Netball: George slots back into Ferns with ease

Temepara George. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It is like she has never been away.

Silver Ferns' midcourter Temepara George has barely missed a beat in her return to international netball, quickly re-establishing herself as a key member of the side after two years out of the fold.

Just how well-regarded George is among the team was confirmed earlier this month when she was named vice-captain of the national side, deputising for skipper Casey Williams.

It's a reappointment of sorts for George, who served as vice-captain in 2007 before her shock withdrawal from the team just months out from the World Championships in Auckland.

Having spent two years in self-imposed exile from international netball, George said she didn't expect to be handed a leadership role in the team again. In fact she wasn't even sure a place in the starting line-up was a given.

"I wasn't so much thinking about [a leadership role]. The thing I was really worried about was to get back in the starting line-up and holding my place on court after being away for such a long time, so that was my focus."

Even if she hadn't been given an official role within the team's leadership group, George admits she probably wouldn't have been able to help herself getting involved anyway.

The 33-year-old has always demonstrated natural leadership qualities - she's the voice you hear above everyone else's out on court as she takes it upon herself to direct traffic in both the attacking and defensive ends.

"Yeah, I suppose I am a little bit bossy out there, I guess now I've got an excuse to be," she laughed.

While George is enjoying being back with the Silver Ferns programme, the results haven't been so pleasing for the ultra-competitive midcourter.

Heading in to the New Zealand stage of the series, the Kiwi side find themselves 2-1 down in the best-of-five series and will need to show some huge improvement over the next two matches to sneak away with the silverware.

The Ferns reassemble in Invercargill today ahead of Sunday's fourth test, and George said a big focus over the next two days will be ironing out some rather large kinks in the attack end.

The side have struggled with their connections on attack in their past two losses, which was reflected in a high error count in both games.