By David Di Domma
Last night's loss for the Northern Mystics to the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic meant there was no fairytale ending for one of the country's most popular and talented players - Temepara George.
Competitive to the end, George never enjoyed defeat but last night’s match was especially significant.
“It hasn't sunk in yet - so disappointing, and that's overshadowing the other thing,” she says.
It was her last game in the trans-Tasman championship, ending an amazing sequence.
She has played every quarter of all 69 games the Mystics have played since 2008 - 279 consecutive quarters of netball.
“I'll miss the girls, just miss them heaps,” she says.
With her trademark smile never far away the 36-year-old mother-of-two played 89 tests for the Silver Ferns, only retiring from internationals after the heart-breaking silver at last year's world championships in Singapore. She had previously won a world championship in Jamaica in 2003.
And who could forget the finish that saw the Ferns win back-to-back Commonwealth Games golds at Melbourne and Delhi?
“She should be very proud of what she's done,” says former Silver Ferns coach Leigh Gibbs.
Gibbs first selected her in 1996, and has seen her develop into one of the greats.
“It's very difficult to rate people but she's right up with the best of them,” says Gibbs.
But George won't be lost to the game entirely with plans to branch out into television commentary and coaching.
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