Netball: New lease of life for George

Temepara George hasn't played for the Silver Ferns since 2007. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Temepara George's quest for the perfect netball game took on a new lease of life when the Silver Ferns squad was named yesterday.

George first played for New Zealand in 1996, and in the following 11 years amassed 59 caps, a world championship title and a Commonwealth Games gold medal.

She last played for New Zealand in the Silver Ferns' British tour of 2007. Later that year she moved to live in Townsville with former partner Sione Faumuina and opted out of New Zealand's campaign to retain their title at the world netball championships in November 2007.

In July last year, George confirmed her return to New Zealand, where she took up a position as development manager for Counties-Manukau Netball and re-signed with the Northern Mystics in the transtasman league.

Although the 33-year-old is relishing the chance to again test herself at the highest level, she was adamant her inclusion in the Silver Ferns squad yesterday was just the beginning.

"It's another little step I've taken and I'm really, really excited about it. I'm looking forward to trials too, just to getting into that environment again, in the camp situation with the best in New Zealand around you," she said.

George's return is timely given centre Julie Seymour - who skippered the side last year - has retired ahead of the arrival of her fourth child.

Her own harshest critic, George said she still had plenty to work on as she strived for top form.

"There's always room for improvement - once I get my perfect game I think it'll probably be downhill from there," she joked.

George said the game had progressed hugely since she last played for the Silver Ferns, but the transtasman league was doing an excellent job bringing younger players on.

"You're getting younger players actually getting the opportunity to play against Australia earlier, so when they do make the Silver Ferns, it's not that big a gap.

"They're footing it with the best, so that's really exciting for netball."

George's Northern Mystics coach Te Aroha Keenan said the dynamic midcourter looked to have lost very little in her time away from the game.

"She's probably not quite at her best, but getting back into that mix, training with the Ferns, I think that's where she wants to be and that's where she'll hone her skills," Keenan said.

She said once George made the mid-season decision to again make herself available for New Zealand, her game had gone from strength to strength.

"Once she made that decision, you saw the improvement in her game. That was a turning point for her."

The New Zealand selectors had recognised George had "something special", Keenan said, and had given her the opportunity to show she still had what it took to compete at the highest level.

"This is the first stage, making the squad. Now she has to battle to make the final team, but I'm sure she's up for the challenge.

"I think when you lift the skill level of the players you're playing with, then there's potential for you to fly."

The 15-strong squad named yesterday will be trimmed to 12 after a camp in mid-August ahead of three matches against a world selection, followed by five tests against world champions Australia in September.

Keenan had no doubt George would be untroubled in making the transition to international netball if she made the Silver Ferns.

"She's a determined player - really gritty and nuggetty and mentally tough, and you're going to need that against the Australians.

"Against any of the those international teams you need someone like that. She's been there, done that, and the experience she brings is huge."

Silver Ferns squad
Liana Barrett-Chase (Steel), Maree Bowden (Tactix), Temepara George (Mystics), Katrina Grant (Steel), Paula Griffin (Pulse), Joline Henry (Magic), Charlotte Kight (Tactix), Laura Langman (Magic), Camilla Lees (Pulse), Sheryl Scanlan (Steel), Wendy Telfer (Steel), Anna Thompson (Tactix), Maria Tutaia (Magic), Irene van Dyk (Magic), Casey Williams (Magic, captain).

Four players - Erika Burgess, Jodi Tod, Jess Tuki and Larissa Wilcox - have been invited to trial with the squad and up to three may be added before the trans-Tasman series.

- NZPA