The athletic midcourter is preparing to play her 150th elite national league game against the Pulse in Wellington on Monday night, becoming just the 15th New Zealand player to achieve the milestone.
She joins the illustrious company of Laura Langman, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Rore, Liana Leota, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Casey Kopua, Maria Folau, Irene van Dyk, Temepara Bailey, Joline Johansson, Wendy Frew, Cathrine Tuivaiti, Anna Kennedy and Jodi Brown.
Six of those — de Bruin, Rore, Leota, Selby-Rickit, Frew and Brown — are others who played some or all of their careers with the Steel or its Sting/Rebels predecessors.
“I am quite chuffed about it,’’ Saunders said.
‘‘Playing 150 games is definitely something that I never dreamed of or set out to do. I feel blessed to be able to play one game, let alone 150, all for the Steel.’’
She is just the third player to achieve it for the same team, joining former Magic captain Kopua (187 games) and former Steel captain Frew (176 games).
“In this day and age, players do move around so quickly, so to be able to do all 150 for the one team is special and I couldn’t think of any other team I would rather have done it with,” she said.
“It’s the people who keep you there and I’ve been lucky to play with some amazing people throughout my time at the Steel.
‘‘When people ask what I love about being down south, it’s the people and the community and how lovely everyone is and how they get behind their netball team.”
A sporty youngster, Saunders did not automatically excel on the court.
“It was a challenge and I feel it’s not something that came as naturally to me as other sports I’ve played,” she said.
“But it was just so much fun and, as I moved through the grades, it actually became a realistic career option when it turned semi-professional.
“I just love the competitiveness and the challenge of it because every game is different and you’re always having to learn and adapt.
“The way you approach it changes, but the love for it has never faded whatsoever.”
Despite a plethora of achievements during her career, including 85 tests for the Silver Ferns, the role model tag is not one Saunders subscribes to easily.
“I never had many idols myself. I remember loving the Silver Ferns, and we went to the World Cup when it was in Christchurch in 1999.
‘‘I don’t remember being super attached to any particular player because I just thought everyone was super amazing.
“I don’t really see myself as a huge role model, but my character is just to lead by example. I lead by my actions and I’ve always done that rather than talk a big game.
‘‘I always try to be one of the hardest workers in the room and make sure that I’m always fit, ready and prepared whenever I’m needed.”
The Steel will be counting on that as a double header looms for round five of the ANZ Premiership.
The Southerners take on the Magic in Hamilton tomorrow before Monday’s assignment against the Pulse in Wellington.
