Heady Rise For Young Pulse Defender

On the brink of playing in the Elimination Final, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse defender Laura Balmer is still taking stock of her short but adventurous introduction to life in the ANZ Premiership netball league.

The Pulse take on the Tactix in Christchurch on Sunday evening to decide who will meet the Northern Mystics in the league’s Grand Final, a week later.

Sailing close to the wind at times to get to this position, the Pulse have another big challenge in store against a seasoned Tactix side, who remain unbeaten at home this campaign and have remained largely injury-free. The pair has met twice this season with a win apiece.

``Our last three games have kind of been do-or-die so we’re not strangers to that situation, we know how to come together and win each moment,’’ Balmer said.

``You can’t go into it thinking who won what, it’s a complete clean slate. Our focus is, respect your opposition, do all the game prep and analysis to the best of our ability, and go in with our game faces on.’’

Hoping to nail a spot in the NZ U21 team to contest the World Youth Cup in September, it has been a whirlwind seven months for Balmer, 21, who at the beginning of the year expected to be playing for the Southern Blast in the National Netball League (NNL) and continuing her medical studies in Dunedin.

It was a pinch-me-moment when she was drafted into the Pulse as a replacement player ahead of the season, her life taking a completely different turn and which, subsequently, has included many more pinch-me-moments.

In the wake of injury to Parris Mason, that included her first start last weekend in the largely unfamiliar position of goal defence, the match won in dramatic fashion by the Pulse with a last-gasp super shot against the Magic.

``I did not get much sleep the night before but it was so exciting,’’ she said. ``I was very nervous, especially coming up against Ameliaranne (Ekenasio) who I’ve grown up watching but it was so cool. It was such a team effort and they all backed me to do my job, so I just went on confident but nervous.

``It’s been a hectic ride but it’s just been amazing. Obviously, I was apprehensive moving to Wellington because I just didn’t know what to expect. I was excited but I thought it could go terribly. But I have just loved it. The coaching, the city, the team……I think the team culture here is just amazing.

``I’m very much a family person and coming here, you just automatically get a family in your team and that’s been fantastic. There’s been lots of learnings, lots of steep learning curves but everyone’s very supportive and encouraging, so it’s been a fun journey.’’

Having switched from playing in the NNL, where netball is fitted in around work or study, to full immersion and the expectations of what’s required at ANZ Premiership level, Balmer is living the dream.

``Coming into the ANZ Premiership, everything is about performance and netball, so that’s what your sole focus is and you’re paid to do it,’’ she said.

``It has just exceeded all my expectations. It’s like being with a fun group of people all day every day playing the sport you love.’’

Due to illness and injury, the Pulse have had to dig deep into their resource well at various times which has meant tinkering with line-ups and some players covering several positions, including the invaluable contribution Gabi Simpson has provided the team.

Dropping her life in Brisbane to accommodate the Pulse in their hour of need, the former Diamond has gained universal admiration for her professionalism and adaptability, seamlessly stepping into goal defence and centre, positions she has not played much of at the elite level, and her more familiar wing defence role.

``I could literally talk on Gabi all day,’’ Balmer said. ``I have so much respect for her. She can play pretty much any position you put her in and also she’s just one of the wisest people that I’ve met.

``We do lots of coffee dates where I just question her all the time. She is so respected in this group because she just brings such knowledge and wisdom but is so humble with it. She’s always very team focused and will do anything for the team, and is such a selfless player.’’

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