Wellington Pulse netball fans. Photo: Marty Melville / photosport
The Pulse have added two Australian midcourters to their depleted line-up for next year's ANZ Premiership.
The experienced Lili Gorman-Brown and Emma Thompson have been signed after the Pulse lost five key players following this season.
Gorman-Brown, 26, a centre/wing attack, comes from the Sydney Swifts set-up, while 28-year-old Thompson from Melbourne can cover all three midcourt positions.
"There's always been a part of me that wanted to train and compete in a professional sports environment in another country, and it just feels like the right time for a new adventure and challenge for me as a player,'' Gorman-Brown said.
"This is an invaluable experience for me to grow my individual game and I am really looking forward to learning different styles of team play and improving my existing skill set.''
A talented all-round athlete having also represented Victoria in athletics and tennis, Thompson played for the Northern Marvels in New Zealand's National Netball League in 2020.
With both her parents born in New Zealand and never losing sight of wanting to come back for netball, Thompson joined the Tactix as a training partner in 2023.
Injury ruled her out of the 2024 season.
Currently based in the UK where her partner is playing in the Rugby Super League, Thompson thought her netball career would be based in the Northern Hemisphere for the foreseeable future.
"When the Pulse offered me a contract, I was both surprised and excited at the opportunity to return to New Zealand for the season,'' she said.
"I have always felt that my time in the ANZ Premiership was unfinished, and being sidelined by injury was an incredibly challenging journey. However, I have been fortunate to have an outstanding support team around me, and their guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in helping me work my way back.
"New Zealand has always held a special place in my heart because of my heritage."
The Pulse lost experienced players Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, Whitney Souness, Amelia Walmsley and Tiana Metuarau.
However they managed to lure former Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio back to the capital last week.
