Laura Langman. Photo / APN
The departures from the Magic have begun, with Waikato stalwart Laura Langman set to join the Northern Mystics next season.
Langman yesterday confirmed to the Herald she is parting ways with the franchise she has captained for the past three seasons after signing with the Auckland team for the 2014 season. The Silver Fern midcourter had been linked with a move north since talk of unrest at the Magic surfaced last month, following the resignation of the team's long-serving coach Noeline Taurua.
It was rumoured Taurua left out of frustration with the new board that had been put in place following Netball New Zealand's overhaul of the national structure, with the board accused of blurring the lines between management and governance. Several of the Magic's top players had been tipped to follow Taurua out the door, although the damage may not be as bad as first thought, after highly-rated Australian coach Julie Fitzgerald was signed as Taurua's replacement.
But the loss of Langman, easily New Zealand's most valuable midcourt commodity, is a huge blow for the Magic. The hard-working midcourter, who was curiously told by Waikato Bay of Plenty board member John Parker that she only has a couple of years left in the game, is the rock in the Magic line-up - the go-to girl on attack, and their chief marshal on defence.
Langman claims the off-court troubles at the Magic this year did not factor into her decision to leave the franchise she has served for more than 10 years.
"It certainly didn't have anything to do with management or the off-court antics so to speak, it was purely for professional development and to achieve some objectives I'd like to tick off in the next wee while," said Langman. "I'm a Waikato girl through and through so it was obviously a tough decision to leave, but I felt the timing was right to immerse myself in a new environment and hopefully develop new areas in my game and leadership."
Langman broke the news to her Magic teammates this week, but said she had no idea whether others would take up opportunities elsewhere. Sharpshooter Irene van Dyk said she hoped to stay at the Magic, but only if they allowed her to commute from Wellington - a condition Fitzgerald is apparently happy to abide by, while the newly married Casey Kopua was said to be cold on the idea of moving away from her Hamilton base. However several rival franchises are tipped to make a play for Silver Fern defender Leana de Bruin.
The Magic have already made moves to bolster their midcourt and are believed to be in talks with Steel midcourter Courtney Tairi, who played under Fitzgerald at the NSW Swifts before moving to New Zealand to chase her dream of playing for the Silver Ferns. The addition of Tairi in the line-up would suggest Australian import Khao Watts' future at the franchise is in doubt, with Fitzgerald believed to be looking at bringing in a goal attack to fill their import spot.
Langman joins Maria Tutaia, Kayla Cullen and Anna Harrison as the Mystics' confirmed signings for next season. Harrison, who is expecting her first child next month, plans to return to the court in 2014 as she chases a place in the Silver Ferns' Commonwealth Games team.