Adorning the flat of Dunedin's new sporting couple are two giant wall planners.
One is colourfully decorated with a yellow highlighter and dotted with Leana Barrett-Chase's training and playing schedule for the Steel. In the other, Highlanders' midfielder Johnny Leota has mapped out his Super 14 season.
Somewhere in between, the couple might actually get to spend some time together. ‘‘We'll probably only see each other one or two days a week,'' Barrett-Chase said.
‘‘But we're just used to being away from each other because we're always away with teams.'' The sports-mad pair met eight years ago while playing touch rugby together in Palmerston North and have a 5-year old daughter, Brooklyn.
With mum and dad rarely home, Brooklyn lives with her grandparents in Palmerston North. It is a big sacrifice which tugs at the heartstrings. But both Barrett-Chase (23) and Leota (24) have supportive extended families.
Barrett-Chase had her first training session with the Steel in Invercargill during the weekend and was impressed. ‘‘Everyone looks good,'' Barrett-Chase said of the newly formed Otago-Southland combined side.
‘‘We had a game on Sunday [against the Southland men's team] and everyone just gelled well. ‘‘The game was amazing. It didn't look like we'd just been together for that weekend.''
Barrett-Chase shifted from the Magic to the Sting last season and got a taste of what it was like to play in the netball-mad city.
‘‘The people are just so friendly and look after you like you've been there forever.'' When she went to the movies, she was recognised by a fan and promptly invited for dinner. But since moving to Dunedin she has reclaimed her anonymity.
How long that lasts could depend on how well the Steel does in the ANZ Championship. The centre has high hopes she can make the Silver Ferns squad.
‘‘If I keep working hard and our team goes well I might have a chance with Adine [Wilson] out having a baby. We'll see.''
The speedy midcourter has been on the selectors' radar since helping the New Zealand side win the under-21 world championships in Miami in 2005.
She had good company on that trip, with Steel team mates Jessica Tuki, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Wendy Telfer and Katrina Grant also in the side.
The Steel has a tough first assignment - meeting the New South Wales Swifts in Sydney on April 7.
Last year, the Sting played some pre-season matches in Australia and was well-beaten by NSW, Barrett-Chase said. Her partner is likely to make his Super 14 debut when the Highlanders play the Reds in Brisbane on Friday night.
