Maria Tutaia revealed she had opportunities to play netball in Australia, but found the lure of playing for the Silver Ferns and Mystics too strong to walk away from.
As reported by Stuff last week, Tutaia has signed a two-year deal with the Mystics. She's currently in camp with the Silver Ferns trial squad ahead of the 11 tests they'll be playing between late August and mid-October.
A player of Tutaia's quality could have picked up a big contract with an Australian team, but she said she wanted to remain on this side of the Tasman.
"There were a few options, but I am very happy here in New Zealand," Tutaia said.
"The relationship and the learning with the Mystics this year is something I wanted to be a part of."
Tutaia has negotiated the opportunity to take time away from the Mystics during part of next year's campaign.
The 30-year-old says it's not definite that she will take a break and doesn't see this as something similar to the sabbaticals senior All Blacks have.
"It's definitely not a sabbatical and to be honest, I don't know what the next two years will look like," she said.
"I have committed myself to the Mystics and netball here in New Zealand.
"So Helene (Wilson, Mystics coach), Netball NZ and myself will have to sit down and plan how these next two years will look.
"It does in the contract allow me to have a bit of a break when need be, we've got two massive pinnacle events and I want to put myself in the best possible position to wear the black dress if I get the opportunity again."
Tutaia admitted there have been times in the past during an illustrious career, which includes 107 tests, where she's felt exhausted and drained.
"Definitely, we've all felt that," she said.
"These campaigns are extremely tough, but this is a great challenge for us and the few of us that have been here for a while know what it's like and what it takes.
"When you get older your body takes a lot longer to recover. So it's about being more astute and smart with our rehab and when we need to take a break.
"But having a break doesn't mean you're not training, it's part of the whole regime of trying to be the best netballer you can be."
There are 25 players trialling at the Bruce Pulman Arena for 15 places in the Silver Ferns squad, which will be named on Monday.
Clearly, Tutaia isn't one of the player in danger of missing out, but said she still takes a lot from this week in camp with the other players.
"It's been really cool to play with players I've never played with before," she said.
"With the domestic comp we've had this year, it's really opened and shined a light on the young talent we have here in New Zealand.
"So we've got to know one and other, everyone's vibe and knowing people wanting to wear the black dress is what we're all gunning for."
The upcoming Quad Series will be an intriguing one for the Silver Ferns as it will be an opportunity to see how the New Zealand way of playing has developed since the split with the Australian teams in the old Trans-Tasman competition.
"I'm not just speaking on behalf of myself, I know all the girls have really enjoyed playing our domestic comp and we've all got a lot out of it," Tutaia said.
"In this squad there are so many who had the opportunity to play this season, that wouldn't have if we were playing against our old foes across the ditch.
"We're all about growing the game and when we're doing that we have players who are wanting to play, players who want to learn and that's all we can ask for in New Zealand and that's a huge plus in 2017."
Photo: HAGEN HOPKINS/GETTY IMAGES (Tutaia has negotiated the opportunity to take time away from the Mystics during part of next year's campaign)