By Matt Fotia
Tyler Orr, like many young talented netballers has been waiting patiently in the wings.
The 24-year-old mid courter has spent the last four seasons watching on from the sidelines, as the Adelaide Thunderbirds have gone from competition easybeats to undisputed champions.
Throughout her four-year stint on the fringes of the Thunderbirds set up, Orr has thought multiple times about leaving these shores and exploring other netball avenues, but the timing never felt right.
The timing is finally right.
Orr has signed with the London Pulse ahead of the 2025 Netball Super League season, a club she has inadvertently followed from afar.
“I’ve thought about it (overseas netball) a lot over the past few years,” Orr said.
“My agent mentioned it was the London Pulse, who were one of the only teams I’d ever really thought about.
“I’ve seen a few girls go there, and it just looked like they had the best time, so I think it was a coincidence it was the Pulse who reached out.”
Orr was taken by the immediate connection she felt with the London side’s Head Coach and CEO Sam Bird, who impressed Orr with her empathetic and patient approach to recruiting during their brief online encounter, leaving Tyler and her crew time to make an informed decision.
“I clicked with Sam straight away,” Orr explained.
“She let me know what they had to offer, gave me an indication of what next year would look like, then allowed me some time to get my head straight and I was very grateful for that.
“Then my agent did heaps of hard work to try and figure out what my best option was.
“We didn’t know where all the puzzle pieces fit in Adelaide, so rather than risking it and trying to work my way in around here, I decided to accept the contract.”
Orr has been a part of the Thunderbirds set up for four years.Orr was understandably excited to have finally taken the leap and was looking forward to making the step up to a full-time list spot, in London of all places, but with the Thunderbirds still well entrenched in the SSN premiership race, she chose to keep her personal news locked away.
“I didn’t want it to be about me and what I was doing next year,” Orr said.
“I kept it on the down low and made sure I had a real team first attitude.
“It was hard to keep it from some of my closest friends, but they had a job to do.”
There is a school of thought that Orr may have committed to the Pulse too soon.
Veteran midcourter Laura Scherian was all but guaranteed to retire at the end of the SSN season, and on paper at least, Orr was the obvious mid court replacement.
Eventually the Thunderbirds final list spot was taken by up-and-coming attacker Kayla Graham.
The possibility she may have been Scherian’s replacement has crossed Orr’s mind, but she remains content with her decision making, citing a holistic approach to her English move.
“It was something which played on my mind, but I considered it and the fact they couldn’t guarantee me a spot really confirmed it was time for me to look at other options,” Orr stated.
“I’m a huge believer that if you keep doing the same things, you’re going to get the same outcomes.
“Although it could’ve potentially been me grabbing the 10th contract spot, I’m still super content with my decision to go.
“Not only my netball, but also my growth as a person as well.”
Orr has done plenty of growing since her last professional match of course.
Fresh out of the underage system, Orr was called up by Collingwood in 2020 to join them as a replacement player in the Covid-Hub.
Four years later, Orr believes she is a much more complete player then the player who took the court in 2020, having developed her game with both the Thunderbirds and her South Australian Premier League side, the Matrics.
“I look back at photos now and I just didn’t have the strength and power you need at the elite level,” Orr explained.
“I’ve advanced, physically, technically and tactically.
“Something I’ve been lucky enough to do in the training partner environment over the last few years is learn a new position in wing attack and add to my craft.
“I’ll head over to London and feel super confident in my abilities to step out on court.”
Orr is joining a club on the rise.
The Pulse have been around the mark over the past two seasons, losing the 2023 Grand Final to the Loughborough Lightning before finishing third in 2024. The club is also home to international stars Funmi Fadoju, Nichole Breedt (nee Taljaard) and Liv Tchine.
Orr is hopeful she can harness her experience in the Thunderbirds setup and contribute to the Pulse’s development.
“I’m hoping it will be similar to an SSN environment,” Orr said.
“It’s (the NSL) moving towards a more professional dynamic, and I think it’s cool to be a part of that shift.
“Having been a part of a full-time environment as the 11th player with the Thunderbirds this year, I have an insight into what it looks like and hopefully I can bring some experience and guide some of the girls who have never been a part of something like this.
“Obviously you just want to play your role and not step on anyone’s toes, but I still want to contribute to the team any way I can.”
On court Orr will be play in her natural position of centre and is excited to adapt her game to the English style of play.
“The thing I really like about the English dynamic is it’s really fast paced,” Orr stated.
“They aren’t afraid to throw a ball in from off the circle edge and their shooters are a bit more dynamic.
“It’s going to be really interesting to play in a more open style of play.”
All in all, the entire experience will be an eye-opener for the Moana product, who will keep herself fit in Australia for the remainder of 2024 before trading the sweltering South Australian sun for London chill in January.
Orr made her SSN debut for Collingwood in 2020.She isn’t alone in making the move, with several Australians, like fellow South Australian Chelsea Blackman, also switching hemispheres for the 2025 season.
“There has been a fair few of us Australians who have jumped ship this year, and I think it’s amazing and it has made me feel a lot more comfortable with my decision,” Orr explained.
“The SSN is so competitive with only 80 spots and no limits on internationals, so girls in my position are looking for any chance to get some recognition and have an opportunity to show coaches we are capable.
“Hopefully it inspires other girls to keep going, keep at it and the opportunities will come.
“It’ll be pretty cool to tell my kids one day I was able to move across the world to play the sport I love.”
