In a new leadership role, Phoenix Karaka is realistic, but positive, the Silver Ferns are on the comeback after their worst Netball World Cup finish, ahead of two more clashes with the world No.1 Diamonds.
“It could be worse.”
That's defender Phoenix Karaka’s honest reflection on the Silver Ferns' opening two losses in the Constellation Cup.
The world champion Australian Diamonds took out the first test by 10 goals, and the second by nine; boosting their confidence with two games to go - the first of the New Zealand leg in Invercargill on Thursday night.
Karaka is down-to-earth about the Ferns' performance in the series so far, and how her team feels.
“We're obviously gutted about those two losses and, I think, also with the margins,” she reflects.
“But the fact that we’ve still got two more games to, not prove to ourselves, but to put out a better performance is always an exciting thing,” she says.
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The Ferns had come straight from a 2-1 victory in the Taini Jamison series against England. But Karaka says meeting the world number one and World Cup holders is a wildly different experience from an under-strength Roses.
“It was definitely a huge difference in speed, and pace of game,” she says. “The Diamonds are obviously a lot more clinical in holding onto the ball than what we’ve played against earlier on [against England], but they’re also defensively very physical.”
Karaka says the constant physicality of the Diamonds took a while for her side to adjust to.
“But saying that, we could have lost by about 20 or 15 from the shock of the physicality. So I think we’ve done pretty good considering," she says.
With the Constellation Cup technically still in the balance, the Ferns would have to win the final two games, and win them by a combined total of 20 points, to bring home the trophy.
“Considering the results, the environment feels good still,” the champion Mystics defender says.
The Silver Ferns have only won the Constellation Cup twice, in 2012 and 2021. The series was tied 2-2 last year, but Australia took home the spoils, scoring seven more goals than the Kiwis throughout the series.
Since coming off their worst finish at a Netball World Cup - ending up fourth in Cape Town in August - the Ferns have had a few personnel changes. Experienced midcourter Gina Crampton and shooter Te Paea Selby-Ricki were unavailable. Fellow shooter Grace Nweke is only returning to full fitness after injuring her knee during the World Cup, and played two quarters against the Diamonds in the second test in Brisbane last weekend.
Karaka says regrouping after the tournament felt like the Silver Ferns were in an unknown space.
“But I think it was really exciting and a new opportunity for us to grow,” she says. “So in a way, we’re rebuilding but also it’s nice to have the new faces and the new voices, because we’re having to think about other things and it’s not just the same-old.
“We can have a fresh start and I think that’s always exciting when the new cycle rolls over.”
Karaka was named vice-captain for the Ferns, leading in these two series alongside Ameliaranne Ekenasio. The step-up to a formal leadership position doesn’t feel too different for the 63-cap Silver Fern.
“I love that there’s no real high expectations for me to be any different, I just need to be the same person I was before, with just some added meetings and things like that,” she explains.
“It’s really easy when you’ve got a group of ladies who lead themselves, so it’s nice to be able to be in that space but to help support Ameliaranne.
“There’s a lot of learning for me as well in that space, in terms of now I’ve really got to pick up on the small things I really wasn’t that great at. But that’s a good place for me to be in, because I’ve obviously got to keep learning, keep growing.”
The Ferns still have a strong defensive end, with coach Dame Noeline Taurua cycling through various combinations involving Karaka, Jane Watson, Karin Burger and Kelly Jury.
“I enjoy the fact that we can rotate, because we all offer very different things and very different styles of play,” Karaka says.
“Also the way we create ball in the combinations we have, that go out on court, offer different things as well. So individually we offer different things, but as combos, you won’t get the same thing - so that’s exciting.
“And we’ve all got quite reasonable experience against Australia, so that’s a good thing as well.”
The third match in the Constellation Cup will be played in Invercargill on Thursday night at the Robyn Broughton Stadium.
ILT Stadium Southland is being re-named for the occasion, after Broughton’s death in September.
Broughton coached the Southern Sting between 1998 and 2007 in the National Bank Cup, leading them to seven titles, and continued her coaching with the Steel in the ANZ Championship. She also spent four seasons at the Pulse, from 2012 to 2015.
Karaka played for both the Steel and Pulse in her domestic career, but missed Broughton at both franchises. Since few of the Ferns have been coached by Broughton, they had dinner with Wendy Frew, who spent her whole career in Southland with Broughton. Frew was able to share stories of what Broughton was like as a coach, but also as a person and connect the Ferns with the memory of a legend of Southland netball.
“It’s an honour to be able to dedicate this to her cause she has had so much influence in the netball space,” Karaka says.
Being able to honour Broughton but also be back where her netball career started (her first contract was with the Steel from 2013 to 2015) is special for Karaka, especially with her partner, All Black Patrick Tuipulotu, and their baby Pāma in the stadium tonight.
Pāma turns three in December, and Karaka is enjoying being able to leave her with Tuipulotu when she’s busy with netball.
“It’s been nice actually to have my partner back home, after he was playing in Japan last year,” Karaka says. (Blues captain Tuipulotu missed out on All Blacks selection for this Rugby World Cup).
“It makes my life easier, especially on tour, when he’s at home being a dad. I think that’s also quite a nice thing for him to have that opportunity to just be a dad, and not an athlete and a dad.
“So it’s not been hard at all for me. I’m very lucky with the support I have.”
*The Constellation Cup continues tonight, with coverage live from 7pm on Sky Sport 1, or free-to-air on Sky Open. The series concludes on Monday in Auckland, at 3.30pm.
