From retirement to redemption: Pedersen leads Tactix to glory

Mainland Tactix captain Erikana Pedersen's reason for returning from retirement paid off as the Canterbury-based team brought the New Zealand Premiership title home over the weekend.

The Tactix stunned the Northern Mystics 58-46 at Auckland’ Spark Arena on Sunday, ending its 28-year wait for a national netball crown.

Speaking to Latonya Lole on Pacific Huddle, Pedersen says the reason for making her netball comeback is personal.

“The Tactix have always had a special place in my heart,” Pedersen says.

“One of the main reasons I decided to come back is that the Tactix have never won a championship before, so that was in the forefront of my mind.

“I really wanted to bring that trophy home for the people in the mainland area.

“I know this region has been through so much adversity and resilience over the last years, so that was important to me coming back.”

Prior to the final, Pedersen has proudly played more than 100 matches for the Tactix, with Christchurch becoming her “second home”.

Pedersen’s leadership is felt both on and off the court, , and this season she says she has focused on empowering people to be themselves in this environment.

“I know when you're a young athlete and you come into a team, you're nervous and scared to say what you feel,” Pedersen says.

“But that was important to me, to have those young ones or the ones with less experience feel confident in themselves and what they bring to the team and have their say.

“We’ve created that culture this season.

“You see the likes of Paris Lokotui, who's been around but she is less experienced if you think of all the experience that we have; and you think of Holly Mather, who this is her first contract season.

“If you look at our bench even, that is a testament of our culture.

“You watch them and they are so in it, they are playing every play with us.

“They are standing up the whole game…That's cool for our team.”

Tactix star Paris Lokotui, right, is dedicated her fifth year in netball to her family. Photo/Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

The Tactix’ victory is not only historic for the franchise, but for veterans who returned for one last shot.

Pedersen, Jane Watson, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, and Ellie Bird have all endured two grand final defeats in 2020 and 2021.

Speaking to RNZ, Tactix coach Donna Wilkins says their continued return is because they want to win a championship.

“That's what I'm most proud of how they've got it,” Wilkins says.

“We had a lot of people doubting us, you know as they should, we came to Mystics territory, they were number one but we knew we could do it, we had the full belief, we've trained our butts off.

“The last few weeks in particular our intensity at training sessions has been unreal… we've been coming out of them exhausted.”

Watch Erikana Pedersen’s full interview below.

After enduring seven major surgeries, including an ACL reconstruction, Pedersen says her resilience is built on both support and smart preparation.

Reflecting on her sports journey, she says it has been a roller coaster.

“Sport has taught me a lot and given me a lot of tools that I can use during life,which has honestly been my biggest takeaway,” Pedersen says.

“I always go back to the people - if there weren't such great people in the sport, I wouldn't be coming back each season.

“I've made some of my best friends, lifelong friends that I know that I'll have with me throughout my whole life.

“The people are the one thing that keeps you coming back, so I'd say those two things.”