Domestic netball’s showpiece raises pulse rates
With the start of the ANZ Premiership days away, there was plenty of excitement in the air at yesterday’s season launch in downtown Auckland.
But what was it specifically that had the gathered players energised about the campaign ahead?
Silver Ferns goal shoot Maia Wilson has been installed as the Northern Stars captain and for her, it was the options at coach Kiri Wills’ disposal.
‘‘We have a strong team of 10 or 12, including our training partners,’’ she said. ‘‘It gives us the option to be able to put anyone out there. We’ve got a good mix of experience and youth, and hopefully we can bring those youthful players through to play a good season, which will hopefully put them on the path to national honours.’’
For Southern Steel captain Shannon Saunders, it was her young team’s potential to grow over the course of the season.
‘‘We have such a good vibe off the court and we have so much fun, so I’mreally looking forward to seeing that translate onto the court,’’ she said.
For Mainland Tactix captain Janewatson it was the fact that her side has held on to six of the seven starters from last year’s grand final the court – where they’ve added as the title favourites; and with a Australia Diamonds veteran Caitlin new coach, Gail Parata, on board, Bassett – that excites her most. succeeding Yvette Mccausland
‘‘I think our attacking end will be Durie. exciting,’’ she said, ‘‘with the Claire Kersten led the Pulse at calmness that you might see, and the annual pre-season tournament ¯inothevarietyandthesmarts’’. taki two weeks ago, and said
Sulu Fitzpatrick will lead from the exciting thing for her about the the defensive end for the Northern team this season was the Mystics, who had their best ANZ opportunity they had been given to Premiership campaign yet in 2020, reset. when they finished third, and she’s ‘‘I think for a few years we’ve looking forward to seeing them had a really consistent team and play with flair in 2021 – but only each pre-season you’d come in and once they’ve earned the right to. you’d almost feel like you were
‘‘We have a lot of flair but the picking up where you left off. key for us this season is to balance ‘‘Things are a little bit different that with doing that hard grind first. this year, which kind of forces
‘‘We really want to earn that everyone to reset and go back a right to play with flair and do that few steps which I think puts hard work, whether it takes one everyone in a good position and quarter or if it takes four quarters.’’ just reminds you of a few things.’’
Then there are the two-time The Pulse begin their title defending champion Pulse, who defence at Fly Palmy Arena in will be searching for a three-peat Palmerston North on Sunday without long-standing captain against the Stars, while the Steel Katrina Rore, who is on maternity host the Tactix that evening at leave; without Burger, who has Stadium Southland in Invercargill, traded her yellow dress for a red with the Mystics and Magic and black one at the Tactix, a move meeting on Monday night at Trusts that has the Mainlanders looming Arena in Auckland. loss to the Central Pulse, replacing the lone departee, Temalisi Fakahokotau, with fellow Silver Fern Karin Burger.
Waikato-bay of Plenty Magic skipper Samwinders now has Fakahokotau shoring up her side’s defence, but it’s the other end of