Taurua to make call on Ferns future after Nations Cup

Saturday, 27 January 2024

Netball Nations Cup: Silver Ferns v England; Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds; When: Sunday 6.15am NZT; Live on Sky Sport 2 with live updates on Stuff from 6am.

Dame Noeline Taurua plans to reveal her Silver Ferns coaching future shortly after returning from the Nations Cup.

The Netball World Cup winning coach could potentially be guiding the side for the final time this weekend in Leeds.

New Zealand take on hosts England in a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday (6.15am) with the victor playing unbeaten Australia in Monday’s Nations Cup final. The loser of the Ferns-England match will play Uganda in Monday’s third-fourth playoff.

Taurua’s contract with Netball New Zealand (NNZ) ends after the Nations Cup having agreed to a short-term extension following October’s Constellation Cup.

She is expected to announce whether she will stay on with the Silver Ferns in the coming weeks after arriving back in New Zealand from the Nations Cup.

Taurua has given little away about her future plans with one person close to the Ferns coach describing her as “genuinely undecided”. Upon her return, she planned to speak again with NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie and head of high performance Stephen Hotter — both who have backed her publicly to stay on.

Dame Noeline Taurua could be coaching the Silver Ferns for the final time this weekend in Leeds.

Dragging out her decision wasn’t an option, even though the Ferns are not back in action until September following the Nations Cup.

“Once my focus finishes here [at Nations Cup] I really want to get things sorted for whatever the next step is, not only for myself, but also the team as well. It won’t be a prolonged decision. I’m going to make it pretty fast,” Taurua said.

The 55-year-old has been Silver Ferns coach since August 2018, taking over the team at a low ebb after NNZ and former coach Janine Southby mutually parted ways.

Just 11 months later, she remarkably guided the Ferns to a World Cup title in Liverpool, which was followed by a rare Constellation Cup series win over Australia in March 2021.

Dame Noeline Taurua and assistant Kiri Wills look on during the Silver Ferns’ Constellation Cup win over Australia in Invercargill last year.

Taurua lost some of her lustre after the Ferns slumped to a fourth place finish at last year’s World Cup in Cape Town, their worst finish in the history of the event. New Zealand weren’t helped by a tournament-ending knee injury to star goal shoot Grace Nweke in the final pool game against Singapore.

She has a 45 win, 28 loss, one draw, record from 74 matches (61% winning record) as Silver Ferns coach heading into this weekend.

Taurua might only have two matches left with the Ferns should she decide to step away. The thought of this being her final bow with the team had not crossed her mind, insisting she was completely focussed on trying to beat England.

“Like everything I do it’s doing the task at hand and then once we finish this tournament then I’ll be able to move into that next step. Definitely haven’t even been thinking of it.”

Dame Noeline Taurua congratulates Karin Burger after New Zealand’s win over Australia in the final Constellation Cup test last year.

New Zealand opened the Nations Cup last weekend in London with a 63-50 loss to world champions Australia and a 65-60 win over Uganda, who finished fifth at last year’s World Cup.

Taurua took some time out over Christmas and the New Year to collect her thoughts on her coaching future and speak with family.

They were completely behind whatever she decided to do, she said.

“My children aren’t young any more with my youngest being 15, so I don’t have that same sort of stress when they were younger. I’ve definitely got the support whatever happens moving forward.”

Should Taurua opt to step away there would be several possible contenders to take over.

Ferns assistant Debbie Fuller, former Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie, who captured three ANZ Premiership titles, and Stars coach Kiri Wills, would all be in the discussion.

Other options could include long-serving domestic coaches, Marianne Delaney-Hoshek (Tactix) and Reinga Bloxham (Steel).

Former Silver Fern Liana Leota, who is assistant coach of England, would be another intriguing name. Leota stepped in as England’s temporary head coach in September’s Taini Jamison Trophy, leading the weakened Roses to an upset win over the Ferns in the first test in Christchurch.

Whatever happened, Taurua was encouraged by the future of the Silver Ferns for the next four year cycle and beyond.

The bulk of the Silver Ferns national squad would be around for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.

Nweke (aged 21), midcourters Kate Heffernan and Maddy Gordon (both 24) and shooter Amelia Walmsley (20) had the potential to be around for multiple World Cup cycles.

“It is heartening where we’re at and it’s good to know playing up against the best again what our current status is and where the gaps are and where our strengths lie. Very promising moving forward and for the future of New Zealand netball.”