AN exceptional athlete and a thorn in the side of any attacking opponent, Morna Naquto has all the tools to become a brilliant high-level netballer.
The 18-year-old is already a star for South Mildura’s A Grade outfit and gets the opportunity to strut her stuff on the big stage when she represents Fiji in the Netball World Cup in South Africa next month.
Naquto’s outstanding defensive performance amidst a brilliant one-on-one battle with Robinvale Euston young gun Georgia Giofrelle earned her the Round 8 Netballer of the Round honours.
“I think that was one of the cleanest games I’ve played this year,” the teenager said.
“I’ve known Georgia for a while now and it’s always a good contest when we come up against each other.”
South underwent a number of changes across the off-season under new coach Sally Moore, but they sit third as the half-way point approaches this weekend.
Naquto said she has built a good defensive relationship with experienced goal keeper Sharne Lane and has enjoyed playing under Moore.
“Sally is great as a coach, she’s taught me a lot about being in defence and helping me improve,” she said.
Moore reciprocated the feelings for the youngest player in her A Grade side.
“Morna is a great netballer and a really great athlete to watch in action,” she said.
“She is more than just an athletic player though, she has great technique and we’re really lucky to have her.
“Morna has this great ability to fill space and deny her opponent room to move, and because she’s so fast, athletic and can jump she can be really hard to come up against.
“Every team has exceptional players who have some expectation on them coming into games, but I really admire the way she handles it and how she’s so unfazed about it.
“When defenders make exciting interceptions, they can really lift the mood of the team. Morna has great strengths in other positions as well but we love how she plays in goal defence.”
Moore said contingency plans are being trialled with defensive pairings when Naquto takes off in July.
“We’re lucky we have depth in that position and the fact we know her heading away is coming has meant we’ve had the ability to try different combinations to work around it,” she said.
As the SFNL netballer of the round, Naquto receives $100 courtesy of Mildura Golf Resort and Sunraysia Daily.
