Jennifer O'Connell who last played for the Southern Steel in 2020. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Experienced goal shoot Jennifer O'Connell is returning to the Southern Steel ANZ premiership side.
The 1.93m shooter was a key member of the franchise from 2017 to 2020, winning two premiership titles in 2017 and 2018.
O'Connell had been recruited to bolster the shooting ranks as George Fisher continues her recovery from a serious knee injury suffered last season.
"George has worked incredibly hard and made excellent progress but the reality is her recovery isn't quite where we would like it to be at this stage of the preseason. We are supporting her unreservedly and simply aren't prepared to rush this process," said Steel chief executive Sonya Fleming.
Currently at home in the UK, Fisher will rejoin her team-mates in early February determined to return to the court.
Steel shooter George Fisher Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2022 www.photosport.nz
"One of the hardest parts of any injury is the unknown. Sure, you know how you expect, and want, your recovery to go but there really are no guarantees.
"While it's been making strong progress, my knee isn't quite where I was hoping it would be by this stage of the preseason. All I can do is continue to work incredibly hard on my rehab alongside the medical team, accepting that this is a process you can't rush," she said.
O'Connell suffered a season-ending knee injury herself in 2020 and is looking forward to a return to the sport's top echelon.
"It was definitely unexpected. I'm pretty sure I laughed at Curly (head coach Reinga Bloxham) down the phone when she rang but I am grateful for the chance to be back in the environment.
"It's really special given it's a chapter in my career I thought was finished."
