Are Steel the real deal? Fan-tastic return
Can Steel compete with the Mystics?
Buoyed by an epic extra-time comeback win over the Pulse on Monday, we’ll learn plenty about the Steel’s title credentials tomorrow.
If the Steel are serious about challenging for the premiership, they need to knock over the defending champion Mystics in Invercargill, or at least push them close.
The sides have met twice already this season with the Mystics comfortable victors in both games. They walloped the Steel by 20 goals in Invercargill in the first meeting, then won the second match 67-59 after leading by eight at halftime.
If the Steel are to upset the competition leaders, they’ll need to find a way to disrupt the supply of ball into goal shoot Grace Nweke, who torched them for 50 and 45 goals in their previous games. Crowd restrictions lifting under the orange setting is a huge bonus for the Steel at home.
Silver Fern boost for Pulse
Two-test Silver Fern midcourter Maddy Gordon is set to end her fourmonth injury hiatus, returning for the Pulse against the Magic in Rotorua on Monday.
Gordon’s last proper game was for the Ferns against Aotearoa Men in October, but has been on a restricted programme since December after damaging the surface of her kneecap.
She’s not expected to start the match and will be on a managed workload, but Gordon provides a welcome boost in the Pulse engine room, able to cover all three midcourt positions.
Tactix, Stars finally get back on court
No teams will be more desperate to take the court this round than the Tactix and Stars. The sides meet at Christchurch Arena and haven’t been spotted for a while.
The Tactix haven’t played since gaining their first win of the season against the Magic on March 28, not featuring over the last two rounds due to a Covid outbreak.
It’s been even longer for the Stars, who have only played two matches, and last took the court on March 27, losing 71-62 to the Steel. They’ve battled Covid issues of their own and had the Magic postpone a game against them last weekend.
Crowds return
The easing of indoor crowd restrictions under the orange setting is a huge boon for the ANZ Premiership. With the 200-person limit at games no longer a requirement, fans can flock back through the turnstiles.
‘‘It’s so significant,’’ Tactix general manager Haidee Stratford said this week.
Steel boss Lana Winders recently said full crowds were a necessity for financial sustainability.
If the 200-limit had dragged on or crowds not been possible, it would have been devastating for their bottom line. Netball fans should be fizzing to be back in stadiums again cheering on their sides.
Game of the round
The first two games between the Mystics and Steel haven’t been as competitive as many would have hoped. With a parochial home crowd behind them at Stadium Southland, the Steel should be a much tougher proposition.