Netball: Plummer to coach Fever

Norma Plummer. Photo / Getty Images

Australia has even greater motivation to avenge their double overtime defeat to the Silver Ferns in the Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medal match now next month's netball world championship possibly marks the end of coach Norma Plummer's reign.

Plummer, who replaced Jill McIntosh after New Zealand won the 2003 world champs in Jamaica, embarks on her next rescue mission after Australia seek to defend their title in Singapore.

She has signed to coach the West Coast Fever for the next two editions of the trans-Tasman netball league - the Perth-based franchise that has never finished the 10-team competition higher than seventh.

Plummer said she was open to maintaining twin coaching roles but told NZPA "whether or not you can do two remains to be seen".

Netball Australia will make an announcement on who will coach the national side after the world championship concludes on July 10.

Chief executive Kate Palmer said the recruitment process was underway and emphasised Plummer's move to Perth would not prevent her ``throwing her hat in the ring for the national role.''

Plummer replaces Jane Searle at the Fever after she chose not to reapply for the role after guiding the side to seventh, eighth and ninth in her three seasons at the helm.

The prospect of coaching on a more intensive basis appealed to Plummer, who said she had been courted by the Fever for 12 months.

"While the ANZ Championship is a fantastic competition and sets the standard across the world, it has limited my time with the national athletes in the past few years so I am champing at the bit to get more hands on with a group of players again," she said.

West Coast is the aberration among the Australian contingent - the NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens, Adelaide Thunderbirds and Queensland Firebirds have all been crowned as champions since the tournament began in 2008.

Julie Fitzgerald, who stepped aside from the head coaching role at the NSW Swifts yesterday, is one contender if Netball Australia continues to prevent the national coach from also mentoring an Australian franchise.

Roselee Jencke, who led the unbeaten Firebirds to the trans-Tasman crown last month, will assist Plummer in Singapore and could also be an option if she does not recommit to Queensland.

Australia's 12-strong world championship squad is currently in Canberra preparing for a two-test series against the Silver Ferns on June 9 and 12 in Palmerston North and Auckland respectively before they head to Singapore.

The sport's two dominant nations also contest a three-test series in Australia in October.

- NZPA