Packer, Krstic back firing on the national stage
It was a long time between drinks for BCiB Jackaroo Kristina Krstic and Emerging Jackaroo Cody Packer, who have missed an extended period of opportunity on the national stage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both were at the forefront of the Perth Suns lineup at BPL11 in February 2020, but would ultimately wait more than a year until their next national event, with state borders being shut left, right and centre.
It was a welcome return though, with both producing fine performances on the Gold Coast at the Australian Open, claiming three medals combined throughout the fortnight.
Packer, in his second event back following the Australian Championships last month, would win an epic men’s pairs final in which he and lead Matt Johnstone saluted with the final bowl of the match over opponents Gary Pearson and Cohen Litfin.
The 28-year-old reflected on the fortnight fondly and winning a title in the biggest event on the national calendar has given him more belief than ever.
“It’s pretty special, you go to the event dreaming of winning it and wanting to do well, but you know the likelihood of winning an event like that with the quality field that’s out there, it’s pretty slim,” Packer said.
“Things have to go your way in earlier games, which thankfully for us on a couple of occasions they did, but it means a lot.
“Even thinking back to when I started bowling, winning an AO was everything.
“You get a sense that you can do it now against the best because you’ve got one, but now it’s just backing it up.”
Packer’s unlikely partnership with Johnstone raised a few eyebrows around the greens, mainly due to the sheer distance between the two, with the latter’s club Soldiers Point situated 3,969 kilometres and 42 hours away by car.
However thanks to bowls, they met at the 2019 Australian Open while playing against each other in singles and the rest was history.
“We lined up against each other at the last AO, neither of us knew each other from a bar of soap and I’d still call it the best singles game I’ve played in, it was just awesome,” he said.
“It was shot for shot, and everyone that was there kept saying how much they enjoyed it and how much of a quality game it was.
“We went inside and I told him that if we ever got the chance to play together at some stage that would be great, and it has all stemmed from there.”
In keeping with dynamic duos, after such an extended period of time out west, Krstic was finally able to reunite with her best friend and fellow Jackaroo Ellen Ryan for a fruitful fortnight consisting of two finals in the fours and pairs.
Since BPL11, the 27-year-old has been unable to travel outside of Western Australia and it was fair to say the joy was unparalleled to see Ryan and her other friends again.
“Ellen and I speak every day, whether it’s messaging or a phone call and it was quite emotional seeing her,” she said.
“We both cried when we said goodbye at the airport because we didn’t know when we were going to see each other again.
“It’s hard to explain our friendship but we have such a special bond and it was so nice to spend some quality time with her and get the opportunity to play one another because normally when we’re trialling we’re always against each other.”
The synergy between the pair was on show as they reached the decider in two disciplines, just falling short of a title on both occasions, but Krstic lauds the positivity and confidence that Ryan gave her.
“What helps is that we know each other so well, and it’s so easy,” she said.
“There’s no animosity on the green, she just understands me.
“Sometimes I lack a little bit of belief in myself but she brings the belief out in me, whether it’s being able to draw a shot and she’ll just tell me that I will draw it and give me that confidence to nail my execution.”
The Australian Open will once again see more new friendships made and old friends reunited when it returns to the Gold Coast from June 11 to 24, 2022, courtesy of support from Tourism and Events Queensland and City of Gold Coast.
