'A sad day for netball': Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman pays tribute to retiring Maria Folau

Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman understands why Maria Folau has quietly slipped away from netball after 14 years at the top.

On Tuesday, Folau retired with little fanfare, after a decorated international career that included two Commonwealth Games gold medals and a world title.

Langman says Folau's a very humble person and doesn't like making a fuss, despite playing 150 tests for the Ferns.

"As much as we would like to give her the biggest party New Zealand's ever know, she would like to go out the side door," Langman told Newshub. 

"I just hope she knows how grateful we are to have had her for so long in the Ferns. I think it was probably a sad day for netball."

The 33-year-old will remember her teammate as one of the most clutch performers in the sport's history.

"She is a big-game player and I think she's one of the smoothest goal attacks to have ever graced the court.

"I'll always remember those shots from the edge of the circle under immense pressure. It never even fazed her - if anything, that's her zone.

"She's done a phenomenal amount in terms of raising the bar of the pedigree of shooters in New Zealand."

While Langman says Folau was "one of a kind", she acknowledged the work she'd done to ensure the next generation of Kiwi goal attacks were ready to step up.

"I do believe she's one of a kind, but what's so great is what she's given back to young shooters in New Zealand - for them to be able to develop their game, based on what she could do."