Emotion but no final word from Folau
At a glance
It seems Silver Ferns great Maria Folau has called time on her distinguished 14-year international career, without saying a word.
Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman was in tears when she talked of Folau’s 150 tests in the wake of yesterday’s fourth Constellation Cup against Australia in Perth.
Langman spoke as if Folau, 32, had told the Silver Ferns the game, a 53-46 loss would be her last in the black dress.
Folau, a mainstay of the Ferns’ shooting end since her debut against Jamaica in November 2005, was also emotional. She appeared to have played her final game in the black dress, after helping lead New Zealand to their first World Cup title since 2003 in July, though she is unlikely to ever formally call it a day.
Speculation about Folau’s retirement from netball swirled when she didn’t re-sign with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia’s
Super Netball competition for 2020.
Folau was also spotted blinking back tears as the Ferns linked arms to sing God Defend New Zealand prior to the second test against Australia at Auckland’s
Spark Arena – her final game for the Ferns in New Zealand.
Before the 2019 Netball World Cup, Folau revealed in an interview retirement was looming.
‘‘Let’s just say I’m very close to the end,’’ she said.
The past year hasn’t been easy for the legendary shooter off the court. Her husband former Australian rugby star Israel Folau courted controversy earlier this year, having his contract torn up after a series of controversial social media posts targeting the gay community.
Maria Folau has handled the situation professionally, never letting it affect her play on court for the Ferns, at least publicly.
She has has been unavailable for interviews with New Zealand media in recent months, obviously fearing the inevitable questions around her husband.
Folau, nee Tutaia, has been a focal point in the Silver Ferns’ shooting end since debuting 2005 and is widely viewed as among the greatest shooters in New Zealand netball history.
It will be impossible for the Silver Ferns to replace a player of Folau’s quality.
They are well served at goal attack with Ekenasio, who was a revelation at the World Cup. Bailey Mes and Te Paea Selby-Rickit are also established members of
Australia 53 (Caitlin Bassett
25/28, Gretel Tippett 22/23, Caitlin Thwaites 6/7) New Zealand 46 (Maria Folau 23/25, Ameliaranne Ekenasio 21/23, Bailey Mes 2/4. Quarter scores: 1Q: 16-7, HT: 31-18,
3Q: 41-32.
the Silver Ferns squad.
Highly rated teen Grace Nweke is tipped for a bright future and could be the player to take over from Folau at goal shoot in the coming years.
In yesterday’s match, the Silver Ferns were in all sorts of bother at halftime, trailing 31-18.
Whatever coach Noeline Taurua said during fired up the Ferns, who began the second half with a 7-1 run to trim Australia’s lead to 32-25.
New Zealand were right in the hunt, cutting Australia’s lead to four with six minutes left (45-41). The Diamonds kept their nerve when it mattered, having struggled in the second half of this series, with the Ferns running out of time.