Return to pro ranks changes outlook
Netball is more about having fun now for Southern Steel defender Abby Lawson.
The defender is back in Steel colours after a three-year hiatus and boasting a new surname after marrying husband Chris Lawson last year.
Her play at times might look unconventional or unusual but it does wonders when it comes to winning her turnovers and possession on the court.
For many of the Steel fans, her name change [from Erwood] is taking some getting used to,“Lawson said.
“But it has also been a blessing in disguise because it has helped me to come into this season and be completely fresh as a Lawson.
“It’s kind of like I’ve put everything behind me and it’s a whole new person starting my career,” she said.
Erwood brought welcome experience as the team went through a difficult stretch. She had played more than 50 premiership matches, a few of those in the yellow of the Central Pulse, but now she was back donning the pink.
“I got to play for New Zealand with my twin sister Sophie [Erwood] and notch up 50 games for the Steel – but now we get to see what the Lawson name does.”
After five seasons with the Steel, including two ANZ Premiership titles in 2017 and 2018, she headed north and in 2021 stepped away from the professional side.
Outside of netball, her passion was farming and she had been able to do work as a shepherd on a farm near Wānaka.
“Farming is a lifestyle. Every day is never the same and that’s what I love about it,” she said. “Having those years off professional netball and living in Wānaka was great. I just played club netball again and I absolutely loved it.”
Lawson played for the Steel’s Southern Blast team in last year’s Synergy Hair Netball League, and then a phone call came from Steel coach Reinga Bloxham.
“It was never really in my mind to chase a Steel contract. I wanted to have fun and that’s what I did. I played some good netball for that reason,” she said.
“When Steel popped up, I was in two minds as to whether it was what I wanted back in my life but decided if I was going to do it, I was going to go in guns blazing.”
There were nerves when she returned to the set-up in January, but now she had been back on court, it was like she never left.
“My mindset going into this season, even though I am a contracted player, is just to have fun and not think about the potential pressure on my shoulders. It’s just another game of netball that I am honoured to play,” Lawson said.
Netball could finish for her at any stage, so she was enjoying every game as they came, she said.
“It’s quite nice to go back to the farm or chat to Chris who has no interest whatsoever in netball. He just knows if we’ve won or lost but couldn’t tell me about the game,” she chuckled.
Lawson was hoping Saturday’s clash against the Stars would be the one that ended the Steel’s 21-game losing streak.
“In our opening game, I just knew in my heart that we could do way better. We’ve got the belief, we just need to put it into a game for 60 minutes to get the result that we’re almost trying too hard to strive for.”
Lawson was confident a parochial home crowd would prove an edge against a Stars side, also winless.