Casey Kopua’s life is about to go one of two ways. The Silver Ferns captain, who has been a fixture in the side for 10 years, could call time on her international career, play her last season of domestic netball, then settle down to have the kids she and husband Terry very much want. Or she’ll commit to putting on the little black dress she still very much loves for a bit longer.
As she wryly admits, Casey’s life is at a bit of a crossroads, and she has no idea what path she’ll choose to go down after this month’s Constellation Cup, where she’ll not only play her 100th test for the Silver Ferns, but become the team’s most capped captain – ever.
Whatever she decides, you can bet Casey (30) will follow her heart, and she knows her biggest supporter Terry will back her all the way.
“It’s hard to say what will happen,” she says with a smile. “I don’t think I ever want to say the word ‘retire’, even when that time comes! At the moment, I’m going with the flow – and I’m happy.”
The outgoing couple enjoyed a getaway in Bali this year after New Zealand won silver in the Netball World Cup.
Since they first met five years ago – Casey says it was at a nightclub, while Terry (29), a family lawyer, insists it was just a bar – the pair have become accustomed to challenges and change. They married, bought a house, juggled their respective careers and have struggled through the aftermath of Casey’s near career-ending knee injury last year, where she ruptured her patellar tendon.
“There were so many tears,” nods Terry. “And lots of comfort trips to [restaurant] Lone Star!
It was tough. I was there [on the sidelines] when it happened – and I still find it hard to watch netball now.
“But going through that recovery with her – I was so proud of her. Experiencing something like that just made us stronger.”
Both Casey and Terry knew early on in their relationship that they had found “the one”. Within 10 months, they had met each other’s families and bought their dream home in Hamilton, which is full of artwork, photos of family and friends, and even a corner dedicated to Casey’s obsession with the little yellow creatures from the Despicable Me movies – Minions.
“I can put the Minion glasses on for the photos, if you like,” she jokes, as she points out her collection, which also includes a special portrait of a “Maori Minion” that Terry gifted her earlier this year. “But when it came to Terry and I, without being really cheesy, you just know when you know,” says Casey. “And we did!”
From their shared love of staying active – Terry plays representative rugby league and also performs in kapa haka competitions – to their family-focused attitudes, they quickly realised they were a perfect match. When they married in a romantic ceremony in 2012, Casey had no hesitation in changing her name to Kopua, despite the entire netball world knowing and loving her as Casey Williams.
“It was respectful – it wasn’t a hard decision at all,” she says. “I know Casey Williams is me, but I’m more than just a netball player. It wasn’t a good enough reason to keep it.”
And now Casey is taking her connection to the Kopua name deeper, learning te reo so that when she and Terry do have children, they can be raised bilingually. “It’s important to me to learn more about Terry’s background,” she explains. “It’s amazing. I knew a few words already – the same as most New Zealanders do, I guess, but when we would go to visit Terry’s family or attend a funeral or something like that, I would have no idea what was going on.”
“It took me a while to realise that,” Terry adds. “I grew up with it in Gisborne, and I’m used to all the little things we do, but I just forgot and assumed Casey knew what was happening.”
Now, after almost a year of studying at a local course in Hamilton, Casey’s making good progress, Terry tells.
“When Casey first told me she wanted to learn, it made me feel quite warm inside, knowing that she was going outside her comfort zone to make things better for our future,” he smiles. “She was top of her class – she’s good! I love her to bits.”
But Casey is quick to point out that she’s got a whole lot left to learn. “I’m quite comfortable talking to my three-year-old niece!”
While a new challenge was exciting for Casey, learning te reo also helped her keep her mind off her debilitating injury. “It was a fantastic distraction,” she says. “I learned something new every day. I mean, you can only watch so much Ellen. Actually, I could watch that all day,” she laughs, pointing to the television, which is on in the background and tuned to Ellen.
Now she’s back into full-time netball training – her knee holding up well after this year’s World Cup, where the Ferns walked away with a silver medal after a close defeat to old foes Australia – telly time is rare for the pair, Casey admits. Both she and Terry pride themselves on having a good work-life balance. Food is important, as are regular getaways to be with each other and extended family.
After the World Cup finished in August, the pair jetted off for a much-needed break in Bali. “It was an amazing holiday,” nods Terry. “We just loved it and want to go back. And we became millionaires overnight, courtesy of the exchange rate!”
“We got to turn the phones off,” adds Casey. “Well, I did. He was far too busy on his…”
“Hang on, that was just because my league team had made the final,” Terry fires back, laughing. “At least I didn’t play – I was with you!”
He’s the more serious of the two (the one who likes to keep an eye on the mortgage), while Casey’s slightly more relaxed with money.
“Well, I like a balance,” she says with a slightly guilty grin (she’s just bought a dress from the Weekly’s stylist). “We need to be able to enjoy ourselves – we’d go nuts otherwise!”
Very true, when you consider their separate careers – both of which demand long hours, commitment and energy. But after a few weeks away from netball, Casey says she’s back and raring to go for this week’s Constellation Cup matches against Australia, pointing out she and the rest of the Ferns have a score to settle.
“You know, I couldn’t picture my life without netball,” she says. “Whether that’s playing or being involved in another way, I think that as long as my body lets me, I will keep going.”
“Ah, she’s stubborn,” Terry adds, grinning. “And she puts huge pressure on herself. When she had the knee injury, the doctor, the physio and the specialist said to her, ‘Look, we don’t think you can come back from this,’” he recalls.
Meanwhile, Casey is making her feelings about her doctors’ statements very clear behind Terry’s back, making a rude hand gesture in the air. “Clearly, she didn’t appreciate that,” Terry laughs. “And she just used it as motivation. I never could have done what she did.
“So,” he continues, “I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s playing at the next World Cup in four years’ time.”
Of course, that would mean delaying the pitter-patter of tiny feet – not that Terry seems too worried.
“As long as Casey’s happy, I’m happy,” he insists.
“Aw,” Casey says, laughing. “What a great husband!”
