Langman too good to be left out

Laura Langman is still arguably the best midcourter in world netball, but has probably played her last test in the black dress after re-signing with Australian domestic champions, the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

Netball NZ’s board has been clear in its stance that only players competing in the New Zealand national premiership are eligible for the Silver Ferns, which again blocks Langman and rules her out of April’s Commonwealth Games.

The Silver Ferns and Netball NZ are worse off for not having Langman, one of the few world-class netballers in New Zealand, in their lineup.

It’s a disgrace both the best netballer in New Zealand and most astute coach, Noeline Taurua, are both over at the Lightning and not involved with the national setup. They both have an enormous amount to give.

Langman has earned the right for an exemption given her sterling service to the sport in this country, both on and off the court. The 31-year-old is netball’s equivalent of retired All Blacks Richie McCaw and Dan Carter and the rules need to be relaxed for her.

She is the second most capped Silver Fern in history, playing 141 consecutive tests between 2005 and October last year and has represented New Zealand at three World Cups and three Commonwealth Games.

Langman isn’t a player to make an example of. She isn’t some youngster who has just broken into the Silver Ferns, and she has more than earned the right to compete in the Australian league and still be available for New Zealand.

Netball NZ must create a clause, where they reward loyal servants, who have given their all for the Silver Ferns, but want to further themselves and play in the Australian league, where many of the best players in the world are.

Overseas players with more than 60 caps are eligible for the Australian rugby team and the Silver Ferns could look to do something similar.

Langman said in an interview with Stuff two weeks ago that she believed she was playing the finest netball of her career with the Lightning.

Her attacking game, one of the rare weaknesses in her play, had improved massively this past season.

She was thriving, playing alongside internationals like Caitlin Bassett and Stephanie Wood (Australia), Geva Mentor (England) and Karla Mostert (South Africa) and matching up against hardened Australian opposition on a weekly basis.

If the Silver Ferns aspire to bridge the gap on threetime reigning World Cup champions Australia, they can’t afford to leave out players of Langman’s calibre, even more so following the retirements of veteran defenders Casey Kopua, Anna Harrison and Leana de Bruin.

Langman instantly makes any team she plays for better and lifts those around her, giving the Silver Ferns a chance of competing with the Diamonds.

The disparity between netball’s best two international teams will only grow wider without Langman’s presence. That’s a huge negative, not only for world netball, but the sport in New Zealand overall.