Langman likely to lead Silver Ferns
The loudest voice at Silver Ferns training wasn’t that of new coach Noeline Taurua.
It belonged to Laura Langman, who is set to pull on the black dress for the first time in two years this Saturday, when New Zealand face England in their Quad Series opener in Auckland.
Whenever the on-court action stopped at the AUT University gym on the North Shore yesterday, it was the midcourter who did most of the talking, whether she was answering questions put to the team by their coach, or offering advice to those around her.
A display of natural leadership like that makes Langman a strong contender to be named captain later this week, with the players, Taurua, Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie, and head of high performance Keir Hansen set to vote on the makeup of the team’s leadership structure.
Langman joked after training that she was probably talking too much at times.
She said she was open to being made captain, a role she described as ‘‘designated coin tosser,’’ but was sure there would be plenty of leaders regardless.
‘‘We’ve got some fantastic leaders amongst our group. The strength in the team is always everybody and leadership always reflects the environment that we have.
‘‘Obviously it would be an honour, but I think there’s many other more appropriate people for the role.’’
Defender Katrina Grant is the incumbent and, while voicing her preference for a leadership group, she said having the team vote was a good way to decide.
‘‘Whoever the team wants as captain is who it’s going to be and I think that’s a great way to do it and it’s fair.’’
Langman said she likes being a wingman, and she certainly fills that role in relation to Taurua, who she has worked with more than anyone else in the current Ferns squad, most recently at the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia in 2017.
‘‘I feel like I’m good in that role in terms of just checking in with people and having the back of anyone that’s in there.
‘‘I think we’ve got some really awesome people who bring great energy to our group, and it’s awesome to be the fairy that just makes sure everyone’s bringing what they need to.’’
Five tests from now, Langman
(141 caps) will pass Irene van Dyk
(145) as the most-capped Silver Fern, but she doesn’t want herself and the other experienced players to be doing all the talking.
‘‘Even though some of them might not have many caps, everybody always brings something.
‘‘That’s something we’ve touched on over the last 24 hours, we want everybody to contribute. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played
100-odd or if you’re just coming up to being capped, your contribution is valued.’’
It was a sentiment echoed by Taurua, who took charge of the team for the first time on Monday.
‘‘That’s what I want to encourage, that everybody has something to say,’’ Taurua said.
‘‘We don’t want wallflowers and everybody needs to contribute towards the overall strategy and the performance out on court.’’
Langman’s return to the Silver Ferns comes after two years away, thanks first to her decision to play in Australia and Netball NZ’s policy of only picking domestic-based players, then to her decision to take time away from the game at the start of this year.
She will play in Australia for the Lightning again next year, but has been given a waiver to return to international duty, and it’s clear she is excited to be back – which, in part, explains all the talking.
‘‘When you get into an environment like this, the heart starts pumping and the passion comes back,’’ she said.
New Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua