![WORDS OF WISDOM: Warrnambool has appointed Raewyn Poumako as its 2021 netball coach. It will be her fourth year in the role. Picture: WORDS OF WISDOM: Warrnambool has appointed Raewyn Poumako as its 2021 netball coach. It will be her fourth year in the role. Picture:](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/justine.mc%40fairfaxmedia.com.au/92bd4a3a-45ea-4fab-8cb5-4797dae0a27e.jpg/r0_0_4903_3269_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
WARRNAMBOOL believes Raewyn Poumako's connection with the players will help the Blues' premiership quest in 2021.
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Poumako has re-signed as Blues' open netball coach for a fourth year.
She led the Reid Oval-based club to a preliminary final last year before the coronavirus pandemic wiped out the 2020 Hampden league season.
Warrnambool netball co-ordinator Jason Thwaites said Poumako, who works at Brauer College, was the right person to take the Blues forward.
He said the club was also pleased to have stability at the top after an odd year.
"Our players love working with her and respect her approach," Thwaites said.
![LEADER: Warrnambool coach Raewyn Poumako listens to player during a break in play in 2019. LEADER: Warrnambool coach Raewyn Poumako listens to player during a break in play in 2019.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/justine.mc%40fairfaxmedia.com.au/ff3e458c-a9ee-41fa-b109-51533a240384.jpg/r0_0_5184_3456_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"It is a consultative, all-encompassing approach and personal.
"She will take the time to spend and talk on an individual basis to our open players and our players throughout the rest of the club."
Thwaites said Warrnambool was bullish about its future under Poumako after it fell five goals short of eventual premier Koroit in the penultimate game last year.
He expects the Blues to retain the bulk of their senior playing list.
"She took the team to the prelim final in 2019 and everybody feels as though there is unfinished business and opportunity to take the next couple of steps," Thwaites said.
The Blues have also locked in the majority of their netball coaches and re-signed senior football coach Matt O'Brien in August.