Pulse midcourter Erikana Pedersen is poised to play her 100th national league match. Photo: PhotoWellington
In a year crammed with surprises, silky-skilled Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse midcourter Erikana Pedersen will add another magic moment when she steps out for her 100th national league netball game this weekend.
Retiring at the end of last season, Pedersen’s venture into a new life phase was short-lived when she came to the rescue of the Pulse as an interim injury replacement. That quickly turned into a permanent replacement, the easy-going and ever-smiling Pedersen happy to fit whatever role required.
Thinking she had missed the opportunity to ``make the hundy mark’’, the reliable rock-solid centre with the pinpoint vision and creative movement has in the process rekindled her love of netball while advancing to 99 games.
``It’s crazy to even think that this year has happened for me,’’ she said. ``Coming to Wellington and playing in the yellow dress is something that I never imagined myself doing, but I guess, now that I’ve been here it has been such a life-changing experience for me.
``My passion for netball has never been so strong, which is really cool for me, but yeah, 100 games, wow, that’s really exciting.’’
Coming out of the prolific Mt Albert Grammar School netball nursery, Pedersen went straight from school into the Northern Mystics side in 2013, the same year she was part of the NZ U21 World Youth Cup-winning team.
In 2015, she headed south to the Tactix where she remained until 2021. There have been plenty of ups and downs but Pedersen looks back on a satisfying and rewarding 10-year career.
Born in New Zealand of Fijian and Cook Island heritage, Pedersen made the Silver Ferns Development squads from 2016 – 18, played for the FAST5 Ferns in 2017 and gained a Silver Ferns test cap in 2018 before serious injury derailed her progress.
``I have to say, it’s been a rollercoaster of a ride with many upsets, in terms of injury (ACL 2019), obviously not performing at some stages during that time as well but the highs have definitely made it worthwhile,’’ she said.
``Being at Tactix and making the Grand Final two years in a row was one of my highlights, just because of where we had been in the past (perennial strugglers) but now, here at the Pulse, it’s been even more exciting and with four games left in the (regular) season, I can’t wait to see what we produce.’’
Thinking she was done and dusted last year, Pedersen has revelled in the opportunity of having a bonus season with the Pulse. But there won’t be any second thoughts when the end of the current season rolls around, Pedersen, 27, satisfied that this is the perfect finishing point for her.
``I’ve been out of my comfort zone, coming to a different city, to a place I never thought I’d be at, with the coaches I’ve had as well and playing with players that I’ve never played with before, it’s a cool way to finish,’’ she said.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said Pedersen has been worth her weight in gold.
``It’s been amazing having her presence on and off the court,’’ she said. ``The ability to have somebody so experienced to be able to move into a position (centre) that she hasn’t played a huge amount and then slot in so easily has been a real blessing for us.
``We knew a lot about her but we’ve got way more from her than what we expected.’’
The Pulse have a challenging finish to the regular season with two double headers over the next two weekends, starting with the Southern Steel in Invercargill on Saturday.
There is a strong intent to redress the inaccuracies that invaded the Pulse’s attacking game in the last outing when they were upended by the Stars.
``I think it’s just subtle changes that we need to make,’’ Pedersen said.
``Our structures are there, our intent is there and there’s just a few tweaks that we need to make, certainly no major changes are needed and once that’s sorted, we’ll be fine.
``Going to Invercargill and playing the Steel is probably one of the toughest games in the season and any team would say that. They’ve got such a vocal crowd and they always do well in Invercargill, so that’s the challenge for us, we need to step up and if we can come out hard, that will set us in good stead.’’
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