There’s little wiggle room on the ANZ Premiership points table as we look ahead to the Trident Homes Tactix away game against the Steel in Dunedin on Sunday. We talk to goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit about another must-win match for the Tactix, her new combination with Aliyah Dunn, and her goals during a World Cup year.
It’s a very congested ANZ Premiership points table – how do the Tactix ensure they keep building over the business end of the season?
For us we have to keep improving each week. We’ve had some really good games where we’ve been more consistent, but there’s been some games where we’ve let ourselves down, maybe a quarter here or there. If we can just keep building towards a full 60 minutes that would be really good for us going into the business end of the competition.
What has it been like working alongside Aliyah Dunn and what has worked well in the combination?
We’ve played a little bit together, when she filled in for a couple of times for the Steel, but this is our first time properly playing together and it’s gone well. I think we’ve got better and better as the season has gone on. Aliyah’s so solid out the back – she makes us look good sometimes the way she pulls in some pretty tough ball and she’s such an accurate shooter. I think we’re really honest with each other which works well. She tells me what she wants, she’s a big target and presents really well, and she’s accurate. Being able to communicate is important – when I’m looking for her, spotting her, that’s when we play our best. I need to keep trusting that she can get those balls and putting them into her as much as possible.
What motivates you?
Winning, I love to win. I love it when you build combinations with a team, and you can just build those invisible threads and you just keep improving and things finally start to click. I’ve won (the ANZ Premiership) a couple of times for the Steel but I really want to get the Tactix’ first ever championship – that’s what motivates me.
How do you overcome nerves/pressure on game day?
I just try and stick to my processes, and I don’t like to change too much whether there’s a lot on the line or not. I just like to keep to the same things. I’ve probably been around a while now, so I sort of know how to calm the nerves when I need to. I just try to focus on a couple of things rather than trying to do too many things.
The Steel are sitting at the bottom of the points table, but how tough will they be at home?
Really tough! They’ve got such great fans who get in behind them and even though they haven’t had a win yet, they’re still a really good side. They had a close game with the Stars and are doing some good things out on court, so we definitely still respect them. They’ve got some great players – some experience and some exciting young players. We still consider them a tough opposition to come up against.
It’s a big year with the World Cup – is it something that’s always in the back of the mind when you step out on court?
Not when I step on court, what I try to focus on is just my team and doing my job really well. Obviously, everyone wants to be in that World Cup team. It’s definitely one of the goals for me at the end of the season but I try not to let it get in the way of my preparation for the game. I just try to stick to what I do best and nail my preparation like I do for every other game.
Do you have a pre-game routine?
I pretty much eat the same things and I always like to have a nap before games. I do the same things that have worked for me the last few years – definitely getting a good hour nap on game day!
What’s your favourite music to listen to pre-game?
I don’t really have one genre that I like to listen to – my playlist has got a mix of country music, rap music, R&B, hip-hop, some Maori songs in there and I like old school music as well. There’s not one single thing that I like, it’s a real mix.
What’s your favourite pre-game food?
I always have crumpets with butter and golden syrup – I love them. It’s a must have before every game I play.
