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'No club could say no' to Maria Folau signing, says Australian coach

August 27, 2018

The Silver Ferns shooter says there were multiple factors leading to her decision.

Silver Ferns star Maria Folau is expected to be a high profile target for several Australian Super Netball sides, having been granted an exemption to play in the competition for the 2019 season.

Folau, 31, will permanently  move to Australia from next year , living in Sydney to be closer to husband and Wallabies star, Israel.

The 134-Test shooter had been living in Australia this year, however would regularly travel back to New Zealand to fulfill her commitments to Netball New Zealand and the Northern Mystics.

However, now that Folau has been granted an exemption to play in the Australian competition as well as the Silver Ferns, Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander is expecting a race to secure the sharpshooter's signature.

"No club could say no to that sort of experience," she told AAP.

"And obviously yes, from a commercial view definitely (she's worth prioritising) but from a pathway point of view if she denied an Australian a contract it's not in the best interests of the national programme."

Alexander said she expects the Queensland Firebirds, as well as the Noeline Taurua coached Sunshine Coast Lightning to be the top contenders to sign Folau.

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