rivalled only by the Crusaders' domination of Super rugby.
The recipe for success was good old-fashioned hard work and a generous helping of self-belief.
‘‘After the first year it was belief in ourselves. Suddenly we weren't just little old Southland at the bottom of the country, we were actually quite good.''
Broughton is a voracious reader and adores books. Her genre of choice is anything which gives her insight into how to get the best out of her players. That explains her uncanny ability to squeeze every drop of talent from her charges.
The most obvious example was Adine Wilson's transformation from promising shooter to world-class wing-attack under her watchful gaze.
But she also knows the game extremely well. Broughton trialled for the New Zealand team but never quite managed to crack the national side.
A teacher by profession, Broughton has coached netball for the past 35 years and when she spoke to the Otago Daily Times earlier this week she had just come from leading a training session for year nine pupils at Verdon College, where she still teaches part-time.
‘‘I know the game pretty well. I've played it all my life and am quite confident in that respect. I think it is a simple game and I think a lot of people have started to make if difficult by reading more into than there is.''
Do the basics well, and success will come, she said.
But you cannot beat experience and Broughton has lost a trio of players no team could afford to lose. Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson and Jenny Ferguson are all unavailable for various reasons, although Wilkins will contribute from the bench in her new role as assistant coach.
‘‘You can't replace experience like that,'' Broughton said.
‘‘I can't think of any team having a combination like Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins. Their combination was magic. I always thought they played their best netball when they played for the Sting.''
The Steel might be down on power from some of the past Sting sides but the squad looks at its strongest in the midcourt with veteran centre Jenny-May Coffin drafted in to support Silver Ferns squad members Debbie White and Liana Barrett-Chase.
Under-rated goal-keep Megan Hutton has returned from the English Super League just in the nick of time and, with recent Silver Fern inclusion Katrina Grant also at the back, the Steel boasts a useful defence.
If there is a weakness it is at the attack end. Australian Megan Dehn has bundles of experience and the mercurial Daneka Wipiiti is a potential match-winner on a good night but still struggles with consistency.
The back-up shooters, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Julianna Naoupu, are still developing and will be used sparingly during the campaign unless injury or form intervenes.
The Steel has a tough opening match against Australian champion the NSW Swifts on Monday night. Both sides are missing key personnel from last year. The Swifts have lost inspirational defender Liz Ellis to retirement. Ellis led Australia to victory at the world championships in Auckland last year then pulled the plug on her glittering career.
While the defence end will take some time to re-establish itself, the attack end has experienced shooter Catherine Cox and the accurate Susan Pratley. Classy midcourter Selina Gilsenan and Kimberlee Green round out a useful side, which should be a play-off contender.
