Folau to play in Australian competition
AUCKLAND: New Zealand shooting star Maria Folau has made herself available to play in next year’s Super Netball league.
Sydneybased Folau has been given dispensation to play in the Australian competition while still being eligible to represent the Silver Ferns at next year’s World Cup.
Folau told the newsroom.co.nz website she would have retired internationally if not granted permission by Netball New Zealand to swap domestic leagues.
The longtime Northern Mystics shooter has lived in Sydney since marrying high profile Wallaby Israel
Folau last
November.
Folau played about half of the
Mystics’ matches in the ANZ
Premiership this year and found the commute too draining.
‘‘The travelling has just been too hard on my body and my mind,’’ she said.
‘‘And it’s also been hard on my husband and my family.
‘‘I feel like I’ve given my all to netball, and I’ve done everything I can wearing the black dress for 13 years but I would love to give the World Cup one more crack.’’
The 31yearold, one of the sport’s most prolific longrange shooters, has played 134 tests.
She plans to alert Australian franchises of her availability and is looking forward to a fresh challenge.
‘‘The Aussies play a totally different style compared to New Zealand — their competition is different, the players are different. I think it will add another string to my bow,’’ she said.
Folau is the second player to be granted a transtasman exemption by NNZ, which wants to keep its leading players in New Zealand.
Midcourt great Laura Langman was blocked from representing the Silver Ferns after playing for the champion Sunshine Coast Lightning last year. Langman has since been cleared to play in Australia.
Australia coach Lisa Alexander expects Super Netball clubs to clamour for Maria Folau’s signature.
Alexander said Folau would offer a club plenty of punch on and off the court.
‘‘No club could say no to that sort of experience,’’ the Diamonds coach said. — AAP