Former Netball New Zealand boss Raelene Castle is well settled into her role as chief executive of the Canterbury Bulldogs, but she’s still keen to support the Silver Ferns at next year’s World Cup in Sydney.
Castle has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and business in the New Year Honours.
She spent six years guiding Kiwi netball’s governing body, playing a key role in establishing the trans-Tasman league and bringing a quickfire version of the sport in Fast5 netball to New Zealand.
Castle is still on the board of the international netball federation, and says she’ll make a point of attending the World Cup in August next year.
“The Silver Ferns will always hold a special place in my heart – I take a keen interest in them and how they’re going,” she told AAP.
“I’ll make sure I can spend some time with the girls.”
Castle became the first woman to be appointed chief executive of an NRL club when she made the move to the Bulldogs in the middle of last year.
She says managing the deluge of information in her early days at the Bulldogs was like trying to drink water from a fire hydrant, but she’s gradually come to terms with managing the workload.
“It’s that information overload you get, trying to find your feet and build new relationships, knowing that everyone’s watching and curious as to who this New Zealander is in charge of the Bulldogs,” she said.
“It’s a time thing, you have to earn their trust and respect.”
Castle said the Kiwi contingent at the Bulldogs, headed by Greg Eastwood and Sam Perrett, played an important part.
“They took to me early, took me under their wing and did all they could to try and help me out.
“That was one of the challenges, building a connection to the playing group, and that sort of instant connection was definitely helpful.”
Castle says the main adjustment she’s had to make at the Bulldogs has been around the intensity of media management.
“Rugby league is a religion, and so the intensity of the scrutiny and interest from media and fans, and their desire for information, is a lot greater than I’d experienced previously.”
