The ANZ premiership is heating up with last year's unbeaten Southern Steel ready to take on the Canterbury Tactix
Sydney Giants and former Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic head coach Julie Fitzgerald has set the record straight after rising as a suspected candidate to take over the Silver Ferns.
Former Ferns coach Janine 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.
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.
Janine Southby resigned last month after the Silver Ferns Commonwealth Games review findings were released. Photo / Getty
Kiwi 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 with the former Magic and Southern Steel coach currently contracted to Australia's Sunshine Coast Lightning until the end of 2019, it was assumed Netball NZ would look at recruiting another coach from across the ditch, such as Fitzgerald.
However, Fitzgerald shut-down rumours that she would consider taking on the role if Taurua was ruled as unavailable and said her aspirations to coach the Silver Ferns had "sailed".
"No, I think that shipped sailed and I'm in a good place now," Fitzgerald told the Herald.
"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 at the moment."
Julie Fitzgerald said she admired Noeline Taurua and believed the Kiwi coach was a stand-out candidate. Photo / Getty
Southby was assumed to have gotten the nod 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 about missing out on the role, Fitzgerald said she was more so surprised that then chief executive Hilary Poole and former head of high-performance Steve Lancaster had dropped Taurua from the shortlist.
It was believed that 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, who said she admired the Kiwi coach, 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 ... she's had exposure to some of the best high-performance programs in the world so I'm sure it will have only benefited 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 NZ is expected to officially appoint the 11th Silver Ferns coach next Monday following the ANZ Premiership final on Sunday afternoon.
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.
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
