Netball: One more goal, and it's within reach

Maria Tutaia at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year. Cancan Chu / Getty Images

At 19, Maria Tutaia has already ticked off many boxes in her netball career.

She has played in the National Bank Cup, won the World Youth Cup, made her debut for the Silver Ferns and won a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

But there's one omission in her impressive CV. She has never set foot on court for the Silver Ferns against Australia.

That could be about to change.

After a strong National Bank Cup with the Auckland Waitakere Diamonds, Australia may be about to be introduced the woman with the slick turn-and-shoot style.

Tutaia says she is excited at the prospect of court time but is well aware she has to prove herself in the Silver Ferns environment and in training sessions before coach Ruth Aitken will let her take the court.

"It is good because there is a lot of competition in the team. No one is going easy on each other - which is good as it makes you a better player."

Although Tutaia has proven she is a more than capable shooter, the challenge for her in the New Zealand team is combining with the team's nippy midcourt duo of Temepara George and Adine Wilson.

Tutaia says the relationship is "getting there".

"We have tweaked a few things we were having trouble with."

A promising netballer from early on, Tutaia steadily moved her way up through the Auckland representative sides before her first big break when she was selected for the New Zealand under-21 side in 2003.

A year later she made the Auckland/Waitakere NPC side and last year the Diamonds, but spent most of the season on the bench with Silver Fern Jodi Te Huna and Jo Morrison occupying the shooting positions.

She was called into the Silver Ferns for the series against England in March last year.

She made her debut that year against Jamaica.

Tutaia says mental toughness was the biggest lesson at international level.

She credits her Diamonds coach, former Australia shooter Sue Hawkins, with improving her technique and encouraging her to pursue her natural style of turning and putting the ball up from anywhere in the circle. "It was hard with Jodi [Te Huna] being injured," she says of the Diamonds season.

"She was really the rock in our shooting circle. When she got injured I felt a lot pressure, people were expecting big things from me.

"I was a bit scared I would disappoint them. But I thought I rose to the occasion."


MARIA TUTAIA

Born: Tokoroa, February 18, 1987.
Height: 1.88m.
Positions: GS, GA.
Career highlights:
2005-2006: Silver Ferns.
2005-2006: Auckland Waitakere Diamonds.
2005: World champion under-21s.
2004-2005: Auckland/Waitakere NPC.


SHOOTING QUESTIONS AT THE GOAL SHOOT

1: What is the ring on your cellphone?
It's T.I. What you know about that.

2: Favourite book?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

3: Who is the tidiest Silver Fern?
Irene van Dyk.

4: The best-dressed?
Temepara George.

5: Your favourite item of clothing?
Jeans.

6: Favourite food?
Pork buns - a steamed bun filled with pork.

7: The Silver Ferns are on Survivor. Who wins?
Anna Scarlett, because she is so competitive, she always has an opinion and on those confession cameras she wouldn't hold back.

8: Who do you most like playing against?
Casey Williams or Anna Scarlett.

9: You're on Who wants to be a millionaire and have to phone a friend to help you out with a question. Which Silver Fern would you ring?
Belinda Colling.

10: Role model?
My parents.

11: Shoe size?
Ten.

12: If there was one thing people would be surprised to learn about Maria Tutaia what would it be?
That I love cars, particularly Ford Dodge Rams, that would be my dream car.

13: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Still playing netball. Hopefully a fashion designer. No kids though.

14: Where is your Commonwealth Games gold medal?
In my room, in my second drawer of my dressing table.