Maria Folau

New Zealand's second most-capped netballer ever, whose long-range shooting helped the Silver Ferns win their long-awaited first World Cup title in 2019.

Solonaima Maria Folau (née Tuta'ia) was born on 18 February 1987 in Tokoroa, the daughter of Samoan immigrants. She made the winning 2005 New Zealand under-21 World Youth Cup squad alongside future Silver Ferns greats Casey Kopua and Laura Langman, and debuted for the senior side that same year on tour in Jamaica. Folau became a Silver Ferns regular by the end of 2006 and went on to earn 150 Test caps across 14 years, becoming just the second-most capped player in New Zealand netball history behind Laura Langman and the fourth Silver Fern to reach 100 caps, at the 2015 World Cup in Sydney. She won Commonwealth Games gold in 2006 and 2010 — calmly sinking the winning goal in sudden-death extra time in Delhi — silver in 2014 and bronze in 2018, and played four World Cups, finally winning gold in 2019 when New Zealand beat Australia in Liverpool for their first world title since 2003. Domestically, Folau played for Auckland Diamonds, partnered Irene van Dyk in the shooting circle at Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, then spent nine years at Northern Mystics before a final season with Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2019, where she was the club's leading goalscorer and best-and-fairest winner. She retired in December 2019, married to Tongan Australian rugby player Israel Folau, and settled in Australia before the couple later relocated to Japan.

Graceful, long-range shooter with an uncanny ability to convert from any point in the circle, backed by a strong all-round attacking and defensive game

Regarded as one of New Zealand's most naturally gifted shooters, renowned for landing goals from any point in the circle without a furrowed brow

• Netball World Cup Gold 2019
• Commonwealth Games Gold 2006, 2010
• New Zealand's 2nd most-capped netballer (150 caps)
• 4th Silver Fern to reach 100 Test caps