Silver Ferns' coach Dame Noeline Taurua paid rookie Kate Heffernan the ultimate compliment after last night's win over Australia.
Silver Fern Kate Heffernan. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
There were a lot of firsts in Auckland when the Silver Ferns beat world number one Australia 56-48 in the first test of the Constellation Cup.
For Heffernan it was the first time she had ever stepped out on court against Australia, and she owned her position from start to finish. Able to stick to her opponent, Heffernan also pulled off some screaming intercepts putting her long limbs to good use.
"Kate Heffernan she reminds me of an Australian wing defence, that same sort of style so one on one - where her opponent goes, she goes.
"I think also her connection with Whitney [Souness] on the outside, they did a power of work in our defensive structures so really happy," Dame Noeline said.
Australia has produced some of the world's best wing defences over the years - Simone McKinnis, Mo'onia Gerrard, and Renae Ingles to name a few. And they are known for being relentless on court.
The 23-year-old was marking Australian captain Liz Watson, the best wing attack in the world.
When asked if she thought Heffernan got the better of Watson, Dame Noeline was noncommital.
"I thought it was a good start for Kate, I would never disrespect Liz, I hold her in high regard I really do and she's a master of what she does and I feel as a unit they all did their role and it turned over a lot of ball so really pleased for Kate."
The Silver Ferns' coach, who brought up her 50th Test in charge last night, is a realist and knows that a wounded Australia always come back hard.
"Our next bit will be can Kate do it again, that's the challenge for everyone, can we do it again."
Last night's score line will also help New Zealand's mission to hold onto the Constellation Cup.
If both sides have two wins each at the end of the series, the winner of the series will be decided by the greater goal percentage.
NZ captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio Photo: PHOTOSPORT
It was also Peta Toeava's first Test against the Diamonds. The wing attack was given a lifeline when she was named for the series after more than a year since her last test and Dame Noeline was happy with what she did.
"Especially in the first half she showed her amazing ability to thread that ball to connect with Grace [Nweke], I thought she did that really well.
"That's probably also her first game that she's played four quarters. There were moments there where I thought 'if you keep doing this you're going to get off' but hey she stuck at it and I think that's really good for our team that we are able to ride the ups and downs ... really pleased with her."
It was also shooter Grace Nweke's first full game against Australia and she did well finishing with 40 from 42.
Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who's recently returned to the side after having her second child, said it was exciting pairing with Nweke in the shooting circle.
"She's so exciting right, it's definitely coming we're working on it still, she's got such a bright future so very exciting to play with her."
Ekenasio, who brought up her 50th Test last night, admitted she felt a bit nervous before the game, her first against Australia since last year's Constellation Cup in March.
"I love the competitiveness of playing Australia and we always know that we have to get up massively for the game so I loved being back out there on court," Ekenasio said.
Grace Nweke (left) and Peta Toeava play together at the Mystics. Photo: Photosport
Dame Noeline said the sublime connection between Toeava and Nweke, who are team-mates at the Mystics, was obvious.
"I think you saw that in spasms and also that ability to let those long balls go which is a beautiful brand of netball.
"There's also that brand that we're looking for in regards to just getting it on circle edge and get your knitting done and once you get on circle edge there's nobody that can stop that one on one to Grace or any of our shooters.
"We're looking to find that balance there, I thought they both did really well and always room for improvement."
It's also very new for Ekenasio to be fed by Toeava.
"She's the most explosive player I think I've ever seen out there on court and she's so easy to read and when she backs herself she's pretty unstoppable," Ekenasio said.
The Silver Ferns got off to a flying start when they went on a 10 goal unbeaten run in the first quarter to lead 20-9 at the first break last night.
Australia closed in on the Silver Ferns - getting to within three in the third quarter but Dame Noeline didn't make any changes to her starting seven, and was pleased they worked through it.
But she knows they'll have to improve before the second Test in Tauranga on Sunday.
"I thought structure-wise the defence was really outstanding I think but attacking end we still need to just keep chipping away at the areas that we want to work on in strategy."
New Zealand defender Phoenix Karaka was named the MVP for the game.
The New Zealand coach will also be happy with the shooting accuracy with the Silver Ferns finishing with 92 percent accuracy to Australia's 79 percent.
The series heads across the Tasman for the final two games.
If the teams continue to be tied following the calculation of goal percentage, then the Constellation Cup will be retained by the Silver Ferns as they are the current holders.
