Teenager making her mark at Kia Magic
Press Release April 10, 2014
Quiet and unassuming off-court, Kia Magic defender Jamie-Lee Price has not taken a backward step since being handed a starter’s bib two weeks ago in the ANZ Championship netball competition.
Emerging from the schoolgirl ranks this year, the teenager has done her talking on the court, showing a range of the attributes needed to succeed in the semi-professional ranks despite her tender years. Getting her first start four games into the competition, Price, 18, has relished the opportunity of mixing it with the game’s best, shying away from nothing with her strong through court driving play and ability to win turnover ball and at times earning a ticking off from the umpires for her robustness.
Co-captain of last year’s New Zealand Secondary Schools team with Magic team-mate Samantha Sinclair, it has been a rapid rise for Price, and something of a surprise that things have happened so quickly for her.
``It was always a dream (to get the starting bib) but I didn’t think it would be so soon,’’ she said. ``I’m loving the level of play and the step up in intencity.’’
Being one of Magic’s development players last year while still at Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland laid the foundations for Price’s leap forward this year after playing just a quarter of a game in 2013.
``Last year really did help me get a feel for things while also helping me get more motivated to do better,’’ she said.
The level-headed Price is well aware she is still in the infancy of her career and reluctant to look too far ahead. For now, the focus for the New Zealand under-21 squad member is solely on Magic and continuing to build on her skills and game development.
Born in Australia, Price came to New Zealand when she was eight and has now lived over half her life on this side of the Tasman.
``I would like to cement my spot in the New Zealand under-21s over the coming years and in the long term, it would be a real dream to represent the Silver Ferns if the opportunity presented,’’ she said.
Price, who this year is boarding in Cambridge with team-mate Malia Paseka, is enjoying the freedom of no school and no commuting from Auckland and just being able to concentrate on netball.
She also works part-time at HamiltonGirlsHigh School in the sport administration office.
Price is thriving in the Magic environment and has to pinch herself every so often when realising she’s sharing the defence line with two of the game’s greats in Silver Ferns Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin.
``I think I’m pretty lucky being alongside two pretty experienced defenders,’’ she said in her understated way. ``I’m learning a lot from them, getting plenty of advice and just playing alongside them is fantastic.
``There have been changes (at Magic) but it’s a great environment. I’m really enjoying it, it’s a nice family environment and everyone gets along with each other. We know when to have fun and when to be serious.
``I love the way Julie (Fitzgerald) coaches and she’s really helping all of us improve our games.’’
Jane Hunt
Kia Magic media liaison
Ph: 021-107-0287
