Netball: Pocket rocket' George the only veteran to call it quits

Temepara George is known for her feisty competitive streak. Photo / Getty Images

The expected rash of Silver Ferns retirements post-World Championships has not eventuated with midcourt veteran Temepara George the only test incumbent missing from the 2011-12 New Zealand squad.

The Ferns vice-captain has confirmed she is stepping down from international netball, after a 89-test career which included two Commonwealth Games titles and a world championship.

Despite finishing on a sombre note with a devastating one-goal loss to Australia in last month's final in Singapore, George was never tempted to carry on for the rest of the year to exact revenge on the Diamonds in the Constellation Cup.

"I'm still gutted about that loss but I've won three out of four of the big events I've played against Australia, so I'm happy with that record," said George.

"I think carrying on for the rest of the year is not going to bring back a win for us at the world championships, so it will be a fresh start for the younger ones coming through."

George can take heart in her individual performances during the tournament. The 35-year-old midcourt dynamo was playing some of the best netball of her career and left no question that she was going out on top.

George has been one of the stand-out performers in the black dress over the past 10 years but the game she will most be remembered for is the Ferns' 2003 world championship win in Jamaica.

That was when Temepara George, virtually unheard of before the tournament, became our little "pocket rocket", with her feisty competitiveness quickly elevating her to one of New Zealand's most-loved netballers.

"She was the real pivot in that midcourt, she was just so crafty. Her ability to turn a game through an intercept or a great pass was really evident in that game," said New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken.

With the October tests against England and Australia marking the beginning of a four-year international netball cycle, it was expected a few other players would also be calling it curtains. Up until yesterday there were question marks hovering over Leana de Bruin, Liana Leota and Joline Henry.

Aitken was delighted that New Zealand netball would retain those experienced stars for the time being, but she acknowledged the need to develop fresh talent.

"The reality is while it might not happen right now after the world championships, within the next 12-18 months there could well be a bit more movement among some of our senior players, so it is the right time to be ensuring we've got some fresh young faces coming through as well."

Yesterday's squad list included two new talented youngsters - Magic shooter Julianna Naoupu, 21, and Mystics utility Kayla Cullen, 19.

"They're only young and they've obviously got a lot to learn about the high-performance environment but we really felt that within the Silver Ferns squad is the best place to do that."

Up and coming defenders Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit have been invited to attend next month's squad camp in Auckland, where they will have the opportunity to push their case for inclusion in the New Zealand squad. There is room for up to 18 players to be contracted into the squad.

Wendy Frew, Charlotte Kight and Daneka Wipiiti lost their contracts; the latter made herself unavailable for personal reasons.

The loss of Wipiiti has been off-set by the availability of Mystics star Cathrine Latu, who is certain to get her first test call-up next month. Latu has been ineligible for test selection as she played for Samoa at the last world tournament in 2007.

SILVER FERNS SQUAD

Leana de Bruin, Kayla Cullen, Katrina Grant, Paula Griffin, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Liana Leota, Julianna Naoupu, Grace Rasmussen, Anna Scarlett, Anna Thompson, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk.