Coach Noeline Taurua admits she received a rude awakening accepting the top job and shares her experience so far.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua during the Quad Series between New Zealand and Australia Photo: Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
The last six months have flown by for Silver Ferns head coach Noeline Taurua.
After the highly anticipated announcement that she would becoming the eleventh women to lead the side, her journey so far has been fast tracked in preparation for this year's Netball World Cup.
Taurua already has ten international matches under her belt which includes a comprehensive 55-44 win over world number one's Australia in October's Constellation Cup, although a three out of ten win rate is something she's desperate to improve on.
The 50-year-old accepted the role with no experience in heading an international side and admits she received a rude awakening once she was put in the hot seat.
"Many coaches have a perception of what they think the job is and in reality, it's not," says Taurua
"Finishing the Quad (series) and the Constellation Cup I had a better understanding of areas in improvement, the people, the players and our environment that we work within."
"The December camp and the Quad has given me the opportunity to stamp the mark of what I want while also trying to manouvre all the pieces."
Experience aside, Taurua's instructions are clear: Make New Zealand netball great again.
This is in response to the Silver Ferns experiencing its most disappointing international outing at the beginning of 2018 with an independent review stressing urgency into the high-performance programme, or lack thereof.
New Zealand winning 2003 Netball World Cup after defeating Australia in the final 49-47 Photo: © PHOTOSPORT www.photosport.co.nz
Taurua is looking to do what no other Silver Ferns coach has been able to do in 16 years - win a World Cup title and judging by the recent selection process her iron fist proves she isn't taking the task lightly.
It's not only the Silver Ferns she worries about though. Taurua remains the coach of her Australian side the Sunshine Coast Lightning who are currently in pre-season.
That forces the multi-tasker to fly across the ditch frequently - something never done by a New Zealand national coach before, in fact, the Lightning received a visit from Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander this week as she too prepares for the World Cup.
The balancing act has been a work in progress but it's been winning back-to-back titles that has kept Taurua's Aussie allegiances strong.
"The gods have been on my side in regard to Lightning, we are in pre-season so it's limited hours of contractual obligations with players so I'm not really missing much when I'm not there and vice versa," Taurua said.
"We are still in limited pre-season mode and once I finish with New Zealand I'm back... the timing has been very complimentary I feel."
Taurua stated that her contract with the Lightning ends in September 2019 while her Silver Ferns contract ends at the conclusion of the World Cup in July - something she isn't in a hurry to extend.
Her impressive work ethic has come at a price where her family is concerned admitting that the professional and personal adjustment has been the biggest lesson so far.
"The only juggling act that I feel needs to happen, or lack of it is my time with my family, but we have all committed and know that there's an end point," Taurua said.
"I have a deadline date and if I looked beyond it would become unmanageable and scary for me and my family.
"I'm going to go hard for those dates and put everything I can into that and I'll be where I need to be but it all needs to fit with my family.
"I'm content with what's on my pathway for 2019 and I feel capable of balancing everything."
Sunshine Coast Lightning celebrate with coach Noeline Taurua after winning the 2018 final Photo: DCimages | Daniel Carson
Taurua has a natural ability in directing athletes and preparing them for the world stage - but how does she keep herself in shape in the pressure cooker?
As a former Silver Fern shooting great herself, one would think she would keep a hold of training and dietary practices but that couldn't be the further from her routine.
In fact, the secret to her success is quite simple.
"There's few coaches that run or go to the gym - that's not me (she laughs).
"I've been around the trap quite a bit and I know my body and I'm very lucky I have a family trait where I can just sleep.
"Apart from that just being around some really good people and my family helps so there's not much that I get under the pump or pressured with - as long as the family is alright everything else is alright.
"I've got good mechanisms and a good red wine doesn't go astray either."
The Silver Ferns squad to contend for the 2019 World Cup will be named at the end of May.
- RNZ