Harten Soul

GIANTS vice-captain, England goal-shooter and bus driver. 

The first two roles are no-brainers when it comes to describing Jo Harten, the third is one not often attributed to the 30-year-old.

However, when the GIANTS go on tour it’s Harten behind the wheel, driving them towards their destination.

“I love driving the bus, logistically because we’re a small team we don’t need a coach, so we have our own transport,” Harten said with a laugh.

“When we go on away trips someone’s got to drive the bus. 

“I’m one of the more experienced campaigners so I back myself in on a parallel park any day of the week.

“That was kind of my challenge when I first came to the GIANTS. I had 12 girls in the back of the van and I parallel parked on the Sunshine Coast in one of the tightest spots you’ll ever see and everyone erupted, and I’ve been driving the bus ever since.”

While the concept of Harten and her GIANTS teammates crammed into a mini-bus does result in some humorous moments, there is some method behind the madness.

As Harten explains, it helps the GIANTS get into the zone before games and allows the team to cultivate a strong culture which is also displayed on court.

And, with the GIANTS squad boasting three players who have made their Suncorp Super Netball debuts in 2019, it also helps to bridge the age gap between players.

“When we’re on our way to games our preparation starts for the game, we play some of our music really, really loud and have a bit of a sing-song which helps us connect,” she said.

“That’s part of it for us, if we feel connected off the court it’s going to look and feel connected on the court.

“I think that kind of stuff when we’re in the bus or around the hotels is when we make those games and come together as a team.

“It’s super important that we do feel connected and that we do feel like one as there’s a bit of an age gap in the team this year.

“We’ve got some 20/21-year-olds and then you’ve got people like myself and Kim who are in their 30’s now.

“It kind of bridges that gap and makes sure that everyone’s part of the team, they know their spot and everyone’s having fun. It’s one big orange bubble.”

While singing and connecting on the bus is important, there’s also a fair amount of banter that gets thrown about.

Despite the fast approaching World Cup, Harten is reluctant to be too vocal about the tournament especially when it comes to any ribbing directed towards young-gun Jamie-Lee Price, who is in the Australian squad.

“I think there’ll be a bit of banter between me and ‘J’, privately,” Harten said.

“I wouldn’t go as far as to make it public because it’s one pom amongst nine other Aussies and they’re all supporting Australia even if they’re not playing for them.

“I need to know when to keep my mouth shut and be smart with my comments but it’s all love.

“I think I’m one of her biggest fans to be honest. I was 100 per cent excited and backing her to get that place in the Australian Diamonds which she’s done.

“I don’t care that she plays for Australia it’s more than a game to me with her. She’s one of my best mates, we’re kind of like sisters.

“We’ve lived together, we’ve been through a lot together so I’m just happy that she’s representing and fulfilling a lifelong dream in getting to her first world cup.”

“Obviously if we play against Australia in the tournament, it’ll be no hold-barred for 60 minutes, but I think we’re both professional enough to go at each other for 60 minutes and be like family after.”

While one of her best friends will be playing in her first World Cup, it’ll be Harten’s fourth and, as she hints, potentially final World Cup.

With the tournament being held in Liverpool, it’s also her only chance to play a World Cup at home with the 2023 tournament to be played in Cape Town.

“It’s pretty special, you never know if it’s going to be the last tournament, last World Cup, last time I’m going to play for England so I’m going to lap it all up and take it all in,” Harten said.

“I want to soak the atmosphere up, soak the fans up and their excitement, I’m never going to have a home World Cup again, this will be it for me.”

The expectation on Harten and her English colleagues is building at home.

The impact of last year’s Commonwealth Games gold medal has been massive across the country, but with Harten being on the other side of the planet and focused on the GIANTS’ 2019 Suncorp Super Netball campaign she has been able to avoid most of the hype.

Harten instead views the success in 2018 as being a major confidence booster.

“I think it is good to be slightly separate from the hype in England,” she said.

“Since we’ve won the gold last year at the Commonwealth games, Netball has absolutely taken off over there.

“More people are playing it, it’s in the media, people are stopping you in the street for autographs and there are more sponsorship deals. 

“For me I’m just focused on ignoring all of that. I’m probably missing out on some opportunities being over in Australia but I’m very happy to be over in Australia, having my head buried in the sand and have my own little job and task which is to be the best I can. 

“I think it’s (winning gold) has dropped the fear; previously we would have been fearful of trying to get to the final and kind of had some ‘what if’s’ at the end of the tournament.

“Last year we didn’t have those what if’s, we just went and did it. It’s not going to be easy, but we don’t have that fear any more. We know what we’re capable of so anything could happen.”

Harten and her GIANTS now have one more game before the World Cup break, taking on one of the competition heavyweights in the Vixens.

While it hasn’t all been smooth sailing in the early part of the season for the GIANTS, Harten says there is plenty to look forward to.

“I think we’re going in the right direction and it’s been disappointing that some of the stuff we’ve done at training hasn’t been taken onto the court consistently yet, but I’m quite excited that this is our starting point and it’s all up from here.”

This article and so much more is available in the Match Day Magazine, available for free at the GIANTS v Vixens game on Saturday night.

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