SILVER FERNS LEGEND CAT: BACK FROM ROCK BOTTOM!

After losing her dream job, the netball star is back on the court for a very different squad

- Kelly Bertrand

You just can't keep a good woman down. After a cruel professional blow last year saw Cathrine Tuivaiti questioning her future in netball, the former Silver Fern is the picture of triumph as she chats to Woman's Day, having just been announced in the Tonga Tala squad for this month's Netball World Cup an invitation that took Cat quite by surprise.

"To be asked to be a part of such a historic moment for our people is humbling," she says. "This group is special. I can't believe my family and I get to join this part of the story. I'm absolutely excited and truly believe we can add some spice. We should not be discounted!" It was a different story just nine months ago, when Cat, 36, was in a "rough place" Having just secured her dream job as head coach of an English Super League franchise, life should have been rosy for the legendary goal shoot.

She'd left her husband, professional rugby player Jimmy, 35, in Italy and moved to the UK with their two boys, Sebastian, three, and Leonardo, one, to take up the role at Wasps Netball. But her dream gig came tumbling down when the club's parent company went into administration without the team ever taking the court. All staff lost their jobs, including Cat.

"Honestly, it set me back emotionally I didn't even open my laptop for four months after that," she tells. "I was like, 'My God, what just happened?!""

But now, as she reflects on a crazy 12 months during a whistle-stop visit back to Aotearoa, Cat is absolutely fizzing at life's turn of events not that any of it was supposed to happen.

"I swear, this wasn't part of the plan!" she laughs on more than one occasion during our chat. But as she says, when has anything ever gone as planned? The past few years have been topsy turvy for Cat (née Latu) and former North Harbour rugby star Jimmy, who wed in 2016, before welcoming Sebastian, aka Bash, in 2019, followed by Leo in 2021.