Netball: Taumaunu will coach for test series

Waimarama Taumaunu says she has no problems stepping into the coaching role earlier. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Her appointment as Silver Ferns coach has long been expected, but Waimarama Taumaunu has been rushed in to the job unexpectedly early.

Netball New Zealand yesterday confirmed Taumaunu will succeed Ruth Aitken as coach of the national side, and will take control of the team for the three-test series against Australia this month.

Although Taumaunu was appointed to the top job before last week's series against England, Netball New Zealand had originally decided to hold off making any announcement until after the Australian series. But when Aitken was forced to withdraw from the tour, which was to be her swansong, for family reasons, Taumaunu said she had no qualms about stepping in to the role early.

"I was a little bit shocked when I got the call on Sunday, but I know Ruth very well and I know she would not have made this call if she didn't have some serious things to deal with, so my first thought was clearly I will do this because Ruth needs me to step in for her," said Taumaunu. "Then my second one was I better go back and watch the Australia test [against England] a bit more intently rather than sitting back with a cup of tea."

Aitken is unavailable for the Australian series as her father, Phil Fathers, is seriously ill. The sad turn of events brings an abrupt end to her distinguished decade-long career as coach of the Silver Ferns. Aitken admits she would have loved to have had the opportunity for one last crack at the Aussies, but even as she faces such a difficult time, the veteran coach remains typically pragmatic.

She said she had got her head around the fact that last week's 53-32 win over England in Invercargill was her last in charge of the team.

"As you can understand it is a strange time really, I am disappointed, but everything has to come to an end at some point in time," said Aitken. "I do feel really pleased that I did have that opportunity to finish with them in New Zealand in the end, and Invercargill was a lovely way to finish up really."

Aitken, who has worked alongside Taumaunu for the past four years, believes the new coach will have no problem slotting in at such short notice.

The former Silver Ferns captain will join the team in camp in Auckland on Monday, before they leave for Perth for next Sunday's opening test against Australia. The series will herald a new phase in the contests between netball's two superpowers, with Australian coach Lisa Alexander new in her job after replacing Norma Plummer following the Diamonds successful world title defence in July.

Taumaunu said she was honoured to take on the top job. In her playing days, the defender's playing number was nine. Now she will be the ninth coach of the New Zealand side since international competition began in 1938.

With the Australian series her immediate focus, Taumaunu said any plans around building her management team have been put on hold. Magic coach Noeline Taurua, who was Taumaunu's main rival for the top job, will continue to serve as assistant coach for the Constellation Cup series.

"I haven't really given [management team] a great deal of thought. I'm certainly looking forward to working with Noels for this series," said Taumaunu. "Beyond that, I haven't really had time to think about that, and I'm not sure I really will until next month."