Tactix better for the pain of 2020
The Mainland Tactix were overawed by the occasion in last year’s ANZ Premiership grand final and won’t let it happen again.
For the second straight season, the Tactix will feature in domestic netball’s title game when they face the Mystics at Auckland’s Spark Arena tomorrow.
Playing in their first grand final against the Pulse last year, the Tactix were well below their best and started poorly.
There were obvious nerves and it wasn’t until the second half when they settled into their rhythm, but found themselves chasing the game, down by 10 goals at halftime.
With Temalisi Fakahokotau the only member of last year’s grand final side not returning, the Tactix had a greater appreciation what they could expect.
The intensity and pressure would only ramp up and Tactix captain Jane Watson believed the pain of last year’s grand final loss had been a strong learning experience.
Whatever happens, a first-time champion will be crowned with the Mystics never having captured the ANZ Premiership title or played in the decider of the all-New Zealand competition.
With New Zealand at alert level 2 last August, the Pulse and Tactix played in front of a restricted crowd of just 160 fans in Invercargill. More than 5000 are expected at Spark Arena with the vast majority Mystics supporters.
The Tactix had spoken this week about embracing grand final netball and making the most of it, because they did not roll around often. Some elite netballers went their entire career without playing in one.
‘‘We definitely have [mentioned last year]. We’ve addressed a few things and hopefully our preparation going into this game, well we know it’s going to be a lot better. We are a little more experienced with it now. Hopefully that will help us going forward,’’ Watson said.
‘‘There wasn’t quite the feeling we’d had all year [in that grand final]. I think the last few games we’ve had this year they’ve actually been like a final for us. I think we’ll be more prepared and ready to start strong and actually put out a good performance that feels natural to us.’’
Qualifying for back-to-back grand finals is a world away from Silver Ferns’ standout Watson’s early days with the Tactix.
She won just five games over three seasons with the team between 2012-14 in the former transTasman league, regularly copping lopsided drubbings.
In a bizarre decision, the Tactix failed to retain Watson and she shifted to the Steel in 2015, thriving in three seasons with the southerners. The outstanding defender was a member of the Steel’s title-winning side in the inaugural ANZ Premiership season in 2017.
In a signing coup for the Tactix, Watson rejoined the red-and-blacks in 2018 and has been a pivotal figure in their turnaround, helping drive the standards and inspiring them to victories with her brilliant play.
‘‘It has been a massive shift. I think that’s really cool and it’s a credit to everyone who has been part of that, even back then and whoever is still there now.
‘‘I’m just really proud of the girls. I know we’ve worked really hard and we deserve this spot, I truly believe that.
‘‘I definitely wanted to see a change in the mindset, the performance culture around the Tactix. I think that has been a positive shift, through a lot of work from a lot of people.’’
A chartered flight of Tactix fans will travel to Auckland to support the side and Watson said they were blown away by the support they received. Even in their dark days in the trans-Tasman league, the Tactix attracted pleasing crowds to their home games and they stuck with the team.
A first Tactix title would be a reward for them and everyone who follow the team throughout the Mainland zone, which stretches from Waimate to NelsonMarlborough and the West Coast.
‘‘It would honestly mean the world. There’s more than just [us], there’s our fans, there’s a community, there’s our whole region and the people who have actually put in time behind us – our sponsors, just everybody really. There’s too many to name, to be honest.
‘‘Just being able to make them proud and play for more than just us, for everybody.’’
The Mystics and Tactix have served up some classics this season with the first two games decided by a single goal and each team earning a win. In the final round, the Mystics prevailed 63-59 in Christchurch to gain some pre-grand final confidence and take the round series 2-1.
If the Tactix are to win, they will need to limit the supply of ball from Mystics’ wing attack and key feeder Peta Toeava into prolific goal scorer Grace Nweke.
Nweke’s positional battle with Watson and fellow Silver Fern Karin Burger would be critical in determining the outcome of the final.
‘‘There’s no doubt they definitely score fast. So I think that’s about our full team effort on defence putting pressure right throughout, but also knowing when we have the ball we are in control.’’
‘‘We’ve addressed a few things and hopefully our preparation going into this game, well we know it’s going to be a lot better.’’
Jane Watson
Tactix captain