Malesaia injury replacement for Pulse
- Dave Worsley
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
Shooter Amorangi Malesala has been contracted to Pulse as a replacement player for an injured Khiarna Williams ahead of the ANZ Premiership netball season.
It’s another setback for the luckless Williams, who also spent time out last season, and is set for another stint of rehabbing after injuring a shoulder during the pre-season tournament in Ōtaki earlier this month.
Williams will be sidelined for several weeks but is expected to make a return during the season.
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Signed on as a training partner for Magic this season, it’s been a landscape-changing few days for Malesala.
``This was certainly a surprise but I guess when you’re in the position of being a training partner you’ve got to be prepared for these sorts of opportunities and I’m really grateful to be down here in Wellington with the Pulse,’’ she said.
``For many years, I’ve played against the Pulse and just from the outside looking in, it always seems like they’re a tight-knit group. So, being here to be able to experience what it’s like, how they do trainings and just the relationships off the court, has been really awesome to see in the short time I’ve been here and I’m really enjoying it.
``With injuries these opportunities happen and it’s similar to what happened to me last year (with the Stars), another player came in for me and took the opportunity, so you’ve just got to take everything as it comes and now I want to put my best foot forward every time I take the court.’’
With the Stars for four years, Malesala, 26, had a breakout season in 2023, making the most of her increased opportunities where she excelled with her variety, deceptive skill set and ice-cool ability to shoot from long range.
That strong form earned her a spot in the 2023-24 Silver Ferns Development squad and she was subsequently selected in the Silver Ferns squad for the Nations Cup in England in 2024, going on to make her international debut against the hosts. Possessing a calm demeanour, the strongly-built shooter provides explosive impact through clever movement and ball-handling skills.
Dogged by injury last year, Malesala is looking to make the most of her unexpected opportunity which coincides with rule innovations for the upcoming season, most notably the two-point shot, which comes into play for the last five minutes of each quarter with points worth double from the 3.5m range, a scenario for which she would seem tailor-made.
``I enjoy the two-point shot,’’ she said. ``I think it adds a lot of elements to our game. It’s probably exciting from a supporter’s perspective but as a playing group, we’re still training to navigate what that looks like.
``It remains crucial to score the one-pointers as much as it is to score the twos and will come down to which teams are the most clinical but I think the Pulse are a side that can really go all the way with this new rule.’’
Malesala will get her first game-time in Christchurch this weekend in the last formal hit-out for the Pulse before the season-proper starts, during the Tactix-hosted pre-season tournament which also involves the Steel and Christchurch Men’s team.
``We’re very grateful and fortunate to have gained the calibre of player we have in Amorangi at such short notice and for what she will bring to the Pulse,’’ said Netball Central/Pulse Director of High Performance Waimarama Taumaunu.
``She’s a classy player who will add plenty of value and variety to our playing group and we’re delighted to have her on board.’’
The Pulse open their 2025 campaign against the Magic in Palmerston North on May 10.
