Her sporting prowess was acknowledged when Tiueti was named the Hunter Academy of Sport's most outstanding female athlete and presented the Saxon White award at the academy's presentation night last week.

Despite this, there's not a hint of egotism about the 16-year-old.

Now in Year 11, Tiueti has captained every netball team she has played in, since she took up the sport at age nine - a fact pointed out by her mum Tala.

"She wouldn't have told you that," Mrs Holland said proudly.

Tiueti has quite a busy schedule for a teenager; on top of school she trains and plays with Charlestown Netball Association's under-17s representative side, plays on Saturday afternoons for club Bilbie Dan and is also involved in the Hunter Academy of Sport netball program.

Tiu, as she is known by family and friends, was forced to give up her casual job to stay on top of her netball duties.

The Gateshead teenager wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'd rather play netball otherwise I'd just be lying in bed," Tiu said.

"Netball is my first priority."

Her talent for the game was obvious to everyone except, seemingly, herself.

However, that changed when Tiu was named the most valuable player in the netball competition at April's inter-academy games in Illawarra, despite a move away from her usual position of goal defence to wing defence.

The award was decided by each academy's coach at the tournament.

"That was a big shock, I wasn't expecting that at all," Tiu said.

The Hollands are a close-knit family; parents Jeff and Tala work during the day and youngest daughter Lashelle also plays netball, but they find the time to support Tiu every weekend.

"They always come watch me no matter what."

Tiu said she would love to go on to make a career in netball but first she just wanted to make a state representative team.

She will get her chance when she heads to Sydney for the NSW under-17s state trials on September 21.