Legends Casey Kopua and Laura Langman are set to return to the 2018-2019 Silver Ferns squad
Noeline Taurua is just about set to take over the Silver Ferns as head coach and leave her championship winning Sunshine Coast Lightning behind – or is she?
Netball New Zealand veered away from naming Taurua as the 11th Silver Ferns coach at yesterday's press conference with the Kiwi coach's commitment to the final stretch of the Lightning's season believed to be the cause of the delay.
It was understood that Taurua, who is contracted to the Lightning until the end of their 2019 Super Netball season, had come to an agreement with the franchise to leave a year early.
Liz Ellis is the highest capped Australian netballer. Photo / Getty
However, Australian netball great Liz Ellis said that Taurua has signalled her commitment to the Lightning and could coach both sides.
"You don't have to be a rocket surgeon to join the dots and come to the conclusion that Sunshine Coast Lightning's coach, former Silver Fern Noeline Taurua is likely to be anointed," Ellis wrote in the Sunday Morning Herald.
"Which is interesting, given that Taurua still has another year on her contract with Lightning, who are adamant that she has committed to them until at least the end of next year. A distinct possibility is that Taurua will do both."
Netball Australia confirmed that the start of the 2019 Super Netball competition would be pushed forward to allow players to compete in the Netball World Cup next July.
With the Super Netball grand final on August 26, Taurua could well make herself available for the Ferns' upcoming Quad Series, Constellation Cup, and World Cup campaigns before returning to the Lightning next season.
Ellis said Taurua's decision to remain loyal to the Sunshine Coast-based franchise could also see midcourt great Laura Langman, who was recalled to the 2018-19 Ferns squad after being barred for selection last year, strike an agreement with Netball NZ to play in the Super Netball competition again.
Liz Ellis believed Laura Langman could reconnect with her Lightning team. Photo / Getty
"The last we saw of Langman, one of the world's best netballers, she starred for Lightning in last year's Super Netball grand final ... Which begs the question: if Taurua is allowed to coach the Silver Ferns and coach in Australia, surely the same concession has to be made for Langman to play here," she said.
Although being granted an exception and named to play in the upcoming Quad Series, Langman's future with netball in New Zealand is yet to be resolved.
It was thought that Langman would need to align with a New Zealand domestic team for next year's ANZ Premiership in order to justify her selection but told Radio Sport yesterday that she hadn't yet made any commitments.
"I think they're probably discussions when I get a chance to get up and talk to Netball New Zealand in person that'll take place," Langman said.
The Lightning will play the Giants this weekend in the playoffs as the defending champions eye a spot in the grand final.
Silver Ferns goal shoot Grace Nweke speaks about the Constellation Cup series and the rivalry against the Diamonds in the final match. Video / Alyse Wright
