Regional talent new focus for Rays development coach
Northern Rays development coach Kelly Hynes will now focus on harnessing the rising talent in Far North Queensland, following the team’s decision to pull out of this year’s Sapphire Series.
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Northern Rays development coach Kelly Hynes will now focus on harnessing the rising talent in Far North Queensland, following the team’s decision to pull out of this year’s Sapphire Series.
The Cairns-based mentor, who coached Marlin Coast Marlins in last year’s first and only Ruby Series North campaign, said she wanted to bolster the Far North’s netball stocks ahead of the Rays’ anticipated return in 2021.
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“I will be looking at going into the regional associations and doing some development out there, which will be a really great opportunity,” she said.
“Places like Mossman and Port Douglas, the Tablelands, Mareeba, Innisfail and Tully.
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“It will give us lots of chances to see the players in those regional associations and to do some development work with them to get them up to par and hopefully pushing for the Rays squad in the future.”
Hynes said, following the Cairns region’s exit from the Ruby Series last year, and the Rays pulling out of this year’s Sapphire Series, the North Queensland Premier League would be the pinnacle for local players this season.
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“It will be a good chance to spot us up against Townsville again and see how we’re travelling and get the Rays development staff to have a look at the Cairns players ahead of next season,” she said.
NQPL competition dates have not yet been released, but Hynes was hopeful of it getting underway from September.
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Last week, the Rays announced their 2020 season would not be going ahead, with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic destroying their ability to commit to the season.
WHAT IS THE NQPL?
NETBALL Queensland’s Queensland Premier League (QPL) exists to provide a multi-division, statewide competition to determine the best association and university teams in the state.
Far North netball associations compete in Zone 1 of the QPL, also called the North Queensland Premier League (NQPL).
The NQPL offers a U17 and opens competition to associations and universities from Mackay to Cairns and out to Mt Isa and feeds into the Northern Rays.
Originally published as Regional talent new focus for Rays development coach