And the roles were soon reversed when Kate was announced as the Silver Ferns fan favourite.
For Georgia, the accolade was even more merited after sustaining an ACL knee injury in 2020.
Testament to her determination, her return to the elite ranks this season included selection in the New Zealand development team and Fast5 Ferns.
She had surprised herself through her rehab journey and was proud to have come back stronger.
“I knew I was really hungry to come back better than before my injury but you just never really know.
"I guess everyone who goes through injuries like this, their journeys are all so different."
Being elevated to the national squads ticked off another goal.
“I was so grateful for that opportunity. It was my first exposure to that level and I love it. It made me more determined to keep going.
“I did not expect the Aspiring Silver Fern award but I’m really stoked. Obviously, the end goal is to be a Silver Fern one day and it would be so cool to do it alongside Kate."
Kate, a revelation in the Silver Ferns midcourt, was “super proud" of her twin.
“She’s done so well and it’s just so cool to see her get some recognition for all the hard work," Kate said.
"The way she trains and talks about her netball, she really is aspiring to be a Silver Fern, which is awesome."
The comeback has been a journey of discovery for Georgia, learning how strong she is and how much she wanted to get back on the court.
"I didn’t have netball and that hurt and made me hungry to come back," she said.
"I’m just so much mentally stronger and that was the biggest part for me.
"Pressure as a shooter is huge but I was able to come back on to the court and not think about the injury.
Although not physically impacted, Kate shared many aspects of Georgia’s trauma and "cried like a baby" when it happened.
"I knew it wasn’t good. I did see her out of the corner of my eye fall ... think it was the way she looked at me straight away," Kate said.
“It was awful watching her not only get injured and go down, but having to watch her go through some pretty tough days of rehab afterwards.
“I always knew she was going to come back and she was going to come back better.
"After all the initial shock, I could tell that Georgia had moved on to the next job and that was getting herself right. I just had to move on too and support her rehab."
The pair, who grew up in Tapanui, clicked with netball early and Kate said she missed her sister on the court during her rehab.
“The year she was injured and she wasn’t around wasn’t as fun for me. We definitely don’t take it for granted.
"If we found ourselves in teams without the other, we realised ‘oh, this isn’t as much fun’ so we’re pretty grateful."
Shooter Grace Nweke and defender Kelly Jury shared the Dame Lois Muir supreme award last night.
Nweke was also named Silver Ferns player of the year.
Yvette McCausland-Durie won ANZ Premiership coach of the year — she previously won the award in 2019 — and Southland’s Kristie Simpson won back-to-back umpire of the year awards.
In the National Netball League, Central Manawa’s Ainsleyana Puleiata and Anna Andrews-Tasola were recognised as player and coach of the year, while Michelle Stagg was named the national league umpire of the year. Kaiya Kepa was named secondary schools player of the year.
Rachel Smith received the outstanding contribution to netball by a technical official award and long-serving New Zealand Netball Players Association board member Tim Lythe was honoured for his contribution.
By: Staff reporter
