By Liam Napier
Netball New Zealand remains steadfast in the view only locals will be selected for the Silver Ferns despite their best player moving to Australia next year and several others tipped to follow.
Laura Langman claimed the Dame Lois Muir supreme prize as New Zealand's most consistent domestic and international player for the second year running at Thursday night's national awards. But next year the veteran midcourter will be blocked from wearing the black dress after signing on to play for the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the new Australian National Netball League under former coach Noeline Taurua.
Major loss: Laura Langman will not be eligible to play for the Silver Ferns once she crosses the Tasman.Credit: Getty Images
In another potential blow for the Kiwis, superstar shooter Maria Tutaia, who last week led the Fast5 Ferns to the title in the abbreviated format of the game, is widely expected to follow her fiancé, Wallabies fullback Israel Folau, to Australia in 2018.
Having coached Langman previously, Taurua knows just big a loss she will be. "She was a standout for New Zealand this year hence the award and to be honest I'm rapt we were able to secure her for next year," Taurua said.
Dynamic: Maria Tutaia competes for the ball against Kate Shimmin in the final of the Fast5 Netball Series.Credit: Getty Images
"She wants to become a better netballer which is why she always does things so she can be better for New Zealand. It's only a one year deal so we'll wait and see whether she stays with us but I couldn't be happier to have a world-class player and the opportunity for everyone around her to be better. We're going to reap the rewards from having her involved."
Rather than grant Langman another exemption to play across the Tasman and still front for the national team, NNZ has instead ruled her ineligible.
"We've got to look at our pathway and maintain the integrity of our competition and what it means to play in our dress," NNZ chief executive Jennie Whylie said. "We respect Laura for the decision she's made and we respect her as a person. We'll be sad to see her not playing in our competition next year but she goes knowing that this is her home."
Whylie acknowledged Langman's experience in Australia was valuable, and that more public pressure will come should Tutaia and others decide to follow her abroad, but also made it clear NNZ would not be budging.
"We're always going to have those questions but I don't see any radical change to our policy," Whylie said. "Who knows what will happen offshore and what their policies might start to look like. There's a lot of players that are moving around globally. There are concerns about where systems are going to be as a result of that movement so it's an interesting time of the sport internationally."
Whylie was unsure where Tutaia will end up after next season but is confident New Zealand had the depth with the likes of young shooters Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Maia Wilson to cover her probable absence.