Super Sunday set to show shift in powerbase
New Zealand netball’s new era of competition starts today with the first of the ANZ Premiership “Super Sunday” rounds.
The concept, among several new innovations in the league this year, will see all six teams descend on the same venue for a triple-header.
The opening round will be at Hamilton’s Claudelands Arena, home of New Zealand’s most successful franchise for the past decade, the Magic. But today’s games will likely demonstrate that New Zealand netball’s powerbase looks set to shift in the ANZ Championship.
2pm: Southern Steel v Northern Stars
The South Auckland-based Stars have a tough ask in their debut match. The early favourites the Southern Steel return with virtually an unchanged line-up to the one unbeaten in last year’s regular season of the transtasman league.
While the squad remains the same, they’ve acquired a few more Silver Ferns since last season, with Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson and Gina Crampton all making their international debuts last year.
It’s the Steel’s key strike-weapon, 1.98m Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, who is expected to pose the most problems this season.
Stars ace Kayla Cullen, who will return to the defensive circle this season, joked matching up on Fowler-Reid this weekend might make her rethink that move.
“I don’t think anyone yet has truly been able to shut her down. We just need to try and stop the ball further up court and limit the amount of ball she gets her hands on,” said Cullen.
Given much of the Stars’ experience rests in the defensive end, with Cullen teaming with former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin, their success today may hinge on their attack’s ability to match the efficiency and accuracy of the well-drilled Steel.
4pm: Waikato-BOP Magic v Mainland Tactix
The Magic were the most successful Kiwi team in the transtasman league, making the playoffs all nine seasons, and winning the title once. They may struggle to replicate that dominance in the ANZ Premiership.
With five of their 10-strong roster new to franchise level, the Magic have the arguably the competition’s most inexperienced line-up. They have some handy experience in the mix as well, with former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua making her comeback after taking last season off for the birth of her first child.
Kopua will team with Ferns newcomer Kelly Jury in the defensive end — a combination the national selectors will be watching closely.
The Magic also have a wellestablished midcourt combination in Grace Rasmussen and Sam Sinclair but the rest of the line-up face a steep learning curve.
The Waikato side will be looking to get some confidence out of today’s game against the Mainland Tactix — another side light on experience. Already lacking in star power, the Tactix cause won’t be helped by the absence of skipper Jess Moulds, who continues to make her way back from a serious knee injury suffered last year.
6pm: Northern Mystics v Central Pulse
The Mystics and Pulse enter the new era of Kiwi netball looking to shake the underachievers tag.
In the past few years of the transtasman league, both boasted strong line-ups but never delivered the consistent excellence required to be a force. The two teams have new coaches: Helene Wilson at the Mystics and Silver Ferns assistant Yvette McCausland-Durie at the Pulse. Both have looked to implement a new culture of hard work and accountability in their teams.
The Pulse looked the stronger of the two sides at the pre-season tournament in Otaki earlier this month, with their young, dynamic midcourt particularly impressive.
The Wellington-based side have also strengthened their shooting with the addition of Cathrine Tuivaiti, who will play a key leadership role. Today’s match-up against the Mystics — a team she spent the previous nine seasons with — will not be easy for Tuivaiti.
Mystics captain Maria Tutaia, Tuivaiti’s long-time shooting partner, joked her close friend “looked ugly in yellow”. Expect that sort of light-hearted banter before today’s match, but when the players are on court, both will be desperate to get their teams off to a strong start.