Netball: Friendship full circle

They both hail from Wanganui, have played at either end of the court and were lucky not to be arrested by the fashion police in their early teens for sporting afro-like perms.

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic defender Joline Henry and Canterbury Flames shooter Jodi Te Huna go back a long way but were reacquainted this week when they were named in the Silver Ferns side to take on Australia in next month's three-test series.

Te Huna, who was a member of last year's world championship-winning side, was one of the first to get on the blower and congratulate new cap Henry.

"I just said to her, 'Have a really good day'. I remember how my day was last year when I was named ... all that attention."

Although they grew up in Wanganui, their paths never really crossed until secondary school, where Te Huna attended Wanganui High School and Henry went to Wanganui Collegiate.

"We were always against each other in the schools competition," Te Huna said. "We knew of each other but we didn't really become close mates until we hit secondary school.

"We went through all the Wanganui age-group netball together and it is quite ironic ... when I was talking to her the other day I said, 'Isn't it funny that when we were playing age-group netball I was the goal keep and you were the goal shoot'.

"Now it has turned around, she's in defence and I am a shooter."

Te Huna, who is a year older than Henry, said it was hard to believe the national side included two players from Wanganui.

"I think we are the first two, so that is quite amazing ... It is nice to have someone in the team who you have known for so long.

"I remember the days where we used to travel around with the rep teams when we both had big afros. We both got perms on the same day I think it was, way back when we were 12 or 13."

Henry, a Waikato University psychology student, was brought up by her grandparents, Joseph and Aroha Henry, in Wanganui.

"I watched my mum and my grandmother play netball ... So I was always around the courts when I was little," Henry said.

"I think I was about six and and I wanted to play netball but they wouldn't let me because I was too young. So mum sent me to athletics, swimming and ballet and then when I turned eight I got the chance."

Henry started her career as a shooter and remained there right up until she made the national under-21 side.

But her shooting career didn't come to a complete halt - just last year she was required to team up with Magic team-mate Irene van Dyk on a couple of occasions in the shooting circle.

"Shooters get all the glory and the defence do all the work," she laughed.

"They have the pressure of putting the ball through the hoop and we have the pressure of getting the ball.

"I enjoy both. As long as I am playing I am not too fussed."

Although Te Huna and Henry will have plenty of time to catch up when the Silver Ferns assemble for a two-day camp next weekend, they may get the chance for a bit of a chinwag tonight when Te Huna's Flames line up against Henry's Magic in Christchurch in the fifth round of the National Bank Cup.

"It is going to be a tough game especially for us coming off the Sting and meeting another tough team," Te Huna said. "But we are looking forward to it and hopefully Joline and I will be able to do a little bit of celebrating afterwards."