Parris Petera is thriving under the influence of her mother, Otane player-coach Annemarie Kupa. Photo / Warren Buckland
Parris Petera is thriving under the influence of her mother, Otane player-coach Annemarie Kupa. Photo / Warren Buckland
Succeeding is part of the subconsciousness of anyone who has ever slipped on a netball bib for Otane and tonight will be no different in the Super 6 final in Napier.
But for Thirsty Whale-sponsored champion team player-coach Annemarie Kupa, there's a bigger picture to frame mentally before they face Outkast Optimise Physio for the bragging rights to Hawke's Bay netball's premier competition.
"I love winning but, for me, it's more about playing with her as well," says Kupa, referring to her 13-year-old daughter, Parris Petera.
While the Napier Girls' High School (NGHS) year 9 pupil is in her debut Super 6 season, she is an old cog in the wheel of the Otane juggernaut that the Kupa sisters, including Tammy and Becky, have driven for more than a decade.
"She's been around the team from the time she was born. She actually wore the Otane uniform as a mascot when she was 2 to pose in the celebration photo that year," says her mother, who also coaches Petera's NGHS senior A and Otane Development teams.
That means Kupa, a fulltime mother who is still nurturing 9-month-old son Arlon, is engaged with netball training and matches every day of the week, bar Thursday.
Because Petera is a five-day boarder at NGHS (the bus service from Central Hawke's Bay only goes as far as Hastings), Kupa treasures the time with her teenage daughter, even though it's through netball and at nights.
"That's also the reason why I do it [coach] because it's so rewarding," says Kupa of Petera, who slips on the bib as a starting midcourter.
The youngster is a Bay under-15 player who also attended the Ikaroa Maori U15 representative trials in Palmerston North this year.
"She's been doing very well so we've been quite lucky."
Parris as a team mascot when she was 2.
While the teenage years can be trying times for some daughters and mothers, Kupa says the relationship she has with Petera is one of mutual respect and friendship.
"She just loves being with her mum. We've been in the netball scene all her life so she's used to it. I'm quite proud to be with her, too," says Kupa, who finds her daughter keeps her on her toes at wing attack. Kupa often receives feedback from opposition players about how astute and vocal Petera can be on the court.
Listening to her experienced mother is high on Petera's agenda.
"It gets my confidence up because she helps me on the court," says the teenager who enjoys constructive criticism from her parents on her performance.
She appreciates playing alongside and against predominantly older women in Super 6, saying it will hone her skills and make her mentally stronger.
Petera's nerves are a little jangled before today's final starting at 7.45pm but she reckons she'll be fine.
Kupa echoes those sentiments, believing once the players get their first touch of the ball from the centre pass it'll be business as usual.
Otane have several high school girls in their side. They have never played a final at a senior elite level but took ownership when push came to shove.
It'll be no different tonight in the absence of No1 shooter Kelsey McPhee, who is on a tour of Australia with the NZ Maori team.
"The older heads will help them along the way," says the coach who is mindful Otane's reputation demands high expectations.
"When you're underdogs, who cares? So you just go out to play - but when you're favourites you have a target on your back."
Kupa says Outkast are a strong defensive unit under ex-Otane player Amanda Palmer.
"They've done very well to make it to the final and they deserve to be there after keeping cool heads under pressure," she says, alluding to a nail-biting 43-42 semifinal victory over Hastings High School Old Girls' Proactive Huias last Friday night at the Pettigrew-Green Arena in Taradale.
Outkast will be without Kimiora Poi, also on NZ Maori duties and Central Region obligations, but Palmer hastens to add that, while they will miss the services of the talented midcourter, her team put on a gutsy season regardless.
"I think Kimi coming adds another dimension and edge around our attacking circle but we won against Huias with the same players who played all year.
"With Kelsey starting in every game for Otane ... I don't believe we'll feel the absence of Poi to the same extent they'll miss not having their shooter," she says.
The rest of Outkast players have been there all season with a core seven and a couple of lower-tier Revolution players helping out.
Palmer realises there's a fine line between Outkast's excitement to make the club's maiden Super 6 final and becoming overwhelmed.
"We won't get carried away and overwhelmed by the occasion but we're proud and we'll play to our best so everyone gets off the court having given 100 per cent."
Palmer says Outkast also relish not having to go through the grading tournaments next year as this season's semifinalists are granted exemption.
