The Kiwi the Aussies like to like
Even the coach of the Silver Ferns’ fiercest netball rival is in awe of the side’s stunning transformation under Noeline Taurua.
Australian coach Lisa Alexander has long admired Taurua, but that only increased after New Zealand’s upset 52-51 World Cup final win over the Diamonds in Liverpool last month.
It was a rags to riches storyline for the Ferns, who were an absolute mess at last April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, finishing fourth. Taurua replaced Janine Southby as coach in late August 2018 and in less than 12 months guided the broken Ferns to a world title.
‘‘She should be lauded for it and she should have a street parade and a statue put in her name in New Zealand because it’s been an enormous amount of work that she’s put in and she’s done it very deliberately,’’ Alexander told Stuff.
Alexander and the wounded Diamonds will switch their focus to October’s Constellation Cup four-match series against the Ferns, starting in Christchurch on October 13.
Australia have held the Constellation Cup since 2013, winning six straight series. Surrendering it to the Ferns after the despair of the World Cup would be a nightmare scenario for Australian netball.
Like the Diamonds players, Taurua has returned to Australia’s Super Netball after the World Cup, where she is aiming to steer her Sunshine Coast Lightning club to a third straight title. They are second with two rounds to play and guaranteed of a finals berth.
Alexander has crossed paths with Taurua at Lightning training sessions through her role as Australian coach. Taurua’s knack of being able to get the best out of her players, astute netball mind, and attention to detail, were hallmarks of her success.
‘‘She’s somebody who is on a continuous learning journey. That’s what I’ve been so impressed about,’’ said Alexander, who is contracted to the end of 2020.
‘‘She’s all about high performance and she’s all about what’s best for the team as well. She’s a real team-first type of coach.’’
Taurua’s future with the Ferns is uncertain. Her contract with Netball New Zealand ended after the World Cup and is in the final year of a three-year deal with the Lightning.
Once the Lightning season is finished, Taurua will take time out to reflect what’s next for her – and that might not even include elite netball. If Taurua does want to remain in coaching, it’s unlikely she would be able to juggle both the Ferns and Lightning in 2020.
A Ferns side without Taurua at the helm would make life easier for Australia but Alexander hoped New Zealand’s inspirational coach would be involved in the Constellation Cup and beyond.
‘‘From Netball New Zealand’s perspective I would be assuming there’d be lots of conversations going on with wanting her to continue.
‘‘It’s all to do whether Noeline feels that’s what she wants to do
and it’s the right thing to do, especially in regards to her family commitments and everything she has on her plate.
‘‘I’m certain she’ll make the right call. I’d love to see her continue with the Silver Ferns, so we can continue that great rivalry between the two countries.’’
Ferns legend Casey Kopua retired following the World Cup title win after a decorated career in the black dress. Fellow stalwarts captain Laura Langman and veteran shooter Maria Folau haven’t yet made a call on possible international retirement and are competing in Super Netball for the Lighting and Adelaide Thunderbirds respectively.
Australia would plan like Langman and Folau were in the Silver Ferns side, but Alexander said the decision around the duo’s future was theirs to make.
Playing the first two tests in New Zealand in Christchurch and Auckland (October 16) could potentially allow Langman and Folau to have a farewell tour and give Silver Ferns supporters the chance to send them out in style.
‘‘I think it would be great if they could get out there and still be a part of the group and finish off this year,’’ Alexander said.
‘‘You are a long time retired. From an Australian point of view, we want the Silver Ferns to be at their strongest, so we’d love them to be out there.’’
‘‘She’s a real team-first type of coach.’’
Lisa Alexander on Noeline Taurua