‘Super nervous’: How hockey star Tim Howard went from shaking rookie to Kookaburra centurion

He was a self-described nervous wreck during his debut. But now Kookaburras defender Tim Howard is set to play his 100th game for the national team at the FIH Hockey World Cup.

Tim Howard still has vivid memories of his first game for the Kookaburras.

It was January 5, 2017, Australia was taking on New Zealand in Bendigo, and the then 20-year-old cut a quiet figure in the dressing shed as he sought to battle his swirling emotions.

“I certainly was that quiet kid in the corner,” says Howard.

“I was so nervous. I started on the bench, and thankfully I got a cheap touch as I came on. The bench was on the left side, I was playing left-half. I walked on the field, basically pushed the ball – I can’t remember who to – and that helped me settle into the game. But I was so nervous.”

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Now, six years on, that quiet, nervous bloke is preparing to play his 100th game for Australia when the Kookaburras take on South Africa in their third and final group game of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Rourkela, India, on Friday night.

“I could never have dreamt of playing 100 games,” says the 26-year-old.

“Growing up, I dreamed of playing just one game for the Kookaburras, but I think when you first get your taste you think: ‘Oh, I want more.’

“I debuted in 2017 and during that period it was just about getting a game. It didn’t matter where, what position – I just wanted to get on the field. And then you sort of find your spot, there’s more responsibility, performance is more important and that sort of stuff. But it’s certainly been an amazing journey and I would have never thought that I’d play 100 games growing up.”

Tim Howard will play his 100th game for Australia against South Africa on Friday night. (Photo by WorldSportPics/Frank Uijlenbroek)

While cracking the ton might come as a surprise to Howard himself, looking from the outside, it might well seem as though the Queenslander is doing exactly what he was put on earth to do.

Born into a hockey-playing family, Howard well and truly has the sport in his veins, with both his mum, Leonie, and nan, Helen, representing Queensland.

“My grandparents played, my mum played, my dad played, my sisters played, a lot of my family,” he says.

If that’s not enough, Howard’s partner, Savannah Fitzpatrick, plays for the Hockeyroos alongside her sister, Maddy, while their father, Scott, also played for the national team.

“It’s pretty funny how it works,” smiles Howard. “We met playing hockey as a lot of our friends do.”

Fitzpatrick and Howard at a hockey training clinic in Toowoomba. Photo: Sean Teuma

If his main family is well and truly into hockey, so is his second – Brisbane’s Eastern Suburbs Hockey Club, which Howard credits with playing a huge role in shaping his career.

“They’ve been massive for me. They put in a turf pitch when I was about 13, and the opportunity to train down there was fantastic,” he says.

“I was down there three or four times a week training, getting coached by a lot of good coaches who had been in the pathways system with Queensland or Australia in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, so that was enormous.

“Now it’s amazing to go back there. I’m really fond of the place. I grew up there, a lot of my best mates from hockey are there. So going back, coaching young guys, getting in and around the club is great.”

Howard credits Easts, and in particular former Kookaburra Mark Knowles, with having a huge impact on his career.

It was also while at Easts that Howard came across former Kookaburra Mark Knowles, someone he says is responsible for much of his success.

“He’s had a massive influence on me,” says Howard.

“I only met him pretty late in his career, but he was a massive idol of mine. He moved back to the east coast in 2017, so I trained with him that whole year.

“Training with him in Brisbane was incredible and I think it was certainly important in my journey,” says Howard.

“You get to watch his habits, you get to watch how he trains, what he does, how he thinks about the game, how he prepares for a game. It was amazing and I certainly picked up a lot from him in that year.”

After claiming silver in Tokyo, Howard says gold is definitely the goal at the World Cup. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the six years and 99 games since that nervous 20-year-old first took to the pitch for the Kookaburras, Howard says there have been plenty of highlights: from beating Belgium 3-2 in the 2019 Pro League final in what was his 50th international, to winning the 2018 Champions Trophy and bringing home silver at the Tokyo Olympics alongside Savannah.

However there is one thing that has so far remained out of his reach – a World Cup victory.

“Gold is definitely the goal. We’re just trying to follow out process, going game for game,” he says. “It’s just about building momentum and improving on every performance.”

After a thumping 8-0 victory against France and a tough 3-3 draw against Argentina, Australia go into the game with South Africa knowing that a win will see them top the group and progress straight through to the quarter finals.

“We’re definitely expecting a tough hit-out. They made the semis of the Comm Games, they’re definitely a team on the up. They’re really fast, they’re fit, they counter attack well, so it’s going to be a tough game. But I’m certainly hoping for a win, which would be pretty special in my 100th game, but also just to keep building in the World Cup.”

So, as he approaches 100 games, what other ambitions does Howard have for his career?

“I’ll certainly try and play for as long as I can. Whatever quantity of games, that won’t necessarily be as important for me, I’ll just keep playing my role for the team. I love playing hockey for Australia, I love what I get to do – it’s incredible.”

Australia take on South Africa in its third group game at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, India, at 6:30pm on Friday night.