Kelly Jury is one of New Zealand’s leading defenders and goal keepers in netball. She currently plays for Central Pulse in the ANZ Premiership as well as the Silver Ferns, New Zealand’s national netball team. She is also a member of the New Zealand Olympic netball team. At 1.92m, she is one of the tallest defenders in New Zealand, which is only part of the reason why she is such a strong goalkeeper and netball athlete.
The Early Days
You may have heard about Jury from the multiple headlines about her impressive journey from a humble rural upbringing to a recurring member of the Silver Fern team, and one of the best netballers in New Zealand.
Jury was born in 1996 in Stratford, New Zealand. Jury grew up on a farm in the small town of Stratford and started playing netball when she was 7 years old. She represented Taranaki in the Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 netball teams. However, Jury is open about the fact that she did not make the ‘A team’ until the Under 17s. She is proud to share this today, as she wants to prove to others that you do not have to always be the best from the very beginning, and you do not have to be from a large city, to and reach your goals.
Netball Career Overview
In 2014, Jury joined the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic netball team. In 2017, Jury was selected as a member of the Under 21 Silver Ferns, New Zealand’s national netball team. Her debut game was in February of 2017 against the England Roses. That year the Silver Ferns U21 team won the Junior World Cup. Then, in 2020, she joined Central Pulse in the ANZ Premiership netball league. Jury represented New Zealand in the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Jury has had two severe injuries – a ruptured Achilles tendon in 2015 and a major shoulder injury in 2018 while playing for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Many feared that these injuries would cut her netball career short. However, after achieving a full recovery, it is clear that it did not affect her promising netball career and she is more confident than ever. This was further proved in 2022, which was her most impressive year yet. In 2022, Jury was co-captain of the Pulse, led the Pulse to the 2022 ANZ Premiership title, was awarded the Dame Louis Muir Supreme Award, and also won the ANZ Premiership Player of the Year.
Awards & Recognitions
- In 2022, Jury was awarded the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award and the ANZ Premiership Player of the Year.
- Jury was essential to the Pulse becoming the ANZ Premiership winner in 2022.
- At the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth games, Jury was a part of the New Zealand Netball Team that won a bronze medal.
- In 2017, Jury was on the Silver Ferns U21 team that won the Junior World Cup.
What’s to Come
2023 will be Jury’s fourth season playing for the Pulse. With her unrelenting consistency and an impressive ability to turn over the ball, as well as her natural leadership skills and athleticism, we know that this last line defender has a lot more to show us, and we cannot wait to see it!
