Temu’s tough bubble choice: family or partner
Central Pulse defender Elle Temu had a tough choice at level four lockdown: join her parents’ or partner Isaiah Papali’i’s bubble.
In the end Temu’s mum Rachael made the call – and the Warriors league player got the nod over the Temu house which includes dad Jason who also played for the Warriors.
‘‘We trained every day together and it was probably the best thing for me, to be with him [Papali’i],’’ Temu said.
‘‘I had been struggling to decide whether to be with my parents but mum had the foresight to say my training would be better with Isaiah and being in his bubble was the better option. And honestly, now I’m feeling really good and just bursting to get going.’’
The cross-code couple bade a tearful farewell in Auckland on Sunday as Papali’i and the Warriors boarded the plane to Tamworth and their Australian base before the mooted resumption of the NRL on May 28.
Quite when netball’s ANZ Premiership will resume is unknown, but New Zealand’s potential move to Covid-19 level two next week will bring it a step closer.
Temu, 20, is into her second season after being part of the titlewinning Pulse squad last year. She feels ready and embraced valuable lessons during four weeks of intense trainings.
‘‘I’ve learnt that I can actually stick to training schedules which has definitely rubbed off from Isaiah because he’s a really good trainer and a very hard worker,’’ she said.
‘‘Just being with him all the time, I’d do what he was doing which involved constant pointers such as, ‘stretch more, eat better’, etc, etc.
‘‘That has been revealing and reinforced that I can do stuff, and have that self-control to eat properly and go and do a training session even though I don’t want to.
‘‘We trained every day together and it was probably the best thing for me, to be with him.’’
With Papali’i’s departure, Temu, who is one of four sisters, is now getting the best of both worlds, back at home with mum, dad Jason and younger sisters Brooklyn and Summer.
‘‘It was a weird goodbye because we don’t know when we’re going to see each other again,’’ she said.
‘‘It was tough after spending the previous five weeks constantly together. Everyone just wants to get back into playing and he is no different.
‘‘He was sad but couldn’t wait to get on the plane and hopefully be playing sometime soon.’’
Temu learned her craft at Mount Albert Grammar School where she made a careerenhancing shift from the shooting end to defence.
The 1.88m defender moved to Wellington to play for Central Manawa in the 2018 Beko Netball League and Temu continues to impress Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie.