This year has been massive for Rotorua netballer Sam Sinclair and now she has the Commonwealth Games in her sights. Photo / Getty Images
This year has been massive for Rotorua netballer Sam Sinclair and now she has the Commonwealth Games in her sights. Photo / Getty Images
One of Rotorua's finest exports, netballer Sam Sinclair, has enjoyed a breakout year in 2017.
The former John Paul College student made her Silver Ferns debut in January, during a quad series against Australia, South Africa and England, having previously represented New Zealand in a winning Fast5 Netball World Series.
Domestically, she continued to perform well for the Waikato Bay of Magic in the ANZ Premiership and despite being just 22 established herself as one of the team's leaders, with tenacity and determination a feature of her play.
She retained her spot in the Silver Ferns and played in October's Constellation Cup against Australia.
While it was a breakout year for Sinclair individually, result-wise there was room for improvement, as the Magic failed to make the playoffs and the Silver Ferns lost the Constellation Cup. She is determined to play a role in turning things around in 2018.
"It's been a massive year, I think every game I was learning and growing and improving. I was pretty happy with it all," Sinclair said.
"Obviously I hate losing, so that's always at the front of my mind, but in terms of individual development it's onwards and upwards. We want to be better than we were in the Constellation Cup and we need to be working on fixing that now."
ICYMI Sun, sand and surf seem to be high on the list for our #SilverFerns. Have a ð and see what Katrina, Sam, Maria and Kelly are hoping for this summer break!
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Posted by Silver Ferns on Monday, 11 December 2017
On the back of a six-week break, Sinclair and her international teammates are in Auckland this week for a five-day training camp, after which the squad for the quad series being played in England and South Africa in late January will be named.
"It's good to be back in camp, these girls are very cool and we're all really good friends. It's just cool to be back in the environment again and see some happy faces. There's definitely a bit of hunger and a want to do more and do better than we did."
Knowing the squad for April's Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast will be named after the Quad Series had given training an extra edge.
"I suppose that's always at the back of everyone's minds, as much as it's a team camp we've still got selectors and the wider squad is here as well. There's a big bunch of girls vying for positions.
During her six-week break Silver Fern Sam Sinclair, pictured with The Hits' Paul Hickey (left) and Lukas Teka, 9, helped out with Fill the Bus in Rotorua. Photo / File
"[To play in the Commonwealth Games] would be unbelievable. I remember watching the last few on TV and it's so exciting. I actually had a little holiday in the Gold Coast this year and went past the athlete's village, which looks very fancy and new, that got me pretty excited.
"To get there I have to do the work, tick all the right boxes and just keep improving and learning more about myself and about others. Just continuously growing every day, whether I'm in the camp or not, that's what the coaches are after."
Sinclair said since making her debut she was starting to feel more at home in black dress.
"I think one of the big purposes of this camp is for us all to feel more at ease in our own jobs on the court, so you know when you go out there what your role is and what you bring to the team."
The Silver Ferns squad to travel to England and South Africa for the Netball Quad Series will be named on Monday.
