Silver Ferns star shooter Grace Nweke pleads for absent coach Dame Noeline Taurua to return

Monday, 29 September 2025

Silver Ferns star shooter Grace Nweke has pleaded for absent coach Dame Noeline Taurua to return.

Nweke made the plea shortly after New Zealand’s nail-biting win over South Africa on Sunday night.

“Noels if you’re listening, we love you and we miss you and we want you back here.”

During the presentation of the Taini Jamison trophy to the Silver Ferns, Nweke, the acting captain for that match, quietly asked the presenter if she could say one more thing.

Politely interrupting the presentation, Nweke had some key words for Taurua, who was controversially stood down by Netball New Zealand at the beginning of this month, before a three-match series against the South African Proteas.

“I think it’s remiss to celebrate this success without acknowledging our Noeline Taurua and the work she’s done for this team,” Nweke said on Sky Sport, with a loud cheer from the Invercargill audience.

Tearing up, Nweke continued. “It’s been really hard for this group obviously with the change, and adjusting on the fly, and I’m so proud of the girls for banding together to put out a performance and take it three-zip.”

Nweke went on to thank interim coaches Yvette McCausland-Durie and Liana Leota, who last-minute stepped in to coach the team through the series against South Africa.

“A special thank you to Yvette and La, who have come in to support this group, who have been able to lead our group and keep us together,” she said.

“We could not have done this without them, so we’re very blessed to have them support us.”

The Silver Ferns won the series 3-0, with a closely-fought final match giving them the clean sweep. They now have tougher opposition looming, with the four-test Constellation Cup against Australia in October.

A coaching decision is yet to be made for the trans-Tasman series, with McCausland-Durie only an interim coach. But the message from Nweke to Taurua was clear.

“You’ve done so much for this group, and the work you’ve done this whole year, you deserve to be here and we want you back, Noels.”