Looking around at the shattered faces in that room, Langman was struck with the sad realisation that for some of the team's long-serving stars that had been their last chance at a world title.
The veteran midcourter is determined she won't be departing Sydney with the same uncomfortable feeling at the pit of her stomach.
"That was really gut-wrenching for me, looking around and thinking that we hadn't done the job for some amazing netballers like Temepara George and Irene van Dyk and not being able to share a World Cup win with them. And I think there's a lot of girls in this group that have given so much time and energy to netball and the Silver Ferns. So it's time to get the job done," said Langman.
Langman, who has 119 tests to her name, can include herself in that group.
She is one of what was considered at the time a golden generation of netballers after leading the New Zealand under-21 side to a surprise victory at the 2005 World Youth Cup in Fort Lauderdale, about 40 km north of Miami.
That team also included the likes of Casey Kopua and Maria Tutaia who, along with Langman, made their senior international debuts later that same year, going on to form the three pillars in the Silver Ferns line-up over the past decade. Along the way many others from that 2005 side have joined them, with 10 of the 12-strong squad having played for the Ferns at some point in time.
Now, just five remain for this year's World Cup - Katrina Grant and Grace Rasmussen being the other two. For many of them, Sydney will be their last shot at winning a world title at senior level.
It is this realisation that has driven the Ferns to adopt the mantra "one shot" for this year's World Cup campaign.
"Obviously that certainty about being around for another four years isn't quite there like it was. I think too, we have been to a number now where it's time to draw a line in the sand and say 'this is it, no more learning - this time we will do the business'," said Langman.
Given the Ferns awful run of results against Australia over the past two seasons, there is not a lot of optimism from outside the camp about the team's chances in Sydney.
The feeling was much the same for the under-21 side heading into the World Youth Cup 10 years ago. But those that were there in Miami know from experience how far grit, determination, and yes, a dash of luck, can take a side in the unpredictable tournament environment.
The team had been, in Langman's words "whopped" by 20-plus goals in many of their outings against their Australian counterparts leading up to the tournament. The Australians were just too fit, too fast, and too slick for New Zealand. So far, so familiar?
About six months out from the tournament, after a particularly poor round of fitness testing, New Zealand coach Te Aroha Keenan sat the players down and told them she didn't want a bunch of "half game players". Keenan made it plain - if players didn't get their strength and conditioning up to scratch they could expect another 20-goal hiding to Australia at the World Youth Cup.
"I think for me that was a turning point to say 'right I need to be able to perform at high intensity for 60 minutes' and that's kind of shaped my philosophy towards my strength and conditioning from that point in time," said Langman.
But for all the work they had done in the lead-up to the tournament there was still a sense that it might not be enough. The way the draw was shaping up, the Kiwis would meet Australia in the semifinals - the team knew even if they played at their absolute best there was a strong chance they could still go home with bronze.
The team hit a further set-back when Kopua badly injured her ankle a day out from the start of the tournament and was forced to sit out the early rounds. Again, sound familiar?
"I jumped and landed on Maria's foot and ruptured all my ligaments, so my main memories from the tournament are being wheeled around in a wheelchair. I was resting all week with my ankle and then when the semifinal came around I got out of bed and played," Kopua said.
Even with the return of Kopua, the team were up against it in the semifinal with the Australian line-up including the likes of Julie Corletto, Kim Green and Susan Pratley - all of whom were budding stars in their domestic leagues back home.
You could say the New Zealand side have Miami's rainy season to thank for their win. A power cut at the stadium saw halftime extended from the usual five minutes, as it was in those days, to about 20, while officials worked to restore the lights. That gave the Kiwis a chance to regroup after a fast and ferocious start to the match.
"To be honest our fitness was still a little bit dubious, so I think the timeout was very valuable for us," laughed Langman.
"At that point we were still in touch with the Aussies, so we were pretty rapt with ourselves from memory, and we just had a surge and pipped them at the post at the end."
They didn't realise it at the time, but the one-goal scoreline was to be just a taste of what was to come over the rest of their careers when it came to transtasman finals.
"It was just like it always seems to be with New Zealand and Australia [finals] -- one team is in tears, and the other is absolutely ecstatic by what they've done," said Grant.
"That game all those years back just reiterates the fact that anyone can beat anyone on any given day given the right circumstances and frame of mind."
By Dana Johannsen of the New Zealand Herald
