Kayla Johnson will return to the purple dress. Photo / Photosport
Kayla Johnson will return to the purple dress. Photo / Photosport
Kayla Johnson (née Cullen) is set to return to the New Zealand netball scene.
Although the news may not come as a huge surprise to fans, it's something the former Silver Ferns defender admitted she never thought was possible.
Johnson has signed with the Northern Stars for the 2022 ANZPremiership after spending the past two years in Australia with husband and NRL star Shaun Johnson - who will return to play for the Warriors next season.
While living across the ditch, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby daughter, Millah - a birth she revealed was difficult.
"After giving birth I thought I would never play again," she said.
"I wouldn't say it was a terrible birth, but it wasn't a great birth. I wasn't able to walk properly for about a month after, so even just being able to walk was a huge milestone for me.
"The genuine desire [to play again] was always there but it was like I didn't know whose body I was in. Running, jumping, all those things used to come so easily to me and after having a baby, those things are just so much harder than you'd ever think they would be."
Kayla and Shaun Johnson with baby Millah. Photo / Instagram
She said it took time for her to reconsider returning to netball but was confident in her decision.
"I don't know if it was a mental hurdle as well but I wasn't in the right headspace at the time so I was telling myself I would never be able to play again because of the state my body was in at that time. But I have put in a lot of work since then and I have realised it does take a lot of time.
"I'm here now and committed to getting back to my best."
Johnson spoke of the many challenges she was preparing for such as juggling mum-life and the prospect of her husband having to be based back in Australia should the Warriors play another season there due to the pandemic.
But one of the greatest challenges she said would be getting her mental state in shape after suffering a number of knee injuries in the past.
"I definitely have some hurdles that I need to tackle this year in terms of my mental space. Even in my 2019 season, I was probably not 100 per cent in for every ball I was going for. I was maybe 70-80 per cent going for ball because in the back of my mind I had thoughts of getting injured," she said.
"It's just that mental hurdle that I need to overcome."
After securing a flight home - earlier than expected - last week, the Johnsons are back in New Zealand and in MIQ.
Johnson will link up with the Stars in due course to prepare for next year.
Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua has also indicated her interest in having her part of the squad as a training partner for the team's upcoming series.
