Manchester Thunder confirm Gabriella Marshall, Bea Skingsley and Kathryn Turner signings
Saturday 24 September 2016 17:34, UK
Gabriella Marshall and Kathryn Turner have re-signed for Manchester Thunder for 2017 while Bea Skingsley joins from Yorkshire Jets.
With new head coach Karen Greig in place, last season's Vitality Superleague runners-up have kicked off preparations for the 2017 season, which will feature 10 teams, with an exciting trio of recruits.
With Helen Housby joining Sara Bayman in taking the opportunity of moving to the ANZ Championship and Natalie Haythornthwaite heading to Wasps Netball, Thunder have ensured that other key players from the last couple of seasons remain in place.
And Greig is delighted that goal attack Turner has committed herself to the franchise for another season, admitting her experience and consistency are crucial.
"Kathryn has been a real stalwart of the Thunder squad and not many people realise how young she still is but with lots of experience under her belt, she will be key for us in our attack end," said the head coach who replaced Dan Ryan in the summer,
"I am hoping she will continue to show the class she oozed in last years' final. Her accurate shot and excellent timing within the circle will be areas that we will continue to build around."
Also remaining at the Thunderdome is England U21 captain Marshall who has underlined the Thunder's faith in youth and thrived since making the step up from Thunder's NPL team and her role is likely to increase after the departure of Bayman.
"Gabs is Thunder through and through and is ready to step up and make a real name for herself in the Superleague," Greig added.
"She has the ability to take her opponent out of the game and come up with intercepts at crucial times, she showed a flash of her ability in the VNSL final last season and we are looking for her to be a pivotal player in our centre court."
Completing the trio of arrivals as Thunder put together their 12-player roster for next season is Skingsley who played for Hertfordshire Mavericks Youth before the Jets and is a player Greig knows from her time with the National Academy.
"Bea really cemented her position in the Jets circle last year and showed great athletic ability," she added.
"She has a great understanding of the game and ability to turn over balls by manoeuvring around her opponent with ease. I am excited to see how we can use her as a utility player linking with the defence/centre court unit."
