Tairi out for season in another blow to Magic

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic have been served another bitter injury blow, with midcourter Courtney Tairi to miss the rest of the Trans-Tasman Netball League season.

Scans yesterday confirmed Tairi had ruptured her left Achilles tendon, the 26-year-old suffering the injury in the fourth quarter of the Magic’s openinground 45-44 win over the Thunderbirds in Adelaide on Sunday.

Tairi was assisted from the court, able to hobble to the bench and, unusually for an Achilles injury, did not show much pain, actually smiling several times while on the floor and during the remainder of the match.

But the outcome is devastating news for the three-cap Silver Fern, who is in

Courtney Tairi will miss the rest of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic’s season after rupturing her Achilles tendon in their round one win over the Thunderbirds on Sunday. her second season at the Magic following two years at the Southern Steel and three at the NSW Swifts before that.

Tairi, who had been named this season’s vice-captain, is no stranger to serious injuries, having torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee in 2012, after doing the same to her left knee in 2007.

‘‘I’m absolutely gutted to be out for the season,’’ Tairi said.

‘‘I was really looking to build on the great season I had with the Magic last year.

‘‘But that’s sport and I have no doubt the team will handle this setback, just as well as they’ve handled the other injuries we’re managing at the moment.

‘‘I’ll be giving the girls my full support and passing on as much knowledge as I can from the sidelines.’’

The Magic are already without usual captain Casey Kopua for at least the initial rounds of the competition as she recovers from her knee injury, while fellow defender Kelly Jury is coming back from a ruptured Achilles of her own.

Tairi, who will undergo surgery on Thursday, was a constant at centre for the Magic, albeit often without a heavy presence on the game. Youngster Sam Sinclair is set to step into the middle and will provide more than decent cover, while coach Julie Fitzgerald will consider who to bring into the squad as a replacement.

‘‘I really feel for Courtney and what she’s having to come to terms with right now,’’ Fitzgerald said.

‘‘But we have such a strong team culture and bond, and we’ll make sure she gets all the support she needs. Her contribution to this team is invaluable both on and off court, and we’ll continue to use her leadership.

‘‘We seem to be having more than our share of injuries at present but we can’t control that or dwell on it.

‘‘What we can control is how we react and we’ll be even more determined to play hard for our injured players.’’

The Magic play the NSW Swifts at Mt Maunganui next Monday night, with the Swifts coming off a 68-62 win over the Southern Steel in Invercargill on Sunday night.

aaron.goile@fairfaxmedia.co.nz