Having recently arrived home from a successful World Youth cup campaign, Northern Stars players Maia Wilson and Fa’amu Ioane and the rest of their jubilant NZU21 team, have reaffirmed the healthy state of Netball in New Zealand after their history-making feats in Botswana.

Bleary-eyed after their long-haul flight, Maia and Fa’amu were still on cloud nine on Wednesday and there was a high level of excitement emanating from the group who successfully defended their Netball World Youth Cup title in Gaborone on Sunday.

Since the inception of the four-yearly tournament in 1988, it was the first time New Zealand had won back-to-back titles, toppling old rivals Australia by three goals in the final of the 2017 edition to clinch a fourth trophy.

For Stars teenage shooter Wilson, who has already made the grade as a Silver Fern, and despite her tender years, also represented New Zealand at basketball, the experience has added to a burgeoning high-performance profile.

With her Stars teammate Ioane, playing primarily in her specialist WD position throughout the tournament, Wilson was a tower of strength under the hoop as the NZU21s sailed into the final with consummate ease.

“It was quite nerve-wracking heading into the final,” Wilson said.

“We hadn’t really been tested a lot before the Australian game. We were confident in our structures and what we were doing but still a little anxious about what we could do out there. But I guess the score (60-57) says it all.”

The other side of the equation was the event being played on the African continent for the first time, many of the NZU21s never having travelled further than Australia.

“All the what ifs that we prepared for went wrong,” Wilson said. “But I think it was awesome for our management and team to adapt to the African way of life and be a part of something special.

“Learning a new culture and meeting new people while getting to go on safaris and do stuff outside of netball was really important as well. Overall, it was just an amazing experience and we got to pat some lion cubs. How cool is that? Not many people get to do that every day.”

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