Australian coach Norma Plummer, whose colourful descriptions of New Zealand netballers have not always endeared her to fans this side of the Tasman, was impressed by the Steel's 13-goal demolition of the defending champions, the Melbourne Vixens, at the Edgar Centre on Sunday night.
Shortly after the Steel's 52-39 win, Plummer, who once described the Silver Ferns as "a bunch of scrubbers", told the Otago Daily Times the Invercargill-based franchise was peaking at the right time.
"The Steel just played so well. They are on fire," she said.
"At one stage, I thought the Vixens were looking at a blowout of 35 goals. So they did well to come back."
The experienced coach is in New Zealand on a reconnaissance mission.
She watched the New South Wales Swifts beat the Northern Mystics 54-48 in Auckland on Saturday afternoon before taking in the Steel-Vixens game, and planned to watch the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic play the Queensland Firebirds in Rotorua last night.
Of all the New Zealand teams, Plummer believes the Steel is playing the best netball.
"The Steel were slow starters but are coming home like a train.
"You could tell that against the Magic last week.
"The Tactix have been hit with a lot of injuries and are in the same position as the Vixens are.
"It is struggle time for them.
"If you look at the Mystics, they're the million-dollar side.
"But it hasn't turned out that way. I don't see the connection on court."
Plummer believes the Magic is on a slippery slope and accurately predicted a Firebirds win (55-54) in Rotorua last night.
As far as the Australian sides go, Plummer was not surprised the unbeaten Swifts had rebounded from a disappointing campaign in 2009 to dominate this season.
"They didn't work hard enough last year and fell into a hole.
"This year they started early, trained harder and they are reaping the rewards.
"You can never think you've got it in the bag because you win it once."
The Vixens, she said, may have fallen into the same trap the Swifts did in 2009.
But injuries have also taken their toll on the defending champions.
"The main thing for them has been losing [defender] Julie Corletto and [centre] Natasha Chokljat. [Caitlin] Thwaites has been out of form as well and that has cemented a lot of issues."
Overall, Plummer is pleased with the form of the Australian teams and is comfortable with the playing depth.
She plans to name an extended squad of 15 in early August.
She will trim it to 12 for a three-match series against Jamaica.
The Diamonds also have three games against the Silver Ferns before heading to India for the Commonwealth Games in October.
