Taurua set to join Ferns as two-time winner
Noeline Taurua’s reputation as a coaching genius has again been underlined.
Taurua’s Sunshine Coast Lightning have gone back-to-back in Australia’s Super Netball, upsetting the West Coast Fever 62-59 in the grand final in Perth yesterday.
Taurua is expected to be announced as the next Silver Ferns head coach.
The Lightning appeared to be in major trouble, down by seven goals (29-22) late in the first half but stormed back into the contest, winning the third quarter 22-16.
Taurua is contracted with the Lightning through to the end of 2019 and could potentially see out her contract with the Australian side, while also coaching the Ferns next year.
Netball New Zealand have said a Silver Ferns coach will be in place by September 10 but an appointment is likely to be made before then.
Their announcement is believed to have been delayed by the Lightning’s prolonged finals run in Super Netball.
The Silver Ferns take part in the Quad Series in September with their next game against England at Auckland’s Spark Arena on September 15.
Taurua has carved out a fine record with the Queenslandbased Lightning over the past two years, leading them to 24 wins from 33 games (72 per cent) and an unbeaten record in finals netball (five wins from five matches). Her success again illustrates what a huge blunder was made in 2015 by the interview panel, consisting of thenNNZ chief executive Hilary Poole, Steve Lancaster (then NNZ’s head of high performance), board member Suri Bartlett, and independents, former Ferns centurion and captain, Lesley Rumball, and Mike McGovern from High Performance Sport New Zealand.
Taurua was inexcusably not shortlisted. Janine Southby, who resigned in July after a dreadful run of results and damning independent review, won out over Australian Julie Fitzgerald for the top Silver Ferns job.