Midcourt co-captain Salote Taufa is adding a touch of international experience with her return to the Central Manawa line-up for this year's Synergy Hair Netball League (NNL).
Taufa has been a stalwart of the team in recent years, playing in six campaigns during that time and at 24, puts herself in the veteran's category alongside her current crop of young team-mates.Experiencing the biggest moment of her career in 2023 when representing Tonga at that year's Netball World Cup in South Africa, while also helping Manawa win their fifth NNL title, Taufa stepped back last year to concentrate on her career outside of netball.
"I played a bit of club but I mostly wanted to focus on my career as a Case Manager at Work and Income," she said.
"I went to World Cup and played NNL, so it was super hectic. And that's when I started the new job as well as being a Case Manager which is why I took a break last season.
"I wasn't at my new job for nearly three months because I was playing netball and when I came back no one knew who I was because I'd been gone for that long."
Qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, Tonga made a sizeable impression when finishing eighth of the 16 competing nations, Taufa revelling in the experience.
"Coming eighth in the world was incredible, especially since we're such a small country," she said.
"Out of all the countries in the world that play netball, to come eighth, it was super special. Playing alongside greats like Mo'onia Gerrard (former Australian Diamond) and Cat Latu (Tuivaiti, former Silver Fern), it was unreal.
"I'd love to play for Tonga again, hopefully, I've got another World Cup cycle in me,’’
After a first-up loss, Manawa bounced back with a last-gasp two-goal win over defending champions the Comets to put a spring in their step for Sunday's clash against the Southern Blast in Invercargill.
"After our first-up loss, it was a bit of a reality check and we needed to look at what we were doing throughout the week, our intensity at training and what-not, had some good honest conversations around that and fixed a few things, came up with a win, so it's only about building from here," Taufa said
"With this season's format, it's really do-or-die. There's only five games (one round), this (Blast) is our third one and we've got to win convincingly to get higher up on the points table.
"There's a lot of pressure when you think about the bigger picture but we focus a lot on doing our own jobs and the processes, so if we stick to that we'll get the outcome."
Surrounded by plenty of youthful buzz and humour, Taufa couldn't have been prouder when named co-captain of the Manawa team which has meant so much to her over the years.
"I got a bit teary-eyed when our coach announced it," she said.
"It's such a privilege and honour when reflecting on our history and the success we've had and the great captains that have led this team. To be part of that is really special, so I'm trying to steward this well for the team and for our legacy."