Roberts in new role

 THE Storm has landed Papua New Guinea international and former Queensland Firebird Maleta Roberts as its coach for 2014.

The dynamic goal shooter co-captained the PNG Pepes in this year’s Pacific Netball Series in Samoa.

She has played at the world championships and the Arafura Games in 2007, and 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Now, the 28 year old has a big job on her hands to return Strathfieldsaye’s A-grade team to finals.

The Storm finished fifth in 2011, but has only won three games in both the past two seasons.

Roberts will also coach A-reserve, while Aleisha Langdon will coach B-grade.

Storm president Glen Cowling expected Roberts’ experience would lift the entire club’s netball performance.

“We are thrilled to have Mali on board. We believe her experience will be instrumental in continuing to develop our list of netballers and other coaches,” he said.

When the exciting news hit PNG yesterday, PNG Netball president Julienne Leka-Maliaki spoke well of Maleta’s achievement saying that it is exciting to see current PNG netballers adventuring in to the coaching field.

“It is such good news for PNG Netball and the country as well. We wish her all the best in her career as she flies the PNG flag up high in her local competition,” Maliaki added.

Roberts now follows former Pepes Monalisa Leka who is the current Pepes assistant coach.

Maliaki said that it is good to see netballers take up coaching as it develops and widens their knowledge of the game as players. – Bendigo Advertiser