Ave Maria: Hunting a title and a ton
OH, GOD, I didn’t want to cry.’’ No. If Maria Tutaia has been known for anything during her fantastic netball career, it’s been her game face.
Good or bad, happy or sad, the Silver Ferns goal attack has made an art form of never betraying her emotions.
But as she prepared to play her 100th test for New Zealand, against Uganda in Sydney last night, Tutaia could keep things in check no longer.
If nothing else, it showed how much she cares about being a Silver Fern and why she’s held in such esteem by her team-mates.
‘‘It’s every little girl’s dream to put on the black dress, and be able to do it for my 100th time it’s just something so surreal. I’m very humbled and very proud and, obviously, very emotional,’’ Tutaia said, while using both hands to fan her eyes.
The 28-year-old’s family have arrived in Sydney, where they saw her become the fourth player to appear in 100 test matches for New Zealand, joining Lesley Rumball, Irene van Dyk and Laura Langman.
Just as important to Tutaia, was sharing the moment with her teammates. ‘‘I’ve had the best memories in my life with netball and I’ve spent so many birthdays with these girls. We’ve gone through so many highs and lows and to be able to gather all those memories together and put them all in a hundred-test cap package is something I will hold dear to my heart,’’ she said.
Tutaia made her debut against Jamaica, in Kingston, in November 2005. But her connection with present Silver Ferns Casey Kopua, Laura Langman, Katrina Grant and Grace Rasmussen goes back to their days in New Zealand’s team at the World Youth Cup in Fort Lauderdale.
‘‘She’s very much evolved since then,’’ a laughing Langman said. ‘‘She’s quite the fashion guru, unlike the wee Maria we met in our under-21 days. But she’s lovely inside and out and to reach 100 games is a great achievement . . . she’s a beautiful person.’’
And still very much the linchpin of New Zealand’s attack.
‘‘My job is to get the ball and, at goal keeper, you get to stand there and watch it happen and nine times out of 10 you know that ball’s going to go in,’’ Kopua said of playing with Tutaia.
‘‘It’s just the special person that she is. It doesn’t just happen either. She works at it and the more mature she’s got, the more she’s realised how good she actually is and she uses that to her advantage.’’
Former South Africa defender Leana de Bruin has already played 100 career tests. But she’s on track to bring up 100 for New Zealand tomorrow.
As much as these milestones are important, they’re not why the Silver Ferns are at the Netball World Cup.
Tutaia has taken great satisfaction from watching the team ‘‘silence a few people’’ after beating Australia.
It might have been streaked by the odd tear, but the game face had reemerged. Be warned everyone, Tutaia’s now on the hunt for a title to go with her ton.