As a fresh-faced defender sitting on the bench of the Tactix over 10 years ago, Jane Watson never dreamed of reaching a milestone match in the famed red-and-black dress.
But as she approaches Sunday’s ANZ Premiership game against the Southern Steel at Christchurch Arena, where she will become just the second Tactix centurion, the loyal Cantabrian recognises it will be a special moment.
And she expects it to be an emotional one with her family, including young daughter Tia, on hand to help mark the occasion.
“Not many people can actually reach 100 games, especially in one province representing their region, so yes, I am proud of that,” Watson admits.
“I’m not normally an emotional person but when my family are involved, I think I will be come Sunday.”
Born in Christchurch, Watson grew up in South Canterbury with her first love of a round-ball code on the football field. It wasn’t until she moved to Oamaru as a boarder at secondary school that she really found her place on a netball court.
A shift to Christchurch and with strong links to Lincoln University netball, it wasn’t long before Watson was selected for the Tactix, making her debut as a young defender in the former trans-Tasman competition in 2012.
But the need for a change prompted a move south to the Steel in 2015 where she took her game to a new level, earning her call-up into the Silver Ferns just a year later and helping the southern side win a league title in 2017 as well as claiming the Premiership’s season MVP the same year.
“The time I had with Steel was amazing,” Watson said. “It was time for a change which I needed as a person.”
The decision to return home to Christchurch for the 2018 season was a bold move – making the switch from a Premiership-winning side to a club that was struggling to find a winning recipe on and off court.
“I knew it was going to be massive,” Watson said of the shift. “Obviously the Tactix had been bottom of the table for a very long time and I think they didn’t quite have a High Performance environment. It was something I really wanted to try and help implement by coming back because I think the Steel had done a very good job of that.
“To come back and to have so much growth in myself and a franchise has been really awesome and I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here.
“But it’s not only on one person, so many people have had an input into it. People from the past have added value to the legacy as well – there’s a long line of people who have got us to where we are today.”
Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek is clear that the defender’s return has been instrumental in the turn-around for the club.
“Jane brings that no nonsense attitude, she’s a straight talker so if things aren’t 100 per cent she’s there leading the way. On court, obviously she’s a massive contributor and a world class player,” she said.
“She’s that person that drives the culture behind the scenes – she’s been influential in being able to turn this team around on and off the court.”
Delaney-Hoshek said the new mum was also fiercely loyal to the region and proud to pull on the red-and-black dress whenever she stepped on court.
“She is a loyal local girl, and she wants to win this (ANZ Premiership) for the region which is part of the drive for her. I think she can be really proud of what she’s achieved.”
For Watson – who becomes just the second Tactix player to reach 100 games behind Anna Kennedy (nee Thompson, 131 Tactix games) – the opportunity to play a milestone match in front of a home crowd is significant and she is looking forward to being able to celebrate it with the fans, her team-mates, and her family.
“It’s really special to be able to got out on court for them and wear the red-and-black for them. To celebrate with these guys is awesome and to have my family there, and my daughter – it will be incredibly special.”
- The Trident Homes Tactix meet the Steel at Christchurch Arena in Christchurch on Sunday at 4pm, live on Sky TV
