Taurua tops — Fitzgerald
Leading coach says no to Ferns but gives rival a big rap
Sydney Giants and former Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic head netball coach Julie Fitzgerald has set the record straight after rising as a possible candidate to take over the Silver Ferns.
Fitzgerald shut down rumours that she would consider taking on the role left vacant by the resignation of Janine Southby.
“No, I think that ship sailed and I’m in a good place now,” Fitzgerald told the Herald yesterday.
Although Southby’s resignation came with little surprise, it left major questions around who would be willing — let alone available — to step up for the role.
Former Magic and Southern Steel coach Noeline Taurua, who was dropped from the shortlist in 2015 after serving as an assistant coach for the Ferns, has since emerged as the clear favourite.
But she is contracted to Australia’s Sunshine Coast Lightning until the end of 2019, so it was assumed Netball New Zealand would look at recruiting another coach from across the Tasman, such as Fitzgerald.
Southby, who was appointed in 2015 over Fitzgerald, resigned last month after Netball New Zealand’s review into the Ferns’ Commonwealth Games debacle revealed a raft of issues during her reign. But Fitzgerald ruled herself out of the job.
“I love where I am at the moment, I like being back in Sydney and I’m really enjoying coaching the Giants and it’s a great organisation to be a part of together with Netball New South Wales, so I’m very happy about where I am,” Fitzgerald said.
Southby was assumed to have been appointed over Fitzgerald largely due to a backlash from Kiwi netball fans who weren’t keen on the national side being led by an Australian.
Although disappointed at the time, Fitzgerald said she was more surprised then-chief executive Hilary Poole and former head of high performance Steve Lancaster had dropped Taurua from the shortlist.
It was believed Taurua didn’t make the cut due to her promise of overhauling areas such as selection, training methods, strength and conditioning, and the failure to stand up under pressure.
But Fitzgerald believed Taurua was still “without a doubt” the best candidate to lead the Ferns.
“I’ve got great admiration for Noeline . . . I knew how much the players admired her and I think now that she’s had two or three years in Australia, she’s only going to be better for the experience,” she said.
“I think it’s been great for her to come over here and she would have had a great high performance environment around her.
“I know how much players love playing for her and I know how much I fear her as an opponent . . . I think it says a lot about her style.”
Netball New Zealand is expected to officially appoint the 11th Silver Ferns coach on Monday after the ANZ Premiership final on Sunday.
It is believed that Taurua has been approached and is keen to take on the role but would need to work through contract details with the Lightning.