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Otago Daily Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Daunakamakama hoping history repeats
A lot can happen in a year. But exactly 365 days after her ANZ Premiership debut, Serina Daunakamakama will pull on the same dress, walk out to the same transverse line, come up against the same opposition and hit the court at the exact same venue. It was a whirlwind for Daunakamakama when she was called in as a late replacement for the Steel against the Northern Mystics on May 26 last year. But as luck would have it, the 21-year-old — who, funnily enough, was a Mystics apprentice training partner at the time — slotted in seamlessly to help the Steel record their second win of the season in Dunedin. The game might have been a "big flash of just bright lights" for the wing attack, but she made a lasting impression, returning 29 feeds, 10 centre pass receives and an intercept on debut and joined the team for the rest of the season. That led to a fulltime contract with the Southern franchise for 2025 and Daunakamakama will be hoping history repeats itself on Monday — coincidentally May 26 — when the Steel host the Mystics at the Edgar Centre. "It's kind of crazy how it's been a full year so it's kind of like a full-circle moment," Daunakamakama said. "I love playing in Dunedin. Super excited for a home game." The pocket rocket has been handed the starting wing attack bib for the opening two rounds and stamped her mark. She sits third in the competition with 32 centre pass receives and third with 65 feeds, while her co-captain Kimiora Poi sits second with 72 feeds. Playing alongside the Silver Fern midcourter, who has been at centre with co-captain Kate Heffernan sidelined, helped Daunakamakama settle. "Everything I do is just to support Kimi," Daunakamakama said. "She's just such a great leader and I just kind of focus on doing my job because I know she'll take care of the rest." Learning from Poi had been invaluable, as had tapping into the nous of assistant coach and former Silver Fern midcourter Liana Leota. "I'm learning so much and it's new things," Daunakamakama said. "It's been such an experience to get some tips and see how she see the game as a wing A — it's been unreal." You could see that knowledge on court when the Steel smashed the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 69-41 on Monday. It was a seamless performance from the visitors, who played with flow and cohesion throughout the court. "Throughout the game it kind of felt like all the pictures were kind of falling into place. "We were slowly getting to see the glimpses of what we're trying to set up in trainings... seeing that come out in the game was really fun and encouraging for the rest of the season." They will need to back it up against the top-of-the-table Mystics on Monday. Former Mystic defender Carys Stythe will be up for the challenge against her old team and has been a standout in her first two games for the Steel to lead the competition for rebounds (nine) and deflections (14). The Mystics are home to Australian Diamond shooter Donnell Wallam, who is the competition's leading goal-scorer, and young defender Catherine Hall leads the competition for intercepts (seven). But Daunakamakama knew her team were ready for the challenge. "Obviously this week the Mystics will come out with a fire, and they're top of the table, so it'll be hard. "But I think we all just need to have each other's back and believe we can do it." Daunakamakama is part of the New Zealand under-21 squad and will be pushing for a spot at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in September. "I'm kind of using this season to gain as much experience, and tips and what not, from Kimiora Poi, and even my coaches Wendy [Frew] and La [Liana Leota], so I can hit that environment running." ANZ Premiership Monday, Dunedin, 7.30pm Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson. Northern Mystics: Donnell Wallam, Filda Vui, Hannah Glen, Peta Toeava, Tayla Earle, Katie Te Ao, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Holly Rae, Catherine Hall, Charlotte Manley.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Pulse Boosted By Return Of Souness
Against the backdrop of a shortened season, players trickling back from injury has been a welcome boost for Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse and their expectations of a successful ANZ Premiership netball campaign. Refreshed and repaired after a lengthy lay-off following ankle surgery, sparkling midcourter Whitney Souness made a successful return when going on to play three quarters of last week's opening round match while adding to the Pulse's playing stocks for their clash against the Mystics in Auckland on Saturday. Speed, agility, deft footwork and pin-point feeds are all part of the pivot's trademark skills and after several months of inactivity, she was quickly back into her work, defying her time away but conscious of needing to raise the bar against a well-credentialled Mystics. Both teams had opening round wins. ``After their first game, they'll be on a high and seeing them play, they've got flair, speed and experience, so they'll be ready to play hard,'' Souness said of the impending clash. ``We've just got to stop them early, bring the intensity from the first whistle and really take off from the outset. ``It's going to be tough, it's going to be fast, it's going to be physical and they'll bring it but we'll bring it too.'' Injured when playing for the Silver Ferns in the second test of the Taini Jamison Trophy series against England last September, Souness eventually underwent a total ankle reconstruction to repair the two ligaments, one of which was hanging upside down. The mercurial little midcourter mirrored her on-court presence with immaculate timing through her five months of rehabbing. Having just two pre-season hit-outs for limited minutes in the two weeks preceding the opening round of the ANZ Premiership, the plan of being ready for Round 1 couldn't have worked out any better. ``I'm really grateful for all the support from our physios, coaches, trainers and team-mates to get me there,'' she said. ``I probably just started doing court stuff about five weeks ago and up until then had not done any. ``Getting rid of a few cobwebs was important in that first game and just getting used to playing netball at that intensity and that level again. It wasn't just about me having to find my feet back on the court but also finding my netball mind, that took a bit of adjusting. ``Because I've been loaded and managed for a bit on the court, I haven't been able to train fully some days but I'm back to normal now, so hopefully from here, with more game time and more full trainings, I'll find my full confidence and be able to just keep pushing.'' The down time has given Souness a complete mental and physical break from netball, from which she has returned refreshed and invigorated. Having started a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Samoan Studies, some years ago, she has returned to the books with relish, completing four elective papers during summer school. Souness has welcomed the injection of former Australian Diamond midcourter Gabi Simpson and shooter Amorangi Malesala, as temporary injury cover, both adding to a vibrant Pulse mix. ``Gabi just brings a different intensity that we're not used to, so it's really cool having her in the group, her experience, her speed and her netball head,'' Souness said. ``There's lots to learn from her and she's always got some good feedback that we can take in and improve from. She's bringing real of value to this group. ``Having Amorangi come in and have an opportunity to play is great for her and both she and Gabi did really well in our first game. They've been training hard, they really want to be here and they're making their mark.'' Souness was happy with how the Pulse adjusted to the new rules in the first round, particularly the two-point shot, expecting as time goes on with more practical game-time experience, there will be refinement according to what works best and what doesn't. The match will be screened live and free to air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ at 4pm on Saturday.
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Former Australian Diamond to provide cover for injury ravaged Pulse
Gabi Simpson in action, 2017 Constellation Cup, Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Pulse have recruited a former Australian Diamond ahead of the ANZ Premiership, with Silver Ferns Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness not ready to take the court for the opening rounds. Gabi Simpson has been signed as a temporary replacement player, while the Silver Ferns midcourt duo work their way back to full fitness. Gordon suffered a knee injury during a pre-season match against the Mystics last month while Souness has been rehabbing after undergoing ankle surgery prior to Christmas. Last year Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse had a wretched run of injuries. At one point all three front-line shooters - Khiarna Williams, Tiana Metuarau and Amelia Walmsley were sidelined. Gordon was also ruled out last year for a significant chunk of the season due to injury. Despite that the Pulse still made the grand final, only to lose by one goal to the Mystics. Simpson has not played elite netball since 2023. The 32-year-old's last season in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball competition was in 2023, with the Queensland Firebirds not offering her a contract for the 2024 domestic competition. But with the season being cut from three rounds to two, there is added pressure to get results from next weekend's first round. Netball Central Director of High Performance Waimarama Taumaunu said they felt an experienced player was needed. "There is no time to grow another player and while we're grateful to the NNL (National Netball League) players who have stepped in [during pre-season], none have done a full NNL season themselves and we needed some experience,'' Taumaunu said. The franchise said there was a wide search, including New Zealand-based players, before landing on Simpson, who will train with the Pulse for the first time today and be available for their Round 1 match against the Magic in Palmerston North on May 10. The Pulse have already been forced to draft Magic training partner and former Silver Fern Amorangi Malesala as a temporary replacement for Williams, who is out for several weeks with a shoulder injury. The Pulse are optimistic that the Silver Ferns midcourt duo will be back in action early in the Premiership and believe Simpson will provide stability in the interim. The third most capped player for the Queensland Firebirds with 157 appearances during an 11-year national league career, Simpson also played 41 tests for the Diamonds during which she assumed the vice-captaincy.
