Catherine Latu
Encyclopedia
Cathrine Latu is a New Zealand netball
player. Latu was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand U21 teams, and debuted in the National Bank Cup
with the Northern Force
in 2005. She continued with the team for a further two years, and remained in Auckland with the start of the ANZ Championship
in 2008, playing for the new Northern Mystics
franchise.
Of mixed Polynesian and European descent, Latu played at international level for Samoa during the 2007 Netball World Championships
in Auckland. She also played in a World VII team in two tests series against New Zealand and Australia in 2009.
After a lacklustre first season in the ANZ Championship, the Northern Mystics announced broad changes to their playing lineup for 2009. Fijian international and former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu
was retained, while English shooter Pamela Cookey
was also brought in as an import player. Latu was also given an exemption from Netball New Zealand
to play with the Mystics as a third "ineligible" player, after announcing that she would wait out the required four-year stand-down period before committing to the Silver Ferns
after 2011.
Latu remained with the Northern Mystics in 2010 and 2011, partnering in the shooting circle with Maria Tutaia
. With the expected retirement of Silver Ferns veteran shooter Irene van Dyk
after 2011, Latu is widely predicted to join Tutaia as a possible Silver Ferns shooting combination.
Latu has signed with the Northern Mystics once again for the 2012 season.
After completing her four year stand down period, Latu was selected in the Silver Ferns Team in September 2011, and is expected to debut against England in October
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player. Latu was a member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand U21 teams, and debuted in the National Bank Cup
National Bank Cup
The National Bank Cup was the pre-eminent national netball competition in New Zealand between 1998 and 2007. From 2008, it was replaced by the ANZ Championship.-Format:...
with the Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
in 2005. She continued with the team for a further two years, and remained in Auckland with the start of the ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
in 2008, playing for the new Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
franchise.
Of mixed Polynesian and European descent, Latu played at international level for Samoa during the 2007 Netball World Championships
2007 Netball World Championships
The 2007 World Netball Championships was the 12th staging of the World Netball Championships, a quadrennial international netball world championship co-ordinated by the International Federation of Netball Associations , inaugurated in 1963....
in Auckland. She also played in a World VII team in two tests series against New Zealand and Australia in 2009.
After a lacklustre first season in the ANZ Championship, the Northern Mystics announced broad changes to their playing lineup for 2009. Fijian international and former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu
Vilimaina Davu
Vilimaina Davu is a Fijian and New Zealand netball player, who has represented both countries in international netball as a goal keeper. She has also played basketball at an international level.-Netball career:...
was retained, while English shooter Pamela Cookey
Pamela Cookey
Pamela Cookey is an English netball player, usually posted to goal attack . Cookey was a surprise inclusion in the England national netball team as a seventeen-year-old, for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but was unable to participate due to a knee injury...
was also brought in as an import player. Latu was also given an exemption from Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.Other competitions overseen include:*ANZ Championship – Premier Domestic Competition...
to play with the Mystics as a third "ineligible" player, after announcing that she would wait out the required four-year stand-down period before committing to the Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
after 2011.
Latu remained with the Northern Mystics in 2010 and 2011, partnering in the shooting circle with Maria Tutaia
Maria Tutaia
Solonaima Maria Tuta'ia is a New Zealand international netball player. She can play at goal attack and goal shooter, and stands at 1.88 m....
. With the expected retirement of Silver Ferns veteran shooter Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk
Irene van Dyk, MNZM is one of the world's best-known netball players and the most capped player of all time....
after 2011, Latu is widely predicted to join Tutaia as a possible Silver Ferns shooting combination.
Latu has signed with the Northern Mystics once again for the 2012 season.
After completing her four year stand down period, Latu was selected in the Silver Ferns Team in September 2011, and is expected to debut against England in October