Times tips Taurua as coach

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

BACK AGAIN: Coach Noeline Taurua has another trans-Tasman netball league season lined up at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.

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Noeline Taurua will coach the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic netball side for 2011.

However, acting chief executive Sheryl Dawson yesterday said a decision would not be made until next week and the franchise was still waiting to hear from Taurua.

Dawson even said the franchise was hoping Taurua made her mind up quickly because negotiations with players relied on the franchise naming a coach.

But the Waikato Times discovered Taurua was meeting with players in Hamilton yesterday.

A source confirmed the former Silver Fern had made her decision and "will be signing for next year".

They said they understood Taurua was excited about the re-appointment and trying to go one better than this year's second place.

The news will come as a welcome relief to both the players and the franchise.

A sample of the players yesterday told the Times they had heard nothing about an appointment.

The general consensus was frustration over not having their playing futures sorted.

The franchise has already started approaching players – most of whom have received at least one offer from other franchises already.

But most importantly for Magic, Taurua's signature means the bulk of the team are more likely to stay here.

Though often criticised for her tactics, Taurua has the backing of the players like no other.

That is the reason some of her more off-the-wall ideas have worked; the current squad have 100 per cent faith in her.

The four players who live out of the region, Irene van Dyk, Frances Solia, Jodi Brown and Peta Scholz have all made it clear they'd like to return.

Scholz and van Dyk's form especially means they would be high on the shopping list of other sides and Taurua staying on gives the Magic the inside running.

Taurua yesterday would not deny she had signed for her fourth ANZ Championship in charge of the side, but stopped short of confirming it.

"I think you should talk to [acting chief executive] Sheryl [Dawson]."

Taurua had previously told the Times the decision would be based on whether or not she and her family decided it was the right thing to do.

The Magic offered her the position immediately after this month's final loss to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Taurua's re-appointment means the role has not been advertised since the semi-professional competition began.

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