Langman gets the ticks of approval
Returning Silver Ferns star Laura Langman is humbled to have been voted in as captain of the national netball team.
The midcourter was revealed yesterday as the team’s new leader, replacing defender Katrina Grant, who has held the role for the past two years, but will now be vice-captain.
‘‘It’s very humbling,’’ said Langman, who will pull on the black dress for the first time in two years when the team faces England in Auckland tomorrow.
‘‘Obviously I’ve had a whirlwind 18 months, so to be voted in by my peers is pretty special.’’
Langman was selected through a voting process that included her team-mates, Taurua, Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie and head of high performance Keir Hansen.
Secret ballots using a 3-2-1 system were handed in over the start of week, and once the numbers were tallied, coach Noeline Taurua and her assistant Debbie Fuller gave Langman the news.
Taurua said Grant had responded well to not being kept on as captain.
‘‘I’ve spoken to her over the last week-and-a-half about what the process was and got her feedback on that.
‘‘Katrina, she’s a very passionate person, but also loyal and supportive of whoever got the role.
‘‘Both her and Laura have worked together in the past, now it’s just flipped around and they work really well as a combination,’’ Taurua said.
The appointments of Langman and Grant will be reviewed at the end of October’s Constellation Cup series against Australia, the Silver Ferns’ final assignment of 2018.
Langman said it had been great working with long-time mentor Taurua again.
‘‘I’m a massive fan of Noels’ leadership style. I think she always brings out the best in players and people. I like how she has a real genuine care for the person and builds them to be the best player they can be.
‘‘She’s a real visionary and she thinks outside the box. Whether it’s the 10th year or the first year everyone’s always as nervous as each other and I think that’s a really good sign.’’
Tomorrow’s Quad Series test will be Langman’s first game of top-level netball since June 2017. Langman made her Silver Ferns debut in 2005 against England.
She has since played 141 tests for the Silver Ferns. Radio Sport.
‘‘We’d talked about that over the last 12 months, and were on the same page going into England, but my heart wasn’t in it as much as it should be. I knew I didn’t have the energy the captaincy deserved.’’
So after long consideration Bates handed over the reins to Amy Satterthwaite, who had her first official day in charge yesterday as the Ferns began a four-day camp at Lincoln ahead of their Australian tour.
NZC’s head of high performance, Bryan Stronach, said news of Bates and Tiffen having their differences was no surprise.
‘‘Yes, we were aware. The team was under the pump, playing England who are arguably the best team in the world and we wanted to be doing better,’’ he said.
‘‘In one way it was good, they were stressed and trying to figure