The Aussie, the youngsters, the likely winner and other burning questions

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

Southern Steel to the other and the Northern Stars means the incumbent Silver Ferns wing attack and goal shoot (Maia Wilson) are playing on the same team (with Ferns squad member Falkner in between them at goal attack for good measure) and they will help each other flourish.

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.