Taurua hits out at NNZ’s ‘mistake’
Championship-winning coach Noeline Taurua says Netball NZ has made a big mistake in barring Laura Langman from the Silver Ferns.
In an interview on Trackside Radio yesterday, Taurua says there’s not enough depth in New Zealand to fill the void left by a player of Langman’s quality, adding that Langman deserves more respect.
‘‘I believe they have [made a mistake],’’ said Taurua, who last weekend guided the Sunshine Coast Lightning to glory in the Australian netball competition.
‘‘Sometimes I do take the PC line, but I know her value and I know a lot of other people do,’’ Taurua told Trackside Radio.
‘‘They haven’t taken into account her as a person, she’s getting older and as you do, you’ve got to be challenged.
‘‘There’s never been any doubt about why she’s does it, it’s about wearing the Silver Fern, to be better and play as best as she can.
‘‘There is also a level of respect you earn and she’s played 141 consecutive tests.’’
Langman wasn’t allowed to play for the Silver Ferns last year, because she signed with the NSW Swifts and Netball NZ insisted only players plying their trade for New Zealand teams would be eligible for the national team.
That ban is set to continue in the Silver Ferns’ test programme this year.
‘‘I suppose they’re still asking themselves questions and it’s not a done deal, but time will tell whether they see her positively.
‘‘But I don’t think in New Zealand we’ve got the supply and demand as they have over here of quality players.’’
Taurua, who has been controversially overlooked to be Silver Ferns coach a number of times, believed her face didn’t fit at Netball New Zealand, so chose to take up the job as head coach at the Lightning.
Taurua took what could be described as a dig at the ANZ Premiership and, in particular, the Northern Mystics, who suffered a shock loss to the Tactix on Sunday when their season was on the line.
‘‘The game where Tactix beat the Mystics at the weekend, for me that’s quite crazy,’’ she said.
‘‘You don’t take it for granted that you’re going to win every week. Consistent performances are what make champion teams and the work that happens during the week, not relying on talent.
‘‘That’s one of the things that sticking out to me when I observe from afar, how inconsistent it is over there.’’
Working on the other side of the Tasman, Taurua says she’s been impressed with the drive and openness there is in netball in Australia.