T-Bird Leigh Waddington earns her wings Adelaide Thunderbirds midcourter Leigh Waddington. LOOKS can certainly be deceiving. Adelaide Thunderbirds' midcourter Leigh Waddington appeared at ease amid the tension of the ANZ Championship season opener against the Central Pulse on Sunday. The match was a tough, finals-type battle and Waddington, making her debut in the starting line-up, played with composure and surety. On the inside, however, Waddington said she felt like vomiting. "I was nervous before the match and was shaking," Waddington said. I could not stop talking and the girls just said to be calm and just focus. The adrenalin takes over when you get on court. Internally I think I could have vomited. The first quarter was close but after that I felt calm and more confident in my abilities. Waddington is netball's version of the Crows' Ian Callinan or Geelong's James Podsiadly. Last season, aged 27, she made her debut in the Thunderbirds' underpinning program, the Thunderbabes, and sat on the bench for five ANZ Championship games as a replacement player. She got six minutes of action against the Canterbury Tactix in the final minor round then sat on the bench for the epic first semi-final against the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic in Hamilton. Waddington's work ethic and attitude so impressed coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson, she was promoted to the squad of 12 for this season. Her pre-season form earned her a start against the Pulse and her efforts last weekend will ensure she is on court against the Melbourne Vixens at the Hisense Arena tomorrow. "I am as fit as I have ever been - the program is amazing," Waddington said. My aim for the season was to take every opportunity and not be stressed whether I got on court - just enjoy myself. I'm finding all the attention overwhelming. That might be the best game I play all year, who knows. I want to at least keep it at that level and not get too flustered, not worry about whether I am starting. If you focus on that you don't play well. I just want us to be successful as a team. If that means I play a half, a quarter or five minutes - I'm just grateful to be in this position. It shows you should never give up on your dreams. Waddington almost gave up on her career and seriously considered quitting the sport in 2008 when she badly damaged her knee in the state league and required a reconstruction. She returned to the court a few rounds into the 2009 season, only to play in pain for the season. It was not until January, 2011, when she had an arthroscopy, that the issue was rectified.