Netball: Three Beko Netball League players named for Silver Ferns trial

Veteran midcourter Laura Langman is the frontrunner for the role as captain. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Beko Netball League is already helping bolster New Zealand's playing depth, with three of the stars of the new domestic competition selected to trial for the Silver Ferns and NZA teams.

Central's Karin Burger, Monica Falkner of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty team, and Netball South shooter Jamie Hume have been included in the 28-strong group for next month's trials.

The Silver Ferns line-up to contest the inaugural Quad Series against Australia, England and South Africa will be named at the end of the three-day trials.

However, the young trio are not in contention for direct elevation into the Silver Ferns. It is more likely they are being looked at for positions in the NZA team, which will likely play warm-up matches against some of the visiting international sides this year.

The inclusion of the Beko League stars in the selection mix has reinforced the importance of the domestic competition, which underpins the ANZ Championship, in developing the next tier of young talent. Although the transtasman league will split next season, with each country moving back to standalone domestic competitions, Netball NZ plan to keep the Beko League in operation to provide meaningful competition opportunities to young up and coming players.

With 28 players included in the list of triallists there were no real surprises in the mix other than the inclusion of Burger, Falkner and Hume.

The surprises may come when Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby names what will be her first test line-up of her tenure.

Southby is also expected to name the next New Zealand captain following trials, with new mum Casey Kopua taking time away from the sport.

Veteran midcourter Laura Langman, who has never missed a game for Ferns since making her debut in 2005, is the frontrunner for the role.

Silver Ferns and NZA triallists:
Karin Burger, Central Beko Netball League
Gina Crampton, Steel
Kayla Cullen, Mystics
Leana de Bruin, Magic
Ameliaranne Ekenasio (nee Wells), Pulse
Monica Falkner, WBOP Beko Netball League
Shannon Francois, Steel
Katrina Grant, Pulse
Ellen Halpenny, Magic
Anna Harrison, Mystics
Jamie Hume, Steel
Fa'amu Ioane, Mystics
Kelly Jury, Magic
Phoenix Karaka, Pulse
Laura Langman, Swifts
Bailey Mes, Tactix
Jess Moulds, Tactix
Erikana Pedersen, Tactix
Jamie-Lee Price, Magic
Storm Purvis, Steel
Grace Rasmussen, Magic
Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Steel
Samantha Sinclair, Magic
Cathrine Tuivaiti, Mystics
Maria Tutaia, Mystics
Zoe Walker, Tactix
Jane Watson, Steel
Maia Wilson, Pulse