Talking Tactix and other title contenders
The fifth edition of the ANZ Premiership starts tomorrow with the battle for the topthree finals spots set to be fiercely contested. Brendon Egan assesses the teams.
NORTHERN MYSTICS
Coach: Helene Wilson
Squad:
Shooters: Grace Nweke, Bailey Mes, Saviour Tui, Filda Vui
Midcourt: Peta Toeava, Tayla Earle, Fa’amu Ioane
Defenders: Kate Burley, Sulu Fitzpatrick, Ama Agbeze (ENG)
In: Burley (Stars) Ioane (Stars) Vui (wider training squad), Agbeze
Out: Courtney Elliott, Dani Gray, Emma Iversen, Phoenix Karaka (new mother), Michael Sokolich-Beatson (ruptured Achilles)
Verdict: The Mystics were a mixed bag in 2020, playing some outstanding netball at times, but also letting themselves down with some sloppy performances.
The return of
Silver Ferns veteran Bailey
Mes, who missed the 2020 season with a patella cartilage injury, is a major boost in their shooting end. Mes will ease the shooting pressure on teen sensation Grace Nweke. If the Mystics are to qualify for the top three finals they will need to overcome the absence of Silver Ferns defenders Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (ruptured Achilles) and Phoenix Karaka (new mother), which weakens them at the back end of the court.
TAB title odds: $10
NORTHERN STARS
Coach: Kiri Wills
Squad:
Shooters: Maia Wilson, Monica Falkner, Jamie Hume, Amorangi Malesala
Midcourt: Gina Crampton, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Lisa Mather
Defenders: Anna Harrison, Elle Temu, Oceane Maihi
In: Falkner (Magic), Malesala, Crampton (Steel), Temu (Pulse), Harrison, Maihi (wider training squad)
Out: Burley (Mystics), Ioane (Mystics), Grace Kara (Magic), Storm Purvis (retired), Daystar Swift, Vika Koloto
Verdict: The Stars were aggressive in recruitment after finishing fourth last season and bolstered their squad with some impressive signings. Silver Ferns wing attack Gina Crampton was a fine addition joining from the Steel, where she had played her entire career. Fellow Fern and new Stars skipper Maia Wilson should team up nicely with national team-mate Monica Falkner in the shooting end, who moves from the Magic. Defensively, it is a changing of the guard with Elle Temu and Oceane Maihi getting their chance to shine and former Fern Anna Harrison, who turned 38 on Thursday, stepping out of retirement. The Stars have the squad to feature come finals time.
TAB title odds: $4.50
WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC
Coach: Amigene Metcalfe
Squad:
Shooters: Caitlin Bassett (AUS), Khiarna Williams, Chiara Semple
Midcourt: Grace Kara, Sam Winders, Tori Kolose, Georgia Edgecombe
Defenders: Erena Mikaere, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Georgia Tong
In: Bassett (Australia), Kara (Stars), Edgecombe, Fakahokotau (Tactix), Kolose, Semple
Out: Ariana Cable-Dixon (new mother), Holly Fowler (ACL injury), Abigail Latu-Meafou, Kelsey McPhee, Jenna O’Sullivan, Whitney Souness (Pulse)
Verdict: The Magic had a miserable 2020, finishing rock bottom, but should be big improvers. They struck gold landing experienced Australian goal shoot Caitlin Bassett, who was effectively forced out of Super Netball due to the controversial two point ‘super shot’ rule which limited her effectiveness and court-time with the Giants.
Snapping up defender Temalisi Fakahokotau and veteran wing attack Grace Kara were other shrewd signings. With so many fresh faces it
Stuff netball writers Brendon Egan and Andrew Voerman tackle some of the hot topics ahead of the 2021 competition.
1. Much has been made of Caitlin Bassett’s move to New Zealand. What are you expecting from the Australian shooting veteran?
Brendon Egan: The 32-year-old might not be the dominant force she was several years ago, but Bassett, pictured, should still rack up the goals and be a handful for rival defences. She’ll relish playing under proper netball rules and will be excited to play 60 minutes each game as she looks to regain top form. Bassett needs a memorable campaign to show new Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich she belongs in the
Diamonds’ 2022 Commonwealth Games squad.
Andrew Voerman: Plenty. She may have spent most of the recent Constellation Cup series on the bench, but she gives the Magic a standout shooter, something they’ve lacked since South African Lenize Potgieter left after the 2018 season.
2. Which Silver Ferns national squad member should be under the most scrutiny to perform this season?
BE: Kelly Jury. The absence of Katrina Rore (pregnancy) and Karin Burger (now at the Tactix), means there are question marks about the Pulse defensive end. Jury must deliver the best netball of her career if the Pulse are to be effective defensively and generate regular turnover ball. Being sent home from the Ferns’ training camp in January after not meeting conditioning standards should only create more fire in the belly for Jury.
AV: Te Paea Selby-Rickit was a member of the World Cup-winning squad in 2019, but was hampered by injury towards the end of last year. If the Tactix are to realise their potential, she will need to have a strong season alongside Ellie Bird in the shooting circle. Selby-Rickit will miss tomorrow’s opener against the Steel with an ankle injury.
3. Which young player are you most excited to watch this season and why?
BE: It’s easy to forget Mystics’ teen shooting sensation Grace Nweke is just 19. Nweke, pictured, has grown up before our very eyes after being elevated from a training partner to fulltime member of the Mystics in 2019. This is just her second full season and her potential remains untapped. Conditioning remains a key work-on for Nweke, who has to continue to put in the toil behind the scenes.
AV: Kimiora Poi was a central figure as the Silver Ferns won the Constellation Cup off Australia for the first time since 2012 and is now set to run things for the Tactix as they begin a season with greater expectations placed on them than ever before.
4. Outside Bassett, which player on a new team should have the biggest impact?
BE: Karin Burger. Burger joins the Tactix from the champion Pulse and she and Silver Ferns star Jane Watson should form a lethal defensive circle. With Burger at goal defence and Watson back at goal keep, the Tactix should pick up a stack of defensive ball once their partnership grows.
AV: Gina Crampton’s move from one end of the country and the
5. Who makes the grand final, who wins it, and why?
BE: It feels like the stars are aligning for the one-time laughing stock of New Zealand sport, the Tactix. They have nine of their 10 players back from last year’s squad, which lost to the Pulse in the grand final. Adding Burger was an excellent off-season acquisition. The Tactix overcome the Stars in the decider.
AV: The Tactix and the Pulse will meet in a rematch of the 2020 decider and the Tactix will win after staying slightly ahead of what looks to be a very competitive pack throughout the season thanks to their superior continuity.
ANZ Premiership round one:
■ Tomorrow 4.15pm: Pulse v Stars at Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North
■ Tomorrow 6.15pm: Steel v Tactix at Stadium Southland, Invercargill
■ Monday 7.15pm: Mystics v Magic at Trusts Arena, Auckland