Can Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua survive controversial stand-down?

Thursday, 11 September 2025

It's been a hellish year for Netball NZ and the blow-up with Dame Noeline Taurua has exacerbated the pain.

There could be more anguish to come.

Netball NZ and Taurua's inability to resolve issues in regards to what the governing body has termed 'proposed changes'' to its high performance and environment have left Silver Ferns coach Taurua's career teetering on the abyss.

Whether she can keep her job is anyone's guess.

The decision to sideline Taurua just weeks out from the Taini Jamison Series against South Africa in New Zealand blindsided everyone, and when the bomb dropped it created ripples throughout a sporting community that has witnessed Netball NZ become entangled in multiple dramas this year.

Silver Ferns great Laura Langman summed-up the mood.

A social media post, which framed a photo of the Silver Ferns singing the national anthem, was fired out by Langman.

'From one of the proudest moments … To the saddest day in NZ Netball history TODAY,’’ she wrote.

Although now living in Australia, the multiple issues that have beset the sport in New Zealand won't have escaped Langman's attention.

The ANZ Premiership, once a shiny jewel in the Netball NZ vault, has been watered-down as players head across the Tasman to play in the Australian domestic competition.

Not being able to secure a broadcast deal with Sky Sport meant wages have reduced and some high-profile athletes, including skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio, have made themselves unavailable for the Silver Ferns this year.

The Taurua saga is another hammer blow.

Hopes Netball NZ could use the Silver Ferns, their flagship team, to supply positive headlines disappeared in a puff of smoke when Taurua, who led the team to a Netball World Cup win in 2019 and coached the team since 2018, was sidelined.

Yvette McCausland-Durie, with support from Liana Leota, will coach the Silver Ferns in her absence.

Netball NZ chair Matt Whineray had a message to the ex-internationals frustrated to see their sport in turmoil.

'We know there is a heap of interest in this,'' Whineray said. 'And there are as many opinions out there as there are netball fans.

'We are all working to get to a resolution. We all obviously want to have a high performing high performance environment because to get the Silver Ferns at their best, that's what we need to do to support them to do that.

'We appreciate everyone has lots of views. That's just the passionate nature of our netball fans. But, for me, commenting on other people's comments is never going to make this thing move forward.''

Reports that players were unhappy with Taurua quickly surfaced.

RNZ reported two players approached the Players' Association on behalf of a group of up to seven, who raised concerns about Taurua's communication style after a training camp in Sydney earlier this year. This was relayed to Netball NZ, and an independent review was commissioned.

It appears to have achieved little, with differences between coach and players unresolved.

Efforts to reach Taurua for comment have been unsuccessful.

Whineray said there was no deadline for a decision about her future.

Asked if Taurua could return to coach the Silver Ferns, Whineray was unable to talk specifics but remained 'hopeful''.

'We will continue to see whether we can resolve these issues.''

All parties would need to come to an agreement.

'We have got to have a high performance environment that works for everyone.

'That's everybody who is in it, and so that's what is going to take the work between us and Dame Noeline, and the management team. But ultimately everyone has to be comfortable. We will just have to keep working on that.''

Whineray said Netball NZ had been providing support to Taurua during the discussions.

He wouldn't elaborate on what support was in place.

'That's between us. We know this is a difficult time. We just want to make sure that everyone is okay, as we go through it. That's what is important here.

Former-Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering came out swinging as she voiced support for Taurua.

Willering questioned why Netball NZ has focused solely on Taurua, and not other members of the management team.

Having been in camp with the Silver Ferns, Willering was aware management had one-on-one meetings with players and there was a leadership group in the squad.

'And I am going, what is happening with communication during the events? Why is this coming now? They have said this has been going on for a month or so. Why has something not been resolved in that time?''

Willering also expressed concerns about the short turnaround between the Taini Jamison Series and the four games against Australia in the Constellation Cup, starting October 17.

Willering believes Taurua wants to keep going.

'I think she wants to, otherwise she would have walked by now.

'Don't forget, we don't know the full situation. I am not sure anyone, specifically, does know.''

Rather than go public, Willering said her preference would have been for Netball NZ to keep this saga behind closed doors.

Willering said she has spoken to Taurua.

'We are mates, and I would like to think I have been a support person for her. This has come as a bit of a shock.

'I have seen her in action. Some people have said she is 'old school'. No, no, no. I am 'old school' and I will admit to that. She is upskilling people all the time.

'We all speculating, and that is something they [Netball NZ] really needed to do in-house.''