Temepara George has signed a letter of intent to play for the Mystics in 2009. Photo / Paul Estcourt
Dynamic centre Temepara George intends to play another transtasman netball season with the Northern Mystics and a return to international play is also a possibility.
George today said she had taken up a position as development manager for Counties Manukau Netball.
A member of the 2003 world champion
Silver Ferns and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal winning team, George remains at the peak of her powers.
George, 32, earned 59 test caps for New Zealand from 1996 to 2007 and led from the front as captain of the Mystics, who finished a disappointing seventh in the inaugural trans-Tasman competition this year.
She said today she had signed a letter of intent to play for the Mystics in 2009.
George was not available for the Silver Ferns last year after moving to live in Townsville with Sione Faumuina, a former New Zealand Warriors player who transferred to the North Queensland Cowboys.
Faumuina does not figure in the Cowboys' plans for 2009 and he is expected to head to Europe.
The role for Counties Manukau Netball will see George working with young netballers around a region where she grew up.
"It's back to my roots where there is so much ability. It's nice to give something back to the region," said George, who played for Counties Manukau from 1998 to 2002.
She has not closed the door on a possible return to the Silver Ferns, but said international netball was not on her radar for this year at least.
"I've got a new job to concentrate on. Although I'm not saying never to the Silver Ferns in the future."
She confirmed she had spoken to Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken and told her she had not international ambitions in 2008.
- NZPA
