Haier Pulse Coach "Surprised and Grateful" to Receive Honour

Haier Pulse Head Coach Robyn Broughton is surprised and grateful to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List with an ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to netball.

“I am grateful that there are people in the community who felt my efforts in netball should be recognised,” explained Broughton, who was awarded an MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in the 2004 New Year Honours List and has continued to work with players at all levels of netball, from schoolgirls to the elite. This has included coaching the New Zealand FastNet Ferns to international success and the World Netball Selection to victory over the Australian Diamonds.

She coached the Southern Sting from 1998–2007, winning seven National Bank Cup titles, before guiding the Southern Steel for four years and moving to the Haier Pulse this year. She was also assistant coach of the Silver Ferns between 2000 and 2002 and has coached Verdon College in Invercargill to two National Secondary Schools’ Championships.

“It’s a thrill to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and especially to receive the award when I can share the honour with my players, my family and my friends in netball and in the wider community,” added Broughton, whose Haier Pulse team won an unprecedented third successive game on Sunday, defeating the EasiYo Tactix at the CBS Arena in Christchurch 54-47.