Ferns connection helps Tactix land Burger
Leaving her family in South Africa to move to New Zealand as an 18-yearold, Karin Burger is no stranger to making difficult life decisions.
Silver Fern Burger made sure she left no stone unturned when making another tough call, switching from two-time defending champion Central Pulse to the Mainland Tactix.
Having lived and worked in Wellington for the past eight years, and starting her netball journey in the Central zone, and with the Pulse since 2017, Burger weighed up the pros and cons.
The chance to start at goal defence for the Tactix, her main position for the Silver Ferns, was a powerful lure. Teaming up in the defensive circle with Tactix captain Jane Watson, the Ferns’ firstchoice goal keep, was another drawcard.
At the Pulse, the 27-year-old predominantly played wing defence with Silver Ferns centurion Katrina Rore at goal defence.
Since Ferns defensive legend Casey Kopua retired after the 2019 World Cup triumph, coach Dame Noeline Taurua has preferred Rore at wing defence for the national side, and Burger at goal defence.
Burger, who has played 19 tests since her 2018 debut, carried out her due diligence before signing with the Tactix, who made the ANZ Premiership final for the first time this season. She flew to Christchurch and visited the Tactix training facility, meeting with coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek and other key staff. Burger also spoke with Taurua about how moving to a new domestic team would impact her. Linking up with Delaney-Hoshek, who coached her in the Wellington NPC team in her early years, was also appealing.
‘‘I’m quite a bit of a feeling person, so I like to feel where I’m going and understand the people and the environment as well,’’ Burger told Stuff.
‘‘So that was really important for me. I saw them as a really good fit and that I would fit in quite well.’’
Telling her Pulse team-mates was incredibly hard. Burger had formed strong partnerships and memories with the side over the past four years and said they had become like family.
Burger and Watson shape as the Ferns’ defensive circle combination of the future. Being able to line up alongside Watson on a weekly basis would only help strengthen Burger’s play.
Attracting a player of Burger’s ability to the Tactix was a boon for the vastly improved side, who won nine games in 2020 – their most in team history.
Moving countries as an 18-yearold to challenge herself and grow her netball, Burger was a tough, dedicated individual, DelaneyHoshek said.
‘‘She’s always had this real determination and a kid that leaves home to come over [from South Africa] and further her netball is always going to have that. That’s why she plays like that.
‘‘I know as a wing defence she picks up the most ball out of anybody in that spot. She can do that at goal defence too. She’s a real ball winner.’’