Kayla Johnson will return to the Robinhood Stars for the 2022 ANZ Premiership season with the franchise confirming their roster for next season.
The 29-year-old is the marquee signing for the Stars, returning to play for the franchise she played for from 2017-2019 before she followed now husband Shaun Johnson across the Tasman.
The 47-test Silver Fern brings a wealth of big game experience and class to the defensive end and adds to the franchise’s international contingent alongside shooters Maia Wilson and Jamie Hume as well as midcourter Gina Crampton.
Also returning to the Stars in 2022 is wing defence/goal defence Holly Fowler. The talented 23-year-old is back with the Stars after spending the past two seasons at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic. She had been with the Stars since 2017 before heading south.
Serious knee injuries have hampered her career to this point but at full health she will prove a real addition to the squad.
Head coach Kiri Wills can’t wait to see what both Johnson and Fowler can add to an already exciting roster.
“[Johnson’s] one of those players where you’ll be standing on the side of the court at training and she’ll do something and you’ll go – how did she do that?” Wills said.
“She’s physically and skill-wise one of the most capable players I’ve ever coached and can do things nobody else can do – she’s a freak.
“Holly works really hard and can play a tight man-on style and make her opponent’s life sheer misery. She adds speed around the front if playing goal defence and a nice point of difference in terms of the goal defence and wing defence position and is solid on attack too.” Wills explained.
Both Johnson and Fowler’s last game for the Stars was during the 2019 final against the Pulse and Wills has made sure to keep communication lines open since and followed their respective journeys closely.
Shooter Monica Falkner and defender Oceane Maihi have both taken up other opportunities and Stars General Manager Dianne Lasenby’s shown appreciation for their contributions to the organisation.
“Our aim was to retain as many of our 2021 squad as possible which we are delighted we have been able to do so with the exception of Oceane and Monica who opted to look at other opportunities. We thank them for their contribution to the Stars and wish them well.” Lasenby said.
2022 Robinhood Stars roster: Jamie Hume, Amorangi Malesala, Maia Wilson, Gina Crampton, Lisa Mather, Mila Reule-Buchanan, Holly Fowler, Anna Harrison, Kayla Johnson, Elle Temu.
Recent Comments