Last series for pair?
WELLINGTON: It is looking increasingly like the Constellation Cup will be Laura Langman and Maria Folau’s Silver Ferns swansongs on home soil.
Last year the pair, who play in Australia’s Super Netball competition, were granted exemptions which allowed them to play for the Silver Ferns and star in their World Cup victory.
Last month Netball New Zealand said Langman and Folau had been granted exemptions again, through the 201920 contract term.
But they have yet to resign with their Australian clubs or any franchise across the Tasman for next year’s competition and time is running out.
The Super Netball contractsigning period in Australia ends next Monday when teams have to confirm their final 10 players for the 2020 season.
Langman and Folau made themselves available for the Constellation Cup series and the Nations Cup in England in January but it is hard to imagine a scenario where they could continue beyond that if they were not playing on either side of the Tasman.
They are not returning to play in a New Zealand franchise next year — the ANZ Premiership teams were finalised a long time ago.
The Adelaide Thunderbirds are close to announcing their last two signings but they have already contracted three shooters — Sasha Glasgow, Cody Lange, and Lenize Potgeiter.
The other franchises have either compiled their full squads already or have filled their shooting positions.
The Sunshine Coast Lightning has resigned all but one of its players from this season — its captain, Langman, and they would love to hold on to her.
But a huge part of what attracted Langman to the Lightning was now Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua, who has just stepped away and Langman could see it as a logical time to go. — RNZ