From retirement to grand final centre of attention
Erikana Pedersen was preparing for fulltime work in a new job and club netball in Auckland until a call from Wai Taumaunu changed everything.
The Central Pulse midcourter will take the court in her third straight grand final against the Stars tomorrow – a sight she never envisaged at the start of the year.
Retiring from elite netball at 27, Pedersen was ready for a fresh chapter, focusing on her career.
She started at Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) in September as a sports operations co-ordinator and was eyeing club netball with Westlake in the North Harbour premier competition.
‘‘I think it was Jan-Feb, I was saying to my friends ‘I’m really excited to watch the ANZ [Premiership] for once on the couch with a platter in front of me’,’’ Pedersen said.
A call from Pulse specialist coach Taumaunu, the former Silver Ferns coach and captain, quickly sent her from watching to playing. With Silver Ferns midcourter Maddy Gordon missing the start of the season with a knee injury, the
Pulse were in need of an experienced replacement.
As Pedersen puts it: ‘‘Just probably because it was her, I couldn’t say no’’.
The decision has worked out well with Pedersen loving every minute with the Pulse, who will be looking to win their third title with the last coming in 2020.
This will almost certainly be the 104th and final national league game of a decade-long career which started with her hometown Mystics in 2013.
Pedersen, who has done about 25 hours of part-time work remotely each week, will return to the DFSNZ office for the first time next week.
She will also link up with her Westlake club team, which she thought would be her only form of netball this year.
‘‘Wai said ‘‘we’ve got an injury and need you to come in and play centre’ and I remember saying, ‘For what team?’, because I just did not think Pulse would have wanted me I guess. I was very, very shocked. I hung up the phone and had a little think about it.’’
Pedersen, who has mostly been a wing attack, moved into the centre role and has been reliable bringing the ball through court and with her feeding.
She will face a tough task in the final (Magic) at goal attack. Metuarau operated effectively alongside Dunn in a successful Pulse shooting end after shifting back home from the Steel– converting 239 goals at 82% prior to the grand final. matching up against Stars’ midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, arguably the form centre in the premiership, and Silver Ferns captain and wing attack Gina Crampton.
Nine of her family and friends will be in the crowd at TSB Arena, who ‘‘aren’t
Midcourt
Silver Ferns captain
had a quiet start by her high standards, but was a standout over the back half of the Stars’ campaign. Crampton is preferred over Whitney Souness (Pulse), who
Crampton
used to wearing yellow’’, hoping to see a fairytale ending to her career.
She spent seven seasons with the Tactix between 2015-21, playing in backto-back grand finals over the past two years, but finished on the losing side.
Departing elite netball with a title in
Gina
a season where she never expected to play would be some farewell.
‘‘I was saying to the girls, I’m really sick of coming second.
‘‘It’s been a crazy ride for me, which makes it even a bit sweeter that I’ve been able to make another grand final
Erikana Pedersen
delivering pleasing performances. She shades Holly Fowler (Stars), who had her finest premiership season, and did a tremendous job creating ball for the circle defenders with her constant pressure.
‘‘I was saying to the girls, I’m really sick of coming second. It’s been a crazy ride for me.’’
and would just love to hold up that trophy at the end as well.’’
Pedersen described her top-level career as a roller-coaster.
She was a high school standout in an all-conquering Mount Albert Grammar team in Auckland, which included Maia Wilson, Holly Fowler, and Elle Temu, who will oppose her in the Stars team.
A member of the New Zealand under21 Youth World Championship-winning side in 2013, Pedersen gained a solitary test for the Silver Ferns in 2018 against Australia in Hamilton – a game they won 55-44.
There have also been big lows. In 2019, she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) four minutes into the season for the Tactix. Pedersen struggled with depression during her ACL rehab and said having netball taken away from her was difficult.
‘‘Without those heartaches I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today, so I’m really proud of the growth I’ve been able to do as a person, not only as an athlete. I’m proud of where I’ve come from and how much I’ve grown.’’
Her netball had gone full circle, now coached by Yvette McCausland-Durie at the Pulse, who this week announced she will return next year for another season.
McCausland-Durie coached Manawatū school Tu Toa, who competed against Pedersen’s MAGS in the national secondary school finals in 2011 and 2012.
‘‘What I’ve loved about her is just her enthusiasm. She’s just so funny. She cares about you as a person before the player. She just gives you confidence to go out and play how you want to play.’’