‘Be myself and be my best’
Seven years after her lone international appearance, Sulu Fitzpatrick is back in the Silver Ferns and following a simple mantra.
‘‘Be myself and be my best,’’ she said, when asked what she hoped to bring to the team for the Constellation Cup against Australia, which starts tomorrow in Brisbane.
‘‘That’s the main thing, because we all bring different things. The key is not to try to be the same as anyone else, but just be ourselves, because that’s why we’re here.
‘‘[Coach Noeline Taurua] believes in us, so we’ve got to show that and then some.’’
Fitzpatrick is one of three new faces Taurua has introduced for these four tests against Australia – two across the Tasman, then two back home – joining shooter Maia Wilson and uncapped wing attack Erikana Pedersen.
The 26-year-old defender previously played for Taurua at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in 2011 – when she made her Silver Ferns debut – and 2012, and is excited to be back under the former Fern’s wing.
‘‘I love her. I think she’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever met. Different, but good different,’’ Fitzpatrick said.
‘‘I’m still scared of her, but in a good way – excited scared, because you never know what she’s going to come up with, but you always know she has a reason for everything she does.’’
Since breaking through in 2011, Fitzpatrick has had an up-and-down career. There were times when she contemplated retirement, but last year, she made the decision to join the Central Pulse – her fifth national premiership franchise – in 2018, even though it meant moving from Auckland to Wellington and leaving her 4-year-old twins and partner behind.
With her selection this week, Fitzpatrick’s sacrifice has paid off, and as she prepares to pull on the black dress for a second time, it’s clear she has grown plenty over the past seven years.
‘‘I think I was very blessed to get that opportunity so early, but myself mentally, I wasn’t quite there,’’ she said this week.
‘‘I definitely took it for granted and didn’t realise the amount of support backing to me to get that opportunity and wasted it.
‘‘I think this time, there’s a lot more perspective on being grateful and knowing that a lot of people don’t get this opportunity.’’
In selecting Fitzpatrick, Taurua pointed to her ability to provide a physical presence in defence, always important against a tough Australian outfit, and to the combination she formed with Katrina Grant – the Ferns’ vice-captain – during the premiership season.
Together, they played big roles as the Pulse put together an impressive campaign and Fitzpatrick feels they work well together.
‘‘There’s people that you combine well with and it’s about balance. The way that she plays, it complements myself – she does all the running, I do a lot of the talking, and we balance each other in that respect.’’
After the test in Brisbane, the Constellation Cup continues in Townsville on Wednesday, Hamilton next Sunday, and Wellington the Thursday after that.
The Silver Ferns have lost their last seven tests against Australia.
Silver Ferns Constellation Cup squad: Gina Crampton, Aliyah Dunn,