Fowler unfazed by Suncorp rule change
Published:Saturday | July 4, 2020 | 12:24 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Sunshine Girl Jhaniele Fowler says the sudden rule change in the Suncorp Super Netball competition in Australia will not affect her game this season.
The organisers announced the introduction of a two-goal ‘Super Shot’ in the final stages of each quarter last week.
Goals scored from within a designated zone will be worth double as the league looks to encourage players to take shots from long range. The rule will take place when shots are taken from more than three metres away from the net during the final five minutes of each quarter.
Fowler, who is the league’s reigning back-to-back Most Valuable Player, told The Gleaner that she is looking forward to this new challenge.
“I have been adjusting my game in not only taking close-range shots, but also taking long-range shots, so I am not worried about it,” she said.
NO CONSULTATION
“It is not going to really change my game because this new rule is only the last five minutes of the game, and if we don’t need to force two-point shots at that stage of the game, then we don’t need to if we are not chasing a score. But if we are chasing scoring, then the new rule will help us.”
But Fowler said that the players were not consulted about the rule change before it was announced by the organisers of the competition.
“First, I think that they just put it on us because we didn’t get any heads-up to ask us what we think about it,” she said.
“I think we just have to embrace it and see how best we can incorporate it during the season, and if it does work and everyone is happy with it, then it is okay for us to keep it.
“However, if there is an issue with it, then I reckon that they should review it and see what other changes they could possibly make.”
Suncorp Super Netball is scheduled to begin on August 1.