Sam Wallace stands as a rare bright spot for last year's losing grand finalists NSW, who are backing their summer acquisition to emulate the game's dominant shooter Romelda Aiken.
The 62-53 defeat in the 2016 grand final rematch against Brisbane on Friday night left the Swifts with one win from their first four games.
Despite the loss the Swifts' Trinidad and Tobago international outscored her fellow Caribbean goal shooter 48 to 45 and did so at a higher shooting percentage.
Swifts wing attack Paige Hadley is loving playing with the 23-year-old Trinidadian and feels her teammate can follow the trail blazed by Jamaica's Aiken, who joined the Firebirds in 2008.
"She can take a one-on-one high ball like no other player I've seen but also can move and shoot from long range or from under the post," Hadley said.
"Romelda's been in this competition ten years and from where she was to where she is now is phenomenal.
"Sam is developing each game and has only just arrived."
Wallace had tough shoes to fill in replacing Diamonds 2015 World Cup winner Caitlin Thwaites, who left the Swifts for new franchise Collingwood Magpies in the summer.
But the British Superleague player of the year has shown herself to be up to the task, improving her match tally in each of the first four rounds of the season.
Hadley is certain Wallace's performances will only get better and feels the onus is on the rest of the team to improve their service to her, something that was hindered on Friday night by the absence of England international Helen Housby due to a thumb injury.
"Sam has such versatility and character and I'm really enjoying feeding her," Hadley said.
"If we tidy up our passes into our shooters we'll get there in the end."
Share
