https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/neptunes-sister-power-finally-a-reality-before-pandemic-kicks-in/news-story/3697f765e856e85d6468fbbb8a3cb465 THERE were many setbacks that had kept the Mocelutu sisters from sharing the netball court. Before the 2020 Townsville premier league season began, Neptunes duo Kathleen and Estel suffered three season-ending injuries between them, preventing the prospect of lining up together. But their round one win against Saints marked the culmination of years of hard work and rehabilitation. As the senior sibling, Kathleen’s heart swells a touch when she takes the court with her younger teammate. Passing the modesty test, she said Estel was the better of the two and had all the tools at her disposal to crack the professional ranks. “Me being the oldest I’m quite sentimental in a way. I get a little bit emotional about watching her play,” Kathleen said.
“I think she’s much better than I’ll ever be, she’s a beautiful player and I think we’re really lucky to be on the same court. “To get a win that first game was amazing, every ball I got through she was there as back up. We can read each other quite well and if our teammates aren’t there I know she’ll be.” Estel, who is currently completing her final year of school, said her sights were still set on making a name for herself on the court — potentially one day for the Queensland Firebirds. Having her older sister as a sounding board and training partner has proven beneficial to her development as a player, particularly when she sustained an ACL injury in 2018. Kathleen had already suffered the same injury twice before and knew the ins and outs of how to cope with the setback. Together they overcame those hurdles to feature in the Neptunes premier league line up for the first time this year, where they have transformed the other into even better athletes. "We’re very competitive and I think being competitive between each other does push us,” Estel said. “But I don’t think it’s in a bad way, on the court when we play together it’s not a competition between us, I think if one of us are playing well the other one does as well.” Despite the pandemic-enforced season suspension the Mocelutu’s are doing everything they can to stay sharp. Having built momentum as a Neptunes unit in a surge to the top of the table, they are eager to continue their premiership charge should the season resume. A proficient home gym set up and a diverse range of netball knowledge keep each player learning off the other. Whether the season resumes on April 20 as originally pencilled or not, the sisters have prepared their own training programs to return as the truest title contender. “We’re quite critical of each other, which can be a good or bad thing – it can lead to a few fights," Kathleen said. “I think it helps us improve our skills, due to both of us begin in different positions we get to try a few different things. “We were starting to peak as a team … so we’re hoping to hit the ground running when it comes back.”
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AuthorI covered a vast range of sports and issues in my time with the Bulletin. Archives
June 2020
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