Laura Langman is as Kiwi as it gets. From the rolling Waikato accent, her overuse of the word “mate” and her down-to-earth, humble humour, it’s hard to imagine this proud farm girl living anywhere else.
Chatting to the Weekly in her Hamilton home, her long legs tucked underneath her as she snuggles in next to husband Adrian Pooley, the star Silver Fern admits it’ll be tough leaving the home she and Adrian have made together.
From the wooden wall made out of pallets that Adrian (36) built himself to the “hideous” painting on the wall that he bought for five dollars on Trade Me, which Laura (29) hates, their home is a haven for the sports-mad couple – a place to get away from their hectic lives.
But this year, Laura is upping sticks without Adrian and relocating across the ditch to Sydney after signing a deal with the New South Wales Swifts – becoming only the second Kiwi netballer to play for an Australian team in the ANZ Championship.
“Yeah, I’ve already been mocked about my accent,” she says grinning. “My new coach Rob says that’ll have to change. Not likely! I’m a Waikato girl through and through. I’m super- excited. This is a huge change for us, but it’s the right time.”
After playing for the Northern Mystics for two years, following a six-year stint with the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, Laura decided she needed a change and the challenge of playing in Australia was a lure all too great – as well as the opportunity to live overseas. Laura explains, “I’ve always wanted to do this. I watched the ANZ champs final last year between the Swifts and the Firebirds, and I thought it was one of the best games of netball ever. So I thought, ‘Why not?’ I put my name out there and before I knew it, I got a call. It happened so fast, I didn’t even tell Adrian until it was happening, which is just typical Laura. I always dive into things too fast and forget about logistics!”
But the sports science technician couldn’t have been more supportive of Laura – even though it means a lengthy separation from his wife, as his job prevents him from joining her in Sydney.
“She’s away most weekends anyway – I’d be on my own. And you only get a limited time in sport,” he shrugs. “You have to take the opportunities where you can, I get that. I’m happy if she’s happy. It didn’t worry me.” “I’m very lucky he’s so flexible,” nods Laura. “He’s very adaptable! I didn’t even really think about Adrian when I was making the decision, actually – that sounds horrible! But what I mean is that I knew he’d understand. I tease Adrian – he’s a technician, and technicians always make it work and find a way. So I knew we’d be fine. Adrian always makes everything work.”
The move means seven months away from each other, with four or five visits in between – and a whole lot of Skyping. “I think the toughest thing will be not having him there after a really hard day,” Laura muses. “Adrian is really good at making me escape from netball when I need to, and he’s a really great sounding board for me to vent to. Not having him to come home to will be hard. And did you know there’s hardly any Starbucks in Australia? That’ll suck. And no Cookie Time cookies? That’ll really suck.
“I’m also really rubbish at cooking. So I can’t wait for when he comes over, it’ll be like Adrian’s food bag.”
In turn, Adrian isn’t looking forward to attempting the food shopping by himself, and he’s resigned himself to the fact the washing will stay in the laundry room, instead of being put away. “And, of course, I’ll miss hanging out and spending time together and her friendly banter!” he adds with a grin. “But we’re being optimistic at the moment. We don’t know what it’s going to be like, so we’re being positive.”
The shift means a total life change for Laura, who, thanks to starting her professional netball career when she was only 18, has never experienced living away from home – and she plans to make the most of it.
“I’m going flatting!” she exclaims gleefully. “It’ll be a whole different life, definitely. I’ll be living with another girl in the team, Steph [Wood], and I’ve said to her that we’ll be activities buddies. “I’m going to be making the most of it. I’ve already emailed her about anti-gravity yoga.” That’s a thing? “Oh, yeah, apparently!” she nods. “From the looks of the website, you do the yoga in the air on these ribbon things.
“There’s so much to do in Sydney. I joked with my coach that one of my goals during the season would be to go to every concert at Sydney Olympic Park – I’m not sure if he was too impressed with
that one!” Laura will also continue to complete her chartered accountant exams, with only one more module to go. Adrian has recently taken up mixed martial arts after years
of kick-boxing and says he can already hear the call of his motorbike and windsurfer.
“He’s the pro at making himself busy,” Laura says. “He’s probably stoked I’m going!” “Oh, I am not!” Adrian protests, laughing.
Although playing for an Australian franchise fulfils one of Laura’s dreams, she does admit it’s tough to leave her Kiwi roots. If it wasn’t for her move to the Auckland Mystics
in 2014, she believes she would have been a Magic “lifer”.
“This is definitely a journey I never expected I would make. It’s the best time to do it too –I don’t have any kids or anything like that and it’s the start of the four-year netball cycle. I’m nervous, though, definitely. I’m not expecting it to be smooth sailing straight away as the Australian style of play is so different and it’ll take a while to adapt. But it’s a challenge – I want to see how good I can get. So you’ve just got to pick it up and run with it. Run fast and don’t look back!”
However, Laura required special permission from Netball New Zealand to play for the Swifts and to continue to be a Silver Fern, as the current selection policy states that athletes must play for a New Zealand franchise to be eligible. “I think I took them by surprise,” Laura says thoughtfully. “But it was great that they were open to it and they understood why I wanted to do it. I think it’s great for the game.” Laura has taken time to get familiar with Sydney and says it already feels like a second home. “When I touched down here with the Ferns for World Champs, I text Adrian and said, ‘Yup, this feels good.’
We spent a few days here after the tournament too, just getting a good feel of the city. I had a couple of days with the girls in the Swifts, which was awesome. They’re all so lovely. Our first activity was bubble soccer – where you get into these giant plastic bubbles and try to bowl each other over – and the coach came up to me after and said, ‘Laura, I expected you to really get in there and be feisty!’ But I didn’t want to be a Harry Hard-out on the first day and be taking people out left right and centre. I want them to like me!”
Adrian has organised four 10-day blocks off work, so the pair can look forward to a few visits, and Laura has at least two games in New Zealand playing Kiwi teams – including a match against her old Mystics side in Auckland. “Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to come back home for a few days after that,” she says. “Knowing Adrian, the whole house will be different. Who knows what he would have
built and changed by then!
“And,” she says coyly, with a sideways glance at her husband, “Maybe that painting will be gone?”
