Ekenasio to join Fever for 2027 season

Ekenasio to join Fever for 2027 season

Majestic Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio will add another chapter to a stellar career when she lines up for West Coast Fever in next year’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league.

Timing and circumstances have previously denied Ekenasio fulfilling a long-held dream of competing in the Australian league and now in the twilight of her career, thought the opportunity might have passed her by.

``I really am excited,’’ she said. ``I was quite surprised, to be honest, when the opportunity came around because part of me had always wanted to go and play Suncorp but I did get to the point where I thought it might not come, anymore, so when I first got that call, I was very surprised.

``And then we (family) had a long time of not being sure it was definitely going to happen or if we could say yes, but now it’s all unfolded, I feel so genuinely excited about it. It is something new and when you’ve done the same thing for a long time, it’s really refreshing to have a new opportunity, a new challenge, go in to a new environment, all those sorts of things, it’s made me really, really look forward to it.’’

With her family to consider, Ekenasio had, at various times, been trying to make playing in Australia a reality since the 2019 World Cup. With no certainty around the direction of New Zealand’s domestic competition for next year, the decision was made easier for the former Pulse and Silver Ferns captain when the Fever came calling.

``Having tried for a long time to make this work for our family, this has been a really long time coming and I’m just so happy that I could actually say yes, this time around and I’m very excited,’’ she said.

``We (husband Damien and I) have a lot more on our plate in terms of making these types of decisions because we’ve got a family and all that kind of stuff which definitely weighs in but the fact that there was no job certainty next year here (New Zealand) definitely made that part super easy.

``Knowing that I’ve got a job to go to just feels like a lot of weight off my shoulders.’’

Ekenasio’s husband and two children, Ocean, 9, and four-year-old Luna will join her in Perth for the duration of the SSN season.

``They will definitely be coming over,’’ she said. ``There’s still some details to be locked in but they will come over after Christmas which will be exciting. So, they’ll just finish off the school year here and then it will be a fresh start in the New Year for them.’’

After some down time following this year’s ANZ Premiership, Ekenasio, 35, has a clean bill of health after getting over some injury niggles which hampered her recent season and it’s now full steam ahead for the challenges of the SSN.

``My plan is just getting myself to the best shape I’ve ever been in, just getting really strong, so my body can handle the heavier load I’m expecting,’’ she said.

``You’re playing international players every single week, so it’s just getting my body ready for that which is good and I really enjoy that kind of process. In recent times they’ve had older shooters in Romelda (Aiken) and Jhaniele (Fowler-Nembhard) is coming back this year (both in their late 30s), so I feel really comfortable in Fever’s staff and their ability to understand and look after my body at the age I’m at.’’

After switching her allegiance from Australia to New Zealand in 2014, Ekenasio made Wellington her home with the Pulse playing a huge part in her career where she was a key member of the team between 2015 and 2020, across both the former trans-Tasman league and ANZ Premiership. That included winning the 2019 and 2020 titles with the Pulse.

In a change of direction, Ekenasio spent 2022 – 25 with the Magic before making a special return to the Pulse this year.

``The Pulse were the team who kick-started it all for me and I have had some great times with them. We won back-to-back championships and that was a really special period in my life,’’ she said.

``To come back home was quite unexpected this year and something I was super grateful for. I’m actually really glad I got to come back home to Wellington. I didn’t think it was going to work out like this, so I feel very grateful to them for welcoming me back, to get a chance to reconnect with the community and just really remember how special it is here at Pulse.

``I love it here and will leave with very special memories. I know this year wasn’t great from a results perspective but my whole overall time at the Pulse has been fantastic.’’

Ends
 

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