West Coast Fever and Australian Diamonds midcourter Verity Charles says she’s ready to play whatever role is required of her on the National Teams’ tour of New Zealand.
Charles was selected in the Diamonds squad after a career-best season in 2020, where she finished the season with 317 goal assists, building on her strong combination with Fever’s attacking end.
The Diamonds departed Australia earlier this week for New Zealand, with the team now completing a range of quarantine requirements.
Charles said she understood how lucky she was to be able to play netball during a global pandemic.
“With everything that’s going on in the world, it’s so fortunate that we’re able to get a game in,” she said.
“My focus personally is just around ‘how good is it that we’re able to go and play the sport we love?’ It’s even better that it’s against New Zealand, one of the world’s best.”
“So, I’m just embracing the opportunity, I’m excited for it.”
The Diamonds squad has a strong Fever flavour to it, with Charles selected alongside Courtney Bruce and Jess Anstiss, while Stacey Marinkovich embarks on her first tour as the national coach, alongside Fever’s Performance Analyst, Gary Dawson, who has been selected into the national environment.
“To have a few teammates with you is always lovely, but I think you have to go over and prepare your own way,” Charles said.
“I don’t think I get nervous anymore. I’m just enjoying my netball. I love this sport and I love the game, and I simply live by ‘control the controllable.’ So, if I get out there and get a shot, great, if not I will do my bit on the side.”
The Constellation Cup kicks off on Tuesday 2 March and Wednesday 3 March in Christchurch, before heading to Tauranga for matches on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March.
All Constellation Cup matches will be broadcast live on Nine, 9Gem and the Netball Live Official App.
