By SUZANNE McFADDEN
Nicolette Ropati has much in common with her netball idol, Rita Fatialofa.
They both play goal attack, and have both played netball for Samoa.
They have both represented New Zealand in softball, and their surnames alone are synonymous with sporting success.
And they share the same no-fear attitude, on the court or the diamond.
It was Fatialofa, one of the greatest attacking players in New Zealand netball history, who taught Ropati to be strong.
"Rita told me never to give in to anyone. I think it's the strongest part of my game now - having a go at everything, not being afraid of anyone," 18-year-old Ropati said.
A first cousin of the Ropati league brothers, she is starting to make a name for herself.
The seventh former at Auckland Girls Grammar School made the New Zealand netball squad in 2000 and tried out for the Silver Ferns.
While the netball fraternity were wowed by Ropati's flair and strength, it was nothing new to former Silver Fern Te Aroha Keenan.
Keenan, now assistant principal at Auckland Girls and New Zealand under-21 coach, spotted Ropati's talents when the player was a fourth former.
"I picked her out of the masses because she was an athlete. She was strong and had a very good jump. And she's a lovely girl too.
"When I first saw her I thought she looked like Rita. But Rita became very cunning on the court, and Nicolette hasn't got that side to her game yet."
Ropati is determined to get it. Asked what area of her game she wanted to improve this year, she said she wanted "to keep that private," to keep her rivals guessing.
She is already training with the Northern Force squad for the forthcoming Coca-Cola Cup - with her other netball idol Linda Vagana - and will train with the Silver Ferns squad this month.
She also starts training this year to become a phys-ed teacher. "Almost all netballers teach PE," she laughed.
In the past year, she has collected an armful of trophies - among them being named the Samoan junior sportswoman and Auckland schools' netballer and softballer of the year.
After playing softball for New Zealand at the under-19 World Cup, Ropati has decided to give the sport away and put netball first.
She wants to make the Silver Ferns this year but is wary of "speaking too soon."
Keenan says Ropati has the skills to get her to the top. "If she keeps doing the work, it will be soon."
Sports picks 2001: 'Never give in' key to Nicolette Ropati's success
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