Silver Ferns' young guns

Casey Williams, Laura Langman and Maria Tutaia. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has described them as wide-eyed and innocent. Former Magic coach Nicole Dryden reckons they could go on to be the best in the world.

Whichever way you look at them Laura Langman, Maria Tutaia and Casey Williams are the next big thing on the netball court.

The three, who have yet to hit 20, are the new breed rising in the New Zealand side.

With several of the team nearing the end of their careers, Langman, Tutaia and Williams may be among those charged with defending New Zealand's world crown in Fiji in a couple of years.

The wiry Langman, who looks like she would be every bit at home pounding around an athletics track, has had somewhat of a meteoric rise in the sport.

Just three years after her entry into the National Bank Cup, she made her debut in the black dress in Saturday night's opening test against England.

"It was mindboggling," Langman said of her debut. "I am not sure I can even find the words to describe how it felt ... it was just great to get out there into that combination."

While Langman was named in the initial Silver Ferns team, Williams and Tutaia were called in as late replacements.

"When I heard that those two were coming I was absolutely over the moon and could not wait until they got here," Langman said. "It is fantastic ... the under-21s are taking over the Silver Ferns."

The three, who are studying - Williams sport and recreation, Langman management studies and Tutaia fashion design - were integral members of the New Zealand under-21 side who recently completed a successful tour of Jamaica and the US where they bumped off arch rivals Australia.

Williams was the first to be called into the national side after Lesley Rumball was forced out with a hamstring strain. Standing at an impressive 1.87m tall, Williams has an uncanny ability to nab rebounds and, unlike many other tall defenders, seems to be able to keep her arms and legs in check.

Dryden, who has coached both Langman and Williams in Waikato, can't praise the dynamic duo enough.

"There are three aspects which differentiate them from others. Their talent is international talent. You get a lot of good age-group players who have that unique natural talent, but they are just a step ahead.

"They are also mature people and they are very good learners. Anything is possible for them."

Although Langman is similar to Rumball in that she is tireless on defence, Dryden said her smaller frame and athletic ability could push her into the centre role.

"Her development at centre is going to be interesting, I would see her as a centre as much as a wing defence. Whether that is the New Zealand view will be interesting, I know it will be Magic and Waikato's view."

Dryden said Williams is still learning about training methods but already has "an innate sense of timing".

"If you look at her rebounding statistics, there are not many others who can get the ball when she is in the circle.

"She has got very good control and that is really without training."

Auckland Diamonds goal attack Tutaia was the last in the trio to break into the side, replacing Angela Mitchell who was also forced out of the series with hamstring problems.

Tutaia, who also stands at an impressive 1.87m, made her mark at last year's National Provincial Championships where she slotted into the star-studded Auckland side with ease.

But it was her dominant performance on the under-21 tour that probably earned her the call up. "I was absolutely shocked," Tutaia said. "I had absolutely no idea.

"It has been great being called up, you learn so much here and the girls have been so supportive."

All three agree it is a significant step up from the under-21 side to the Silver Ferns but hope their time in team will help them in their quest to win the World Youth Championships in Miami in July - a title which has eluded NZ since the late 1980s.

Dryden said the inclusion of the three in the national side is a step in the right direction.

"We can't do the same thing at the next world champs as we did at the last. The capacity to grow a game is reliant on our talent and different and new things.

"Maybe at the national provincial championships, we are going to see some changes.

"We don't want to hold on too long to yesterday. You obviously keep what is working well but players have to get better and better each year and each series and do something different."

Maybe Langman, Williams and Tutaia are just the answer.

Casey Williams

Born: June 19, 1985

Height: 1.87m

Positions: GD, GK.

Career highlights 2005: Silver Ferns, New Zealand under-21 side, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

 

Laura Langman

Born: April 16, 1986

Height: 1.71m

Positions: C, WA, WD Career highlights: 2005: Silver Ferns, New Zealand under-21 side, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

 

Maria Tutaia

Born: February 18, 1987

Height: 1.87m

Positions: GA, GS Career highlights 2005: Silver Ferns, New Zealand under-21 side, Auckland Waitakere Diamonds