Commonwealth Games: Leota leading busy life

Liana Leota gave birth to her third child and is now eyeing a second Commonwealth Games gold medal. Photo / Greg Bowker

Liana Leota's reputation is that of a supremely organised person.

She'd need to be if you consider the last four months of her life.

The little midcourter gave birth to her third child, was back on the court for the Central Pulse a few weeks later in the ANZ Championship and is now eyeing a second Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow next week.

Talk about not pausing for breath.

The most recent of Leota's 30 caps was against Australia in October 2011. Now, having proved her readiness to return to the Silver Ferns, she's arrived in Britain, dropped the kids off with rugby-playing husband Johnny at their home in Manchester and is back with netball as her priority for the moment.

She was always confident she could take the fast track back into the Silver Ferns, but didn't want to make a big noise about it, just in case.

''I had it in the back of my mind, but didn't want to put any pressure on," she said today.

''I said if I could come out and play well and do my job I'd be happy. It was just whether I was going to tick the right boxes or not, so I was very lucky everything went well."

She joined the squad in Bath, where they had a pre-Games training camp, playing games against England A and Wales in which they tried to replicate the early days of the campaign.

New Zealand play Malawi on Friday night (NZT), followed by Scotland 24 hours later, then Northern Ireland, St Lucia and finally Jamaica in pool play.

''I feel really good, and Bath really set that in concrete for me," the 29-year-old said as she took in some sun at the Games heaquarters beside the River Clyde.

''I was a bit airy fairy coming over but all the game time and practice, and the confidence and connections, have helped me.

''So when I got here I was a very happy lady, but when we played this morning (a hitout against Trinidad and Tobago) it felt like getting off a 24-hour plane ride," she laughed.

And she likely spoke for the team when she said the feeling is not just getting on with it.

''It feels like we've been here a long time. In New Delhi it just happened so quickly, (it seemed like) in one day, out the other.

''It's definitely been a more measured leadup than Delhi, we've had more time together."
So will Leota make the starting seven? The likelihood is initially she will share some wing attack court time with Shannon Francois.

''According to our data she's very close to being ready and game time is the only thing that's going to test her," coach Wai Taumaunu said today.

''She has to pay specific attention to her recovery and warmup routines, just in terms of the explosive nature of her play. We have to keep her very warm and her muscles in good shape."

Leota's mantra is simple: ''I know the girls have worked so much harder than me. I just want to play well, contribute and add value to the team."