Netball Super League | Thunder sign Selby-Rickit and Thompson

Manchester Thunder have swooped for two big-name New Zealand players, signing Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Anna Thompson for their Fast5 All-Star squad.

The duo will be Thunder’s international All-Star players for the tournament, which takes place at the Copperbox on October 13.

Southern Steel defender Selby-Rickit has plenty of experience in the format, having won the Fast5 World Series in 2012 with New Zealand.

The 29-year-old joins Thunder on the back of a title-winning season with Steel in the ANZ Championship.

Meanwhile, Thompson, 32, is set to be a real asset for the Black and Yellows as she is able to play in a number of attacking positions.

She has competed in an impressive five Fast5 International Series for the Silver Ferns and has a decade of experience playing in the New Zealand domestic top-flight, playing a franchise-record 131 times for the Mainland Tactix.

Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Grieg said: “I’m really excited to have both Anna and Te Huinga in our Fast5 squad.

“They both bring great experience to our line-up where between them they have won six gold and a silver at international Fast5 for New Zealand.

“I can’t wait to have them in our training environment and get the ball rolling!”

Greig has picked out the qualities that each player will bring to her side, in the fast-paced. different points format of Fast5.

She added: “Shooting is a critical element of this version of the game and Anna being a long-bomb specialist and plays a bit of basketball, she certainly has it in her locker.

“Te Huinga is an imposing defender and is sure to bolster our defensive unit and look to disrupt the opposition and being strong on rebounds.”