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Catherine Latu - Source: Photosport -
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New Zealand's trans-Tasman netball league teams no longer have to apply to Netball New Zealand (NNZ) if they want to include an overseas-based player in their roster.
The league's organisers have tweaked the competition's eligibility rules to standardise them on both sides of the Tasman.
Previously, New Zealand-based franchises had to apply to NNZ if they wanted to include an overseas player in their roster.
Problems had arisen with players such as Northern Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu, a New Zealand citizen but ineligible to play for the Silver Ferns until August 2011, after she played for Samoa at the 2007 world championships.
Australian-based teams could include two overseas players in their rosters, but had to apply to Netball Australia for the second.
The championship-winning Adelaide Thunderbirds had two overseas players on their roster this year -- Jamaican shooter Carla Borrego and English defender Geva Mentor.
The Queensland Firebirds, who boasted another Jamaican shooter in Romelda Aiken, had a request declined late in the season for English international Tamsin Greenway to replace an injured Sarah Wall.
NNZ high performance manager Tracey Fear said the change would leave franchises in charge of their own destiny.
"Franchises can now go out, contract an overseas import, and that's their call. It leaves them as masters of their own destiny -- it's not leaving it in our hands to sign it off," she said.
"They can go out, scout for talent, make the decision, make the call and it's done and dusted."
Fear said the previous system put more onus -- and uncertainty -- on the franchises.
"Every time an application is put in front of us, it's a lot of work for the franchises to put the case forward. It's something we don't like to arbitrate over.
"We take each case on its own merits, but sometimes while we believe our reasoning is sound, sometimes it's not always perceived as consistent."
The new rule would still allow maximum opportunity for New Zealand players, she said.
"That is the driver for us -- that we have as many opportunties open to New Zealand eligible players as we can."
