Brooker was called into the Black Ferns squad for the three-test series against France, which begins in Hamilton on Saturday before tests in Whang\u0101rei and Christchurch in the following weeks. Her recall \u2013 three years after her last test \u2013 comes after Alena Saili and Maia Davis were released back to the sevens programme. <\/p>\n
\u201cI had a fair bit of feedback throughout the season. A lot around just honing in on my superpowers and having the confidence in my game, knowing that I am playing good rugby and have got the ability to grow,\u201d Brooker told the Herald. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think, specifically, getting better with my catch-pass and more dominant in my carries has been a big thing, and I was really happy with the outcome of that in the Super season. But I know I\u2019ve got a long way to go, even to put the black jersey on. It\u2019s one thing to be called into camp, but it\u2019s another thing to run out with the team.\u201d <\/p>\n
The call-up is vindication for her decision to return to the New Zealand rugby scene and suit up for Matat\u016b again, leaving the AFLW after one season. <\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t the way she expected things to play out when she took up the contract in Australia, and admitted it was a tough decision to make. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit of an unknown coming home and where I was going to take it,\u201d she admits. <\/p>\n
\u201cI came home to be unemployed for four months until Super Rugby started. So, it was a big step, but being here, being in the camp is definitely a validation to that decision and I know that I\u2019ve made the right one.\u201d <\/p>\n
Joining the Black Ferns squad for the French series, Brooker knew she had to play catch-up as she was joining a team that had largely been working together for the best part of the year. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was really nervous coming in,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the girls have been together for the last few weeks and, you know, I\u2019m behind on content and relationships within the team and whatnot. So, I was so nervous. But as soon as I walked through the doors and everyone gave me a big hug and made me feel right back into it. <\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s offering up their time to help me get up to speed with everything, and the kindness and the care and the professionalism within the team now compared to where it has been, I think has grown exponentially. It\u2019s a real high-performance team, and you can see it in the results that they\u2019ve got over the last few tours.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brooker joins a midfield group featuring regular Black Ferns starters Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt and Matat\u016b teammate Amy du Plessis, while versatile back Justine McGregor was also named among the midfield options. <\/p>\n
And while she was a newcomer to the squad, Brooker was taking her place with intention. <\/p>\n
\u201cI honestly think I can bring a good challenge. I\u2019m going to put my hand up and try to get selected for games, and that\u2019s ultimately what I\u2019m here to do,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut you learn a lot when you\u2019re in camp because you\u2019re surrounded by such amazing coaches, such amazing players, that every second you\u2019re here, you\u2019re learning and you\u2019re growing. So, I think that\u2019s a big part of my journey now, is to get back to the level of knowledge that the girls have these days.\u201d <\/p>\n