PETERSON KEY TO PHOENIX’S RISE
NEW recruit Akayla Peterson says the Phoenix Fierce will lean on their experience to find success this season, despite being the newest club in Cairns Netball’s Senior Division 1 competition.
The talented defender will make her return to the local competition when the season starts next Wednesday, after spending the 2019 season with the Northern Rays in the Sapphire Series.
A former premiershipwinning player with Cairns Saints, Peterson was part of the club’s dominant 2016-18 era, which yielded three straight Senior Division 1 premierships.
Joining her at the Fierce will be former Saints teammates Wendy Stafford, Leah O’Brien and Jeda Nash.
Peterson said the players, who were also key members of Saints’ three-peat in 2016, 2017 and 2018, would boost the Fierce’s premiership credentials.
“We don’t have many young players and we are hoping that might be an advantage for us,” she said.
“Hopefully our knowledge and skills will override the younger ones.”
She insisted there was no bad blood with her old club.
“I still play for Saints AFL, so I have nothing bad to say about them at all,” she said.
“I love Saints as a club, but I just decided for something different this year.”
Peterson said Phoenix’s club goal — to be competitive, but to also have fun — aligned with her personal aspirations.
“Obviously you don’t go into a competition wanting to lose, you want to win, but you also want to enjoy it,” she said.
“I’ve played state league for the last four years.
“It will be good to take that step back and just concentrate on playing as best as I can in the local competition.”
Peterson said she couldn’t wait to take the court in next Wednesday’s season opener.
“I didn’t know if we’d actually be able to start up again this year, so it’s always good to get back into it,” she said.