KEY POINTS:
The new, improved model of Jodi Te Huna is faster, smarter, more explosive. Her only old flaw is a fading scar on her left knee - one she only remembers if someone points it out.
She speaks with a new, refreshing self-assurance, and plays her netball just the
same.
Te Huna, the Silver Ferns' first choice goal attack at these world championships, has come a long way in the last 20 months since rupturing a ligament in her knee on the eve of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
An integral part of her recovery has been mental - forgetting the pain and anguish of that night. Then there's been the long physical rehabilitation of getting back up to speed with international netball, and then surpassing where she was before the accident.
For this, she's more than thankful for the help she's received from Olympic sprinter Chris Donaldson.
Donaldson has worked with Te Huna and Silver Fern captain Adine Wilson in Dunedin in their weekly strength and conditioning sessions and Te Huna credits him with much of her recent progress.
"I definitely think I've had a lot of change of pace working with him," 26-year-old Te Huna says.
"The 'old slow Jodi' now puts on the pace everywhere around the court. I just have more explosiveness to pass and go.
"It's great working with Chris, because he's an athlete who's had his own ups and downs, and been through a couple of significant injuries." The worst was an Achilles tendon problem that robbed him of a run at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
As with every comeback, there's been frustration; attempting too soon to do things she could do before.
"But now I'm back to where I was, and I feel like every game I'm growing, and I know there's still more," she says.
After giving her reconstructed knee a full year to strengthen, Te Huna has had no niggles or reminders at this tournament, where she's played every game for the Ferns.
"I feel surprisingly good. Once in a while I think about it, but not so often anymore," she says.
"In fact, I've got into the habit of forgetting which knee it is - it's not till someone asks me, then I have to look down and find the scar."
Travelling to Melbourne the week before the tournament began exorcised Te Huna's lingering fears. She played against the Victoria men's side, the opposition she injured her knee against last year, and for the first five minutes she was wracked with nerves.
"I wasn't the Jodi Te Huna you usually see, but that game helped me get rid of the fear. Now I've put it away in my back pocket."
Te Huna, whose cousins Patty and Paula Te Huna play in the Cook Islands team, has established herself as the frontline goal attack, and obvious back-up to Irene van Dyk at goal shoot in the past week. She's revelling in it.
"I started my career as a goal shoot and I love getting back there. But my time at goal attack is more valuable, and every game is more experience. So I like them both now," she says.
"I'm loving playing with Irene. We have a bit of history from Wellington and the Shakers, but that was a long time ago. We'd developed a bit of a relationship before I did my knee, and it's taken time to build it back again, but we're pretty much on track now."
In pool play, Te Huna's best performance has been 27 from 31 against Wales. But more important has been her willingness to put up shots and support van Dyk. It's just what the Ferns have been looking for.
