Netball: On court for the Lang haul

Laura Langman is closing in on Lesley Rumball's mark of 62 consecutive games for the Silver Ferns. Photo / Getty Images

Like Forrest Gump on his jog across America, Laura Langman has never stopped running since first pulling on the Silver Ferns bib in March 2005.

She is netball's perpetual motion girl and has set a record that will probably never be matched. Playing in the most physically demanding arena of the midcourt, the 24-year-old has not missed a single match the Ferns have contested in the last five years, the only ever-present in that time.

If she plays in today's third test against Australia, that will be 58 consecutive international games since her debut.

Langman shrugs off the achievement with her typical modesty: "People can make a stat out of almost anything these days, can't they," she jokes. "I've been fortunate to have extremely good coaches and always be in a combination that works well. "

Langman credits her durability to a dedication to training, as well as some magic from the medical staff.

"You put money in the bank when you are training and doing all those hard yards for when it comes to game time," she says. "There is a focus on strength, conditioning and injury prevention and our trainers and physios have a real eye for detail, which pays off in tough campaigns like this. We are training twice a day, as well as playing three games in seven days."

It also helps to have a high threshold for pain.

"You get to a point in your career where you always play with a bit of pain," says Langman. "You just push through it because you want to be out there .. it is amazing what you can do and adrenalin helps as well."

Apart from a stress fracture in her foot on the eve of the 2007 world championships, the Magic midcourter has never had a major injury. She can't even recall serious damage growing up, though that may have been down to stubbornness rather than science.

"I was probably one of those kids that didn't want to miss out - even when I was injured, I wanted to be out there anyway."

Ferns assistant coach Wai Taumanu says the Langman longevity cannot be underestimated. As well as the sport being more physical every year, she points out the Ferns also face Australia more than ever.

In the last five years alone, there have been 24 transtasman tests, more than in the entire 1990s or the 1980s.

"She is an outstanding athlete, she looks after herself well, she trains hard but recovers well and she is very careful about hydration and food," Taumanu says.

"She is meticulous, her commitment is there on display all of the time; the way she trains, the way she rehabilitates and the way she recovers."

Taumanu adds that Langman has thrived in a era where there was a raft of midcourt magicians.

"Over that time, there have been players like Adine Wilson, Temepara George and Julie Seymour. Laura started young, duelled with some of our best and just to get on the court with that quality of player around her was a great achievement. She is now becoming an outstanding player in her own right. If I had to pick a defensive centre in the world, she is certainly the one I would pick."

Australian coach Norma Plummer is another admirer.

"She has been a great competitor," says Plummer. "She never backs away and hardly ever has a bad game."

Langman already owns the record of consecutive matches since debut and is now closing in on Lesley Rumball's mark of 62 consecutive games - which she could surpass during the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

With the test calendar growing every year, Langman should eventually challenge Rumball's all-time mark of 110 appearances for the Ferns.

Irene van Dyk (108 tests) will go beyond Rumball's mark in the second group match in Delhi but the ageless South African can't go on forever.

Langman's feat also matches up well against other sports. Sean Fitzpatrick managed 51 tests from his debut, while Black Cap Brendon McCullum sits on 52 test matches.

For the All Whites, midfielder Danny Halligan figured in 30 consecutive matches after his first, while there has been no one comparable for the Kiwis in rugby league. Despite her ever present status, Langman will still be nervous come 3pm today when coach Ruth Aitken announces the line-up to take on the Diamonds.

"You never know what seven they are going to be put out there and that is my attitude every time I go to training. I want to be putting my hand up and saying to Wai, Lyn [Gudsen] and Ruth: 'Pick me.' I want to be in that starting seven."