Phoenix feels the fire burning

Phoenix Karaka has her sights set on the 2022 Commonwealth Games, but first she’s looking forward to playing for – and leading – the Northern Mystics this autumn.

The experienced defender didn’t get to do that as often as she would have liked in 2019, missing out on a large chunk of the ANZ Premiership season as she recovered from concussion.

While she was sidelined, Karaka had a chance to reflect on how she’d reacted when her partner, All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu, was previously in the same position.

‘‘He’d had a slight concussion before I had mine, and I was like, oh come on, toughen up,’’ she said.

‘‘Then when I actually had mine, I understood how bad a slight concussion could be.’’

Karaka was sidelined for six weeks, unable to help as the Mystics floundered on their way to a last-place finish, and reflecting on it a year later, she said it was a ‘‘pretty stressful time’’.

‘‘Physically my body was able to do things, but my mind would not allow me to. It taught me a lot about my resilience and how much I actually wanted to keep on playing netball.

‘‘It was definitely hard, because being the captain, you want to be able to be there for your team and support them, but some days I’d wake up and I just couldn’t get out of bed.

‘‘I’d like to say I’ve recovered. I had another concussion during the Constellation Cup last year, from a slight hit in the head. It’s uncontrollable really, but I think I’m on top of it.’’

After returning to the court with the Mystics at the end of last season, Karaka made the Silver Ferns squad for the Netball World Cup, and served as a backup defender as they came out on top.

In the matches the Ferns have played since – in the Constellation Cup against Australia last October, and at the Netball Nations Cup in January – she has stepped up to fill the hole left by Casey Kopua’s retirement and she wants to keep that going.

‘‘I want to solidify a starting she is desperate to add to that number in the years ahead.

‘‘The want to be a Silver Fern and to have a solid impact within the team – that desire is stronger than it has been in the past,’’ she said.

‘‘Obviously I’m maturing a little bit more and understanding that I’m on my way out, with all these young players coming up, so I’ve got to grab it while I’m still able to move around the court.

‘‘There’s healthy competition between all of us defensively and it’s really hard, because some people work well together (on the court) and some people don’t and it’s about being able to be versatile and work with whoever you are with on court, and that’s something that I’m really adjusting well to.’’

The Mystics begin their 2020 campaign today with an Auckland derby against the Northern Stars at Pulman Arena in the city’s south, shortly after the Mainland Tactix and Central Pulse get the season under way in Blenheim.