That was an interesting decision by the Steel to name Janine Southby and Natalie Avellino as co-coaches.
The charitable view is that it is an innovative and bold move by a franchise eager to snap out of a disappointing (if brief) slump.
Replacing a legend, Robyn Broughton, was never going to be a simple process.
Selecting two coaches is possibly an admission by the Steel that filling the gap would have been too much for either Southby or Avellino on her own.
The co-coach titles could also be useful for deflecting the increased pressure that will go on the two younger women, especially if they do not immediately get good results.
And picking a coach each from Dunedin and Invercargill allows the Steel to boost its anaemic presence in the north at the same time as satisfying its main sponsor and supporter base in the south.
• ... might not work
But for all the positive spin put on the co-appointments, some of us need convincing it is not a cop-out by a sport still struggling to shed its image as a soft touch.
Netball is still as much about after-match hugs and fulsome positivity and "it's awesome and we just want to go out there and do our best" at the top level as it is about bloody-mindedness and winning.
Co-captains, for example, are much more common in bibs than in any other sport. There's an underlying sense that people don't want feelings to get hurt.
In this instance - provincial bias aside - Southby was clearly the leading candidate. Her coaching record comfortably overshadows Avellino's.
Co-coaches are extremely rare in major sport for a reason: there needs to be ONE boss. Imagine Sir Alex Ferguson with a co-coach.
In the dying minutes of a game, or inside a boardroom when potential recruits are being discussed, one voice is better than two.
The Steel doesn't have to look far for a successful co-coaching example - Simon Culhane and David Henderson combined superbly for years with the Southland Stags.
But their relationship was built on a clear forwards coach-backs coach split, and it was an extremely rare example of joint coaches working in a major sport.
Of course, Otago rugby has followed suit by giving Phil Mooney a co-coach this season.
But that was recognition that something had to change after the worst season in Otago history, and it remains to be seen if it will be a success.
• Smokin' Joe
It's au revoir to yet another New Zealand rugby player, with Joe Rokocoko taking off for Bayonne.
A wit questioned this week whether there were actually any French players in French rugby, such has been the flood of Antipodean talent heading to the country.
Another topical question might be: where does Rokocoko rate in the discussion of All Black wingers?
The Pantheon of 14s and 11s obviously comprises Jonah Lomu, John Kirwan, Bryan Williams and Jeff Wilson.
Then the next tier would be chaps like Stu Wilson, Terry Wright, Doug Howlett, Grant Batty and Ron Jarden.
Bernie Fraser, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Craig Green, Tana Umaga (before he switched to centre), John Timu, Inga Tuigamala and Duncan McGregor come in behind.
Rokocoko looked like a Pantheon certainty early in his career, when he glided and weaved his way to 17 tries in 12 tests in 2003.
But in the past three years, he's scored just four times in 20 tests. He's had weight issues, injury issues and he-doesn't-seem-to-really-care issues.
At the age of 27, with the fine record of 46 tries in 68 tests, Rokocoko has greatness within reach. But only the viewers of French club rugby will get to appreciate it.
• Rip off
There are whispers of skulduggery in the Dunedin rippa rugby ranks.
Supposedly the odd team has been quietly trimming the ribbons attached to each child's waist, making it harder for the wee tackers to be "tackled".
Can anyone verify this scandalous accusation?
• A wheel chance
Nice to see former Dunedin son Greg Henderson continuing his outstanding road cycling form on the Tour of California.
Surely, surely, surely this is the year Henderson's class and experience is recognised with a ride in the Tour de France.
It would be just reward for his efforts over his remarkable career.
And getting to monitor Henderson's performance on Le Tour would be a welcome respite from the Lance Armstrong/Tyler Hamilton/doping saga.
• Glenn on fire
Albion cricket captain Jamie Glenn has hit a rich vein of form playing for the Walthamstow club in the Essex league.
Glenn, working as a builder during the week, has scored three consecutive centuries, his latest coming off just 77 balls.
"Everyone at the club won't stop going on about it. But I have not had to buy a drink at the club for the last three weeks," Glenn wrote home this week.
• Happy 110th
A very important birthday will be celebrated at the Ardgowan Hall just outside Oamaru tonight.
A week before the Old Boys rugby club celebrates its 100th birthday, two of its great figures will jointly turn 110 - Barry Meikle is 60, Ross Meikle 50.
The brothers, my uncles, will need a few soothing ales tonight to wash away the pain of Old Boys' loss to Valley.
As a birthday present, I offer the embarrassing photo above, proving there was a time (one season only) when I was on the dark side.
• Holiday time
See you in a month.
