Tana Umaga's TEEM Talk - Ep 20 Sulu Tone - Fitzpatrick - Played her first test for New Zealand Netball's Silver Ferns when she was 19. Has won 3 ANZ Premierships with 3 different teams. Captain of the Auckland Mystics. Co-founder of Gray Builders Ltd.

Ep 20 Sulu Tone - Fitzpatrick - Played her first test for New Zealand Netball's Silver Ferns when she was 19. Has won 3 ANZ Premierships with 3 different teams. Captain of the Auckland Mystics. Co-founder of Gray Builders Ltd.

04/07/22 • 65 min

A very honest and open conversation with current NZ Netball Silver Fern and Auckland Mystic Captain Sulu Tone - Fitzpartick.
It was great to hear her story of growth, resilience, determination, and discovery as she takes us through her journey.
Through her early years of becoming a professional netballer straight of high school as a teenager with huge potential and talent to taking the opportunity for granted and moving away from home to get more playing opportunities. Then became a mother of twins and dabbled in another sport (rugby) before she realized what she wanted to do in her life. She educated herself about what she needed to do to get her where she wanted to be. She went back to her culture and faith and with the continued support of her family she found her way through to where she wants to be, not just as a sports person but more importantly as a person and a mother.
Sulu achieved the highest individual award in 2021 being awarded the Dame Lois Muir trophy for the standout netball player in New Zealand, she is also one of the most respected. A true testament to her work ethic and tenacity.
I thoroughly enjoyed our chat and was able to pick up some gold nuggets from her story. Truly inspiring and motivating.
Make sure to have a listen.

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Previous Episode

undefined - Ep 19 Codie Taylor - 66 Test All Black and member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning squad. A Centurion for the Crusaders and a vital pillar in their 5 consecutive championships. A co-founder of Eclips3, a sports recovery drink company

Ep 19 Codie Taylor - 66 Test All Black and member of the 2015 Rugby World Cup winning squad. A Centurion for the Crusaders and a vital pillar in their 5 consecutive championships. A co-founder of Eclips3, a sports recovery drink company

Great to catch up with Codie and hear him talk about his younger days and growing up in Australia. Then returning to Levin, NZ before going off to Fielding High for his last years of school. Going from Fielding into the Canterbury Academy, following a well-trodden path led by the Whitelock brothers.
He shares about the successful culture shift of the Crusaders from when he debuted in 2013 when they had some of the greats like Ritchie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Read playing and under the coaching of Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson. The comparison to when Scott Robertson took over and brought instant success and a run of 5 consecutive Super Rugby Titles.
He's branching out into the world of business, soon to be launching his sports drink brand Eclips3. He's combining his passion for the fitness world and always looking for that 1% improvement in performance.
I really enjoyed and learning more about the man and his business. I think you will too.
Have a listen.

Next Episode

Ep 21 Charles Piutau - All Black, Wasps, Ulster, Bristol, Tonga and and co-founder of RuggerNFT's.

It was great to connect with Charles again since the last time we talked was in my role as Blues Coach and having one last chat with him before he decided to back himself and go overseas to Wasps and Ulster in Europe.
He shares about the decision-making process he went through. The difficulties in leaving his comfort zone and support structures of family and the battle within, whether he stays in NZ and strives for the dream of playing at a World Cup or takes the challenge up of earning money he never thought would be possible at his age and stage of his career. He backed himself and signed to go but missed out on that dream of playing at the World Cup.
He uses that to drive him to become one of the marquee players of Europe with Wasps, Ulster, and now Bristol and also being one of the highest-paid players in the world. He also has the opportunity to achieve that childhood dream of playing at a World Cup with Tonga after the recent change in eligibility rules by World Rugby.
He also talks about his thoughts about life after sport and how he’s got into NFT’s and the property market.
An enjoyable episode that we get to hear about his journey which was not the normal pathway that we’re used to seeing but he’s made the most of it through his determined mindset, a chip on his shoulder, and skills as his currency.
Make sure to listen in.