Dana Johannsen: Failed attempt a blessing in disguise

Cathrine Latu. Photo / Getty Images

It may not seem like it now, but Netball New Zealand's failed bid to have Cathrine Latu declared eligible to play for the Silver Ferns at the world championships is probably for the best.

The Mystics star would have undoubtedly boosted New Zealand's chances of wresting back the world title from Australia, but the on-going debate over whether Latu should be in the team also threatened to pose a major distraction for the Ferns in their quest.

Even if the national body had been successful in getting the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn the International Federation of Netball Associations' ruling, so ferocious has been the debate that Netball NZ would have struggled to win over the court of public opinion.

Some arguments presented by certain corners have bordered on hysterical, with some even going so far as to label Netball NZ as cheats hellbent on destroying the integrity of world netball.

But even those without a vested interest will admit to feeling certain level of discomfort over the measures the national body were taking to get Latu in the team.

No matter how sound their legal argument, the intent of the rule that allowed players to represent two different countries at successive world champs if they were returning to their country of birth - as was the case with Vilimaina Davu playing for Fiji in 2007 - was always clear. It was designed to give smaller countries a leg up.

The Ferns do not need a leg up to win in Singapore - they can do it without Latu. And they can take all the more satisfaction from it.

Because had Netball NZ succeeded there would have forever been an asterisk next to the Silver Ferns' achievement had they won in Singapore with Latu on the team.

Having been stopped in their tracks over a technicality means there is no chance the issue will detract from New Zealand's performances at the world championships.