ANZ Premiership

In a demanding 13-round, 47-game schedule, which included three tripleheader Super Sundays (Rounds 1, 6 and 11), the Northern Mystics, Northern Stars, Splice Construction Magic, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse, The Good Oil Tactix and Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel reinforced the growing status of New Zealand’s elite domestic league.

Featuring three times a week on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, there was a healthy serving of top-quality Netball on tap for everyone which resulted in growing numbers attending games while Sky Sport’s live broadcasts of all matches saw a spectacular rise in viewers.

Due to the Netball World Cup being staged in July, the ANZ Premiership had an earlier than usual start in 2019. In the short turnaround between seasons, the country’s top Netballers spent their summers preparing for the competition opener in late February.

With the influx of a high number of fresh-faced newcomers and injury setbacks for others, there was a new-look across many of the teams, which was highlighted in the first half of the season. Several of the teams took time to settle, the new combinations taking time to find their feet in a more competitive and compelling second half.

The season culminated in a two-game Finals Series, featuring the top three teams, the make-up of those three not producing the suspense of previous years but instead delivering an unexpected twist with the upset of the season in the Elimination Final.

After dominating through most of the round robin, Pulse claimed the minor premiership for the second successive year and with it, hosting rights for the Grand Final.

In securing third place at the end of the regular season, the Northern Stars posted the highest finish in their short three-year history. Their six wins during the season was also a club record after finishing fifth in 2017 and bottom of the table in 2018.

In contrast to the previous two years, which featured a number of close contests, the Pulse, Steel and Stars set the pace from the outset in 2019. The trio remained in the top three on the points table from Round 2 to seal their spots in the Finals Series.

As is their way, the Steel looked to have timed their run nicely, with an impressive finish to the regular season while winning the right to host the Elimination Final in Invercargill, and with it, the opportunity to contest a third straight Grand Final.

With just one win in their previous eight matches and the daunting prospect of taking on the Steel at their fortress home venue, where they had lost by 17 goals just seven days earlier, the Stars turned the form guide on its head.

Anchored by a stellar showing from shooter Maia Wilson, the Stars delivered with a gritty and purposeful outing, overcoming the odds to outshine their more fancied opponents 56-53. It also ended the two-time defending champions 16-game ANZ Premiership winning streak at ILT Stadium Southland.

After coming up emptyhanded in the previous two years, the Pulse made no mistake in a third successive Grand Final to clinch their first silverware in 11 years of trying in the semiprofessional era. Chased all the way by the plucky Stars, it was the home side who eventually prevailed in a fitting finale, closing out a hard-fought 52-48 win to end their season in perfect fashion. The Grand Final was also screened live on free-to-air television through Prime.

Having the best accuracy return in the competition, spearheaded by sharpshooter Aliyah Dunn, with a 92 percent success rate, coupled with the best defensive unit, the Pulse were the most consistent team of 2019. Time together and key performers across the court gave them the overall edge in a defining season.

The Grand Final brought the curtain down on two stellar careers with Stars stalwarts Temepara Bailey and Leana de Bruin heading into retirement after playing their last matches.

Having already left their mark at international level, Bailey and De Bruin proved age is no barrier as they helped mentor the next generation through this year’s ANZ Premiership with consistent and influential performances.

Wilson had a strong season with the Stars, putting up the most shots across all teams while their crop of rising young talent in Kate Burley, Holly Fowler and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan took another step forward under the guidance of Bailey and de Bruin.

Introducing a new-look shooting end, the Steel could not quite hit their dominant marks of previous years. The southerners were well-served in the midcourt through experienced campaigners Shannon Saunders and Gina Crampton while Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit was an influential figure at the defensive end.

The Steel’s hallmark of consistency deserted them at times this year, but the growth of young talent in the shape of Courtney Elliott, Abby Erwood, Kate Heffernan and Jennifer O’Connell left plenty of optimism

With a young attack line and a new-look shooting end, Magic had a challenging season with inconsistent performance.

However, the Waikato Bay of Plenty team had their moments, and the latter stages of the season saw the arrival of rising young shooter Kelsey McPhee. In her rookie season, McPhee became the preferred starter at goal shoot, showing an unflappable temperament and sure shooting and, with it, the prospect of an exciting future.

A one-club player throughout her career, legendary defender Casey Kopua played her last match for Magic in 2019 after calling time on an outstanding legacy. An inspirational figure, Kopua started with the Magic as a schoolgirl in 2003, only having time out for the birth of her first child and for injury during the next 17 years.

After losing influential defender Temalisi Fakahokotau before the season started and reliable midcourter Erikana Pedersen in Round 1, both to serious knee injuries, the Tactix were on the back foot from the outset.

Losing the two key players meant a readjustment for the Tactix, including adding permanent midcourt replacement Samon Nathan to the mix.

Young midcourters Charlotte Elley and Kimiora Poi were a consistently active presence for the Tactix while 1.96 metre shooter Ellie Bird showed her continued improvement with an impressive season, where she excelled with a 90 percent success rate under the hoop.

The Mystics certainly had their moments but took too long to find their feet while exploring a variety of combinations along the way.

However, in the process, they unearthed another exciting shooting prospect, when 17-year-old schoolgirl Grace Nweke was elevated from training partner to fully contracted play. The 1.93 metre shooter gave the Mystics much-needed impetus, quickly finding a ready ally in fellow rookie, midcourter Tayla Earle, who had an impressive first season. Despite missing four weeks with concussion, defender Phoenix Karaka had a standout season, relishing the captaincy duties with a return to top form.

1st: Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse 2nd: Northern Stars 3rd: Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel 4th: Splice Construction WBOP Magic 5th: The Good Oil Tactix 6th: Northern Mystics

COACH: Kiri Wills

ASSISTANT COACH: Temepara Bailey

MANAGER: Dee Leggat

COACH: Helene Wilson

ASSISTANT COACHES: Linda Vagana and Sonya Hardcastle

MANAGER: Meghan Robinson

COACH: Amigene Metcalfe

ASSISTANT COACHES: Mary-Jane Araroa

MANAGER: Mandy Souchon PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Temepara Bailey 23/10/75 169cm C, WA Kate Burley 23/04/97 181cm GK,GD Kayla Cullen 13/02/92 183cm C, WD,GD Leana de Bruin (c) 07/09/77 190cm GK,GD Holly Fowler 18/07/97 181cm C,WD,GD Ellen Halpenny 25/07/90 185cm GS,GA Charlee Hodges 17/09/97 179cm GA,GS Storm Purvis 20/04/93 186cm GK,GD Mila Reuelu-Buchanan 05/11/98 172cm C,WA Maia Wilson 21/09/97 189cm GS

PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Bailey Mes 15/04/89 187cm GS, GA, WA Michaela Sokolich-Beatson 02/10/96 184cm GD, WD Elisapeta Toeava 10/03/94 169cm WA, C Jamie Hume 22/03/96 183cm GA, GS, WA Phoenix Karaka (c) 06/11/93 186cm GD, GK Grace Kukutai 10/01/97 177cm C, WD, WA Emma Iversen 21/02/89 171cm C, WA, GA Tayla Earle 23/04/00 174cm C, WD, WA, GD Erena Mikaere 09/07/88 193cm GK, GD, WD Kristina Brice 09/07/94 196cm GS

PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Ariana Cable-Dixon 05/09/93 169cm C, WA Monica Falkner 08/04/96 181cm GA, GS Sydney Fraser 30/09/98 175cm WA, C, GA Kelly Jury 22/10/96 192cm GK, GD Casey Kopua (c) 19/06/85 188cm GD, GK Abigail Latu-Meafau 05/07/97 181cm GA, GS Lisa Mather 04/07/99 170cm WD, C, WA Kelsey McPhee 16/09/97 187cm GS, GA Jenna O’Sullivan 13/12/92 183cm GD, GK Samantha Sinclair 05/06/95 171cm C, WD

PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Kate Beveridge 25/07/85 193cm GS, GA Ellie Bird 22/03/93 196cm GS, GA Charlotte Elley 24/06/96 174cm WD, C Temalisi Fakahokotau 09/09/94 182cm GK, GD Brooke Leaver 17/12/93 183cm GS, GA, WA Kate Lloyd 10/06/97 190cm GK, GD, WD Lily Marshall 21/07/98 180cm GD, WD Kimiora Poi 01/11/97 168cm C, WA Erikana Pedersen 28/07/94 173cm C, WA Jane Watson (c) 07/03/90 181cm GK, GD, WD COACH: Marianne Delaney-Hoshek

ASSISTANT COACH: Julie Seymour

MANAGER: Leanne Harris

PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Karin Burger 12/04/93 184cm WD, GD Aliyah Dunn 19/10/99 190cm GS, GA Ameliaranne Ekenasio 11/01/91 186cm GA, GS Sulu Fitzpatrick 20/08/92 187cm GK, GD Maddy Gordon 16/01/00 174cm C, WA, WD Claire Kersten 09/07/89 175cm C, WD Tiana Metuarau 15/01/01 183cm GA, GS Katrina Rore (c) 06/05/87 186cm GD, GK, WD Whitney Souness 12/10/95 174cm WA, C Elle Temu 03/08/99 188cm GK, GD

PLAYER DOB HEIGHT POSITIONS Gina Crampton (c) 07/12/91 174cm WA, C Courtney Elliott 25/09/98 180cm GK, WD, GD Abby Erwood 18/04/97 181cm GD, GK Kate Heffernan 07/10/99 181cm C, WD, WA Kendall McMinn 15/04/92 175cm GD, WD, C Jennifer O’Connell 16/06/97 193cm GS, GA Lenize Potgieter 12/05/94 188cm GS, GA Shannon Saunders 12/10/90 178cm C, WA Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (c) 03/04/89 184cm GD, GK Te Paea Selby-Rickit 14/01/92 188cm GS, GA COACH: Yvette McCausland-Durie

ASSISTANT COACH: Sandra Edge

MANAGER: Jo Holmes

COACH: Reinga Bloxham

ASSISTANT COACH: Lauren Piebenga

MANAGER: Dayna Kaio