Are the Mystics and Tactix destined for another grand final?

Mystics shooter Grace Nweke stretches high over Tactix defender Jane Watson
Photo: Photosport

Analysis – The 2021 ANZ Premiership final pitted the team with the best attacking record against the team with the best defensive record, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if we see a repeat of that in 2023, writes Bridget Tunnicliffe.

It was the Mystics, the side with the best attacking record who prevailed in that grand final in Auckland, beating the Tactix by just two goals.

The Tactix were also runners up in 2020 when they lost to the Pulse in the final of the country’s premier domestic netball competition.

After finishing at the bottom of the ladder last year Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek went on an aggressive recruitment drive to build a team capable of winning a maiden title.

But the Mystics are also in a good position to recapture the title after their 2022 season unravelled when shooter Grace Nweke rolled her ankle.

With around a dozen Covid related postponements last year, the ANZ Premiership coaches will be looking forward to a more settled season.

The Omicron outbreak peaked in mid to late March and teams had to dig deep into their player pools to get through the season.

Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe casts her eye over the six teams.

Listen to former Silver Ferns’ coach Yvonne Willering and New Zealand Men’s coach Dion Te Whetu discuss the chances of all six teams.

Mystics

Grace Nweke and wing attack Elisapeta Toeava.
Photo: Photosport

In contrast to the Tactix, the Mystics have the most settled line up of all the teams with just two changes.

Carys Stythe, one of the most exciting young defenders in New Zealand netball, has been fully contracted after getting a lot of court time last year as a training partner.

Katie Te Ao has come in for Claire O’Brien in the midcourt.

With shooter Grace Nweke taking her game to new heights on the international stage and wing attack Elisapeta Toeava getting better with age, the Mystics will be potent on attack.

Filda Vui and Monica Falkner, who looked sharp at the pre-season tournament will provide good support to goal shooter Nweke.

The two goal attacks need to be prepared to go to the post to take some of the heat off Nweke and to avoid the Mystics attacking end becoming too predictable.

Last year the Mystics were sitting well clear of the pack at the top of the ANZ Premiership ladder before losing four straight games without their sharp shooter Nweke.

The Mystics have a strong defensive circle with Silver Ferns Phoenix Karaka and Sulu Fitzpatrick providing lots of experience.

Stars

Silver Ferns’ shooter Maia Wilson.
Photo: Photosport

Runners up last year and in 2019, the Stars have made three changes to their side.

The Stars defenders won a lot of ball last year with the South Auckland based side having the second best defensive record across the season.

But they’ve lost a lot of experience in that department, with Anna Harrison retiring and Kayla Johnson recently announced her pregnancy so Elle Temu will anchor the defensive end.

Defender Kelera Nawai-Caucau, who spent last year at the Tactix has been recruited and Lisa Putt has been elevated from a training partner in place of Johnson.

Despite making last year’s final, the Stars were the least accurate team in the league shooting at 80 percent.

They also hovered around the 80 percent mark in 2021 and it’s a bit of an achilles’ heel for the Kiri Wills’ coached side.

It will be crucial for the Stars that their captain and Silver Ferns’ shooter Maia Wilson can achieve high shooting percentages but she also needs support in that area by Jamie Hume and Amorangi Malesala.

The Stars’ shooters will be well fed by Silver Fern Gina Crampton and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan.

Magic

Magic shooters Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Bailey Mes.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

The Magic have had a lean few years, finishing wooden spooners in 2020 and 2021, and fifth last year.

Coach Mary-Jane Araroa will have Ameliaranne Ekenasio for full games from the get go this year, unlike last year when she was eased in while she was coming back from having her second child.

The Silver Ferns’ captain and former Ferns’ shooter Bailey Mes are an exciting pairing but it’s hard to know what Mes you’re going to get.

Mes is always agile and athletic around the court, but one week Mes can be shooting at 90 percent, and the next she’s shooting at 60 percent.

Plucky shooter Ivana Rowland earned a full contract having been called in last year as injury cover.

The departure of Magic stalwart and captain Sam Winders is a big loss for the Waikato-Bay of Plenty side after nine seasons.

Araroa was quick to pick up Charlotte Elley from the Tactix, who will be a useful addition to the Magic midcourt.

Defensively the Magic will be without Oceane Maihi this year, who’s recovering from an ACL injury.

Working out how Georgia Takarangi (née Tong) and Erena Mikaere can best compliment each other in the defensive end is another work on for the Magic.

Pulse

Pulse shooter Tiana Metuarau.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

There have been four changes to the defending champions’ 10-player roster and the most significant was the loss of goal shooter Aliyah Dunn after five seasons.

Dunn and Tiana Metuarau formed a very intuitive shooting partnership and the Pulse were the most accurate team in 2022 at 89 percent.

The Pulse recruited athletic Malawi international Joyce Mvula, who could form a very dynamic shooting partnership with Metuarau but will take time to get used to the New Zealand style.

Goal shooter Amelia Walmsley is likely to get more court time this year after a couple of cameos in her first ANZ Premiership season last year.

The Pulse had the best defensive record across the 2022 season – conceding just 48.8 goals per match and they will be up there again.

Silver Fern Kelly Jury was a standout in defence and formed a strong combination with two Test-cap Australian Diamond Kristiana Manu’a.

They’ve also added exciting young prospect Parris Mason to the defensive end, who looks ready to make her mark at this level after another NNL season under her belt.

Fa’amu Ioane is a great pick up for the Pulse in the wing defence position after losing Paris Lokotui to an ACL injury.

With Maddy Gordon likely to feature mostly in centre, and Whitney Souness at wing attack, there is plenty of speed in the midcourt.

Tactix

Jane Watson and Karin Burger will reunite in the Tactix defensive end.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The Tactix have made the most changes of all the sides with four new recruits plus the welcome return of former captain Jane Watson, who had a baby last year.

Shooter Ellie Bird was let go of after five seasons and the biggest coup for Delaney-Hoshek was signing former Pulse shooter Aliyah Dunn, who wanted a change after five seasons in Wellington.

Dunn and Silver Ferns’ shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit are the ultimate double threat in the shooting end.

Delaney-Hoshek also recruited England international Laura Malcolm to add some punch to the midcourt.

She let go of the loyal Charlotte Elley after seven seasons, while picking up young wing defence Greer Sinclair, who showed a lot of promise as a training partner with the Stars.

In 2021 Watson and fellow Silver Fern Karin Burger boasted the best defensive record in the competition and they will want to replicate that again this year.

Even when the Tactix got all the way to the final in 2021, you still got the feeling there was a missing piece to the puzzle for the Christchurch based side.

But when you look at the 10 play roster that Delaney-Hoshek has pulled together for 2023, it’s hard to find any weak spots.

Southern Steel

Key Steel player Georgia Heffernan.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport Ltd 2020

The Southern Steel suffered a massive blow in the pre-season when England international George Fisher went down with a season ending ACL injury.

Fisher has scored a lot of the Steels goals over the past two seasons and it means the southerners’ shooting end will be more of a moving circle this year.

Silver Ferns’ prospect Georgia Heffernan has shown she has a great temperament and is capable of carrying more of the shooting load.

Saviour Tui, who’s coming back from an injury will be ready around the third round.

The Steel recruited dynamic Eseta Autagavaia to replace Fisher and the 26-year-old was impressive at the pre-season tournament in Ōtaki.

After an incredible 11 straight seasons, they will be without midcourt stalwart Shannon Saunders, who recently gave birth to her first child.

But they’ve picked up midcourt titan Sam Winders, who seems to have slotted into the wing attack role seamlessly in the pre-season.

Silver Ferns midcourter Kate Heffernan will provide plenty of highlights with her reach and timing in the middle and newcomer Ivari Christie will add spark.

Kate Burley and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, who’s about to compete in her 18th year of elite netball, provide a strong line of defence.

Top three prediction

Grand final – Mystics v Tactix

With a fully fit Grace Nweke, the Mystics will be hard to stop on attack. The Tactix will have one of the best defensive lines in the competition yet again but the difference this year is they will have an attacking end to match.

Netball New Zealand has announced that this year’s grand final will be played at GLOBOX Arena, Hamilton on the 4th June so home town advantage might not be a factor in this year’s final.

Elimination final contenders – Pulse

You can’t under-estimate an Yvette McCausland-Durie coached side and the defending champions could go close again this year.

Expect them to have another big year defensively with the addition of Parris Mason to an already strong back line.