Former Silver Ferns' captain Katrina Rore made a lot of netball fans happy today after confirming she's not done with the sport just yet.
The world class defender has signed with the Magic for the 2022 ANZ Premiership season.
There had been a lot of speculation swirling about whether Rore would join the Magic after having her first child four months ago.
Katrina Rore wore Pulse colours for 11 years. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2019 www.photosport.nz
"People even saying I was in the team before I had even thought about potentially re-signing and seeing if it was something I wanted to do or could do ...so many things going through my mind.
"Now the decision has been made I'm feeling good about it. It will be a massive challenge but it will be so cool playing with mates as well," Rore said.
The former Silver Fern is now based in Rotorua with her husband Joel and daughter LilyBud.
She had been talking with the Magic for a while but said quite a few things had to fall in place for it to become a possibility.
"I just obviously had Lily and moved to a new area so I needed to make sure that everything was in place before I even thought about leaving my daughter to go back to work.
"But so many Mums go back to work and I thought why not go back and do something that I love and enjoy and a massive challenge.
"It's the only team that I was willing to go to as I didn't want to travel, we weren't going to move, this is where we are based now so it was the Magic or nothing for me for next year."
Rore confirmed earlier this month she was moving to Rotorua and leaving the Pulse after 11 years.
The 34-year-old was captain for 10 of those and won two titles with the Pulse.
Katrina Rore won two titles with the Pulse. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"I never thought I would play for any other franchise if I'm to be perfectly honest but it is what it is, life moves around, life changes tack. I'm pretty happy about it, something new, new environment, new people, new challenge."
Rore will join former Pulse team-mates Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Claire Kersten, who were also stalwarts of the Wellington based franchise for a number of years.
In 2022 the Magic will look very different to the side that finished at the bottom of the ladder this year,
Silver Ferns' shooter Bailey Mes also announced her move to the franchise last week.
"I've been talking to her [Bailey] a bit as well, I've got some good mates in the team. And Sam Winders has helped me out, even to sit down and ask her a few things about the team and the region. It's been on my mind, but not set in stone until today to be honest."
The Magic will have a defence-heavy squad next year. Rore joins incumbants Erena Mikaere and Georgia Tong, as well as Oceane Maihi, who's coming down from the Stars.
Rore, a ferocious trainer, recently got back into some cross-fit training before lockdown put a hold on that.
"It was quite nice to get back into a routine of getting up, feeding Lily, going straight to the gym and coming home, just to get that training in. I was starting to really love it and getting back to a little bit of strength and a little bit of fitness ...but I've got a long way to go before I can probably hit the court any time soon.
"Pre-season's going to hurt me a lot," Rore laughed.
Rore is the fourth most capped Silver Ferns' player of all time and was part of the 2019 Netball World Cup champion side.
Katrina Rore celebrating gold at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool Photo: © SWpix.com (t/a Photography Hub Ltd)
The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham is the last piece of silverware the Ferns are targeting next year.
The last time the Ferns won a gold medal at the pinnacle event was at the 2010 Delhi Games. Rore was on court when New Zealand won in double extra-time.
No one matches that kind of experience in the recently named Silver Ferns' squads.
But Rore is one of a number of players on return to play plans being managed by Netball NZ in consultation with ANZ Premiership teams.
So does she have her eye on the Commonwealth Games next year?
"I feel like I need to get through an ANZ season and see where I'm at and if my passion for it is still there to go for higher honours or not and actually see if I can still play to that level. I don't want to do anyone any disservice and myself getting out there and not being able to perform the way that I want to."
Rore joins a growing number of Silver Ferns who have recently come back or are in the process of returning after having a baby.
"I talked to Casey [Kopua] quite a lot, both coming back from having a baby and playing for the Magic, which she knows a lot about.
"There's so many people to call on. I even text Phoenix [Karaka] and Kayla [Johnson] a lot as well, ask them what they've done. It's quite cool that we've got a wee Mum base and we can feed off each other and bounce ideas off each other as well, which has been really cool.
"I'm motivated by the chance for Lilybud and Joel to come and cheer me on, having fun and playing with my mates along with the challenge of a new environment."
Head coach Mary-Jane Araroa is thrilled to add Rore's talents to her now completed 2022 line-up.
"Adding a defender with the skills and experience of Katrina is massive for our side. She is a proven game changer and we all look forward to what she will bring not only on the court, but also the knowledge she offers within our group," Araroa said.