Diamonds captain Laura Geitz makes no promises about future in green and gold

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Diamonds captain Laura Geitz makes no promises about future in green and gold

By Tom Decent
Updated

World Cup-winning Diamonds captain Laura Geitz has given no assurances she will be around to defend their crown in 2019 in Liverpool.

Geitz, 27, announced on Tuesday she would stay on with the Queensland Firebirds for another season, but made no promises about appearing at her third World Cup in four years time. "I think it's so hard to say," said Geitz of whether she will be playing at the next World Cup. "I always say to myself I'll play while I'm performing and enjoying it and feel like I've got something to offer on and off the court. It's impossible to know how long that will be. I'm taking it as it comes and not having too many plans in my head."

Laura Geitz with the Netball World Cup in Martin Place, Sydney.

Laura Geitz with the Netball World Cup in Martin Place, Sydney. Credit: Brendan Esposito

Geitz and her victorious Diamonds teammates were on deck at Martin Place on Wednesday for an official victory ceremony. Around 400 people gathered to hear NSW Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres congratulate the side following their triumph over New Zealand in the World Cup final over a fortnight ago. "If you want to get a job done, you get the women to do it," Premier Baird said.

Jokes were shared about players putting their name forward one day to become Prime Minister, given their success at the tournament. One of the mock candidates, Sharni Layton, then told the story of how she broke her winners medal on the dance floor on the evening of the final. "It started off quite calm, cool and collected with a few speeches and once the DJ started the medal couldn't handle the dance moves," Layton said. "I've got some pretty great dance moves and that's just what happens. The medal is still intact which is awesome, and I think I might get it framed with bullet-proof glass after that [incident]."

Sharni Layton tells Diamonds fans about how she broke her Netball World Cup winners medal.

Sharni Layton tells Diamonds fans about how she broke her Netball World Cup winners medal.Credit: Brendan Esposito

With Geitz no certainty to be around in four years time, and the retirements of Kim Green, Julie Corletto and Rebecca Bulley affecting the make up of the national team, Layton jokingly said she would only play in Liverpool 2019 if she was guaranteed the same warm reception and confetti. "The streamers coming out is my favourite part of winning, that is like saying: 'Yes you've won'," Layton said. "The crowd we had today in Sydney; it is a truly special experience."

Natalie Medhurst has signalled her intent on becoming the first woman in history to win four World Cups, but coach Lisa Alexander will be looking more to the future when she names her Constellation Cup squad on Thursday. An extended squad will be picked for the four Tests - two in New Zealand and two in Australia - in October, which gives Alexander a larger pool of players to run her eye over in national colours. "We're delighted about the group [of players] underneath, they have really shown that they've earned it and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with who we have put in the team," Alexander said.

Alexander admitted she struggled after the Commonwealth Games success of 2014 to get up for the following year, but was confident there would be no such lull after World Cup glory. "This year I think is different because we've ended the cycle," Alexander said. "We've achieved what we set out to achieve and it's exciting because we have a new group, so I have to be on top of my game as a coach."

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