Pulse stopped new Ferns skipper walking away
Silver Ferns star Ameliaranne Ekenasio has revealed she almost walked away from netball in 2014. Bundaberg-born Ekenasio, then known by her maiden name Wells, had fallen out of love with the sport, stuck behind Jamaican shooting sensation Romelda Aiken and Amy Wild at her hometown Queensland Firebirds in Australia.
Following the 2014 trans-Tasman season, she was on the verge of chucking in netball and travelling overseas, until a contract offer from the Wellington-based Central Pulse changed everything.
Six years on, Ekenasio, who has a New Zealand father and Nga¯ puhi heritage, is netball royalty.
She was brilliant for the Ferns at last year’s Netball World Cup, where New Zealand snapped a 16 year drought to win the title. The 29-year-old has locked down the starting goal attack position and received the ultimate honour this month, being named the 27th Silver Ferns captain for the Nations Cup in England.
‘‘I was going to stop playing netball and go travelling,’’ Ekenasio told Stuff about her 2014 recollections.
‘‘That was the plan. I definitely needed a change and I wasn’t sure if netball was for me anymore.’’
A netball friend of Ekenasio’s reached out to the Kiwi teams to gauge whether there might be an opportunity and the Pulse, then coached by Robyn Broughton, snapped her up.
With Silver Ferns shooting legend Irene van Dyk and fellow veteran Jodi Brown in the Pulse attacking end, there were no guarantees of court time.
The possibility of one day breaking into the Silver Ferns was the last thing on Ekenasio’s mind. Her major focus was enjoying her netball again and a fresh start.
‘‘I kind of didn’t really know what I was coming over to and kind of just took a leap of faith.
‘‘It all really changed the direction of my career. I’m pretty lucky I came over. It was a really big moment in my life.
‘‘I think I was a different person five years ago.’’
Ekenasio debuted for the Ferns in October 2014 against Australia, but the following years were characterised by twists and turns at international level.
She wasn’t selected for the 2015 World Cup and was in and out of the squad, struggling to cement herself in the starting seven.
In June 2017, she gave birth to son Ocean, and upon returning to the court had a different appreciation for the game, not sweating the small stuff.
Ekenasio credits the first game in
Noeline Taurua’s coaching tenure in September 2018 as a watershed moment in her Ferns career.
The Ferns made a rocky beginning to the Taurua era, losing to England at Auckland’s Spark Arena, with Ekenasio producing her worst performance in the black dress.
Handed a starting spot, she landed just 10 from 18 and was hauled off the court in the second quarter. She didn’t play in the remainder of the 2018 Quad
‘‘I definitely needed a change and I wasn’t sure if netball was for me anymore.’’
Ameliaranne Ekenasio
Series and was dropped for the Constellation Cup against Australia.
Ekenasio carried out plenty of soul-searching and knew she needed to be honest with herself and her team-mates. ‘‘I definitely remember that game in 2018 and that was a turning point for me. I remember never wanting to go back there again.
‘‘For me the biggest thing was being able to be vulnerable with my teammates and I addressed a lot of things in a really open situation.
‘‘I put my heart and soul out on the table and that really turned it around for me.’’
Last January’s Northern Quad Series shaped as a critical tournament for Ekenasio’s World Cup hopes. She thrived in the shooting end alongside the now retired Maria Folau, and hasn’t looked back.
Ekenasio was crucial to the Ferns’ success at the World Cup, teaming up effectively with Folau, and converting crunch goals in the close semifinal and final victories.
In the 52-51 upset final win over Australia, she landed 24/26 and the Ferns’ last three goals as the Diamonds threatened.
With usual captain Laura Langman sitting out the Nations Cup tournament in England, where the Ferns have beaten England and Jamaica in their opening two games, Ekenasio has taken over the leadership duties.
Having never previously captained a netball side, it was a shock when Taurua informed her she’d been voted in by her peers, management and leading Netball New Zealand officials.
Ekenasio, named Silver Ferns Player of the Year at last year’s New Zealand
Netball Awards, draws on her maternal instincts as captain. Caring for her team-mates and their wellbeing is important, but she isn’t afraid to show tough love, just like with her son.
Having been part of unhappy Silver Ferns sides and the failed 2018 Commonwealth Games squad, she was determined to foster a positive culture and one where everyone was valued.
‘‘I’ve been on the other side where it’s been really horrible and I’ve really not enjoyed this environment.
‘‘To now be on the flipside, I really want to make sure this is special and we keep it like this. This is the way it should be and this is what I want to create.’’
The Ferns play South Africa in their last Nations Cup round game at London’s Copper Box Arena tomorrow (3.30am NZ time) with the final set for Monday (6am NZ time).