Langman’s Swifts switch pays off
‘ Some weeks it’s like playing three games a week, because what we play at is what we train at, and that’s probably been one of the greatest challenges.’ LAURA LANGMAN
LAURA Langman’s season on the road has brought her back home.
Her adopted side, the New South Wales Swifts, will be in Hamilton tomorrow night to play the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in a trans-Tasman netball league semifinal.
Getting to this point has been a long journey for the 131-cap Silver Fern, who says her move to Sydney has been completely worth it.
‘‘It’s been absolutely everything that I ever wanted it to be, and even more.
‘‘Just being surrounded by true professionals, like (Australian internationals) Kim Green and Sharni Layton, and seeing how the youth get brought up through the system here, that’s been really exciting, and really motivating in terms of what you can gain from simply being around people.’’
Langman, who played six seasons with the Magic then two with the Northern Mystics, was inspired to join the Swifts after watching last year’s final, where they lost by one to the Queensland Firebirds. She said getting to go behind the scenes with an Australian team had been an awesome experience.
‘‘Some weeks it’s like playing three games a week, because what we play at is what we train at, and that’s probably been one of the greatest challenges, being able to front up every time, regardless of fatigue levels or energy levels or what day of the week it is.’’
After losing to the Firebirds in the Australian conference final, the Swifts now have to beat a Magic outfit who Langman says have found some phenomenal form of late.
‘‘Their experience in finals netball speaks volumes, and that’s really come to the fore,’’ she says.
‘‘They know how to win when they need to, and that’s a sign of a team that’s been here before and knows the drill.’’
With the trans-Tasman league now splitting into separate Australian and New Zealand competitions, Langman will be at a crossroads when the season ends.
She doesn’t yet know whether she will stay in Australia or return home, but does know the exemption she received to cross the ditch and continue playing for the Silver Ferns is no guarantee be granted again.
For now, she is good to go in the black dress, having been included among the trialists named by new coach Janine Southby last Wednesday.
Langman is likely to take over the captaincy in Casey Kopua’s absence, and said she would hopefully be able to pass on some of what she has learnt in Australia.
‘‘This will be the first official time we’ve been together as a squad under Janine and her management team,’’ she says.
‘‘So I think first and foremost she will take the reins and establish the vision she has going forward.
‘‘Certainly in and around the fringes, how I conduct myself as a player on and off the court, some of the learnings will transpire through that,’’ she says.
‘‘I’m excited to be getting back in the mix and looking forward to what will be a busy international calendar.’’
The winner of the Swifts-Magic game will play the winner of today’s other semifinal between the Firebirds and the Southern Steel in Brisbane.