Netball: George holds off decision on future until after world champs

Netballer Temepara George. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Northern Mystics' biggest game in their four-year history could also be the last transtasman league appearance for the team's biggest star, Temepara George.

But the 35-year-old is remaining tight-lipped as to whether she will be back for a fifth season with the Mystics next season.

"I'm not actually thinking about [next season] right now," said the Mystics captain.

The Auckland side will attempt to become the first New Zealand team to claim an ANZ Championship title when they take on the unbeaten Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane in Sunday's grand final.

Lifting the ANZ Championship trophy would be a fitting swansong for George, an Auckland netball stalwart.

The Silver Ferns midcourter is likely to step down from international netball after the world championships in Singapore, leading to speculation she may call it quits altogether after the tournament.

But George said she will hold off making any decisions on her future until after the July world championships.

"A lot of people say you're a long time retired, so it is something I need to think long and hard about," said George. "But my thoughts are with the Mystics right now and trying to win a grand final and then the world champs and we'll see what happens after that."

If you'd asked Mystics management this time last year if they could squeeze another two seasons out of their midcourt maestro, they would have been far from confident.

The rigours of the tough professional league were beginning to take its toll on George's body, and she was finding it was taking longer for her to recover.

But undergoing minor ankle surgery at the end of last year, which forced her to sit out the Silver Ferns tour to Britain in January, may have been a blessing for George.

She started the year refreshed and reinvigorated and has clearly enjoyed her netball much more this season.

Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron appears optimistic the midcourt veteran will be back for another season.

"We're very keen to see her back playing for the franchise next year," said Cameron. "We believe she's still one of the top three centres in the world and we'll do our very best to ensure she is a 2012 LG Mystics player."

However, Cameron is not so upbeat about his chances of retaining his entire midcourt line-up, with Australian import Megan Dehn unlikely to be back next season. Dehn was thought to be retiring last year, but George convinced her to come to the Mystics for one last hurrah.

And it would be an almighty hurrah if the Mystics can continue their brilliant finals run and upset the Firebirds in Brisbane.