Netball: Earle named New Zealand Secondary School Player of the Year

Rotorua's Tayla Earle was named New Zealand Secondary School Player of the Year. Photo / File

Rotorua's Tayla Earle was named New Zealand Secondary School Player of the Year at the recent national tournament in Timaru.

Earle, 18, said the tournament was an ideal launching pad for her blossoming netball career after gaining a contract with the ANZ Premiership side Northern Mystics.

"It's such a good development programme for the young girls coming through. I think it's really beneficial for our growth."

Earle, who started playing netball when she was 10, represented Auckland's Saint Kentigern College at the week-long national tournament after moving from Rotorua Girls' High School at the end of Year 10.

Earle said winning player of the year was a big honour.

"It was a bit of a surprise but I'm grateful for the opportunity to play [at NZSS] for the third time this year."

Her Saint Kentigern side finished third after a thrilling extra-time win over Auckland rivals Epsom Girls' Grammar School.

The tough tournament week came off the back of representing her country when the New Zealand Secondary Schools team took on England and Australia under-17 teams in Canberra.

There will be little rest for the talented netballer who will start her build-up for the next stage of her netball career.

Earle said she was now looking forward to joining the Mystics for the ANZ Premiership where she would rub shoulders with Silver Ferns Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Elisapeta Toeava along with Phoenix Karaka and Bailey Mes.

"It was sort of unreal," she said of her signing.

"It's been a childhood dream to play with all those Silver Ferns and I'm going to be doing that so I'm super excited and grateful for the opportunity."

She said her main focus would be on developing her skills, learning from her team-mates and earning game time.