Bex makes her mark

It has taken just one and a half seasons for Bex Mark to make a distinct impact on the Marlborough netball scene.

The 23-year-old RNZAF physical training instructor arrived in the province in 2023 but was unable to commit to a local netball side until 2025 due to immediate work commitments.

Last season she popped up as a livewire midcourt player for the Picton-based Tokomaru club, immediately catching the eye with her high-speed game.

Despite relishing her time with the Toko crew, Bex needed to make a change. Based near Renwick, she found it hard to juggle travel to and from training in the seaside town with her life and work schedule, so trialled for the three-time champion Pelorus side in early 2026 and made the cut.

Now Bex is loving her time with the Dark Blues.

“I am really big on team dynamic … they are an awesome crew, everyone is super-chilled with a good attitude … just there to have a good game of netball. There is a lot of talent at the club and you have to earn your place in the line-up each week,” she added.

Voted among the best midcourters in the region last year, Bex has continued to shine in the centre of the court, her fine form leading to a new and exciting opportunity.

She was recently named in the Mainland Emerging Talent Squad [METS], a Mainland Netball initiative for those aged between 17-25 intended to bridge the gap between school-age players and the elite National Netball League [formerly Beko League] side.

Squad members from throughout the Mainland region will take part in competitive games throughout the season, including match-ups against the Steel Steps Squad from Southland, specialist skill sessions, and guidance from expert performance providers.

Prior to her selection, Bex admits she “didn’t even know that METS existed”.

“I imagine Marlborough Netball saw that I was eligible and suggested me for the programme. Now I am in a squad of 18-20 athletes. There have been two campaign tournaments already, one in Timaru and one in Queenstown, with a third one planned for Christchurch.

“METS is also set up to help those who aren’t based in Christchurch, giving them a chance for recognition.”

Bex was not included from the start, but when called on her military ‘can do’ attitude kicking in, as she explains.

“I was a little late to the programme. I basically got told just four or five days before they headed down to Timaru, so I said, ‘yeah, cool, put me in’. I rearranged things and drove down to Christchurch, hopped in the van to Timaru at 8am and met the others. The rush was worth it though, it showed them I was keen … and I loved it,” added the bubbly PTI.

Bex, short for Rebecca, has been playing netball since Future Ferns level. She grew up in Palmerston North, attending Cornerstone Christian School, where she captained their senior netball side. Rep selection for an open grade Manawatu side followed, before ambitions to forge a career in the Air Force enticed her south.

The sporting allrounder has represented the NZ Defence Force in both netball and volleyball, but her passion is undoubtedly the seven-a-side game and she is thrilled that a new pathway has just opened up.

The METS programme’s well-publicised aim is to develop players capable of trialling for places in the NNL competition, a concept that Bex embraces.

“Going further in netball has always been in the back of my mind, but I just didn’t know how to get there,” she said. “That is what [METS] is about.

“A place in the NNL is the goal, then maybe one day I could have a chance to play in the ANZ premiership … one day hopefully … you have always got to have something to aspire to,” she added with a wide grin.