Ferns ‘poked the bear’ by beating Diamonds: Laura Langman

Retiring Kiwi netball great Laura Langman says the Silver Ferns “poked the bear” with their one-goal World Cup win over the Aussies last year.

The dejected Diamonds after losing to New Zealand in the World Cup final last year. Picture: Getty Images

Retiring Kiwi netball great Laura Langman says the Silver Ferns “poked the bear” with their one-goal World Cup win over the Aussies last year and expects the Diamonds to hit back hard if they meet again in October as hoped.

A four-Test Constellation Cup between the two nations has been scheduled after the completion of the Super Netball season, pending travel being allowed between the two countries.

Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand have both committed to play the annual four-Test series.

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Langman, regarded by most as one of the greatest Silver Ferns players of all time, will not be there after calling time on her 163-Test international career this week.

Despite the Kiwi triumph last time the two teams faced, Langman said the Diamonds were always a formidable opponent.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from the Diamonds over the years is if you beat them once, it’s literally like poking a bear,” she said.

“You’ve got to be prepared to be better, evolve, be a step ahead.”

New Zealand’s Laura Langman celebrates after the netball World Cup final against Australia in England last year. Picture: Getty Images

Langman, also the Sunshine Coast Lightning captain, led the Ferns back to the top last year with a thrilling World Cup final win over the Diamonds in Liverpool. “It was really the (whole) group that gave us the momentum to best prepare the 12 to go to Liverpool and that was what I think we hadn’t had in a while in New Zealand,” she said.

“And it’s just so cool that that’s the platform the Ferns have now to move forward with.”

Langman, 34, also hopes to move forward with the Lightning beyond this season.

“I thoroughly love being a part of Lightning,” she said. “At the end of the season we’ll see where the pebbles fall and if there’s a space for me, wicked, but if the team needs to evolve and blood some new ideas and new people, I totally understand that as well.”

Meanwhile, Adelaide will host three Super Netball matches this season, with the 2020 competition to be played outside Queensland for the first time next month.

The schedule for rounds 10, 11 and 12 was released on Friday, with Adelaide’s Priceline Arena the venue for Thunderbirds matches on September 6, 9 and 12 against respective opponents Collingwood, the Queensland Firebirds and the Giants.

“The league has been working closely with all clubs to identify and explore the opportunities around delivering matches outside of Queensland and we’re pleased to confirm that fans in Adelaide will get to see some live netball action in 2020,” Super Netball CEO Chris Symington said.

NCA Newswire