Former Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua has been confirmed as the new national netball coach.
The much-anticipated appointment was formally announced at an Auckland media conference on Thursday afternoon, just days after she had guided the Sunshine Coast Lightning to a successful defence of their Australian Super Netball title.
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The drums have been beating for the former international goal attack since New Zealand slumped to fourth at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games - their worst-ever performance at that event - under predecessor Janine Southby.
Southby resigned from the role, after Netball New Zealand carried out an independent review into the campaign, and several senior players have since returned to the squad, perhaps in anticipation of Taurua's appointment.
But her arrival is only possible through some bending of rules and co-operation with the Sunshine Coast franchise, where Taurua is contracted through to the end of their 2019 season.
"We have joined with Sunshine Coast Lightning to make this unique position work," says Netball NZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie.
"It is a first for Netball New Zealand and we're delighted to be moving forward with someone of Noeline's calibre."
The appointment can also be regarded as further back-tracking on the rule that players must compete in the domestic ANZ Premiership to qualify for Silver Ferns selection.
Veteran mid-court Laura Langman and shooter Maria Folau have already been granted exemptions, and now the national coach also plies her trade across the Trasman.
"Noeline has been a head coach of franchise teams both here and in Australia, and tastes success on both sides of the Tasman," said Wyllie.
"Her knowledge of the game is immense, and Noeline is well-respected by the athletes and netball community, which is hugely important building towards next year's Netball World Cup.
"The international game have never been so competitive and we are confident Noeline is the right person to guide the Silver Ferns back to the top."
Taurua has previously been Silver Ferns assistant coach under Ruth Aitken and Wai Taumaunu.
But despite guiding the Magic to a trans-Tasman title in 2012 - the only New Zealand team to capture that crown - she was an unsuccessful candidate and apparently missed the short-list when Southby won the national head coaching job in 2015.
"I am very fortunate that most major international events are scheduled outside the Suncorp Super Netball season, enabling me to dedicate adequate time and attemtion to both roles," she says.
Her first assignment with the Silver Ferns will be the upcoming Quad Series against England, South Africa and Australia, beginning against the English Roses in Auckland on September 15.
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