Pacific Games netballer, Romania Ng Lam Pose, was shocked to learn she had made the final 12 for the tournament in July.

“When I found out I was selected for the final team I was honestly surprised," the 19-year-old mid courter from Vaimoso said.

“I never really saw myself as being as good as the overseas girls."

Pose is one of four Samoan-based women in the Games squad, although she spends much of her time in Fiji studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of the South Pacific, majoring in Tourism and Hospitality Management.

This is the second year of Pose's three year scholarship to attend U.S.P. in Fiji, after which she will return to give back to the industry in Samoa.

“I’m happy to come and work back home," she said.

Pose wants to keep giving back in netball too, after she makes her full national team debut at the Pacific Games in July.

But she said it has been hard balancing trialling for and training with the Games squad with her schooling in Fiji.

“Especially because I’m on scholarship, I can’t afford to fail a course."

The squad had a weekend-long camp in Auckland recently, with another coming up early next month.

Former Silver Fern Anna Senio is part of the 12 for the Games, and former Samoa coach and Silver Fern Linda Vagana was present at the last camp as well.

Pose said she can learn a lot from being around them, as they've been at the sport's highest level.

“I was really honoured to learn from those types of people, I never dreamed I would get that opportunity."

She said the level has definitely lifted coming into a full national team environment.

“The bar is really high, competition between me and the overseas players [to earn a spot in the starting seven].

“It’s good because I keep challenging myself."

Pose was the only locally-based Samoan to play for her country at the Under-21 World Championships in Botswana two years ago.

“That was a great experience, especially being the only local."

She said often there can be a gap in teams between the local and overseas-based players.

“My experience in the Under-21s was different, all the girls were very nice.

“I had a really good experience, especially playing with the top teams like New Zealand and Australia."