Casey Kopua in Giants colours. Photo: Brendon Thorne
Former Silver Fern Casey Kopua is set to stay on in the Australian league for the rest of the season and she's looking forward to resuming an old rivalry.
Netball fans were left stunned when the Giants announced that Kopua would join the injury-depleted team for last weekend's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) game against the Melbourne Vixens in Sydney.
Kopua retired from elite netball six years ago after helping the Silver Ferns win the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool.
Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald, who coached Kopua for several years at the Magic in the former trans-Tasman competition, sent her an SOS.
Once she realised Fitzgerald's text message was not a prank, Kopua couldn't resist the challenge and flew to Sydney in the middle of last week and played a full game on Sunday.
The 39-year-old was brought in at the half-way point of the SSN season and is likely to be there for remainder of the competition.
"The intent is for the rest of the season we're just going through the process, which I never thought would happen either but yeah that is the intent," Kopua said.
This weekend, the Giants are playing the Adelaide Thunderbirds, who are spearheaded by Jamaican goal shooter Romelda Aiken-George.
The 36-year-old Aiken-George and Kopua have history - going head to head on on several occasions at international level and during the old trans-Tasman competition.
"That goes back in the days again as well so looking forward to that challenge and you just know that it's going to be a battle right from the start and you know you might not get every ball but you'll get one or two that'll make the difference. So just have to keep grinding her both mentally and physically so by the end of the game she should be tired, because we both will be," Kopua laughed.
Romelda Aiken and Casey Kopua went head to head a lot in the former ANZ Championship. Photo: Bruce Lim / Photosport
Kopua was surprised when she was named to start at GK last weekend, given she only had one training session with the team.
"To get back out on the court at that level I think I surprised myself and playing a full 60 minutes as well was a bit of a shock but I think for me the top two inches took over and you just got to carry on."
The Giants, who are languishing at the bottom of SSN, suffered another loss on Sunday but pushed their opponents for three quarters before the Vixens prevailed 71-61.
The former New Zealand captain said she had kept fit by doing high-intensity workouts most days at the gym and plays netball once or twice a week in Matamata.
Kopua said she hadn't previously considered coming out of retirement but playing in the world's toughest netball league was the one thing missing from her resume.
"SSN is something I've never played in and I guess on my netball CV I've played and done and won everything that you can so when this came up it was more like a 'why not, why shouldn't I have a go at it'."
Kopua, who played 112 Tests for New Zealand, had noticed the game was faster.
"Everyone's got stronger, faster, fitter - the ball moves a lot faster, maybe I've just got slower. I can see things in my mind but the body is not as willing as what it was but I hope the more I'm on the court the better and the faster, even if it's just a little bit each time, it will add up."
What has Fitzgerald asked of her?
"Obviously, I'm not what I used to be but I'm still looking for those moments ...but rebounds is a big thing for me to get up there and get that extra ball for us but also just sharing my knowledge and experience with the younger ones but also they are teaching me I guess that Aussie style as well."
The mother of three said her children were excited that their mum was playing top netball.
"My oldest one Maia was as the last World Cup in 2019 and now they get to watch mum on TV ...be a part of it so they are very excited."
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