Netball: Mystics sign George for another season

Temepara George. Photo / Richard Robinson

Her international future may be uncertain beyond next month's world championships, but Northern Mystics captain Temepara George has committed herself to one more season in the transtasman league.

George, who turns 36 in October, initially indicated she would wait until after the world tournament in Singapore before making a decision on her playing future at both franchise and international level.

But once the curtain came down on a successful 2011 transtasman league season for the Mystics, it didn't take much to coax George back for another year.

This season was the Mystics' best showing in four years of the competition, with the Auckland side making the play-offs for the first time and going on to make the grand final.

The Mystics were well-beaten by a rampant Queensland Firebirds side in the final, leaving George hungry for another tilt at the title.

"I'm still really enjoying it and you're a long time retired so people keep telling me, so why not?" said George.

"Coming so close has definitely made me want to come back for another go at it. And I think if we can retain the same players and our coaching staff we can definitely do it.

"I just wanted to get it sorted before the world championships because it is such a big event and you just want to be concentrating on the one thing."

If you'd asked the dynamic midcourter at this time last year if she could drag her body around the court for two more seasons, George admits the answer would have been a firm "no".

But after undergoing minor ankle surgery following last year's Commonwealth Games win, the niggles have gone and George is enjoying her netball again.

But it was a long haul to get there.

Post-surgery complications meant a frustrating preseason for George, who missed the Silver Ferns three-test tour to Britain.

"At the time it feels like the world has come down on you, but now I'm so glad I did make that decision to have it done," she said.

And so are her coaches. Many believe George played her best netball in four seasons of the competition this year, and if her form in the recent two-test series against Australia is anything to go by, she looks set to carry it over to the international arena as well.

"It's been great, my ankle has been good, touch wood, and I still feel like my body can handle it."

Mystics chief executive Mark Cameron said re-signing the crafty midcourter and attacking linchpin was a key priority for the franchise.

"She's an incredibly important piece of the puzzle for us."

Cameron hopes having the Silver Ferns' vice-captain on their roster may also prompt a few others to put pen to paper.

The Mystics have re-signed three players from this year's roster - George, Silver Ferns defender Anna Scarlett, and one other, believed to be sharpshooter Cathrine Latu.