Netball: 2023 was a winning year for Waitara born netball coach

Caroline Dhanjee

When reflecting on 2023 not many people can say they have coached an international netball team through a World Cup and helped them win gold at the Pacific Games.

Jaqua Pori-Makea-Simpson, originally from Waitara, certainly can.  Jaqua is the General Manager at Netball Taranaki, but also well known as the Head Coach for Tonga Tala National Netball Team.

Has she had a big year? “I guess so, I’m pretty tired” Jaqua laughs.

When she signed up to coach the Tonga netball team 5 years ago the team ranked 42 internationally and then dropped off to no ranking at the beginning of 2022. In 2023 they finished 8th in the world following the Netball World Cup in July, 3-time gold medal champions of the Pacific Aus Series and taking away gold at the Pacific Games in December.

So why netball? Jaqua started playing as a child.  Aged 16 she moved to Australia and played state league netball.  She fell into coaching after a career ending injury to her knee in her early 20’s. 

“I didn’t want to miss out on seeing my friends and being part of the game, so I started volunteering as a coach.  I found I really enjoyed coaching, was appointed to coaching a representative team for the Liverpool City Netball Association, followed by the South West Sydney Academy of Sport and the NSW State Program.  It all developed from there”.  Coming through the Netball NSW pathway, in 2016 she was awarded the Netball NSW ‘Head Coach of the Year’.

After moving back to Taranaki in 2018, Netball New Zealand had her application to transfer her Netball Australia coaching qualifications on their desk when the request came in for a coach for Tonga.  “Some things are just meant to be “, she says with a smile.

When Jaqua joined Tonga as Head Coach, she asked them what their expectations were.  They gave her 3 goals for the next 5 years; qualify for the Netball World Cup, be ranked in the top 10 in the world and win a Pacific Games gold medal.

“Clearly, I laughed at the time thinking they were very ambitious, they were ranked 42! But here we are 5 years later, it’s an incredible feeling.”

The 2023 Netball World Cup was held in South Africa, this was Tonga’s first qualification for a World Cup, making the quarter final and finished 8th in the world. 

How was the Netball World Cup as a coach? “Amazing, terrifying, and exhausting all at the same time!  The security was intense from the moment we landed.  It is hard to appreciate the gravitas of what you are part of until you are back home, have slept and have time to reflect.  The team were amazing, it was an intensive schedule with 10 days of back-to-back matches. It takes a toll, physically, emotionally, and mentally. They really had to pull on their reserves to keep up the momentum and they were outstanding”.

Winning the Pacific Games in December was the most special for the team personally.  “There is something special about being with other sports codes from your country and representing your nation against fellow Pacific Nations.  Coming away with a gold medal after missing out 4 years ago by one goal was a huge moment for the team and one that will not easily be trumped.  The Tongan people are very proud and passionate about their culture and heritage”.

The Pacific games is a huge event, this year held in the Solomon Islands, with 5,000 athletes participating, 24 countries, 27 different sports.  It is the pinnacle Pacific Countries sporting event. 

Does she feel the pressure of a nation? “Absolutely, I think every national coach does, it is not a role you take lightly and what we are doing and achieving is not lost on me”.

“The biggest impact has been to see the change in attitude in Tonga towards netball. Having such a successful national team on a world stage has really inspired the next generation.  There are pictures of the team on billboards for the first time which is empowering more young women to take up the sport.  This is what makes it all worthwhile, the impact their achievement has had on Tonga that goes beyond the team.  The genuine gratitude and appreciation from everyone is phenomenal”.

Tonga is a very resourceful nation.  The local netball court is currently a bank car park during office hours which is transformed once the cars leave.  It is a system that works but Tala has inspired more. Thanks to the Tongan Government and a partnership with foreign aid, a new 7 court Netball Arena will be complete in 2024.  An international standard facility will be the new home for the National Tala Team and a place for future generations and young Tala’s can dream big.

Jaqua feels very fortunate to have been so embraced by the people of Tonga.  She admits to rarely walking down the street now in Tonga without someone stopping her to say thank-you.  She receives emails and videos from primary aged girls saying they want to be a Tala and it pulls on heart strings.

Jaqua and Tonga Netball are grateful to Netball Taranaki who have supported her this year with a sabbatical to make this all possible.

So, what next? “After a brief rest, we will be finalising the next 4-year cycle that includes the Pacific Aus Series, Commonwealth Games and qualifying for the Netball World Cup in Sydney 2027.  The next Pacific Games will also be in Tahiti in 2027 where we will need to defend our title.  The biggest challenge for the team will be to maintain that top 10 position in the world.”