NewZealandWoman’sWeekly 9
TRIUMPH
After the win, Laura
had to head back
to her hotel to do
some work for her
accountancy firm.W
hileshe’sarrivedback
at her Sunshine Coast
home with a shiny gold
medal around her neck, there was
something even better waiting for
Laura Langman – a hug from husband
Adrian Pooley and a huge, “rad”
bunch of her favourite sunflowers.
It’s been an epic few weeks for
the captain fantastic – “jeepers,
has it what!” she exclaims down the
phone to the Weekly, but in true
Laura fashion, the Ferns’ big win
wasn’t about her.
“It was such a beautiful way to
send out Casey, and Maria as well if
she decides to call it a day. For me,
it’s so much more than winning. It
was about giving those people the
biggest thank you that we could.”
But of course, the moment she
finally realised her girls had done it
is hard to put into words.
“At first I was like, no, get back,
get back!” she laughs as she
recounts seeing Ameliaranne
and Mariarunning towards her. “I
thoughttheumpire had blown the
whistlefora penalty! But then, it was
l feeling – the most
ngever. And then
g up the cup and
ngthe anthem, wow.
asreally special.”
Asshe was singing,
ura,who isn’t making
y decisions about her
tball future just yet,
flected on her World
p journey – made all
more remarkable by
thefactshewasineligible for the
Fernsforalmosttwo years, as she
madethedecisionto play in the
Australian domestic league.
“Yeah, I literally wasn’t here
365 days ago, [the World Cup]
wasn’t even on my radar!” she says.
“So it’s one out of the bag, that’s
for sure. I was just thrilled to be a
part of it. I was squeezing Bailey
pretty tight, that’s for sure!
Singing that anthem and hearing
the girls sing loud and proud was
a real goosebump moment.”the mostunrea
amazingfeeli
holdin
ng
Itw
A
Lau
any
ne
refl
Cu
the
the fact shewasTHE CAPTAIN CALLS
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