Promising midcourter Teuila Sotutu has been added to the Robinhood Stars roster as a pre-season training partner for the upcoming ANZ Premiership season.
The 19-year-old replaces Tori Kolose, who has joined the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic’s full-time squad as an injury replacement.
Sotutu has been in the Northern Comets system and was named in the New Zealand Under 21s squad ahead this year’s Netball World Youth Cup.
She comes from great sporting pedigree and is the sister of All Blacks and Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu, while her father Waisake played rugby for Fiji, the Blues and Crusaders.
Stars coach Kiri Wills is looking forward to seeing what Sotutu makes of the opportunity.
“She has got some serious pace and has already shown us she can be a handful to defend. She has lovely touches on the feed into the shooters," Wills said.
“By pre-season at Ōtaki she will have settled right into our squad and I am looking forward to Teuila and Greer Sinclair putting a stake in the ground and showing the NZU21 selectors what they are capable of."
While Kolose’s departure to the Magic is bittersweet, Wills said she thoroughly deserved her shot at regular court time this campaign.
"All the training partners we have want to be contracted players, either as a replacement in teams if they aren't picked straight up at contracting time. We are really pleased for Tori that she has got her opportunity with the Magic."
“She has worked incredibly hard over the off season attending every team session that we had. We miss her, she's such a great team person and a great addition to any team and we know she will make the most of this opportunity."
