Kopua’s key piece of advice

By Stephanie Smarrelli
 

“They call me a bit of a freak.” 

Those are the words of former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua. 

The 40-year-old had long been retired from netball when she said yes to a call up to replace injured GIANTS defender Jodi-Ann Ward. 

The Kiwi legend, who retired from international netball six years ago with a World Cup gold medal around her neck, never expected to return, let alone in Australia's elite league. 

So when GIANTS coach Julie Fitzgerald texted her to ask if she would be open to playing, Kopua thought it was some kind of joke.  

“I thought she’d give me a phone call if it was serious not a text,” Kopua said. 

“I sent about six messages in a row asking if it could work, how it would work and was she serious.  
 
“I never would have said yes or shown interest if I wasn’t keen or thought it would never work.”  

 
A mum of three, Kopua’s family were excited but stunned when she broke the news to them. 

“They call me a bit of a freak,” she said. 

“They know I'm very stubborn and I'll make it work, even if I'm dying on the court.” 
 
With her family’s support, the star defender has managed to return to the elite netball world, balancing her time between Australia and her family’s farm outside of Hamilton in New Zealand. 

The defender usually spends five days in Australia and two in New Zealand but heading into Round 13 she was able to spend some more time in NZ flying in Saturday before the team’s Sunday match against Fever. 

"That was one of the main things I was a bit worried about flying,” she said. 

“But I am a very good sleeper, so whenever I can I sleep on the plane. 

“And when I land, there's no time to worry about whether I'm tired or sore.  

“I get into training and get amongst it with the girls to make the most of the five days with them.” 

Kopua credits being able to juggle it all to the support of those closest to her. 

“I have a lovely husband who has been very helpful,” she said. 

“I could never commit to professional netball full time with three kids, that's a bit unrealistic but for the short moment he's been outstanding, very flexible and helps. 

“My mum, my sisters and my brother all live in the same town, the village has come back into action helping out.”  

Kopua’s kids even joined her on a trip to Sydney to watch her play and experience travelling overseas.  

“They want to go back and move to Australia,” she said.  

“I can't do that; there's not enough grass over there for me.” 

Since retiring, Kopua’s been anything but idle.  
 
She’s established herself in both full time and part time jobs, she coaches the school netball team and her kids’ rugby teams. 

Putting it all on pause to play in Australia was a massive decision, but there was one person she kept in mind when making the call. 

“My dad, he passed away in March,” she said. 

“It’s been quite a positive mindset change for me; it’s a real opportunity to do something I love. 

“I feel rejuvenated again.”  
 
The allure of playing SSN was always there for Kopua. 

“While playing for New Zealand you couldn't do that,” she said. 

 
“I always was interested in how the other side works.  
 
“Australia is one of the top competitors in the world, I wanted to experience how their competition works and to get a taste of playing with the Australians instead of against them all the time.” 

For the 40-year-old, stepping back onto the court has come with its challenges physically and mentally. 

When the announcement was made her inbox was filled with opinions from the public, something she had forgotten about over the years. 

“I received a lot of positive messages,” Kopua said. 

“But those negative messages, in the beginning they play on your mind. 
 
“They make you doubt what you're doing but after speaking with my husband...I turned those messages into fuel to go and prove them all wrong.”  

Some critics claimed Kopua was blocking the pathway for a younger athlete, but those messages are only looking at one side of the equation. 

And it’s a conversation Kopua and Fitzgerald had when she came on board. 

“I don't want to block the pathway, I want to help the pathway,” Kopua said. 

“I'm there to help the younger ones but they're also teaching me stuff, which is really cool at this age.” 

She’s built strong relationships with a few young GIANTS, particularly fellow defender Erin O’Brien. 

“I feel like we've played together for ages, she's very easy to work with,” she said. 

“I’ve told her, all I'm trying to do is help her and set her up to get balls, we work together cause the Aussies play quite a tight man-on-man style, whereas in New Zealand we only have patches of it. 

“I’ve reminded her the shooter can't shoot outside the circle, so don't go chasing her, meet her elsewhere rather than running around so her effort is efficient, and she can be in the right spot at the right time.”  

The other player she’s gelled with instantly? 
 
“Amy Sligar, I feel like I’ve played with them the whole preseason.” 

Despite looking sharp on court, the netball veteran feels how her body has changed since her playing days. 
 
"There's a lot the mind can see but the body is slow to get to,” she said. 

“You have to be very selective and very efficient with your efforts and movements.” 

Another learning curve for Kopua has been adjusting to the Super Shot. 

“I’ve never played with the two-point shot, so every game, every training is a learning for me," she said. 

“You've got to fill that space because you don't want them to be in there. 

“Usually when they're being fed, you're trying to push them out so they're further away from the post but it's the complete opposite where you want to get them into the one-point zone. 

"Every time I hear the sound go off, it’s a reminder to switch to pushing to the post not away from the post.”  

Reunited with former teammates Jo Harten and Jamie-Lee Price, Kopua is enjoying being around some familiar faces. 

“It feels like home with them,” she said. 

“Jamie-Lee used to live with me in New Zealand, when she was like 18 and now, she’s one of the GIANTS’ captains.  

“They've both grown and matured, they have a good time, work hard, and want to do what's best for the GIANTS, that’s what I love about it.”  

Reminiscing on living with a young Price brought back some funny memories for Kopua. 

“A long time ago, the ‘tortilla slap’ challenge was a thing, you’d fill your mouth up with water and slap your friend with a tortilla,” she said. 

“We made some pancakes and decided to try it. 

“It was so funny, we never uploaded it anywhere because that didn’t happen back then.” 

Twenty years on from her debut with the Silver Ferns, there’s one piece of advice the former captain wants to leave the next generation of netballers with. 

“Keep doing the stuff behind the scenes that no one sees because it makes a real difference when you are at training or on the court.” 



Personal images provided by Casey Kopua