From Grassroots to Greatness: Steel Midcourter Renee Savai’inaea
Her First Netball Memories, Her Inspiration and What Her Younger Self Has Taught Her
We’ve all got to start somewhere, and that adage is no different for our best and brightest netball superstars! From their humble roots at their local netball centre through to making it as a professional, all netty players share the same love for the game that was born through their childhood experiences on the courts. We take a trip back down memory lane with some of our ANZ Premiership legends to hear their own origin stories!
Steel Midcourter Renee Savai’inaea found greatness pretty early on in her netball career, being offered a contact with the Pulse while she was still at high school. Since then, she’s made the move down south and has been with the Steel for five seasons, and is loving every minute – although, her powerful performances on the ANZ Premiership are a far cry from her first netball memories where, she says, her team “got smashed” – but it left her with a deep love for the sport!
Kia ora Renee! What is your first netball memory?
Watching my mum and her friends play on Saturday mornings at our local netball centre and I always thought that it'd be cool to be like them. Then, when I was old enough, my mum was my first netball coach when I was seven, and I actually remember my first game - it was in the pouring rain and our team was getting smashed, but I just remember loving the game and couldn't wait to play the following week.
Where did you play your first netball, and do you still have ties to your childhood netball centre?
I played my first netball game at the Taita courts, at the Lower Hutt Netball Centre. I am currently still involved with my local netball club Ulalei. When I go home I try to get in some games or training with them, and my sister also plays for them.
Netball clubs are so important around Aotearoa - they help make up the fabric of the community and allow people to gather and make connections. Do you have any fond memories of yours?
Probably the memories that I remember the most would be from playing in the Wellington age group rep teams - under Netball Wellington Centre. It's where I made my long life friends and where I think my netball grew the most. We were fortunate to have amazing coaches around that helped create a fun and skilful pathway when I was going through high school. Going to those tournaments are where some of my favourite netball memories were made.
Can you remember the moment when you decided that you wanted to play netball as a profession?
Yes, in year 13 I was offered my first ANZ contract with the Pulse. At first I was just in shock and didn't really know what I wanted to do as I also played rugby and basketball at a high level. But I knew this was an opportunity that I couldn't take for granted, and I met some amazing people through that experience and learnt how and what a professional netballer looks like with the senior players I had around me.
What part about netball brings you the greatest joy today?
The people, the friends I've made through the sport - it's truly something amazing.
What has netball taught you about life in general?
It has taught me resilience - that can be through injury or performance. It has taught me that life outside of netball needs to be good for you to enjoy playing the sport, as a happy player off the court is an even better player on.
Greatness always begins at the grassroots level, and there are so many amazing volunteers and coaches and officials that give up their time across the country to make sure kids can play netball. Do you want to shout out anyone from your life who made a difference, and why?
There are so many people that I feel like had a major impact on my grassroot level netball, but one person who definitely stands out to me is Pelesa Semu. She was my high school and representative netball coach, and she is someone who still gives back by coaching in the secondary school space currently. Lesa was a hard but fair coach. She always wanted the best from you and, if she saw potential in you, she was your person to unlock it. She took me into her senior A team at year 9 and pretty much introduced me to top high school netball. I am forever grateful for what she’s done for me as a person and my netball.
How have your early playing days helped shape you into the player you are today?
My early playing days taught me that having fun and being competitive is what netball is all about.
When you look at kids playing netball today, what are your thoughts?
I think it's really cool going out coaching and watching young girls play netball with friends, I believe it's really important to remember while you're young to enjoy it, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and just play with freedom.