Closet Kiwi excited about call-up to Black Sticks
But we have nabbed one back.
Rookie Black Stick Nina Murphy is a fair dinkum Aussie.
She is a Gold Coast girl. She has the faded tan and twang to show for it.
But the 19-year-old has parents from Palmerston North, and that makes her as Kiwi as jandals rather than thongs.
This year, she shifted over to study health science at the University of Otago.
While her education was the main reason for the move, hockey remains important to her.
"I came over here with the intention to continue playing hockey and to keep trying," she said.
"Back in Australia, I was playing hockey quite competitively as well. So I definitely wanted to keep doing that.
"But obviously, I had no idea what was going to happen with it and definitely wasn't expecting a Black Sticks call-up."
Murphy has represented Australia at under-18 level, and the midfielder impressed for the Alpiners during the junior hockey league.
It was during that tournament she caught the attention of the national selectors.
That tournament also helped reignite her spark.
"Playing a different style of hockey, I don't know, it has just kind of got me excited about it all over again."
The selectors are excited, too.
Murphy was named in the Black Sticks squad to tour the United States.
The first of three tests is on July 3.
The series is an important part of the preparation for the Oceania Cup, where the Black Sticks will battle Australia for direct qualification to the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
Should Murphy do well, she could find herself playing against her country.
"I need to earn my spot in the team before even thinking about making the call back for that sort of tournament because, obviously, I'm fresh to the team and this will be my debut.
"So my focus will be just this American trip and trying to play the best I can."
That said, she has enjoyed connecting with her heritage and has been a longtime closet Kiwi.
"I've always sort of had like a calling. Sounds a bit cliched, but a calling towards New Zealand.
"I always felt somewhat like a New Zealander. When New Zealand would play Australia in sport — like the All Blacks versus the Wallabies — I'd always support the All Blacks."
And that, of course, is the ultimate litmus test when it comes to national allegiance.
Well, that, and eating pavlova while listening to Crowded House.
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