Lokotui shines in debut professional season

QMC Leaver from 2019, Paris Lokotui, had a remarkable year in her first season of professional netball. A standout campaign with the Central Pulse resulted in a call-up to the Silver Ferns Development side. Paris will be back with the Pulse in 2022 and kindly responded to some of our questions.

What was your reaction when you first found out about making the Silver Ferns Development side? I was actually quite shocked and didn’t realise what had just happened. I guess you dream of moments like these growing up, and to have made the Silver Ferns Development side in my first year of being a professional netball player was unreal. My family shed more tears than I did, but I guess they are the people that have gotten me where I am today and the people who allow me to be my best self, so really, this achievement was for them.

What does your training schedule look like these days? It must be full-on! Training over the lockdown period was hectic, but I enjoyed my time and spent it mostly with family. Most days, I only had one training, but three days a week, I had two. These would include court conditioning with netball specifics, a strength workout, and some long-distance runs, but it varied nicely. We were lucky enough to use Microsoft Teams as a communication channel, and this is where we were able to have live gym and rehab sessions with the trainers. However, since coming out of lockdown, it’s pretty much been the same, but most of the scheduled conditioning sessions are now done together with the wider Silver Ferns group based in Wellington. This helped us lead into the Sliver Ferns tour against England.

You’ve obviously played a lot of Prem grade netball at school. What is the most significant difference between that and the professional level? The most significant change would have to be the shift in intensity. During school, I guess we only trained once or sometimes twice a week but moving into a professional environment, you’re training at least once or twice a day every day for for nine or ten months. Whether it’s an early morning gym session, a team training mid-afternoon or match play Thursday evening, everything was done with maximum effort as we were always looking to better ourselves and our mates.

What is your fondest memory of QMC? My best memory at QMC would have to be when Tiuana-Marie and Mia became Head Girl and Deputy. Those two had the best connection, and to see two Samoan Head Prefects leading Queen Margaret College was amazing – it definitely changed the perspective of many people about QMC.

What advice would you give to any up-and-coming netballers who are dreaming of becoming a pro? Train hard, soak up as much information as you can from your coaches and be confident in what skills you have. Enjoy the highs and the lows and use your strengths to your advantage. Being a professional athlete takes time, and if people are willing to put in the hard work, results will follow.

Who do you think is the best player you’ve ever gone up against? 100% Ameliaranne Ekenasio (Meels). Her ability to create space as a shooter and her shooting range is incredible. She does everything to her best and she loves to learn and broaden her knowledge. Meels treats you as an equal in any environment and wants you to learn like a sponge and absorb everything. It’s still crazy to think from a young age she was someone I looked up to, but now she’s a friend who loves a good coffee catch up. She’s someone I aspire to be.