Netball: Taurua looks to revamp Magic

Magic coach Noeline Taurua. Photo / Dean Purcell

Magic coach Noeline Taurua will be back next year for her fifth season in charge of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty franchise but she expects her 2012 team will look very different.

Taurua, who still has a year to run on her existing two-year contract at the Magic, will become the longest-serving New Zealand coach in the ANZ Championship, following the departure of the Steel's Robyn Broughton and Helen Mahon-Stroud of the Tactix - the only other remaining coaches from the inaugural season.

Taurua is contemplating next season a week earlier than she had hoped after the Mystics denied her side the chance to contest this weekend's grand final against the Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane. Foremost in her mind will be player recruitment as she looks to fill a couple of gaps after the expected loss of some key players.

"There are some players that will move on, that's because of their age, and some are looking at other things as well so there might be a big change at Magic next year," said Taurua.

But at least one Magic veteran looks determined to stay put, with sharpshooter Irene van Dyk declaring her intention to return next season.

There has been speculation the Silver Ferns star, who turns 39 next month, may opt to retire following the world championships in July. But as the world's most capped player is still in top form, she sees no reason to ease up any time soon.

Van Dyk was keen to keep working at winning a transtasman league title with the Magic.

"If this bug bites you, it doesn't let go. And hopefully next year, we'll be able to go all the way," she said.

The area the Magic will target is the midcourt as veterans Peta Scholz and Frances Solia are expected to retire.

Scholz, who has had a horror injury run in her two seasons with the Magic, has already signalled this will be her last year at the franchise.

Solia has also had a frustrating season after being struck down by pneumonia in the early rounds of the competition.

After being dumped by Samoa for this year's world championships, it is thought Solia may opt to give the game away.

The Magic will be keen to recruit experienced campaigners to replace the pair as well as retain their core talent in Silver Ferns trio van Dyk, Casey Williams and Laura Langman.

The Magic's experience was stretched too thin at times this season, with the Waikato side fielding a very green forward line of Jess Tuki and Julianna Naoupu.

But Taurua said the development of the duo puts the franchise in a good position for next season.