The veteran midcourter signed on again with the all-conquering Steel earlier this week despite facing a long recovery.
The 32-year-old ruptured her Achilles tendon in the Super Club final against the Mystics just before halftime.
It was immediately obvious the injury was serious. Frew needed assistance leaving the court and tears streamed down her cheeks.
"As soon as I went down I looked around and thought someone was clawing up the back of my leg," Frew said.
"It kind of sunk in straight away that what I’d done was pretty obvious, really."
The timing could not have been worse for Frew. She had just received a Silver Ferns trial call-up and was looking forward to pushing for a spot in the national side.
The combative wing defence made one appearance for the Ferns in 2008 and the injury has probably snuffed out any chance she had of adding to her record. It also made her reconsider her future with the Steel but Frew decided this was not how her career would end.
"I don’t want to end on a note like that — going off at halftime and not being able to finish the game. And I think it is going to be really good motivation for me coming back next year."
The good news is the operation went well and the surgeon is pleased with Frew’s progress. The bad news is she will be on crutches for four months and the road back will be difficult.
But Frew is a battler. She needed 70 stitches after the team bus she was travelling in was struck by another vehicle at an intersection in Christchurch two days before the team’s match against the Mainland Tactix in June.
She was not able to play in the game but she made sure she was courtside to provide support. The image of her with a crutch in one arm and a giant bandage covering most of her left leg sums up her resolve and commitment to the team.
And that is exactly how she plans to approach her rehabilitation and the rest of her career.
"I’m not going to get back on the court until I’m 100%. If that means other players play in front of me and deserve to be out there, then I’m going to accept that and just make sure, if I’m on the court, it is what is best for the team."
Next season will be Frew’s 16th season of top level netball, which is quite an achievement. She brought up 100 games for the franchise last year and has remained fiercely loyal.
That unwavering commitment was rewarded this season with the Steel winning 21 consecutive games to claim both the ANZ Premiership title and the Super Cup trophy.
The season looked like it might be a springboard for Frew to relaunch her international career but that was scuppered by her injury.
"It was heartbreaking and it has been a tough week this week because I would have been getting on the plane and going to Auckland for the trials.
"I was out of the mix for a long time and to finally get the nod was pretty exciting and I was really focused and looking forward to the challenge."
