The now-Silver Ferns coach guided the Steel to an impressive season in her sole year with the team.
Five years later she has supplied it with one of the brightest prospects from across the Tasman.
Sarahpheinna Woulf was still at high school when she signed with Super Netball’s Sunshine Coast Lightning in 2018, a team then coached by Taurua.
But the 1.82m defender tore her anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus five weeks before the season started.
Two surgeries and a year of rehabilitation followed.
She returned to play in Queensland’s Sapphire League the past two seasons.
While she had not broken back into the Lightning squad, the impression she made
was lasting.
Taurua recommended her to the Steel and coach Reinga Bloxham was soon on the phone to the 21-year-old.
When the opportunity arose to sign, Woulf — who has a New Zealand passport through her parents — took it.
It was a move she has not regretted and she is increasingly becoming a key player for the Steel to inject during games.
It has helped her rediscover her love for the game as well.
‘‘I think for me I was just playing, and obviously there was a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure to make sure you’re performing, as it is as an athlete,’’ Woulf said.
‘‘I think for me I just wanted to find the love of the sport again, rather than just going through the motions.
‘‘Obviously I was enjoying playing, but I needed something different.’’
Her knee was now fine, although it still ached at times.
She was glad to be back at an elite level and was enjoying learning the New Zealand style of play as well.
Whether that would translate into her switching allegiances at the international level is another question.
Woulf has played for Australia at age-grade level and if she had the opportunity to play for the Diamonds it is where she would likely go.
However, she said if the opportunity to play for New Zealand arose that would be great, too.
At the franchise level there was more certainty.
She was enjoying her time at the Steel, both the team environment and the community, and said she would like to come back if that was an option.
Last Monday she was part of a defensive unit that matched up with one of her former Lightning team-mates — star Australian shooter Caitlin Bassett.
On that occasion the Steel emerged a comfortable victor over the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in Invercargill.
The sides will face off again on Monday, this time in Hamilton.
Steel goal shooter George Fisher remains in doubt, having missed last week’s game due to a concussion the week prior.
She has returned to light training and a decision will be made closer to the time as to whether she plays.
The match begins at 7.15pm.
