10 NewZealandWoman’sWeekly
runofresults,Noelinewas
handedthereinsoftheteam,
andbegantherebuildalmost
immediately.Controversial
omissionsandselections–
especiallythecalltobring
backthethen-retiredCasey–
weremetwithscepticism,
butNoeline,supportedbyher
greatmateandassistantcoach
DebFuller,stoodstrong.
Sheexpectedtheearth
fromherplayersbut,more
importantly,shegotthe
batteredandbruisedFernsto
believein themselvesagain.
“I havetocreditNoeline
forsomuch,thecultureshe’s
createdandbred...togetusall
performingatourbest,”says
starshooterAmeliaranne,while
wingdefenceKarinagrees.
“Thesecret?Hardworkand
hunger,”shetellstheWeekly.
“Weknewit wasn’tgoingtobe
easy,thattherewouldbereally,
reallytoughtimes,butyouhave
topushyourselftotheverybrink.
That’sthekindofcoachthat
Noelineis.Shewouldn’texpect
anything less. She created this
hungerwitheachplayertowant
toreallyplaytheirheartsout.
Wewantedit forus,andwe
wantedit forNewZealand.”
AsLauraputsit, “There’snot
oneplayerin NewZealandwho
wouldn’tfollowherintowar.”
Forsomeoftheolderplayers
in theteam,affectionately
dubbed‘TheFossils’bytheir
coach,thewondrousmoment
ofstandingonthewinners’
podium,goldmedalshanging
aroundtheirnecksastheNew
Zealand national anthemplayed,wasthreeworld
cupsin themaking.Tears
fellfreelyfromMariaand
Casey’seyes,whileKatrina
leda veryrapturousrendition
ofGodDefendNewZealand
asherhusbandJoeland
Casey’shusbandTerry,
amongothers,performed
a stirringhakain thecrowd.
A still-speechlessJane,
thestand-outdefender
in thetournament,saysshe
can’tevenputintowords
whatthatmomentwaslike.
“I just...I can’tbeginto
sayhowamazingit was,”she
tellstheWeekly, hervoice
crackingfromexhaustion.“It
wasexcitement,happiness...
andrelief.
“Ithasn’tallsunkin yet,tobe
honest.It’swaymoremassive
thanI’mfeelingatthemoment- I’msureit’llhitmesoon!
“I actually have no idea how
wedidit. It feltdifferent,it really
did.It feltgood.”
Karinadds,“Itwasan
immensefeelingofpride,and
atthesametime,thinkingback
onallthehardwork,starting
fromlastAugustwithNoeline.
We’dbeentellingourselves
thatwecoulddoit, andthen
werealisedthatyes,wehad
doneit.
“Andwefeelthesupport
everywherewego– I haven’t
goneanywherewithoutsomeone
sayingcongratulations!”
AsforNoeline,shesaysshe
wasunexpectedlycomposed
throughoutthegame.“Itwasa
reallyweirdfeeling,I wasquite
calm– I don’tknowwhy.”
ForCasey,theWorldCupfinal
wasdefinitelyherlastgamein
theblackdress,whileMariaand
Lauraareexpectedtoannounce
theirretirementssoon.Casey
saysshe’sthrilledshemade
therightdecisionin coming
outofretirementforonelast
internationalhurrah.
“I’msogladI cameback,”
shesays.“I couldn’thaveasked
fora betterending.”
A post-matchinterview
withtheformercaptainand
hergorgeousdaughterMaia
generatedalmostasmuch
coverageasthegame,with
three-year-oldMaialickingthe
sweatoffhermum’sarmasshe
answeredquestions.It wasa
touchingmomentbetween
mumanddaughterasa true
legendofthegamefinished
herfinalchapterasa Fern.
Meanwhile,Laurahintedat
her future in a post-match chatAbove:FootageofCasey’s
gorgeoustotMaialicking
thesweatofftheSilver
Fernwhileshewasbeing
interviewed went viral.