Langman leads Magic

Silver Ferns centre Laura Langman has been named to captain the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic for the ANZ Championship this season.

First selected for the Magic as a schoolgirl in 2003, Langman has been a feature of the side ever since.

She headed an impressive field of claimants which included the Silver Ferns captain Casey Williams, Irene van Dyk, Jodi Brown, Australian Peta Scholz and Samoan captain Frances Solia.

Coach Noeline Taurua said the time was right for Langman.

"Taking over the captaincy role is the last piece in the jigsaw puzzle to making Laura an outstanding player," she said.

"She has the skill and the athletic factor, and the captaincy will add the finishing touches to making her the complete player."

With 52 caps packed into her 23 years, Langman was surprised by her appointment.

"It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to stepping up into that role, but I also know that we are very fortunate to have a team full of leaders," she said.

"We're all pretty much leaders in our own right and do our own jobs accordingly, so pretty much I've just go to do the toss at the start of the game and get my times right for the warm-up and I'm pretty much down."

Motivating the side was unlikely to be an issue because the side was such an experienced one, she said, adding that she hoped to be the glue to hold the side together.

The Magic open their 2010 campaign when playing the defending champion, the Vixens in Melbourne on Monday.