Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua backs her return to the national side

Casey Kopua was named in the 2018-19 Silver Ferns squad. Photo / Getty

Casey Kopua has hit back at critics who suggested her return to the Silver Ferns is a step backwards.

The former Ferns skipper has made a shock return to the national side after three years away, joining midcourt veteran Laura Langman in bolstering a Ferns side after their horror Commonwealth Games campaign.

The return of the Silver Ferns legends, with the pair boasting 242 test caps between them, is expected to fill a leadership void that was exposed in Netball New Zealand's damning Games review.

However, Kopua's recall, in particular, wasn't received well by former teammate Anna Harrison, with the retired Northern Mystics captain having earlier questioned the veteran's return as a step backwards, urging Netball NZ to instead develop new players.

In response, Kopua told Radio Sport that she wasn't fazed by the comments, and still had plenty to offer.
"I think you can't just move over and let the young ones take over - if I trial better then you can pick me," Kopua said.

"Everybody has their opinions and I take what I want from it, but at the end of the day it's what I think and what my family thinks - that's all that really matters to me.

"I think everybody has shown what they can do in ANZ [Premiership] so it's just whether we can go to that next level."

The 33-year-old defender, who last played for the Ferns in 2015, is yet to add the title "world champion" to her extensive list of netball achievements, having claimed silver in the last three Netball World Cup events.

Kopua said her desire to lift the World Cup next year fuelled her decision to return and although still recovering from a foot injury, she is already putting the work in.

"I didn't want to have any regrets and I wanted that last opportunity at a World Cup," she said.

"Obviously having a baby puts life in perspective and now that she's a bit older I still have the urge and fire in my belly to win the World Cup ... It's very exciting, there are lots of things to look forward to, lots of challenges."

Kopua signalled her intention to return to the national side last month when longtime mentor Noeline Taurua was identified as a likely candidate to take over as head coach.

Although Taurua's appointment wasn't confirmed at Wednesday's press conference, it's almost certain that the former Waikato-Bay of Plenty coach will take on the role.

"Obviously she would be number one, and if not then we'll just have to see what happens," Kopua said.