Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua continues to contemplate her future with the team, admitting this weekend's Nations Cup in London could be her last in charge.
Dame Noeline's future with the Ferns is the biggest question looming over the young squad as they start to rebuild towards the next Netball World Cup in 2027.
With multiple options ahead of her, the veteran coach admits what she decides will ultimately be a "gut decision."
Her players, however, aren't hiding what they hope she chooses.
"It's an honour to be coached under Noels, that's something you do not take for granted," said teenage star Amelia Walmsley.
"Obviously I'd like to have her stay around for quite a while longer," added new vice-captain Kate Heffernan.
Dame Noeline took over the head coaching role in 2018, and led the Silver Ferns to World Cup glory in 2019.
However, after New Zealand finished the 2023 campaign with their worst World Cup result in fourth, questions over Dame Noeline's future began to be raised.
"Yeah that's the big question," she admitted. "And to be honest I'm still undecided, this is a big tournament for me, just to see where I'm at."
That tournament is the Nations Cup, a four-day international fixture that features old rivals England and Australia, and a new one in Uganda.
Dame Noeline has sent one of her youngest squads to the tournament.
Heffernan, 24, will lead the team along with 21-year-old goal shoot Grace Nweke. Only two players in the squad have worn the silver fern more than 50 times.
"It's exciting, but we've got to not make an excuse around it, just because they are inexperienced and young," Dame Noeline insisted.
The Ferns open their campaign this weekend against their toughest competition; 12-time world champions Australia.
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua continues to contemplate her future with the team, admitting this weekend's Nations Cup in London could be her last in charge.
Dame Noeline's future with the Ferns is the biggest question looming over the young squad as they start to rebuild towards the next Netball World Cup in 2027.
With multiple options ahead of her, the veteran coach admits what she decides will ultimately be a "gut decision."
Her players, however, aren't hiding what they hope she chooses.
"It's an honour to be coached under Noels, that's something you do not take for granted," said teenage star Amelia Walmsley.
"Obviously I'd like to have her stay around for quite a while longer," added new vice-captain Kate Heffernan.
Dame Noeline took over the head coaching role in 2018, and led the Silver Ferns to World Cup glory in 2019.
However, after New Zealand finished the 2023 campaign with their worst World Cup result in fourth, questions over Dame Noeline's future began to be raised.
"Yeah that's the big question," she admitted. "And to be honest I'm still undecided, this is a big tournament for me, just to see where I'm at."
That tournament is the Nations Cup, a four-day international fixture that features old rivals England and Australia, and a new one in Uganda.
Dame Noeline has sent one of her youngest squads to the tournament.
Heffernan, 24, will lead the team along with 21-year-old goal shoot Grace Nweke. Only two players in the squad have worn the silver fern more than 50 times.
"It's exciting, but we've got to not make an excuse around it, just because they are inexperienced and young," Dame Noeline insisted.
The Ferns open their campaign this weekend against their toughest competition; 12-time world champions Australia.
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