Super Netball 2024: Ruth Aryang says signing full-time West Coast Fever contract was surreal

Ruth Aryang says it was a surreal moment to sign her first full-time netball contract after she inked a one-year deal to play for West Coast Fever in 2025. On Thursday, Fever confirmed The West Australian’s report that Aryang, 20, had filled one of the two remaining spots on their contracted 10 list. The younger sister of Fever premiership defender and Australian world cup gold medallist Sunday, Ruth played two games after making her debut in round five as the club’s designated 11th player. Fever have locked the young gun away, leaving only one spot on their roster for 2025 and midcourter Kelsey Browne and goal attack Shanice Beckford without a deal. Aryang had long been touted as a future star and won the Jill McIntosh Medal as the West Australian Netball League’s best and fairest as a teenager in 2021, but her career hit a hurdle when she ruptured her ACL less than a year later, with setbacks further complicated her recovery. The young defender said she held doubts at times that she’d ever sign a full-time Super Netball contract. “It’s still a surreal moment for me, I think I’m still in a bit of shock,” Aryang told The West Australian. “Just looking back at everything that’s happened in the past couple of years and doubting myself and not thinking I would make it to this position just makes it so much more special knowing that I’ve done all the hard work behind the scenes to get this opportunity.” Aryang said she’d gained a lot of confidence from being around the Fever environment this year and now wanted to bed down a position in goalkeeper. “I’ve covered all three (defensive positions) in the training environment and in my WANL games,” she said. “I think I’ve taken a big leap in goalkeeper and pushed myself in that position to get myself out there more. “Goalkeeper will be a position I will definitely be battling for, but goal defence and wing defence I will float there a little bit and get my confidence up in those two positions.” And making it even more special is Ruth has signed alongside her sister Sunday, a long-held dream for the pair. “We’ve always spoken about this as kids, growing up and playing netball together,” she said. “Just knowing that it’s now confirmed makes it even more special for the both of us.”