Fact-Finding Mission
Tagged in: NZ Breakers, Tall Ferns
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Christchurch Sirens coach Leigh Gooding and captain Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe will undertake a reconnaissance sortie this week when they fly north for the Harvey Norman NZ Breakersí Australian NBL opener on Thursday.
The fledgling franchise will debut in the Australian womenís league next month and are hungry for any advice that might help them adapt quickly at that level of competition. Gooding will consult with Breakers counterpart Andrej Lemanis and the Sirens delegation will sit near the home bench to observe game time logistics around the team.
Most of Goodingís questions will centre on the single biggest challenge in trans Tasman sporting competition – travel and how the Auckland-based men prepare for their road trips.
ìI had planned all along to talk to Andrej before the start of our season, just to get his thoughts. He has had a couple of seasons now at the Breakers to get the feel of their travel routine Ö what he thinks has worked for them and what hasnít.
ìAlso, Iím interested in what benefits he sees in scouting, how he gets his hands on game tapes and who he talks to around the league. Weíre obviously talking about different teams and different contacts, but itís good to know how a team that has been there before does it.î
Gooding is not without experience in the newly sponsored Hummer Championship NBL, having assisted former BBNZ coaching director Gordie McLeod for four years at West Sydney Razorbacks.
ìBut that was obviously a bit different from having to fly to every away game,î he says. ìWe could go in cars to Wollongong or Sydney and we didnít have the same time differences to deal with.î
Breakers management have been quick to offer their support to the new Kiwi womenís outfit, designed to help prepare the NZ Tall Ferns for their 2008 Olympic campaign and beyond.
As part of their fact-finding mission, Gooding and McMeeken-Ruscoe will visit the Breakers shootaround Thursday morning, tour their new training facility and then attend the encounter against Cairns Taipans at the North Shore Events Centre.
As patriotic as she is, McMeeken-Ruscoe may take divided loyalties into the occasion, having spent a season playing for the Cairns Dolphins in the Queensland ABA league.
