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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Game shooting in ‘right direction'
Southern Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn (left) puts up her shot as Central Pulse defender Parris Mason, Steel shooter Georgia Heffernan and Pulse defender Kelly Jackson watch on under the hoop in Invercargill. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie believes things are heading in the right direction for the sport. She confirmed last week the ANZ Premiership, facing an uncertain future due to a new broadcast deal, would return next year with all six teams involved and was likely to be played during the same time frame as this season. The 2025 season has hit the ground running and Wyllie said broadcast ratings were up 40% and the community game was "thriving". "What we're seeing is Kiwis are loving it," Wyllie told the Otago Daily Times. "It's all pointing in the right direction for netball." The ANZ Premiership has been slashed from three rounds to two this season — which means teams get only 10 games before the playoffs — and there have been innovations including the two-point shot, timeouts and a coaches box. Wyllie said there had been some "heart-stopping moments" through the opening games, and while she conceded two rounds did not make a long season, she was pleased all teams hit the court strongly. Like many traditional netballers, Wyllie admitted she had reservations about introducing the two-point shot, but felt it had its place. "It's going down well. The players are enjoying it," she said. "Sometimes you could have been a minute to go, three goals down and thought the game was done — that is no longer the case. "I think those kind of things have been really interesting talking points and great to be able to see it come to life as we envisaged it when we were planning." The tactical nature of timeouts, and when coaches used their coaches box to deliver messages during the game, intrigued her the most. "What I've loved is the strategic nature of what I'm hearing from the coaches box, when they're using their timeouts and when they're talking with their players. "We've got three new coaches in the mix this year and it's brought a really different dynamic. "I'm really impressed with how they're all being quite strategic. "I think that for me as a netty is really exciting." Aside from their blip against the Central Pulse at the weekend, the Southern Steel have been tracking well this season. They recorded a massive win over the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic and were pipped by one point against the defending champions, the Northern Mystics. Even Wyllie thought the Steel had secured a win over the Mystics — "I was screaming at the TV that there was time" — but she was proud to see how they were bouncing back after a tough couple of years. "I think it's amazing resilience and to see a team that have had a tough few years, injury plagues, with a fresh new coach in there, they've been formidable." The ANZ Premiership reaches the halfway point this weekend. The Mainland Tactix hold top spot with three wins and one loss. The Pulse and the Mystics, who are awaiting results on Australian Diamond Donnell Wallam's wrist injury, round out the top three. The Steel sit fourth with one win and three losses, followed by the Magic — who picked up their first win on Monday — and the Northern Stars. In round five, the Steel are home to the Tactix, the Pulse meet the Mystics and in a repeat of this week's game, the Stars play the Magic.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Steel need ‘good look at ourselves'
The Central Pulse bounced back from last week's loss to beat the Northern Stars 69-45 at Pulman Arena, in Auckland, on Saturday to open the third round of the ANZ Premiership.
Otago Daily Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Pulse come back
The Central Pulse bounced back from last week's loss to beat the Northern Stars 69-45 at Pulman Arena, in Auckland, on Saturday to open the third round of the ANZ Premiership. In Hamilton, Tactix held on for a pulsating 48-44 win over a gallant Magic last night. The Tactix, at the top of the ladder, led by one point at the start of the final quarter. The Southern Steel face the Northern Mystics in Dunedin tonight. — APL
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Savai'inaea thrilled to be part of Tifa Moana win
Steel wing defence Renee Savai'inaea is back for her fifth year in the blue and pink. PHOTO: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY Playing for her people has always been close to Renee Savai'inaea's heart. They are always in her thoughts when she takes to the court, but they had a special meaning in her latest netball journey earlier this year. In January, Savai'inaea was shoulder-tapped by former Central Pulse defender Kristiana Manu'a asking her if she was interested in representing Samoa. Savai'inaea, who is in her fifth season with the Southern Steel, snapped up the opportunity immediately and never took it for granted. "It had always been something I'd wanted to do for my grandparents and my Dad's side," Savai'inaea said. "It was definitely very important to me and I feel like I dedicated my performances to them when I was playing for Samoa. "It touched home to be able to play for Samoa." Samoa were standouts at the Pac-Aus Netball Series, which included Scotland, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Black Swans, an Australian indigenous team. Tifa Moana — as the Samoan team is known — beat Scotland 54-52 in the extra-time final to go through the tournament unbeaten. "I loved it," Savai'inaea said. "I definitely enjoyed being part of that series. "Even just playing in Australia and having that international experience of playing teams that would've been at the World Cup a couple of years before that, so it was quite cool." They were ranked 18th in the world heading into the tournament, but the victory, plus beating higher ranked teams in Scotland (10) and Tonga (eight), elevated Samoa to 14th. Renee Savai'inaea in action for Samoa during their PacAus series in Australia earlier this year. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Pulling on the blue dress in the future was something Savai'inaea was keen to explore and felt they had a great team building, packed with youth and experience. That experience came from captain Manu'a — who is now back home playing for the Sunshine Coast Lightning — and Eseta Autagavaia, who was a replacement for the Steel in 2022. "I absolutely loved playing with [Manu'a]. "She's also someone who's been around for a while and has so much knowledge to give. "Eseta, it was like a reunion because she'd been down at the Steel before." But for now, Savai'inaea's immediate focus is on the Steel. The Steel dropped their opening game 57-50 to the Mainland Tactix last week, but the vibes remained high among the squad. "I feel like we have a lot of options that we can play out on court and I feel like the first game ... we were in it and then just kind of dropped off in that last quarter. "We said we just have a few little things that we need to tweak this week going into the next game." The wing defence gets the chance to learn from one of the franchise's best in her position with Wendy Frew taking over as head coach this season. It was a change Savai'inaea — who was named Steel player of the year last year — has embraced with both hands to soak up her coaches' expertise. "She's just a ball of knowledge," Savai'inaea said. "She's brought so many different things and looks to training. "Her and La [assistant Liana Leota] together are just really challenging us to think for ourselves when we're out on the court and I feel like it's been very beneficial for everyone in the team." The Steel head to Hamilton to face the Magic on Monday, who will be deflated from their 57-44 loss to the Central Pulse last week. Much of the pre-game talk had the Magic tipped to be the ones to watch this year and they will be keen to bounce back, led by captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Savai'inaea said the Steel were focused on nailing their own structures and throwing their all at the Magic. "We just talked about in the previous game we kind of half committed to things," Savai'inaea said. "We just wanted to fully commit to our structures and believe in them that they can help us win the game." Defender Khanye'-Lii Munro-Nonoa has joined as an interim replacement player for co-captain Kate Heffernan, who is sidelined after hyperextending her knee. Munro-Nonoa, who is part of the New Zealand under-21 squad, can cover goal defence, wing defence and centre and played for the Northern Stars last year. ANZ Premiership Hamilton, Monday 7.30pm Southern Steel: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Summer Temu, Serina Daunakamakama, Kimiora Poi, Renee Savai'inaea, Carys Stythe, Abby Lawson, Khanye'-Lii Munro-Nonoa. Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic: Saviour Tui, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Kate Taylor, Claire O'Brien, Ali Wilshier, Reeghan de Bono, Georgie Edgecombe, Georgia Tong, Oceane Maihi, Erena Mikaere.
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
ANZ first round had a bit of everything
Did the opening round of the ANZ Premiership live up to the hype? Netball writer Kayla Hodge looks at five talking points. Super shot All the chat surrounding the opening round of the competition centred on the addition of the two-point shot. The initiative — which is in play for the final five minutes of each quarter — has been lauded in Australia's domestic competition. From the opening round, shooters landed 25 of 65 attempts from the two-point range and it was interesting to see different tactics in play. It took until just before halftime in the opening game between the Central Pulse and the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic for the first attempt to drop. But in the Auckland derby between the Northern Mystics and the Northern Stars, eight shots landed in the opening quarter before both teams sizzled out from the hot zone. There were always going to be teething issues through the first few rounds, and the two-point zone was used less than people might have thought, so it will be interesting to watch as the competition progresses. Stars did not align It was a gut-wrenching opening game for the Stars as they saw three of their starting side go down with what appeared to be serious injuries. Wing defence Greer Sinclair was the first to succumb to what looked like a season-ending knee injury, defender Kate Burley picked up an ankle complaint, and shooter Charlie Bell was stretchered off with an ankle injury late in the game. The Stars said on Monday Bell was "tracking positively" for Sunday's game. The injuries forced the Stars to completely empty their bench, and considering the Stars already had Samon Nathan out nursing a niggle, and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan was supposed to be on managed minutes as she returned from an ACL injury, it made for grim reading. Captain Maia Wilson called it heartbreaking as she battled through tears in her post-match interview and said in her 10 years of elite netball she had never been involved in a game like it. Unexpected homecoming How many 40-year-olds — and mothers of five — can say they made their elite netball return 14 years after last pulling on the same dress? Liana Leota can. While she expected to settled into her new role as Southern Steel assistant coach for their opening game, Leota was a late call-up when co-captain Kate Heffernan was ruled out with a knee injury. Leota played nine minutes, finishing with seven feeds and three goal assists, in their loss to the Tactix. "I would do anything for this team" Leota told Sky Sport after the game. "Pulling on the dress for five, 10 minutes, I would do it all over again." But the real concern is around the seriousness of Heffernan's injury. Heffernan has been a mainstay since signing as a replacement player in 2018 and has established herself as a starting Silver Fern. She will be a big loss if she is sidelined for weeks. Naughty chair Did Aliyah Dunn warrant a suspension? The Steel shooter clipped the feet of defender Karin Burger as she tried to get out of the way for her landing space. But officials deemed it was dangerous play with Burger landing on the floor, and Dunn was suspended for two minutes. It was a tough task for the Steel without a key position on the court and there has been an outcry online from fans saying it was not warranted. Umpires cracked down on dangerous play last year in a bid to clean up the game. Finger on the Pulse The Pulse sent an early warning sign to the rest of the competition with their 57-44 win over the Magic. But the real head-scratcher was the Magic's performance. Many expected the Magic to make the top three for the first time this season — including commentators Jenny Woods, Anna Stanley and Adine Wilson — but their performance was well off the pace. Captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio called it a humbling reality check. But if that is how the Pulse performed with players on limited minutes, and replacements taking to the court, their rematch of last year's final against the Mystics this weekend will be a humdinger.
