Netball: 'I want to influence these kids' - Kristiana Manu'a central to Pulse's ambitions

Kristiana Manu'a in action for the Central Pulse. Photo / photosport.nz

A shift across the ditch to Wellington has new Central Pulse defender Kristiana Manu'a feeling right at home.

It's a change that is already paying off for the 26–year-old, who has had four starts in four games for the capital side.

Despite five years with the New South Wales Giants in the Suncorp Super League, a return to the country of her birth always felt inevitable.

"When I left New Zealand the first time to go over to Australia, I always knew I would come back, I just loved it so much," Manu'a says.

"I want to say that I played my best when I was over here last."

It's been over six years since the Australian-raised Manu'a took the court for a Kiwi team, and her strong form during the 2015-2016 season with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic was shaped by the impact of teammates such as Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin.

"It was extremely influential, I honestly don't think I absorbed it and took it in as much in the time," she says.

"I feel like I was just a young head and didn't really realise how much it was going to really help me in the future."

After joining the Pulse, the side with the youngest average age in the competition this year, Manu'a feels a sense of responsibility to take on that mentorship role.

"Now that I'm kind of that age group, that older player in the team, I just know what impact it had on me and exactly how I want to influence these kids here now over at the Pulse," she explains.

But Manu'a also credits the youth of the team as one of the reasons that she's loving being back on home turf and playing great netball at the same time.

"I honestly feel like I've just slotted in so seamlessly, the girls have been so welcoming.

"The transition over here is never easy and I miss my family a lot, but they've really accommodated to me and made sure that I'm in the best position to play my best, and the girls are crack up, they keep me young.

"They're just like your friends. That just always makes me play better as well when you get along off court."

While it's evident that positive off-court relationships are impacting her impressive on-court play, Manu'a is quick to credit her defensive partnerships at the Pulse with helping her and her team reach their full potential this season.

"I have Kelly [Jury] and Paris Lokotui who are playing amazingly at the moment, so for me it's just to combine well with them in our defensive end and hopefully just continue playing well and hopefully winning that Premiership at the end of the year."

Her defensive combination with Jury is exciting in more ways than one, particularly in a year when Silver Ferns selectors have been identifiable in the stands, as Manu'a is eligible for selection for this year's New Zealand Commonwealth Games team.

But it's an aspect of her game that she's not looking ahead to just yet. After missing the 2017 season with a ruptured Achilles and a few years of inconsistent court time with the Giants, just getting out on court regularly is the most important thing.

"When I was thinking about the move, it [Commonwealth Games selection] was not in my head at all. I hadn't played a proper year in a very long time, or had a proper season under my belt so that was honestly my main goal," she explains.

"I was coming over to look for that and I've gotten it thus far."

After a lengthy stint in the Suncorp Super League, including one memorable game in 2020 when she was controversially sent off twice, the experience that Manu'a has acquired by playing each of the Australian and Kiwi styles of play is invaluable.

"I wanted to learn that kind of Kiwi style of play and I honestly didn't think it was going to be as hard as what it was.

"I'm just thankful that I have coaches that really like the way that I play and like that kind of 'man-on' play. They're just adding some kind of flavour to that, so I'm able to do kind of both."

Manu'a and the Pulse will be looking to push on in their 2022 ANZ Premiership campaign on Monday night when they meet the Southern Steel for the first time this season. It will be the only game of the round after the three other scheduled matches were postponed due to Covid-19 protocols.