New Zealand stunned three-time defending champions Australia in a thrilling Netball World Cup final in Liverpool on Sunday (Monday morning NZ time). Hours after their victory, members of the team have shared their jubilation.
Retiring Silver Ferns star Casey Kopua reacted immediately after the game in an interview. Kopua made a triumphant return to international netball late last year after taking time out following the birth of her daughter in 2016. Asked if it was worth coming back, she told the BBC:
“It’s totally all worth it,” Kopua said. “When you’ve got the belief like that, there’s nothing that can stop you. I love my team and my support so much, and I’m so glad that I came back.”
Another player, Katrina Rore says the side is “on cloud nine”
The former New Zealand captain answered her phone amid the team’s raucous celebrations and told ZM‘s Fletch, Vaughan and Megan how proud she was of her team’s effort.
“We are on cloud nine. This is ridiculously awesome,” Rore said.
“This team is so deserving of this. Our whole team is absolutely unreal and I’m so proud of every single one of them.”
1 NEWS‘ Jenny-May Clarkson also interviewed Rore on live TV, and the Silver Ferns star couldn’t help by tear up with emotion as she enjoyed a celebratory glass of bubbly.
Coach Noeline Taurua also told 1 NEWS that she doesn’t know if she will stay in charge of the new world champions.
Taurua was tasked with turning around the Kiwi team after Janine Southby’s disastrous time as coach, which included missing a medal at the Commonwealth Games last year.
“In one way or another I will definitely help New Zealand Netball to transition, but at this stage I don’t know what I’m going to do in the long-term,” she said.
She said it had been a “treat and an honour” leading the Silver Ferns, but was tired.
Silver Ferns great,
