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RNZ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
When injury strikes who do professional netball teams call?
When injury strikes who do professional netball teams call? More often than not, someone who has retired from the game. Former Silver Fern Casey Kopua had not played elite netball for six years when an Aussie team contacted her to play in the last round, but she is not unique in that situation. Sports reporter Casey Kopua spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Scoop
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Round 4, Magic Vs Stars: Magic Hit The Winner's Circle In Style
AVIS Magic clinched their first win of the season in style when delivering a comprehensive 72-51 win over Go Media Stars to complete Round 4 in Hamilton on Monday. Finding speed and accuracy going forward, the Magic had an inspiring figure at goal shoot in the form of Saviour Tui who had a memorable 60 minutes while showcasing her considerable skillset and nailing 54 from 57 shots on goal. Magic retained the same seven for the duration of the match and held the upper hand to lead at all quarter breaks. Leading by seven going into the final stanza, the home side couldn't have asked for a better finish when delivering a forceful 22-8 statement, scoring the last 11 goals in the process with the final two being super shots. Sitting out last week after suffering a head knock, Ali Wilshier returned to centre in the Magic starting line-up while the Stars presented with the same seven as their last outing. Magic made an impressive start on attack with captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Claire O'Brien delivering deep feeds into the athletic Tui under the hoop. The shooter mixed her game between holding, quick movement and aerial to great effect. With the home side in threatening mood, the Stars adopted a more patient approach as the teams' level-pegged before the Magic broke the arm-wrestle. Feeding off turnover opportunities, the Magic made no mistake with a strong finish to end the first quarter with a 17-14 lead. The Stars resumed with a reshuffled midcourt which included the injection of former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson at wing defence. That change helped the visitors add speed and improved through-court flow as they closed to within one. However, the Magic continued to impress with their ability to get quick ball to Tui who dominated at the shooting end through her variety of play, movement and accuracy. Defensively, the Magic were also able to disrupt the Stars progress. In-circle defenders Erena Mikaere and Georgia Tong stalled the Stars shooting connections while wing defence Georgia Edgecombe, who finished with two intercepts and seven deflections, was all hustle and bustle. Magic were quick to punish errors and the disconnect that blighting the Stars as the home side took a handy 33-25 lead into the main break. Two quick goals to start the third quarter heralded the Stars improved output during their best stanza of the match. Captain Maia Wilson and the lofty Charlie Bell got in the groove with their shooter-to-shooter exchanges on the back of strong drives and feeds from Mila Reuelu-Buchanan. Hard-working defender Remi Kamo, with two intercepts and seven deflections, also helped ensure the Magic were left looking over their shoulders as the Stars chipped away to reduce an eight-goal deficit to just two, prompting a technical time out for the home side. It induced the appropriate response with the mobile shooting circle of Tui and Ekenasio hitting back in spectacular fashion as they knocked the spirit out of the Stars challenge. Wilson kept the Stars well in contention with a super shot but Tui, who could do little wrong, responded in similar fashion. Growing in confidence the court opened up in dazzling style for the Magic who continued to excel on attack. With the scoreboard ticking over, the Magic were left well-placed when leading 50-43 at the last break.
Otago Daily Times
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Kopua, 39, set for shock return to game
Former Silver Fern captain Casey Kopua is in line for a shock return to elite netball. Kopua, 39, has been named as a replacement player for the Giants against the Melbourne Vixens for their Super Netball game tomorrow. The defender, who retired after winning the Netball World Cup in 2019, replaces Giants' Jamaican defender Jodi-Ann Ward, who tore her ACL and is out for the rest of the season. The Giants are also without regular defender Tilly McDonnell. The New South Wales franchise announced Kopua's inclusion yesterday. Kopua, who played 17 seasons for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, will link up with her former Magic team-mates Jo Harten, Jamie-Lee Price and coach Julie Fitzgerald, who are all with the Giants. The goal defence, who was one of the inaugural inductees into the Netball New Zealand hall of fame last year, was one of the best defenders during her tenure, including being part of the Magic side that won the ANZ Championship in 2012. Kopua retired from internationals in 2015 but returned to the Silver Ferns when Noeline Taurua took over the side in 2019 and led them to their first Netball World Cup in 17 years.
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.
The Spinoff
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘I'm still that guy': Why Jenny May Clarkson will never miss the 6pm news
The Breakfast broadcaster, former Silver Fern and now published author takes us through her life in television. Jenny May Clarkson has got a lot going on. On the day she chatted with The Spinoff, she had woken up at 3am to do Breakfast while battling a migraine, been in meetings for a netball commentary gig, and just got home after an afternoon signing books in the city. Her days are long and her starts early, but she wouldn't have it any other way. 'Life's so busy at the moment for everyone, with people just trying to do the best that they possibly can to get by,' she says. 'I like to see Breakfast as a part of those busy mornings – informing people while they are trying to get the kids out the door and get to work.' In her new book Full Circle, she writes candidly about starting out as a presenter on Breakfast and struggling to control her emotions during heavier or more personal interview topics such as bowel cancer, which closely affected her family. 'I don't know whether you actually find a way to cope with it, but what I have learnt is to be able to control it until after the interview,' she says. 'But sometimes ,I just I roll with it. I figure if I'm feeling emotional about something, then there'll undoubtedly be people who are watching out there and feeling the same way as me.' In those moments, Clarkson says she always returns to a mantra from her father: take people on the journey with you. It is an attitude that also inspired her to finally tell her life story for the first time in Full Circle, including her many different roles from Silver Fern to policewoman, TV presenter to mother, and reclaiming te reo Māori at home and work. 'I hit 50 and I just thought 'why not?'' she laughs. 'I just hope that some of the stories that I share resonate with others, and they can see themselves in those stories, and hopefully feel a sense of hope as well.' With that, Clarkson shared her life in television with us, including taping Paula Abdul on RTR, the allure of FBI crime shows, and why she will never stop watching the 6pm news. My earliest TV memory is… It would have to be Ready to Roll and A Dog's Show. Ready to Roll was always on at six o'clock on a Saturday at the same time as the news, so there was a bit of a fight in the house. But it would count down the week's biggest hits, and it was the closest thing that we had to Spotify or CDs or anything like that. That was always pretty exciting in my household because I loved dancing – Janet Jackson or Paula Abdul videos that came out were always pretty cool. I'd videotape them so I could play them over and over again. My earliest TV crush was… Charles in Charge, Scott Baio. I don't know what it was about him. He was just cute, and I'm pretty sure I had a poster of him on my wall. The NZ TV ad I can't stop thinking about is… The McDonald's ad where they are listing everything off for the Kiwiburger, and that one for some petrol company with the Rob Ruha song 'That's Where I'll Be'. I love that song. My TV guilty pleasure is… I love all FBI series. Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, all the FBI series. I am totally into that kind of programme. I don't think it's got anything to do with when I was a police officer, I just love the drama of it. When I was on Silver Ferns tours I used to read serial killer books, which used to freak everyone out. I love the psychology behind it all. My favourite moment from Breakfast is… Probably the one that sits with me the most was the community in Te Karaka, when we had the anniversary weekend floods up here and Gisborne and all around the East Coast got absolutely wiped out. I was one of the first on the ground in terms of media in Te Karaka. I think of what that community went through on a number of levels, and to see the way that they came together to look after one another has been pretty amazing to be a very small part of that. The TV project I wish I could be involved in is… I'm going to say Chicago PD because I really love that programme. I'd like to play the bad guy, I reckon that'd be quite fun. My controversial TV opinion is… I think there's still life in linear TV. I think people love being able to turn on live television every single morning and know that, for the next three hours, you're getting Breakfast and not something you have to select off a streamer menu. I still believe that there's power in that, and that people still want that. In a time when we crave being connected, I think linear television is one way to connect us all. The last thing I watched on television was… The 6pm news last night. I'm still that guy. I still turn the TV on at six o'clock, even though I know what's coming up in the bulletin. I guess it's something we've always done when I was a kid, and we've continued that on in our household. It'll always be kind of background while I'm cooking dinner, or on mute in the background when we're eating. That's such a TVNZ thing to say, isn't it? But it's true.
