Future uncertain as resilient Rore leaves Central Pulse
A big question mark sits over Katrina Rore’s future in netball but one thing is for certain, she will not play for the Central Pulse in 2022.
The former Silver Fern defender confirmed to Stuff yesterday that leaving the ANZ Premiership team she spent 10 seasons with was ‘‘tough’’ but the right thing to do for her family.
‘‘I loved the growth and learnings I had [with the Pulse],’’ she said.
‘‘I’ve grown as a person and as a player. [There’s been] heaps of mistakes, highs and lows, but everyone supported me the whole way and accepted me as a true central local.’’
The 32-year-old captained the side to four Premiership finals and claimed back-to-back Premiership titles in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Those wins were a highlight for her, she said.
But it’s not the trophies she’ll miss the most.
‘‘I’ll miss all the players the most. I absolutely love seeing development players come through the system and make higher honours,’’ she said.
‘‘Also, I’ll miss the Wellington community. They’ve been amazing to me over the years.’’
She has been on maternity leave during the 2021 season. She made the call to leave the Pulse following the purchase of land in the Bay of Plenty. She and husband Joel are currently building a house. Her daughter LilyBud was born in May.
‘‘I absolutely love being a mum. It’s actually the best,’’ she said.
Rore is staying mum on whether she’ll make herself available for other ANZ championship teams in 2022, or for the Silver Ferns, who will be aiming for gold at next year’s Commonwealth Games at Birmingham.
‘‘All of that is a massive question mark,’’ she said.
Central Pulse CEO Fran Scholey said Rore gave 10 ‘‘incredible years’’ to the Pulse, and her ‘‘phenomenal’’ leadership would be missed.
‘‘She’s been through so much. Her resilience is second to none,’’ she said.
‘‘It’s just amazing if you track her career. I don’t think anyone will win an ANZ Premiership, a Suncorp Super Netball and be a world champion as well. It’s a phenomenal career she’s had.’’
Rore was part of the World Cupwinning Silver Ferns and NSW Swifts, along with the Pulse in 2019.
‘‘If she is to play for the [Waikato/ BOP] Magic, that leadership . . . she’ll be able to pass that on, if she decides,’’ she said.
Rore didn’t confirm whether other ANZ teams had been in touch.
Scholey said it wasn’t the case that the Pulse did not want Rore. The side would ‘‘100 per cent’’ have Rore back if she ever moved back to the capital.
‘‘It’s a no brainer,’’ Scholey said. ‘‘For her, the decision on where she’s playing is based on [family]. Her preference to play is near her home.
‘‘I understand that. We 100 per cent support her in whatever decision she makes.’’
Rore was one of two players to take maternity leave during the 2021 season, with Silver Fern Ameliaranne Ekenasio announcing her pregnancy in May following a break for mental health reasons.
‘‘They were doing what was right for their career. We support that. That’s their career path they are taking,’’ Scholey said.
‘‘It’s a change in circumstances. It’s a women’s sport thing. In male sports they don’t have pregnancies . . . they just deal with season injuries and that’s about it.’’
With the duo out for the season, Scholey said it had opened up more opportunities for other players to develop their skills. She confirmed the side was in a ‘‘rebuild’’ phase this year and in 2022 the focus was to ‘‘continue to build homegrown talent’’.