“It’s not just about the game. It’s everything you do away from it, recovery, nutrition, sleep, mental skills, extra training. You can’t just turn up and play.”
Taylor grew up in Whangārei, following in the footsteps of her mother and older sisters.
Though elite netball opportunities weren’t always easy to find.
She had height, she had touch, but she didn’t have the conveyor belt of talent development that players in bigger centres enjoy.
What she did have was a father who understood elite sport better than most.
Her dad, former All Black Glenn Taylor, who played for Northland, the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Blues, kept the message simple when selections didn’t go her way.
“He’s always been my biggest supporter, and we connect through sport because he understands the situations I’m going through.
“He used to say ‘cream always rises to the top’. Whenever I didn’t make a team or things got hard, he’d remind me to keep going and eventually it would pay off.”
And it has. She’s now a contracted Premiership shooter, a New Zealand U21 representative, and a World Youth Cup silver medallist.
Her older sister Jessie, a defender, has also been a Magic training partner and NZU21 squad member.
The two sisters were signed together as Magic training partners in 2024, a rare moment.
Recently, Magic coaches have been expanding Kate’s game, giving her time at goal attack to sharpen her movement and decision‑making.
Netball NZ describes her as a naturally astute holding shooter with a high‑accuracy radar.
“Last year was a huge learning year, so I’m really enjoying being out there and growing every week,” Taylor said.
“At the end of the season, I want to have no regrets and know that every time I stepped on court, I gave it everything.”
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic will play the Stars at Claudelands Arena on Saturday at 4pm.
Graeme “Mintie” Mead is a sports commentator, the host of the radio show Waikato All Sports Breakfast and a Newstalk ZB overnight host. He is also a councillor on the Hamilton City Council.