The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel has recruited attacker Grace Southby and defender Holly McRae as official training partners for the 2025 ANZ Premiership netball season.

Southby returns for her second season, while McRae joins after an impressive stint with the Southern Blast, where she was named Most Improved Player.

Head coach Wendy Frew is enthusiastic about their potential.

“Grace is a strong, nuggety goal attack or wing attack who can seamlessly switch between both positions. She has excellent awareness of the centre pass structures,” Frew said.

“Holly is a very athletic defender who is fit and has great speed around the court. She reads the game incredibly well and makes some brilliant intercepts.”

Frew emphasized the importance of training partners in pushing contracted players to improve and maintaining high standards during training sessions.

“I expect our Steel training partners to bring dedication, energy, and professionalism. In turn, we will focus on progressing their netball development and giving them a taste of the high-performance environment,” she said.

Southby, 21, said her excitement levels were really high for the 2025 campaign.

“I'm looking forward to training with this talented group of players and building connections,” she said.

McRae, 19, said she was super excited to be a Steel training partner.

"It’s such an amazing opportunity to be able to work alongside such a skilled and determined team,” she said.

“My aim is to bring a solid work ethic that can help contribute to the driven atmosphere of the Steel environment."

Frew said the pair would gain valuable experience in improving their skills, understanding the game at a deeper level and enhancing their fitness.

"They'll learn how to work within a team dynamic, support their teammates and develop mental resilience."

"Additionally, they'll have the opportunity to receive feedback from coaches, improve their tactical awareness and build confidence in their ability to perform under pressure,” Frew said.