Mixed reviews for NZ netball league
Blowout scorelines, patchy crowds and inconsistent performances are key criticisms of the new national netball premiership. The round stage of Netball New Zealand’s inaugural competition is in the books with just tomorrow’s elimination final and Wednesday’s grand final in Invercargill remaining.
While there were always going to be teething problems in year one following the demise of the former trans-Tasman league, the consensus is the ANZ Premiership has been solid, but lacked wow factor.
A chief concern has been the lop-sided margins in many matches with 27 of the 45 round games decided by 10 goals or more.
The Southern Steel have been in a class of their own, going unbeaten in 15 round games and winning most of their matches comfortably.
At the other end of the table, the Mainland Tactix, barring a late season revival, again battled. New South Auckland entity, the Northern Stars, were a disappointment in their first year, leaving the Central Pulse, Northern Mystics and Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic to duel it out for the other two finals spots.
‘‘People love thrilling, close matches,’’ former Silver Ferns captain Belinda Colling said.
‘‘That’s what draws people into games. A more even competition would have been more attractive, but it’s a difficult one to manage isn’t it.’’
A glaring worry for Colling has been a lack of ‘‘competitive drive’’ from one game to the next from many players.
Outside a few reliable standouts, Colling said some were guilty of drifting in and out of matches and failing to back up a strong performance in their next outing.
‘‘I think players don’t demonstrate at times the desire to win. You can pick players, who epitomise it week in and week out.
‘‘I struggle to see that outside a handful of players in the competition, the real competitive drive, which doesn’t accept mediocrity and really pushes to have high standards all the time.’’
Crowd numbers have fluctuated around the country.
The Steel and Pulse have been well supported, while the Tactix’s loyal supporters have remained faithful in Christchurch, despite poor results.
Empty seats at games have been a common sight in the upper North Island with the Mystics and Magic not pulling in the crowds they would have liked.
‘‘Certainly, crowd numbers have gone down,’’ former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering said.
‘‘The No 1 team has been predictable probably right from the start, to be fair. As it’s turned out, there’s teams, who still have six or seven losses are still fighting out for that third position right until the last game.’’
While larger crowds would have been a bonus, television viewership has increased. Sky TV spokesperson Kirsty Way said last month the average cumulative audience was up 30 per cent compared to the final season of the transTasman league.
Australia’s new Super Netball competition, which has unlimited imports, has attracted the bulk of the leading overseas talent.
Steel’s Jamaican shooting supremo Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Magic’s South Games: 45 Games decided by 10+ goals: 27 Games decided by five or less goals: 13 African shooter Lenize Potgieter have both been valuable performers, while Pulse English midcourter Sara Bayman has proved dependable.
The remainder have fallen flat with the English Corbin sisters, Kadeen (Tactix) and Sasha (Mystics) and the Stars’ Fijian shooter Afa Rusivakula being no better than young New Zealand talent.
Their lack of court-time has had a silver lining with promising Kiwi players overtaking them and gaining major minutes in their positions.
Former Mystics coach Debbie Fuller, who is Magic’s performance manager, said Australia’s unlimited import rule was detrimental to their game.
The champion Sunshine Coast Lightning had two import defenders in Saturday’s final and Kiwi great Laura Langman in the midcourt, blocking the pathway of young Australians.
‘‘[Silver Ferns’ coach] Janine Southby has probably got more talent to pick from than [Australian coach] Lisa Alexander because of the open import rule over there,’’ Fuller said.
‘‘I think that’s great foresight [from Netball New Zealand].’’
The novel ‘Super Sunday’ concept, which sees all six teams playing at the same venue three times a season, didn’t catch on, Colling said.
Playing games in back to back days was also brought in to give players a taste of what it’s like at Commonwealth Games and World Cup tournaments, but Colling wasn’t a fan.
‘‘If you’re thinking about this as your elite competition and where you want the best netball when you’re getting teams to play back to back like that, I don’t know [if it works].’’
The biggest success of the national premiership had been the ease with which several young players have stepped up in the elite ranks.
Not much was known about Tiana Metuarau, Ariana Cable-Dixon, Whitney Souness, Monica Falkner, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson or Ellie Bird this time last year, but they’ve all impressed throughout the season.
‘‘For the first time in a while we’ve seen a whole lot of these youngsters putting their hand up and for me that’s quite exciting and a really great thing to see,’’ Colling said.
Willering believed not playing Australian opposition regularly anymore will only add intrigue when the Silver Ferns face the Diamonds later this year.
‘‘Test matches now between New Zealand and Australia, I think they’re really going to draw the crowds in. I think you’ll find we’ll still be very competitive. It’s still about those top 12 players.’’
When the trans-Tasman competition split after nine years, much was made of New Zealand netballers being able to regain their own style again.
Even national coach Southby argued the quintessential Kiwi style of play; dominant space marking on defence, bringing the ball quickly through court and playing with flair and finesse, had become diluted in the former ANZ Championship.
Willering didn’t think a unique New Zealand brand of netball had magically returned, but said there was certainly less physicality than the old competition.
The measuring stick for Netball New Zealand’s new league will ultimately be at next April’s Commonwealth Games and the 2019 World Cup.
If the Silver Ferns get thumped by Australia in gold medal matches or don’t even get that far, the blowtorch will inevitably go on the domestic league and whether it’s delivering.
‘‘Players may think they’re playing well now,’’ Willering said.
‘‘But sometimes it’s not against the best quality teams. Players, at the moment, have to keep that in perspective. The proof will be when we take the court [against Australia].’’