NETBALL: A string of defeats will not keep North Burnett netballer Taylah Steger down for long.

For the past six months, Steger represented the North Burnett in the under-19s division of the Wide Bay Thundercats.

The Thundercats finished their season the previous weekend, where they won no games.

They were part of a country division along with the Rockhampton Capricorn Claws, but competed almost entirely against Brisbane-based teams, who put up fiercer competition than the team was expecting.

"It was different from playing in Monto, I'm used to playing friendly matches against the guys here,” Steger said.

"Playing in Brisbane is a huge step up; it's more physical, they're taught to play more aggressively, they get up in your face.”

Training was difficult because of how spread apart the team was.

"Having seven from Bundaberg, three from Hervey Bay and myself from Monto, having to travel to Brisbane every weekend was difficult.”

Despite the challenges, Steger said it was good experience for her as a player.

"There was one game that we were close to winning against the Darling Downs Panthers,” she said.

"The first game was really tough, we were winning at three quarter time and went down in the last quarter.

"It was really tough on us, we were working so well as a team and then we just got unlucky.”

Steger could remember playing netball as far back as the age of five.

"It's my sport. Mum played when she was younger and my sister plays as well,” she said.

Steger played with Monto Netball Association through to the age of 15, then became a coach for the under-12s and under-15s.

As a coach, she tried to pass on the idea that you should have fun, always listen and give it a

go.

"That's why I decided to give the Thundercats a go. I wasn't confident in myself with any of my sport, but this year something came over and me and I decided to go for it,” Steger said.

"The worst that could happen is you fail, but you learn from that.”

According to Steger, seeing her playing in Brisbane on TV has energised some of the players she coaches, and she's encouraged more to give it a go when they finish up in under-15s.

Now that she's 19, Steger would have to try out for the even more challenging opens division to continue with Thundercats.