Maria Folau’s netball career ends

Omitted from the Silver Ferns squad, the 150-match veteran won’t play on in 2020.

Maria Folau’s netball career has come to an end. Picture: Getty Images

Maria Folau’s 15-year career as a professional netball has drawn to a close, after she was left out of the latest Silver Ferns squad announcement.

In truth, it was a matter of when, not if the Kiwi called time over the summer. Having won an elusive World Cup gold medal in 2019, there was little left for the 32-year-old to achieve.

She played 150 matches for the Silver Ferns, second most in the team’s history, and anchored the team’s shooting end for more than a decade.

Israel Folau with his wife Maria. Picture: Aaron Francis

When the Adelaide Thunderbirds confirmed that Folau was not a part of the club’s 2020 roster, it was clear that Folau’s time was limited, with all New Zealand and England team lists already complete.

Although her club career was over, Folau recommitted to New Zealand head coach Noeline Taurua, opting for one last set of international matches. That left a nebulous retirement date hanging over the summer.

On Tuesday, Netball New Zealand announced the Silver Ferns squad for January’s Tournament of Nations in England. Folau was excluded from the list, making official what many had suspected for months.

Her rugby star husband Israel is expected to take his talents to either Japan or Europe, having reached a settlement with Rugby Australia after a contractual dispute over inflammatory social media posts that stretched through 2019.

Folau’s club career finished with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Picture: AAP

Maria has been a staunch supporter of her husband throughout the legal fights, regularly attending court and media appearances. She now will presumably accompany him overseas, with no professional ties in the Southern Hemisphere.

She is a famously shy figure, so a retirement without any fanfare is in keeping with her character. But Folau has also been kept under wraps from the media all year as controversy swirled around her husband.

Folau and New Zealand won the Netball World Cup this year. Picture: Getty Images

When the World Cup-winning Silver Ferns were given an official parliamentary reception with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in August, Folau was the only notable absentee.

At her peak, Folau was the most famous figure in her sport, known for long-range shooting accuracy in an era when netball teams increasingly gravitated to taller shooters parked under the hoop.

Amid all the headlines this year, teammates and coaches reiterated their support for a player they saw as hardworking and reliable.

Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman gave an emotional tribute to Folau in her speech after October’s Constellation Cup match against the Diamonds in Perth, the last of Folau’s career.

“Oh, the voice is a bit shaky. It is such a special moment for us today for Maria. Man! So many games. We are so grateful to have you,” Langman said.

The Folaus in Melbourne earlier in December. Picture: Getty Images

“You are an absolutely tremendous team person. When you turn and shoot you actually have no idea how much confidence and energy you give us all on court. So thank you give us all on court. So thank you for whatever you decide you are doing.”