Kia ora Sue-Ann & Nick,

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It’s been a whirlwind returning home, and I’ve finally had a moment to sit down and send this email.

Thank you both for everything you did over the past year to get us ready to hit the GC. Your patience as I found my feet in a new role, and your guidance as I navigated a tour I’d never experienced before, meant a great deal. I’ve learnt so much, especially from the moments where things didn’t go to plan. I went into this with rose‑coloured glasses and have come home with eyes wide open, and I’m genuinely grateful that my first tour was in your safe and experienced hands.

From our players’ perspective… WOW. What an experience of a lifetime. The skills they gained on the road to the GC, the quality of netball they were exposed to, and the breadth of experiences they enjoyed were incredible. A standout was the friendships they formed with players from other teams; genuine connections built through shared competition, conversations, and simply putting themselves out there. Their confidence on opening night was another special moment; watching them go from “We have to do what?” to performing proudly was unforgettable.

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I also want to acknowledge the incredible attention to detail put into ensuring umpires had a positive, meaningful experience. The way you supported them, included them, and created opportunities for connection was awesome. Meeting kiwi umpires who hadn’t been home in quite some time was really special and the moment our girls gifted the tino rangatiratanga flag to one of them was a true highlight. It was heartfelt, thoughtful, and perfectly captured the spirit of the tour.

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On behalf of our players, their whānau, and our supporters, thank you for making this experience what it was.

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Warm regards,

Jacqui