Anna Harrison: Forget Casey Kopua for Silver Ferns recall

Retiring netballer Anna Harrison says it would be a mistake to bring back her old Silver Ferns teammate Casey Kopua.

Harrison said the embattled Silver Ferns needed to move on and the thought of the 33-year-old defender Kopua returning to the national side did not "sit well" with her.

The Magic's Kopua, a former national captain, has been sidelined with a foot injury and last played for New Zealand in 2015. She will reportedly make herself available for the Silver Ferns if Noeline Taurua gets the coaching job.

The 35-year-old Harrison, who won four major titles with New Zealand in a career of 50-plus games, questioned if Kopua's leadership qualities would automatically work in an evolving environment.

"I just heard that (about Kopua) and actually I'm not sure about that," she told Radio Sport.

"Casey is an amazing player and if she wants to do that it's up to her.

"From a New Zealand netball point of view it's a little bit bad...you need to build players that are coming through. To bring back players, as good as Casey is, I don't know if that is the right move.

Rival captains Anna Harrison, left, and Casey Kopua before a premiership match this year. Photo / Photosport

"You need to work with what you've got, can't keep going back and asking people. Casey and I are older. Coming into an environment...she might have been a great leader when she was in our team...there's (now) an age difference.

"It's a tricky one. Straight off the bat, it doesn't sit well and not something we should potentially be doing.

"No disrespect to Casey, she is an amazing player, but from a growth point of view and trying to move forward, going backward isn't the right way."

Harrison said her retirement decision was final this time after she had quit netball on a previous occasion to play beach volleyball.

"I'm known to say never say never but I'm calling time...a tough decision but I always wanted to be in control of it," she said.

"I wanted to leave when I was feeling good."

The Northern Mystics' progress was taking time to consistently appear on the court.

"I just wish you could see the flair and skill consistently — once they get that nailed everything will come together and it will be amazing to watch," she said.