A FRESH face will lead the Mainland Tactix in 2022, with speedy midcourter Kimiora Poi taking over the reins as captain of the club. Poi will assume the captaincy with the departure of defender and Silver Ferns star Jane Watson who will miss the season due to her pregnancy. Whilst the 24-year-old would have loved to have played alongside Watson next season, Poi said she could not wait to get started.

“I never dreamed I would be a captain of an ANZ Premiership team but I’m really excited to be given this opportunity and the challenges that come with the job,” Poi told the ANZ Premiership website.

“It is such a privilege to be asked to lead this group of women in the Trident Homes Tactix and I was humbled to be asked.”

Poi has represented the Silver Ferns herself on eight occasions, and has become known for her electrifying acceleration and evasion, as well as her slick feeds. Having played with the Tactix since 2018 – whilst having a stint with Collingwood Magpies in the Super Netball – Poi is determined to take the team to the next level.

“We’ve got such a tight unit who are all driven to get the job done,” Poi said. “I think that’s what stuck out for me when I first arrived at the Tactix was the welcoming environment and that desire to do better than before.

“It’s an important part of who we are and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can deliver next year.”

Poi is joined by two other new members of the Tactix leadership group, in vice-captains, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Karin Burger. Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said Poi was the ideal candidate for the position.

“From the outside, Kimi can come across as one of the quiet members of the team, but she has been such an important voice within the Tactix. She’s always had leadership potential and she lives the Tactix values to the fullest,” Delaney-Hoshek said.

“I’m really excited for Kimi to have this opportunity and while she’ll bring a different style to the role, she has so many key values – she is a straight shooter, really strong at motivating others and leads by example.

“She sets the bar high and is really encouraging to lift her team-mates – Kimi runs a 20.2 yo-yo and is still motivating others along the way, that’s the kind of person she is.”

The newly-named Trident Homes Tactix will face off against the Central Pulse tonight at 5:15pm local time, in the first of two preseason games against the Pulse. The second match will take place on Friday, December 10 at 12:15pm.