Netball: Tutaia interested in more than just Jeep thrills

Maria Tutaia made the most of her Silver Ferns call-up at the Commonwealth Games. Picture / Dean Purcell

It's 9.30 on a Tuesday night and Silver Fern Maria Tutaia is weaving her way home through the streets of Auckland in her distinctive Diamonds Jeep.

Having risen well before 7am, it has been a long day for the 19-year-old.

Following the National Bank Cup launch, where she graced the runway in the Diamonds' new uniform, she then took part in the filming of a netball video for schools, before heading to training.

Weary she may be, but Tutaia wouldn't have it any other way.

After all, she is the woman tipped to succeed New Zealand's shooting great Irene van Dyk.

A promising netballer from day one, Tutaia steadily moved her way up through the Auckland representative sides before her first big break came in 2003 when she was selected for the New Zealand under-21 side.

A year later she made the Auckland/Waitakere NPC side and last year the Diamonds.

She spent most of last season's National Bank Cup on the bench with Silver Fern Jodi Te Huna and Jo Morrison occupying the shooting positions.

But this season, with Te Huna out of the picture because of a knee injury, the door is wide open for Tutaia - a player whose major assets are her clean shooting style, the way she glides around the court and her composure.

"This time was eventually going to come. It was my goal this year to hit my straps and not be so much of a watcher," she said.

"Even if Jodi wasn't injured I always had that drive in me to push myself further in terms of game time and training.

"Now that she is injured, and I really feel for her, I know a lot of people expect me to step up and fill her shoes."

Clearly Tutaia is ready.

With a handful of international caps now under her belt, even her Diamonds coach Sue Hawkins says she is looking forward to "seeing what Maria Tutaia can do".

In training sessions she has been alternating between goal shoot and goal attack - something she is happy to continue doing.

"Before I was leaning towards goal attack, but I have learned heaps as a goal shoot and have picked up my goal shooting position."

And she is keen to learn more. Ask her what she'd like to improve in her game and she rattles off a list as long as her arm, and that's long.

"I always want to be an option on court when the ball is coming down.

"What game plans we have set, I want to try my best to really work them.

"I want to rotate around the circle a lot more, make more definite moves on court and be more of a menace [to the] defence."

While Tutaia has been able to plenty of advice from coaches and senior players around her, her biggest advantage is that she has been able to learn from the game's greatest shooter, van Dyk.

"After you play just one quarter with her you learn so much.

"She is my role-model. I am lucky to have played alongside her."

And how does she feel about replacing her?

"It would be a lot of pressure.

"People talk about me being the next Irene or the next shooter but I don't listen to that. I just focus on my own game and will see what comes.

"Besides, she hasn't retired yet."

Mature words from a teenager who a few minutes later can hardly contain herself when talking about the Commonwealth Games.

"Oh my God, that was the best experience. It was the highlight of my netball career. Seeing all the different athletes from all the different countries, you'd always take a digital camera with you because you were bound to see someone legendary."

Then there was receiving that gold medal. "I tried not to cry. I didn't cry but inside myself I was just bursting into tears.

"When you thought of all the hard work and training you did back home and that it had paid off, it was a feeling that can never be replaced. I'd go back and do it all again a million times."

Not that it didn't come without some sacrifice. Tutaia did a certificate in design and fashion last year but her netball commitments made it difficult to keep up so she decided to have a break from studying this year.

But on the bright side there is that gold medal and the snazzy Diamonds jeep she gets to zip around in.

"It's great," she said of the car.

"I am a big girl and I sort of look silly in a small car."

MARIA TUTAIA

Born: Tokoroa, February 18, 1987.
Height: 1.88m.
Positions: GS, GA.

Career highlights:

* 2005-06: Silver Ferns.
* 2005-06: Auckland Waitakere Diamonds.
* 2005: Member of world champion under-21 side.
* 2004-05: Auckland/Waitakere NPC side.