Tiana Metuarau, the 15-year-old daughter of former Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu, has been elevated to the Silver Ferns Development Squad.
The promising young shooter joins her Netball Central teammate Kimiora Poi in the Development Squad following strong performances at the recent under-20 international tournament in Canberra, where Metuarau wasa member of the NZ U21 team and Poi represented the New Zealand Maori team.
Metuarau, who was a standout for Netball Central in the inaugural Beko League this year, has ambitions to make the Silver Ferns before the age of 18 - the age Taumaunu was when she first made the national team.
Following her daughter's selection in the New Zealand Secondary Schools team last year, Taumaunu joked the rivalry is starting to become a bit too real.
"She has kind of said it jokingly since she was quite young, now it's starting to get a little uncomfortable," Taumaunu told the Herald.
"The landscape has changed a lot over the years, but I guess if this is the first step and it has been for others, then she is on track."
Silver Ferns Development Squad and NZ U21 team coach, Kiri Wills says both Metuarau and Poi (19) have continued to improve over the course of the season and earned their selection.
"Both Tiana and Kimiora have had strong seasons; they are talented players and have taken their opportunities with both hands," Wills said.
"We are building great depth in our squad - depth that I believe will stand us in good stead as we look ahead to Netball World Youth Cup."
The Silver Ferns Development Squad will head into camp in Wellington, September 23-25, as part of their preparations for Netball World Youth Cup in Gaborone, Botswana next year.
