Queensland's ban on rabbits almost prevented Caitlin Bassett from signing with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Photo / Getty Images
Queensland's ban on rabbits almost prevented Caitlin Bassett from signing with the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Photo / Getty Images
Winning a Premiership title was at the top of Australian netball star Caitlin Bassett's list.
So when the Australian Diamonds skipper was approached to sign with Noeline Taurua's Sunshine Coast Lightning in the club's debut year, Bassett was willing to do almost anything to chase her dream - even become a magician.
But the bunny-loving goal shooter was faced with the tough decision to leave her beloved furry pets in Perth due to Queensland's strict rabbit laws - unless she could prove she was a magician.
"After I talked to the Sunshine Coast I thought I would never come here because I could not take the rabbits with me. It was a serious concern for me. That's for sure," the Lightning captain told the Courier-Mail.
"I would do anything for them. They lived in my house and had the run of the house. They would eat cords behind my television and I would take them out for coffee with me.
"I genuinely did look up how to be a magician. What a great story it would have been and I thought it would be a great way to bring the bunnies with me."
Bassett, who was Perth-based for her entire career before joining the Lightning, said the plan was sadly aborted due to the amount of paperwork and her fear that they would not survive the flight.
But the international goal shooter said she wanted to push herself and knew that winning a Premiership was ultimately more important to her.
"You have to provide documentation as how you would keep them. You had to give them your address so they could check you are doing everything right," she said.
"There was a lot of paperwork and I did not know whether they would have survived the flight.''
"I could have comfortably finished my career in Perth but I wanted to push myself outside my comfort zone.''
"I thought 'do I want to win a premiership? ... Actually, that is probably more important to me in life. But it was a tough decision.''
The Lightning have followed up with another strong season this year which will see them face the Queensland Firebirds in Sundays Super Netball knockout semifinal.
Silver Ferns goal shoot Grace Nweke speaks about the Constellation Cup series and the rivalry against the Diamonds in the final match. Video / Alyse Wright
