Those are the viewpoints on the absence of Laura Langman from the Silver Ferns for next year. The 30-year-old’s decision to sign with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in the Australian domestic league for 2017 ruled ineligible for her country, bringing to an end a 141-game run of consecutive appearances in the midcourt.
With the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and World Championships the following year, there is every chance Langman could return to the fold. Next year, though, we will get a glimpse oflife after Langman. Rather than panicking, many within the netball community are viewing it with optimism.
"I think her experience is a loss in some ways and an opportunity in others, so [it is] hard to really make a final call on that one," Southern Steel assistant coach Lauren Piebenga said when asked about the hole Langman will leave.
Former Otago and New Zealand coach Lois Muir said it would provide a chance to build on the foundations laid this year, giving more young players experience at a higher level.
"As much as we’re sad, for me the New Zealand team this year showed opportunities for players to get on court and do reasonably well," Muir said.
"They’ve just discovered it’s tough out there. When you play the Australians, you wear an Australian backpack for an hour, so it’s tough on you. Until you play against them, you don’t learn and you don’t grow and you don’t suffer.
"This next year, I believe, if we use it as a great opportunity to grow talent and grow coaches, then we are going in the right direction."
New Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham agreed, although acknowledged Langman would be a loss.
"She’s an amazing player and she has a lot of experience. I think her [absence] will leave a big hole, but on the flip side it provides the opportunity for somebody else who’s up and coming to come through."
Langman debuted for the Silver Ferns in 2005 and has been a fixture in either the wing defence or centre positions since. In that time she has been part of two Commonwealth Games gold medal winning teams and captained the side on occasions. After playing for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic since 2003, Langman signed with the New South Wales Swifts in the transTasman league for 2016. She remained eligible for the national team through that time. However, with the league’s split and the two countries starting their own competitions, she opted to remain in Australia and not play for New Zealand in 2017. It is a move which could potentially benefit Langman, and consequently New Zealand, down the line, as she learns new skills in a different environment.
"It’s an individual choice and she’s looking at her own professional development and possibly that could have spin-offs in New Zealand," Piebenga said.
"Obviously, it’s a bit of a loss in the Silver Ferns. But what she’ll bring back into the netball environment when she returns could add a dimension to the game."
All three spoke of Langman’s dedication to training, which was key in helping her retain her spot in the team and remain so durable.
"She lives the game, she reads angles and she has a tremendous amount of knowledge," Muir said.
"I see her going to Australia as a challenge for herself, to keep her own game going forward."
She said it did not matter whether Langman was playing wing defence or centre. Her contribution to the team remained important and she could pull other players along with her.
While that would be missed by the national team in 2017, Bloxham said there was cover and the team had been planning for life without Langman over the past few months.
"They’re lucky because Shannon [Francois] was given the opportunity to play in that centre role in the last couple of tests they had against Australia, which was good and provided her with experience at that level.
"Kayla Cullen was out with injury, but she’s a really young dynamic player. She’s not Laura Langman, but she provides something different in that wing defence position, so I think there’s definitely cover there."
Muir said it was important to keep an open-mind as to who could step into those positions.
"There are young people growing, we’ve seen young people in that midcourt and playing wing defence," Muir said.
"You don’t want to mention someone’s name, because next year there is an opportunity people like to train and get fit. The world’s their oyster."
The Silver Ferns begin their 2017 campaign early, with the Quad Series tournament in South Africa and England in January and February.
