Townsville move pays off for pair
A DECISION to pack their packs and start a new chapter in Townsville may be the best decision Brooke Williams and Sione Lousi ever made.
The recently engaged couple are forging their sporting careers in Townsville, with Brooke a member of the inaugural Northern Rays netball team and Lousi a front row enforcer for the Townsville Blackhawks.
The year looms as a big one for the New Zealandborn pair, who moved from Auckland to Townsville at the end of 2016 when Lousi joined the Blackhawks from NRL club the New Zealand Warriors.
Williams will not only play a crucial role in the Rays’ State Netball campaign, she will play for Samoa at this year’s Netball World Cup.
And Lousi is part of a Blackhawks team that is ranked among the premiership favourites in this year’s Queensland Cup.
The pressure will be on the pair during another demanding season but Williams and Lousi will be supporting each other all the way.
“We’re both pretty clinical of each other,” Williams said with a laugh.
“Which I think is good. He comes to all my Highlanders games in the local netball competition and he’s definitely learned the game.
“The last couple of years we’ve just been living year by year, and I’m sort of following him at the moment because this is his opportunity and it’s been a great move.”
Lousi proposed to Williams on the Great Wall of China in November last year.
The hulking Blackhawks prop said his fiancee was the bedrock of his career and glows with pride when talking about her achievements in netball.
“She’s always been a great netball player back home and there was a big pool of players to choose from in Auckland,” Lousi said.
“She came here and is now enjoying herself at Highlanders and they’re a family club who have been very welcoming to myself and her.
“We just be honest with each other and that really helps us keep improving with our sport.” Williams, who works as a physiotherapist, said she came to Townsville not knowing if she would continue playing netball.
“When I came over I just thought I was done with netball to be honest, it was just a way to meet people,” she said.
“I knew no one except for Sione when we came over, so we just went to Murray netball centre and asked for a team to join.
“I’ve been with Highlanders ever since and opportunities just kept coming. Now I’m with the Rays and I’m excited about the new competition and it’s giving North Queensland a chance to play against the top teams.”
Williams will be supporting Lousi when the Blackhawks take on the Burleigh Bears tomorrow afternoon.
“She’s been amazing,” Lousi said.