From Grassroots to Greatness

Pulse Rising Star Ainsleyana Puleiata on Coming Back from Devastating Injuries, Her Faith in Community Netball and Why She Turned to Netball at a Late Age 

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!

Ainsleyana Puleiata’s story is one of great comeback, overcoming three ACL reconstructions to dominate on-court this season. The Samoan international is, without a doubt, a pure inspiration, and has enjoyed a fantastic run as a dynamic and hard-working mid-courter – and there’s plenty more to come!

Hi Ainsleyana! What was your first netball memory? 

My first netball memory was playing for my primary school’s (Windley School) year seven and eight team as a year six kid at goal defence, because I had hops, and I really enjoyed playing defence!

Can you remember why you wanted to play in the first place? 

I wanted to play basketball for the New Zealand Tall Blacks team! I was getting more exposure and opportunities in basketball than I did for netball. But it was in my first year at St Mary’s College that I started taking netball seriously and the opportunities and exposure to the ANZ Premiership arrived more quickly. My thoughts of why I wanted to play netball in the first place started in college, and the thought was inspired by the players who played in the ANZ Premiership, and the fact that I also had the talent and potential to also play in the ANZ Premiership league with and against the best netball players in New Zealand. 

Where did you play your first netball, and do you still have ties to your childhood netball centre? 

My first netball game was at Mungavin Courts out in Porirua with the Kapi Mana Centre. I still have connections with Kapi Mana. I believe in giving back and I think it is really important that I remember my roots and also how my netball career started. 

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? 

I have very fond memories of playing for clubs in the Wellington region. I was fortunate enough to play for the United Norths and KBJ club netball teams in Porirua and also in Wellington with the SMOG club. I believe playing for a club is very important and also provides lots of benefits for you as a player and a person. As a player who played for various clubs I still have some connections with each of the clubs I played for, and they have been valuable in terms of their support for my netball career. What I found most valuable with club netball is the ability to bring people and communities together and create a team system. 

Can you remember the moment when you decided that you wanted to play netball as a profession? 

The year I started to think I wanted to professionally play netball was when I was contracted as a training partner for the Central Pulse at year 11. Being exposed to the professional level at a young age really inspired me to consider netball as a career. It’s not every day you get chosen to be a training partner to an ANZ team, and for the Central Pulse to see my talent and potential was a moment I would never have believed! In 2022 I debuted as Pulse player #70 on home ground (Te Rauparaha Arena) as a non-contracted player and then in 2023 I received my first ANZ Premiership contract. 

When I faced my first hardest challenge after rupturing my ACL, my thoughts of playing professionally really helped me through those tough times. I initially thought about quitting netball and giving up the dream of playing professionally. But after reflecting on my experiences, I realised that I had already made it once, so why couldn’t I make it again?

What part about netball brings you the greatest joy today? 

The community impact netball has. Netball has the ability to bring communities and people together and the outcome is having life-long-connections and friends. I really appreciate the endless support the community has for their ANZ Premiership teams. Every game they show up, dress up and cheer loud. I also find joy in being the role model and inspiration for the young girls and boys playing netball. 

What has netball taught you about life in general? 

That there is no ‘I’ in TEAM! Besides all the fundamental things netball teaches like structures, being fit, passing, catching, agility and many more, I believe culture is very important to have a strong foundation on. It’s not every year you play with the same people or the same team ,and so having a strong culture that provides a safe space to have high performance conversations to help each other be better at every training and every game, as well as a space where everyone’s mindset is on the same space, is important. I believe everyone in the team whether they are on the court or on the bench has a crucial role.

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? 

My shout out goes to Pelesa Semu. She made a massive difference in my netball life in college. She gave me opportunities to perform, she gave me wisdom during my lowest moment, she never beats around the bush, and she was always there to back me up in whatever I chose to do with my life. To this day I still have a connection with her and it’s a connection I am extremely grateful for, and I thank netball for bringing our paths together. 

How have your early playing days helped shape you into the player you are today?

I believe playing netball in my early years has helped shaped me to be the player I am today. My college pathway provided more opportunities and exposure to make top-level teams which just kept opening doors as the years went on, and I am extremely grateful and also proud of myself for working hard, being open minded and coachable. I was playing for teams nationally and internationally from college until now - and playing and making different connections in each team has also helped shape my game. I just kept adding to my skills bag, which is continuing to this day. 

When you look at kids playing netball today, what are your thoughts? 

That netball in New Zealand is in safe hands with this generation for the future. Every generation brings different sets of skills and creativity and these kids playing netball now have so much talent, potential, and unique skills. I am so excited to see how they will shape the future direction of netball in New Zealand.