Towards the end of last year, Southern Steel shooter Julianna Naoupu had a measured look at where her netball was going, took a deep breath and signed with Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
After three years at the Steel since the inception of the transtasman netball league in 2008, but with just
six starts to her credit, Naoupu decided the time had come to make a move.
Now, as the 2011 season gathers momentum, the talented 20-year-old will get an early indication of the success of her decision when the Magic play the Steel.
But Naoupu's enthusiasm for her new franchise, where coach Noeline Taura nabbed her to fill a gap after the Magic lost last year's goal attack Jodi Brown, suggests the shift has already proven its worth.
Training and playing with Silver Ferns goal shoot Irene van Dyk has been a huge learning curve, and Naoupu's court play has developed under the influence of New Zealand midcourter Laura Langman.
"The calibre is huge and that's a bonus for me, being able to move up here and know I've got the support of Laura and Irene down the attacking end," she said.
Naoupu said the decision to move from the Steel had been difficult, "but I just decided on change. With the experience of Noels, especially as a goal attack, I thought I could learn a bit more.
"I'm just 20 years of age, so I'm still learning and growing."
Despite a few understandable jitters at facing her old franchise, Naoupu can't wait to get out on court.
"I'll be nervous, just like everyone else in the team, to get our first game out of the way," she said.
