Rore wants to enjoy herself
In 2018, it seemed that nothing was going to go Katrina Rore’s way on a netball court.
She was captain of the Central Pulse as they let the ANZ Premiership slip from their grasp in the dying stages of the final; she was captain of the Silver Ferns as they suffered a historic loss to Malawi, then failed to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games; then come the end of the year, she was no longer in the Ferns at all.
But in 2019, all her lemons turned to lemonade.
The Pulse made it to the ANZ Premiership final for the third year in a row – and won. She made it back to the Silver Ferns, overcoming a calf injury that threatened to throw a spanner in the works. The Silver Ferns went to the Netball World Cup in England and won – with Rore starting – and excelling – at wing defence. Then to top it all off, she joined the New South Wales Swifts and won a Super Netball title as well.
Now that that rollercoaster ride is over, there’s a question that has to be asked: What has she got in store for 2020, which starts for her on Sunday, when the Pulse travel to Blenheim to face the Mainland Tactix in the opening match of the ANZ Premiership?
‘‘I have had that question a lot,’’ Rore said.
‘‘With 2019 being the way it was, and me being fortunate to be part of the teams I was in, and having such great support around me, going into 2020, I’m here to enjoy myself and see what I can get from myself and others around me and how much I can give back, and what other training I can do, and what balance I need.
‘‘It’s kind of about figuring out what more I can do, not just in netball, but in all aspects of life, and pretty much just being here to enjoy myself.’’
Looking back on the last two years, a more pleasant experience now than it was 12 months ago, Rore said she had learnt to accept that what will be will be.
‘‘Some people say you’ve got to go down to get back up, that you don’t realise what you’ve got
until it’s gone, then you work harder, but it made me realise that it happens and some things are completely out your control and you can’t change things.
‘‘Of course, there’s things I would change, but there are also things I wouldn’t change, because if I didn’t learn those things about myself, and about my netball career, and about how you need to balance life, then in 2019 would I have been as successful? Would I be the person I am today?
‘‘I never regret what I do as it’s made me who I am today and I’m in a space where I’m thoroughly enjoying my life. Life is full of so many ups and downs and I’m grateful to be able to live the life I do, because it’s pretty darn good.’’
Rore enjoyed a lengthy break over the summer, joining Laura Langman in sitting out as the Silver Ferns returned to England in January and won the Netball Nations Cup.
That has left her refreshed for the start of the ANZ Premiership, where the Pulse will have a target on their backs as the defending champions, a new-found status they are relishing.
‘‘It feels so great, coming [to the season launch] and standing on the stage holding the trophy and knowing that at the moment it belongs to us,’’ Rore said.
‘‘But that was last year, so you start again. We’ve got different players that have come in, and different strategies, and other teams have got a lot stronger.’’
‘‘It’s kind of about figuring out what more I can do, not just in netball, but in all aspects of life.’’ Katrina Rore