Netball: Leaving family nest to shoot for the stars

By JULIE ASH

Towering above her opponents, Force goal shoot Daneka Wipiiti can almost be described as the Jonah Lomu of New Zealand netball.

It is not just in size that the teenage Wipiiti resembles the All Black winger; it is that cool, calm manner in which she plays the game and her ability to tear through defences and score almost faultlessly.

Last weekend, in her first game for the Northern Force against the highly-rated Canterbury Flames, Wipiiti was voted the player of the match, netting 46 from 57 attempts.

Her shooting made her a standout - her training routine includes shooting 200 goals before lunch every day - but it is also the way she shoots from anywhere in the circle within a second of receiving the ball that has earned attention.

"I just have a rhythm - turn and shoot is what I have been told to do.

"I have never been worried about being close or being too far away from the goal. If you have goal shoot written on your back - it is your job.

"Nothing really rattles me. Everyone says I have this real blank look on my face, which I try to keep because if you pull a face people know you are under stress, and some of your opposition thrive on that sort of thing."

Born in Waikato, Wipiiti moved to New Plymouth when she four. She first made a name for herself at New Plymouth Girls High, where she was seen by the national selectors and named in the New Zealand talent squad, and then in the Taranaki senior team, which she made at 15.

"I love my home team, playing at home is just awesome. But the Force is a new environment, new people. I am not getting in that comfort zone anymore."

While at school, Wipiiti played a variety of sports.

"My parents say I was born with a ball in my hands. I played basketball and swam when I was younger. When I was at school I played every sport I could."

It wasn't until high school that she really settled on netball and the goal shoot position.

"I played goal attack in my intermediate years. I liked running around. I didn't like being stuck back as a goal shooter, but as I got taller and slower, I think I had to be demoted," she laughed.

After four years with Taranaki and the Western Flyers, Wipiiti decided it was time for a move.

"I was approached by the Force last season. However, at that stage I didn't want to leave mum and dad. But I always knew if I did move I would come to Auckland."

The Force pursued, and a year later they have Wipiiti in their team and working for them as Netball North's junior netball programme manager - a position similar to the one she held in Taranaki.

"My parents [Kevin and Maree] have been the biggest support. I am very close to my family and it was hard leaving them.

"They are happy that I am up here doing what I love and what I do best. They support me, they come up here every few weekends and mum sends me little parcels in the post."

She also left behind younger sisters Krisa, 17, and Latesha, 11, also promising netballers - "Latesha is probably going to be taller than me - she has feet on her like you have never seen before."

In her second year in the New Zealand squad, Wipiiti said she was learning a lot playing alongside Silver Ferns Linda Vagana, Temepara Clark and former Fern Teresa Tairi in the Force. "It is just amazing being around that sort of experience. I am always asking for advice and am like a sponge soaking it all up."

Just the Facts

Name: Daneka Wipiiti.

Age: 19 Height: 1.94m.

Born: Waikato.

Job: Netball North junior netball programme manager.

Playing history: Taranaki 1998-2001, Western Flyers 1998-2001

Representative: NZ under-21, 2000 world youth championships, NZ squad 2000-2001.