Silver Ferns coach Taurua stays on
Midas-touch World Cup champion coach Noeline Taurua has extended her role as Silver Ferns head coach for another year.
Netball NZ confirmed that Taurua, who led the Silver Ferns to the world title in Liverpool this year, has recommitted to the position until the end of February, 2021.
Taurua, 51, who returned home to New Zealand after three years coaching in Australia, felt the one-year commitment was a good fit for her family.
She is looking forward to the challenges ahead and wants her team to target short term goals, stressing the importance of building year on year rather than focusing solely on pinnacle events.
‘‘I want the emphasis to be on continuing momentum. It is a shift in thinking but it’s that challenge that I’m really excited about,’’ Taurua said.
‘‘I’ve been looking forward to coming home and helping to develop the next steps for the Silver Ferns.’’
Since returning home she has been building towards next month’s Nations Cup in England where the Silver Ferns take on England, Jamaica and South Africa.
Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said it was exciting to have Taurua remain at the helm of the Silver Ferns for the
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua says need for momentum motivates her new netball contract.
next year.
‘‘It was really important that we gave Noeline the space to make that decision after the massive commitment she gave to netball in New Zealand over the past two years,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re delighted to have secured her services – she is a world class coach who is widely respected in this game, not just in this country but around the world.’’
It is not surprising Netball New Zealand characterised Taurua staying on as ‘‘it feels like Christmas has come early’’.
After the misery of 2018, when the Silver Ferns failed to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games, Taurua took them to an unexpected World Cup triumph in 2019.
In Australia she took Sunshine Coast Lightning to three consecutive Super Netball finals – and won two titles.
That made her the most successful and most sought-after coach in the business.
Wresting the Constellation Cup off the Australians would be her 2020 goal.
‘‘Taking the Constellation Cup
off Australia is a challenge in itself. You’re playing against the world’s best, not in a one-off, but four in a row.
‘‘It’s a different beast, a different level of intensity where we can work on having consistent performances.’’
The Silver Ferns head to the Nations Cup in the new year, where they play hosts England Roses in Nottingham on January 19 followed by the Jamaican Sunshine Girls (January 22 in Birmingham) and Proteas (January 25 in London). The final is in London on January 26.