Dame Noeline Taurua has detailed her plan to reunite the Silver Ferns for the Commonwealth Games and addressed whether her coaching style will change after last year’s player complaints.
The 2019 World Cup-winning mentor joined interim Netball NZ’s new chief executive Jane Patterson to front media off the back of Briony Akle’s appointment as her assistant.
Taurua’s first test back in charge will be the Commonwealth Games opener against hosts Scotland in Glasgow on July 25. She has not overseen a test since October 2024, having been stood down in September last year after player complaints about her leadership. She was reinstated and cleared of wrongdoing in late October.
As revealed by Newstalk ZB in November, the issues included players being afraid to make mistakes and speak up, mixed messages, and perceptions of contradictions, shifting standards, and preferential treatment for certain players.
Taurua has been visiting the ANZ Premiership sides and said she had talked personally with all the Silver Ferns, either online or in person. She connected with the Super Netball test players during round three when the teams were in Queensland, and said she was re-establishing her relationships.
When asked by the Herald if she would change her approach to coaching, Taurua said it was a difficult question to answer.
“I was down in Invercargill last week with some of the Silver Ferns squad members, Carys [Stythe] and also Georgia [Heffernan], and the Silver Ferns development squad members, and, honestly, I had the time of my life.
“That’s when I’m on the ground. When we’re together as athlete and coach, and out there to either build the relationship or do what we do out on court, you’re in the moment.
“I’m not negating anything, but I’m really comfortable where I am at and where the coaching is and our relationships with the athletes that are in the Silver Ferns squad. To be honest, it’s also quite exciting for us to reconnect and once again look at what needs to happen moving forward.”
Taurua and Akle will join the full Silver Ferns squad after the conclusion of the ANZ Premiership and Super Netball, just three weeks out from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. It will be the first time the team has convened under Taurua since she was stood down.
Taurua said sports psychologist Jenna Cowan would be talking with the players to ensure their needs were met.
“I feel that the athletes and staff are really committed to the black dress and the legacy that we uphold. Everyone’s working hard to put their best foot forward, whether it’s to be better in planning, to get our programme as effective as we can or to put the goods out on court. We will ensure that our planning will meet the needs of the people and that it’s fit for purpose.”
Patterson addressed the media for the first time since taking over as interim CEO from Jennie Wyllie, who resigned in December.
Patterson, who will be at the helm until the end of the Commonwealth Games, said she wanted to establish relationships with the netball community before making public comments.
“I wanted the staff, the netball community and the life members to have an opportunity to get to know me through engagement and not through headlines. I wanted to get to know them. I know part of that is to really listen and work out the priorities for Netball New Zealand going forward.”
Patterson said the biggest issue facing the sport was re-establishing trust and confidence across partners, players, staff, life members and the netball community.
“That work’s underway, but it’s going to take time. You don’t rebuild trust overnight. I’ve said a couple of times I didn’t arrive at the job and get my computer, my phone, my swipe card and trust.
“The biggest thing I’ve heard from the community is they really want to focus now on netball and the future. I’m meeting with the centres and with the regions.
“I knew that we needed to really get behind Noels as our head coach, the Silver Ferns management team and eventually the Silver Ferns when they’re named. I knew it was just absolutely critical that Noels felt my genuine support and that I would lead the organisation for Netball New Zealand to feel proud of their sport, organisation, high performance team and particularly of their head coach.”
Taurua says she has a strong relationship with the interim CEO.
“We have the same values, which are about people. It is about relationships and about communication and just being really down to earth. I think that’s the qualities that Jane has brought in to the Silver Ferns and Netball New Zealand, and a real desire for the connection back to the community, but also action.”
Patterson said NNZ was in the final stages of confirming a new board chairman to replace the outgoing Matt Whineray, who announced his departure in February. Once the role was confirmed, it could begin appointing the other three board members who replace Pavan Vyas, Stephen Cottrell and Aliesha Staples.
“We had over 80 applicants, and evidently some exceptional talent among them. So, that’s really positive.”
Akle replaces Deb Fuller, who joined the Malawi Queens as their new high-performance netball consultant in February.
Taurua said Akle was a true head coach and a master of her craft.
“Especially on a pinnacle event, it’s really important to have somebody of her ilk just in case I get struck down by lightning or something. I’m away with the media and things like that, so she can lead the team.”
Taurua said Akle’s role would differ from when she was the specialist attack coach.
“One of her roles would be around opposition analysis, and she can provide the intel in that space. She works against many of the players from countries we’ll be playing against in the Commonwealth Games.
“So, probably more hands-on, and how we work is very specific around tasks. Because there are only two of us there, we’ll have to have a really solid combination and know which athletes we’re going to be working with specifically on skill set.”
Taurua confirmed there would be no replacement for Akle as a specialist coach.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.