Kopua v Nweke - 'I know how competitive she is and so am I'

In 2019 Grace Nweke got an unexpected call-up to the ANZ Premiership as a 17-year-old. That same year would be Casey Kopua's last season of elite netball, or so the Silver Ferns legend thought.

Netball fans were left stunned last month when the Giants announced that Kopua would join the injury-depleted team in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) at the half-way point of the season.

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 her old coach wasn't joking, Kopua could not resist the challenge to play elite netball again after six years, and has played three full games at goal keep since joining the team.

This time last year Nweke decided to take up a contract with the New South Wales Swifts to try to improve her game, which ruled her ineligible to play for the Silver Ferns.

The Giants and Swifts meet this Sunday in an all-Sydney derby, which sold out in record time.

Around 10,000 fans will pour into Ken Rosewall Arena for the highly anticipated fixture where Kopua is set to directly mark Nweke in a match-up no one could have imagined three weeks ago.

Kopua, who has just turned 40, remembers Nweke was just coming onto the scene as she was leaving.

"I remember they just used to biff the ball at her and expect her to catch it and I felt sorry for her. But it was great for us because you just never knew, you know she wasn't quite I guess as skilful as she is now because now she can actually pull that ball in, she knows her angles and stuff like that," Kopua said.

Nweke's game has developed significantly since the pair were last on a netball court together. The 23-year-old has become one of the best goal shooters in the world.

"I also feel like we could put 20 people in the circle and we're still never going to get the ball and she's just got better and better so it's definitely going to be interesting on Sunday but I know there's going to be a vibe in that stadium ...it's going to be so cool."

Kopua knows she won't get a lot of intercepts when she marks Nweke.

"I'm just going to have to pick away at her and get niggly and try I guess put her off not just physically but mentally. You push it to the boundaries and I know how competitive she is and so am I so I'm just really looking forward to a good battle out there right throughout the court."

Kopua said it felt surreal that the two Kiwis were the talk of the round this week.

"I never thought I would be here doing this but I think it is so cool and it's never happened before and why not celebrate it for the sport of netball too."

After starting the season with eight straight wins, the Swifts have suffered back to back losses but still sit at the top of the table.

The Giants were languishing at the bottom of the SSN ladder when Kopua joined the team but they've won their last two games and now sit sixth on the table.

Full-circle

Nweke began 2019 in the second-tier league but the struggling Mystics called her into the team and after a couple of rounds the 17-year-old was so impressive she was upgraded to a full contract.

Nweke more than held her own when she came up against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic three times that season, when Kelly Jackson played goal keep and Kopua was at goal defence.

In Kopua's final match on her home court in Hamilton the Magic beat the Mystics and the defender was farewelled by fans after an incredible 17 years at the franchise.

Kopua would then head off the the Netball World Cup in Liverpool and help the Silver Ferns with the title for the first time in 16 years and retired - satisfied that she had achieved everything she could have.

Two months later Nweke was named in the Silver Ferns Development Squad after her stand-out rookie season in the ANZ Premiership and the rest is history.

"I remember back to my first season at the Mystics playing her when she was at Magic and it feels really full circle," Nweke said.

"In that time how much I've changed and grown and achieved as a netballer and obviously what she's been able to achieve in her career and how that was the end of hers and kind of the beginning of mine but now to see her back out playing yeah, it's quite funny I guess. I'm quite excited, she's been a huge asset to the Giants thus far and given them a lot of confidence.

"It's kind of cool to have another Kiwi out on the court and just really happy for her to see her still enjoying netball and contributing to a team and playing really well."

Nweke said the SSN competition was very physical.

"There's defenders whose style of defence challenges the feeds and the placement but then there's also the defenders who are just very on the body and a lot of physicality off the ball that kind of wears you down throughout the whole game.

"Throughout the court I guess the sport in general has changed a lot in terms of the physicality and SSN is no exception."

Nweke said she could feel the growth she had made since joining the highly competitive league.

"And also as a team-mate in the environment and being able to add to team culture and discussions and stuff off the court ...objectively I do feel like I'm playing with a lot more confidence."

Nweke said she enjoyed the game day atmosphere.

"It's awesome, we're very lucky to have such dedicated fans and the whole atmosphere and the fanfare is awesome, we've got big venues and it's been really cool to play netball in front of some big crowds."

Kopua believed that players were getting better exposure in Australia now.

"Now all their games are on TV, back in the day that didn't used to happen and the Diamonds girls weren't probably as acknowledged as what they are now. And with social media and everything now, you can have more access and exposure for the game," Kopua said.

The Silver Fern centurion said she always "lived for game day" and described her experience over the last three weeks as unreal.

"I never ever thought I would be here or get given this opportunity and playing in SSN was something that I always wanted to do but obviously while you're playing for New Zealand you can't. Just loving it, honestly I'm here for it eh like it's such a cool thing to be a part of."