Tuivaiti’s knee surgery will KO shot with T’birds
Prized Adelaide Thunderbirds recruit Cathrine Tuivaiti is unlikely to play in the next Australian Super Netball season because of a knee injury.
The Thunderbirds announced the signing of the former New Zealand and Samoan international Tuivaiti last Wednesday, five days after the goal shooter injured a knee in her last game for the Central Pulse.
Scans have since shown Tuivaiti ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament and requires a knee reconstruction.
Last week, the fiesty shooter told D’Arcy Waldegrave on Radio Sport she decided to sign in Australia after missing the Silver Ferns trials.
“Not being selected in the Silver Ferns isn’t very nice. I don’t even get a look in, which hurts even more.
“But it is something I can definitely live with.
“What disappoints the hell out of me is that I’ve had no communication, I’ve had no reasons [ for not being asked to trial].”
Netball New Zealand head of high performance Keir Hansen defended the organisation’s communication issues.
“We obviously try to communicate with our players as well as we possibly can, and make the standards that we’re looking for as clear as possible,” Hansen told Radio Sport.
“We’re always looking to improve, and if there’s things we can learn, then that’s great, but I’m also comfortable that our standards and expectations are communicated well.”
Tuivaiti, whose 95% shooting accuracy led this year’s ANZ Premiership, said Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby’s “off-court issues” explanation didn’t sit well with her.
“Reading that I have some off-court issues makes me out to be a bad guy,” said Tuivait.
“Yes, I have a foul mouth, but I’m a good person, and I do as much as I can for my teammates and for my country.
“I don’t know what that’s about, but I’m not happy about it.”
However, Hansen clarified that offcourt issues could have referred to Tuivaiti’s conditioning.
“When we talk about off-court things, we talk about things like your level of physical conditioning.
“We’re really clear on what standards are required for various positions to deliver at international level.”