Dame Noeline Taurua has shed some light on her reasons for finally signing long-term with the Silver Ferns, saying it's time for her to practise what she's been preaching to her players and commit.
Netball New Zealand announced this morning Taurua had re-signed until the end of 2023, meaning she will guide the team through next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 2023 World Cup in South Africa.
Taurua told 1 NEWS this afternoon it was big decision to make, having previously signed short-term extensions with Netball NZ.
"I'm a big girl now, it's taken me a while to get to this stage," Taurua said with a smile.
"It's a new space for me to be in, personally, but I think where our netball is going in New Zealand, not only at the Silver Ferns level, but there's a lot of positive stuff that's happening and it'll be good to be part of that."
Taurua has been locked in as head coach until the end of 2023 thanks to her new deal.
Taurua previously has spoken of looking to develop the Silver Ferns in a way that they'll succeed for the next decade after stunning Australia back in 2019 to win the World Cup and today she said by staying on she continues to work to that vision.
"That's the upside of being contracted still after the [2023] Worlds is then we start to look at what that next four-year cycle is going to be," she said.
"We're starting to cement our foundations and ticking off details around going for the Commonwealth Games and going for that gold medal."
Taurua added her new contract also reflects a mentality she's tried to instill in the team since taking over in that dedication and commitment to the Silver Ferns is just as important as on-court success.
"I think personally for myself, it's about walking the talk," she said.
"I asked everybody else in the team to be able to commit and now that I've actually done it, we can build the foundation stronger and really look forward to 2022 and 2023."
For now, Taurua is prepareing the Silver Ferns for the upcoming Constellation Cup series against Australia which is scheduled to start next month on March 2 in Christchurch.
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