Netball: Sharpshooter's eyes are firmly on next goal for Silver Ferns

Maria Tutaia nails a goal and the gold. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The television replays of Maria Tutaia nailing the winning shot in the gold medal netball showdown in Delhi last month may be endless, but the sharpshooter herself has moved on.

Tutaia became the heroine of the Ferns double-overtime victory when she calmly slotted one of her trademark long bombs to hand her side the two-goal advantage needed to seal the win.

It is one of those moments destined to live on in New Zealand sporting folklore.

But Tutaia has afforded herself little time to bask in the afterglow.

"It's not something that replays in my mind every day, but I guess it's just something for me I can tell my grandkids in many years to come," she said.

"I know everyone focuses on who sinks the winning goal, but in my eyes there were heroes throughout the court in our team, everybody stepped up and was just so desperate to win."

While the buzz from Delhi has died down for Tutaia, she said it is slowly building up for next year's world championships in Singapore.

The Ferns' Commonwealth Games success generated plenty of optimism for the world tournament in July 2011. This was heightened further this week when the Fastnet Ferns - a virtual second string New Zealand side - pulled off an unexpected win at the World Netball Series in Liverpool.

Tutaia said her side were desperate to extend this golden run and this wouldn't be achieved if they wasted time re-living past glories.

"Winning gold was a huge highlight for all of our careers, but we've got another goal ahead of us and that's winning the World Champs in Singapore next July," she said.

"Two big campaigns in the space of the year is really exciting for me. We've achieved one goal, which is great and now we're setting our sights on the next goal, which is gold at the world champs next year."

But before she knuckles down Tutaia is off on a quick jaunt to Europe. On Wednesday she leaves for France, where she plans to meet up with a couple of high school friends who are now based in the UK.

After one of the most physically and emotionally draining seasons of her career, during which she endured both stinging criticism and widespread adulation, few could argue Tutaia doesn't deserve a break.

It'll be just a fleeting visit though. She returns home for Christmas with the family before joining the Silver Ferns in camp early in the New Year ahead of their three-test tour of England.

It's a demanding schedule for the Ferns, who will have a week off following their return from the UK before returning to their ANZ Championship sides ahead of the start of the transtasman league on February 13.

But Tutaia refuses to complain about the gruelling schedule.

"This is what I've dreamed of since I was a kid, so I can't really complain."