Tactix defender Laura Balmer is adamant she can juggle her netball career with studying medicine heading the first ANZ premiership round this weekend.
The 22-year-old made the move down to Christchurch to peruse her studies after playing for the Pulse last year.
Balmer joined Nick Bewley for a chat about the move.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
How are you. I'm very well, thank you. How are
you finding it so far down here in christ Church?
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Oh? I'm loving it, Like I literally what if anyone
asks me about like, oh, I have to take this going,
I'm literally just like having the time in my life.
Like it's just I don't know, I just feel like
every time I come back, I just oh, I just
loved this game so much, and the team is just
so amazing and so inclusive and welcoming that you really
can just have fun and enjoy yourself, Like, yeah, I'm
(00:27):
loving it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That's so cool. Tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.
There were those who follow the A and Z Premiership closely.
We'll know you're part of the Central Pulse and you
came in as a replacement player. But what attracted you
to the Tactics.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Oh? So yeah, So I went to Pulse last year
and then this year I am also doing sitting medicine,
so I was trying to work out how to fit
both of those in. And then I've always loved the Tactics,
particularly their defense style, their zone marking, their just deception
(01:05):
on their like their style of defense and how they
play is like a style of defense that I really
wanted to learn. I really admire and obviously Who and
Donna are just like incredible. I was so starstruck when
when I first saw Who come into training, I like
couldn't talk to her for the first truck was starstruck.
But she's just like so incredible, and so I just
really wanted to learn under them and learn that style
(01:27):
of play, because that's part of what I love about
this game, is like the tactics behind it anyway, and
like learning how to say space is open and then
I can go and cover it and get a ball.
Like I just watching the tactics. I really liked that
about them. And then they were also really playing. This
new stadium was across the road from hospital, and they
were like, yeah, lets will support you to do placements.
(01:50):
I was like, oh, so so good.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I was just gonna before we get to the medical
study stuff because I'm definitely interested in that. But yeah,
I should have said, you play primarily goalkeeper, equally adept
at gold offense here.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Do you have a preference, Laura, I want to I've
been a keeper like all growing up. And then last
season I was like, I really want to learn Gold
d So the Pols were amazing for that, like learning
under Mace. Sorry, Paris and Kelly and Lamaram are like
learning under all of those people were so great learning
(02:25):
the gold defense position, and then I was like, oh,
I actually do quite like this position. That's actually quite fun.
So now I'm kind of like, I don't really know.
I just have actually enjoying both of them because they
both bring different challenges and you can do different things
in each position, and then if I'm not doing one one,
I'm like, change me please.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, of course the tactics you know, with with Karen
Berger and Jane Watson until of our sort of favorites
here on the All Sports Break first day, you know
that that's such a fantastic partnership over the years, and
not necessarily saying you've got big shoes to filler anything
like that. But how would you describe your your play?
Do you love shooting out and gum friend tosips?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, I feel like love getting into SIPs, but yeah,
like Cinden and Jane are just like incredible, and I
loved watching them play because they were so explosive and
they were just so deceptive and dynamic, and I was
like this, that's the environment that I want to be in,
even though they've gone. I feel like that's like what
they're kind of teaching us down here is to play
(03:29):
like that, and that's what I love. I feel like
that rush when you're just like coming over a ball
and you get it like, well, I'm trying to play cool.
But yeah, so it's fun. It's fun learning.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Laura Obarma with us here on the categoryal Sports Breakfast.
You mentioned, Laura your medical studies. Gee, that must be
a busy balancing act between pursuing a netball career and
a career in medicine. Tell us a little bit about
what that balance is like. And I guess secondary to that,
what's uh, what's what's the dream? Well, what you want
to be? What sort of side of medicine are you're
(04:01):
hoping to get down?
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Well, that's a bit of a juggle. I can't lie
to you. I Well, in terms of where I want
to go on medicine, I got no clue. I just
want to do something with people because I just love
interacting with people, and I love that side of medicine
that you really can help people and like deal with
them and actually do something tangible to make them better.
You know, so I don't really know what that's will entailed.
(04:24):
But I'm currently being on placement in the hospital on
like a surgery replacement, and I'm literally having a time
in my life. Like I'm loving it. But it's I'm
doing Like where we train is like five hundred meters
away from the hospital, so I just do like mad
dashes between the two during the day. So it's a
little bit tichbck. I can't live. But everyone's been really
understanding and really supportive, which has been great. It's just
(04:45):
like juggling all the balls and like making sure that
I'm still being good with my communication and trying not
to let anyone down in all the spaces. But I'm
loving it. I love that I can like go and
just be like a nerd and be a mid student
and just like be on the operating theater and it's
so exciting and it's so cool, and then I get
to come here and just like play this sport that
(05:07):
I absolutely love. Was an amazing bunch of girls. I
feel so so blessed that I can have the best
of both worlds. It's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
The passion and excitements coming through are loud and clear here, Laura,
I guess just finally what we're a week out from
that season opener against the steel On. Other ladies and
including yourself, I've had some preseason games recently. Tell the
Tactics fans out there, how are things tracking a hit
a round one? You're feeling confident?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, I am. I just feel like we've got such
a cool group of girls, Like we're so connected obviously,
like I'm so nervous, but I'm really really excited. I
feel like I'm just we're all just like ready to go.
I feel like preseason, well you're asking any pall of
preseason a long long time, but we're all feeling like
fat and ready, and I just think we just want
(05:57):
to get on the court and just kind of show
what we can and what we've been training. And I'm
just excited to get out of the way with the
first one because I feel like the waiting is like
the worst part.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Oh totally not where. We can't wait to see at
all shakeout in a week's time. Hey, Laura, really appreciate
your time as a pleasure having you on the show
here this morning. All the best with nitball and the
medical studies and we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Oh, thank you so much. For more from News Talks B,
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Morning.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
How are you. I'm very well, thank you. How are
you finding it so far down here in christ Church?
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Oh? I'm loving it, Like I literally what if anyone
asks me about like, oh, I have to take this going,
I'm literally just like having the time in my life.
Like it's just I don't know, I just feel like
every time I come back, I just oh, I just
loved this game so much, and the team is just
so amazing and so inclusive and welcoming that you really
can just have fun and enjoy yourself, Like, yeah, I'm
(00:27):
loving it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
That's so cool. Tell our listeners a little bit about yourself.
There were those who follow the A and Z Premiership closely.
We'll know you're part of the Central Pulse and you
came in as a replacement player. But what attracted you
to the Tactics.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Oh? So yeah, So I went to Pulse last year
and then this year I am also doing sitting medicine,
so I was trying to work out how to fit
both of those in. And then I've always loved the Tactics,
particularly their defense style, their zone marking, their just deception
(01:05):
on their like their style of defense and how they
play is like a style of defense that I really
wanted to learn. I really admire and obviously Who and
Donna are just like incredible. I was so starstruck when
when I first saw Who come into training, I like
couldn't talk to her for the first truck was starstruck.
But she's just like so incredible, and so I just
really wanted to learn under them and learn that style
(01:27):
of play, because that's part of what I love about
this game, is like the tactics behind it anyway, and
like learning how to say space is open and then
I can go and cover it and get a ball.
Like I just watching the tactics. I really liked that
about them. And then they were also really playing. This
new stadium was across the road from hospital, and they
were like, yeah, lets will support you to do placements.
(01:50):
I was like, oh, so so good.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
I was just gonna before we get to the medical
study stuff because I'm definitely interested in that. But yeah,
I should have said, you play primarily goalkeeper, equally adept
at gold offense here.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Do you have a preference, Laura, I want to I've
been a keeper like all growing up. And then last
season I was like, I really want to learn Gold
d So the Pols were amazing for that, like learning
under Mace. Sorry, Paris and Kelly and Lamaram are like
learning under all of those people were so great learning
(02:25):
the gold defense position, and then I was like, oh,
I actually do quite like this position. That's actually quite fun.
So now I'm kind of like, I don't really know.
I just have actually enjoying both of them because they
both bring different challenges and you can do different things
in each position, and then if I'm not doing one one,
I'm like, change me please.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Well, of course the tactics you know, with with Karen
Berger and Jane Watson until of our sort of favorites
here on the All Sports Break first day, you know
that that's such a fantastic partnership over the years, and
not necessarily saying you've got big shoes to filler anything
like that. But how would you describe your your play?
Do you love shooting out and gum friend tosips?
Speaker 1 (03:06):
Well, I feel like love getting into SIPs, but yeah,
like Cinden and Jane are just like incredible, and I
loved watching them play because they were so explosive and
they were just so deceptive and dynamic, and I was
like this, that's the environment that I want to be in,
even though they've gone. I feel like that's like what
they're kind of teaching us down here is to play
(03:29):
like that, and that's what I love. I feel like
that rush when you're just like coming over a ball
and you get it like, well, I'm trying to play cool.
But yeah, so it's fun. It's fun learning.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Laura Obarma with us here on the categoryal Sports Breakfast.
You mentioned, Laura your medical studies. Gee, that must be
a busy balancing act between pursuing a netball career and
a career in medicine. Tell us a little bit about
what that balance is like. And I guess secondary to that,
what's uh, what's what's the dream? Well, what you want
to be? What sort of side of medicine are you're
(04:01):
hoping to get down?
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Well, that's a bit of a juggle. I can't lie
to you. I Well, in terms of where I want
to go on medicine, I got no clue. I just
want to do something with people because I just love
interacting with people, and I love that side of medicine
that you really can help people and like deal with
them and actually do something tangible to make them better.
You know, so I don't really know what that's will entailed.
(04:24):
But I'm currently being on placement in the hospital on
like a surgery replacement, and I'm literally having a time
in my life. Like I'm loving it. But it's I'm
doing Like where we train is like five hundred meters
away from the hospital, so I just do like mad
dashes between the two during the day. So it's a
little bit tichbck. I can't live. But everyone's been really
understanding and really supportive, which has been great. It's just
(04:45):
like juggling all the balls and like making sure that
I'm still being good with my communication and trying not
to let anyone down in all the spaces. But I'm
loving it. I love that I can like go and
just be like a nerd and be a mid student
and just like be on the operating theater and it's
so exciting and it's so cool, and then I get
to come here and just like play this sport that
(05:07):
I absolutely love. Was an amazing bunch of girls. I
feel so so blessed that I can have the best
of both worlds. It's so amazing.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
The passion and excitements coming through are loud and clear here, Laura,
I guess just finally what we're a week out from
that season opener against the steel On. Other ladies and
including yourself, I've had some preseason games recently. Tell the
Tactics fans out there, how are things tracking a hit
a round one? You're feeling confident?
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Yeah, I am. I just feel like we've got such
a cool group of girls, Like we're so connected obviously,
like I'm so nervous, but I'm really really excited. I
feel like I'm just we're all just like ready to go.
I feel like preseason, well you're asking any pall of
preseason a long long time, but we're all feeling like
fat and ready, and I just think we just want
(05:57):
to get on the court and just kind of show
what we can and what we've been training. And I'm
just excited to get out of the way with the
first one because I feel like the waiting is like
the worst part.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Oh totally not where. We can't wait to see at
all shakeout in a week's time. Hey, Laura, really appreciate
your time as a pleasure having you on the show
here this morning. All the best with nitball and the
medical studies and we'll catch up again soon.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Oh, thank you so much. For more from News Talks B,
listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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