Not even a year away can stop Toots from returning to the netball court

Matilda 'Toots' Howard with the game ball after the Giants and Melbourne Vixens pre-season game at Equex Centre. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

Matilda 'Toots' Howard is back home in Wagga, and she will not be missing the 2025 netball season.

The 10-year-old spent 12 months in Sydney after being diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in November 2023.

After returning home in October 2024, she's eagerly waiting for the new netball season to begin.

But while she waits, Matilda was happy to settle for watching some Super Netball at Equex Centre.

A brief meeting with some of the Giants players - through a window while she was in isolation - at Sydney Children's Hospital did not stand up to watching a game in person.

"I liked how I got to see all of the netball players and I got them to sign all the papers, and I like to see them play and win," Matilda said.

"It's just fun to watch and you get to see them in person, it's really fun.

"I was isolating [when the team was at the hospital] because I was nearly about to have my surgery so I couldn't really go anywhere and they were outside.

"I spoke to Tilly [McDonell] on the phone, it was cool but not as cool as today."

With just a goal in the final game, mum Katie Howard said tensions were rising as they waited to see if their Giants could hold on.

"I was like 'oh no, they're gonna lose' but then they won," Matilda said.

Prior to her diagnosis, Matilda played netball, touch football, league tag, footy, and competed in athletics.

Returning to North Wagga to play netball this season has been a long time coming.

"I like playing sport because you make new friends and you get to have fun. It's not about who is winning, it's about having fun," Matilda said.

"I'm playing netball this year, my favourite position is goal shooter or goal attack."

Mrs Howard said the sporting community has been so important for their entire family over the past 18 months.

Matilda 'Toots' Howard was gifted the game ball after the Giants and Melbourne Vixens pre-season game at Equex Centre. Picture by Bernard Humphreys

"Between Matilda and her two brothers, they play a lot of sport, so we're involved in a lot of clubs and the way they supported us when we were in Sydney was really special," Mrs Howard said.

"We're really grateful to have had that and Matilda's netball team actually held her spot on their side, so I think they're very excited to have her back and she's excited to rejoin them and start playing again.

"It's just really nice to know she had an opportunity to return to a team that she is familiar with.

"Having them hold her spot, just makes us feel really welcomed and special and important and part of that club."

While getting excited talking about her return to the court this year, Giants executive general manager Tim Underwood approached Matilda, giving her a money-can't-buy souvenir: the game ball.

It's an act that summarised Mrs Howard's feelings towards the sporting community in Wagga.

Though Matilda will need to continue returning to Sydney every three months for scans, for now the Howard family is reunited.

Still on daily medications, Matilda's treatment is ongoing, but Mrs Howard is holding onto every second of her family being together again.

"It was really hard on my husband and Matilda's two older brothers. The distance was really difficult and Matilda's dad travelled back and forth to Sydney every week, so it was quite a strain on him," Mrs Howard said.

"We missed out on so much of my boys growing up that 12 months, it was really difficult.

"Being back in Wagga makes these events just so much more special. We try to make the most of opportunities like this, because tomorrow is just never promised."

As for the future of the Giants, Matilda wasn't sure how far up the ladder they can climb this year.

Just like her own team, listening to their coach will be key.

"Depends how good they train. They ran super fast today though," she said.

"Between Matilda and her two brothers they play a lot of sport, so we're involved in a lot of clubs and the way they supported us when we were in Sydney was really special

"We're really grateful to have had that and Matilda's netball team actually held her spot on their side, so I think they're very excited to have her back and she's excited to rejoin them and start playing again.”