Latest news with #StarsNetball
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Tokaduadua's Fijian Flair Lighting Up ANZ Premiership
Press Release – Stars Netball The game against the Tactix was Tokaduaduas first time wearing the goal defence bib at the ANZ Premiership level an exciting experience Tokaduaduas keen to get the most out of. When Lili Tokaduadua steps out onto the netball court in the Stars dress, not only is she living out her netball dream, she's also proudly representing her family and her Fijian roots. Tokaduadua left Fiji when she was 15 to take up an opportunity at Howick College and made her ANZ Premiership debut for the Stars last season, playing 11 games and showing why she's regarded as one of the competition's most promising defenders. The 20-year-old further announced herself this season, after a stellar performance at goal defence in the Stars' 57-52 win over the Tactix in round 2, where she earned player of the match honours, stuffing the stats sheet, with 7 gains, five intercepts and three deflections. In the crowd for the game was Tokaduadua's number one supporter, her mum, Eleni, who was visiting from Fiji and found herself in the rare position of being able to watch her daughter play live. 'It's really special with it being my second year in the Stars and her watching me again. It was great having her at home with me too as I don't see her all the time.' Tokaduadua said. While Eleni is Tokaduadua's biggest fan, the motherly trait of becoming her biggest critic can sometimes shine through to ensure Tokaduadua doesn't get too ahead of herself. 'She always sends me a paragraph before every game saying I need to jump and do this and that, giving me tough love.' Tokaduadua explained. 'After the game on Sunday where I thought I did well she was still telling me I have things to work on and I'm like 'okay Mum, I thought I did good!'' Tokaduadua laughed. While text messages and facetime can help keep people connected, there's nothing like mum's physical presence to make a good win that much sweeter. 'She's always proud though. When I see her, she's always crying after games and it's been special having her here. After the game on Sunday, we had a function for Mila's 100th game and she had a chance to see everyone which was nice.' The game against the Tactix was Tokaduadua's first time wearing the goal defence bib at the ANZ Premiership level – an exciting experience Tokaduadua's keen to get the most out of. 'It's fun, I'm feeling fit and I'm excited to do whatever Temepara throws at me and do my job for the team and those who are injured. I want to make the most of the opportunities and do my best.' Tokaduadua added. 'My biggest work on at the moment is my passing and placement and every training I always get reminded to calm down because I put too much pressure on myself to get it right. I want to start games nailing all of these things.' Standing alongside Tokaduadua in the defensive circle was new signing Remi Kamo, who was also immense at goal keep, with the pair forming a formidable combination. 'We've clicked really well now and have a strong connection. Sunday was our first time playing together and I love how Remi plays, she can jump so high and I admire her and she talks to me heaps and I learn so much and she's amazing.' Tokaduadua said. Tokaduadua's also lapping up the wealth of knowledge on hand from her assistant coach and Silver Ferns legend Leana de Bruin, who's helped her transition into her new role. 'She's amazing and world class. She has a lot of defensive knowledge and never stops telling me things. I'm always keen to learn and be better and she's helped me a lot.' Sitting in the stands watching the Tactix game was former Silver Ferns and Fijian defender Vilimaina Davu, someone who Tokaduadua couldn't help but notice. 'It made me feel pride that I'm representing Fiji on the court and she's there having been the first Fijian to represent the Silver Ferns was special and she's a role model for me to look up to.' Though they might be far away, Tokaduadua knows she's always going to have those closest right behind her for every step of her netball journey. 'I'm getting messages from my cousins in Fiji who told me I had a good game and it's cool to know they're watching. I'm just really proud to not only represent the Stars but my culture.'
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Stars spurred on by tragedy and adversity upset Tactix
Stars Charlie Bell during the Stars v Tactix ANZ Premiership match. Photo: Blake Armstrong/Photosport The Stars upset the Tactix 57-52 in Auckland last night after an extremely challenging week for the franchise. Three players were injured when the Stars lost their opening game of the season to the Mystics last weekend. Scans later confirmed an ACL injury to midcourter Greer Sinclair, which meant her season was over before it barely began. Defender Kate Burley is nursing a foot injury so was not available yesterday, and will be assessed week to week. Assistant coach Leana de Bruin was on the Stars coaching bench, just a day after receiving the tragic news that her brother in South Africa had died suddenly. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000, where she went on to play 104 tests for the Silver Ferns. Stars captain Maia Wilson said they had so much to play for. "Leana got the news that her brother passed away Saturday morning back in South Africa so she had pretty much had 24 hours to process that. I think she's hopping on a plane in the next 24-48 hours to head to South Africa for two weeks to be with her family. So another reason to be able to play hard," Wilson said. The Stars captain was proud of her side's performance. "Really really happy, we've faced so much adversity over the last week, as well as having some milestones in terms of debutants last week that got overshadowed by all the other stuff going on so really proud of the girls to be able to turn things around, stay really connected and come out with a win." The game also marked the 100th ANZ Premiership match for Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, who played 45 minutes last night, as she returns from an ACL injury. "She's a massive part of our team. I think she's the anchor in terms of drive, determination, vibrancy and bringing a lot of life, her work ethic is second to none and that shows how well she's been able to come back from her ACL so two big weeks for her and awesome to be able to come out with a win on her 100th game." Mila Reuelu-Buchanan Photo: Photosport Former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson, who has been brought in as injury cover for the Stars, played 16 minutes at wing defence. "She comes back in quite seamlessly and really cool to have her wealth of knowledge and experience to be able to put her out in a game like this when Mila wasn't fully back to a 60 minute game just gave our team some backbone to help continue our momentum. "She's been playing social indoor netball and she's been playing some club netball …she's definitely still got the lungs for it." Australian import Charlie Bell shot 40 goals at 90 percent accuracy and pushed the Stars out to a 15-14 lead at the first break, thanks to back-to-back two point shots. The Tactix looked out of sorts and couldn't shake the defensive pressure the Stars brought. In the absence of Burley, Lili Tokaduadua played her first full game at goal defence, and pulled off some stunning intercepts. In the third quarter Tactix captain Erikana Pedersen had to go off with an ankle injury. At the end of three quarters the Stars led 44-38 and pressure started building on the Tactix to convert some two-pointers. And they did just that, with Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Martina Salmon combining to sink three successive super shots and suddenly they trailed by just two with two minutes left to play. But the Stars regrouped and scored singles, while more attempts at the super shot just didn't land for the Tactix. Tactix defender Karin Burger said they knew coming into the game that the Stars would be playing with a lot of heart. "I think you could see that on court tonight, they were probably just a little bit more hungry for ball. We at times got close but we just let ourselves down in the last few minutes especially. We needed to win a bit more ball in defence, and hold on to possession, we committed a few silly turnovers," Burger said.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Season over for Stars player, former Silver Fern in as injury cover
Stars foundation player Kayla Johnson. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 The Stars will be without up and coming midcourter Greer Sinclair for the rest of the ANZ Premiership season with scans confirming the worst after their season-opener against the Mystics. Sinclair didn't even get through a quarter of netball in the 2025 season and was one of three Stars players who had to be helped off the court in their 71-55 loss to the Mystics on Sunday. The Stars have confirmed Sinclair ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and would miss the remainder of the season. She will undergo surgery before working towards a return to the court in 2026. On Sunday the Stars exhausted all their bench options and just like that were facing an injury crisis after round one of the domestic season. Defender Kate Burley, who had to hobble off the court in the third quarter, has suffered an injury to her left foot and will be assessed week to week. Burley will continue to be monitored and follow return to play protocols. The franchise said Australian shooter Charlie Bell, who had to come off near the end of the game, suffered a mild ankle and calf sprain. Bell is tracking positively towards Sunday's game against the Tactix and will need to clear return to play protocols. Greer Sinclair. Photo: Photosport / Blake Armstrong Stars foundation player Kayla Johnson will join the team as injury cover, having last worn the Stars dress during the 2022 season. Johnson filled in for the Mystics last year when they were hit by injuries. The Stars already had to bring in replacement player Tori Kolose for the first few games for Samon Nathan as she recovers from injury. Franchises are already having to get creative to cover injuries. When the Steel lost to the Tactix 57-50 on the weekend they had to call on their assistant coach Liana Leota, with Kate Heffernan carrying a knee injury. The 40-year-old did not look out of place when she spent 10 minutes on court and the former Silver Fern may be called on again with Heffernan out for at least another couple of weeks. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Star midcourter Greer Sinclair out for season after rupturing ACL
Stars foundation player Kayla Johnson. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 The Stars will be without up and coming midcourter Greer Sinclair for the rest of the ANZ Premiership season with scans confirming the worst after their season-opener against the Mystics. Sinclair didn't even get through a quarter of netball in the 2025 season and was one of three Stars players who had to be helped off the court in their 71-55 loss to the Mystics on Sunday. The Stars have confirmed Sinclair ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and would miss the remainder of the season. She will undergo surgery before working towards a return to the court in 2026. On Sunday the Stars exhausted all their bench options and just like that were facing an injury crisis after round one of the domestic season. Defender Kate Burley, who had to hobble off the court in the third quarter, has suffered an injury to her left foot and will be assessed week to week. Burley will continue to be monitored and follow return to play protocols. The franchise said Australian shooter Charlie Bell, who had to come off near the end of the game, suffered a mild ankle and calf sprain. Bell is tracking positively towards Sunday's game against the Tactix and will need to clear return to play protocols. Greer Sinclair. Photo: Photosport / Blake Armstrong Stars foundation player Kayla Johnson will join the team as injury cover, having last worn the Stars dress during the 2022 season. Johnson filled in for the Mystics last year when they were hit by injuries. The Stars already had to bring in replacement player Tori Kolose for the first few games for Samon Nathan as she recovers from injury. Franchises are already having to get creative to cover injuries. When the Steel lost to the Tactix 57-50 on the weekend they had to call on their assistant coach Liana Leota, with Kate Heffernan carrying a knee injury. The 40-year-old did not look out of place when she spent 10 minutes on court and the former Silver Fern may be called on again with Heffernan out for at least another couple of weeks. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Netball: Coach dons bib, injury tally mounts just one round into ANZ Premiership
Stars Greer Sinclair is injured during the Norrthern Mystics v Stars ANZ Premiership match at Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday May 11th 2025. © Mandatory credit: Blake Armstrong / Photo: Blake Armstrong The Stars are facing an injury crisis after game one of netball's ANZ Premiership, and another franchise is already having to get creative to cover injuries. The Mystics beat the Stars 71-55 in Auckland on Sunday but the Stars had to exhaust all their bench options after three players went down injured. The Stars already had to bring in replacement player Tori Kolose for the first few games to cover the absence of Samon Nathan as she recovers from injury. Wing defence Greer Sinclair had to be wheeled off in the first quarter, with what looked like a potentially serious knee injury. Defender Kate Burley then had to come off late in third quarter, with a suspected lower leg injury, then with 90 seconds left in the game Charlie Bell came off after falling to the ground. The Stars had to do a lot of shuffling, with midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan only able to play 30 minutes in her first game since injuring her knee last year. Shooter Monica Falkner was used at wing attack during the game and by the end of the match, Stars coach Temepara Bailey had no one left on her bench. "I looked down and there were all these empty seats. "You've just got to go, what's next, what's next and I'm just so proud of the girls, they just rolled with the punches, they just took the bib, they knew what they had to do out there and they went out there and did the best they can with also knowing at the back of their mind that one of their best mates, team-mates is sitting there on the sideline," Bailey said. "It's pretty hard but proud of the girls for the way that they continued." Bailey said it was a sombre dressing room afterwards, and said with the season being cut from three rounds to two, it made it even harder. "Obviously some tears and just so disappointed for our injured girls, they've been working so hard and have been playing some of their best netball, to have that in round one and the season is shorter now so if you've got a player that's out, even if it's for four to six weeks, that's half the season gone." Bailey said it appeared that Bell suffered from calf cramp and rolled her ankle at the same time. "It is definitely back luck when you have three in one game. We do know that we've got some good players in the wider mix and we'll have to look at some options once we know more about the extent of the injuries." Liana Leota warms up. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2025 In the other match the Tactix beat the Steel 57-50 in Christchurch in the final match of the round on Sunday. The Steel had their own injuries to deal with, calling in Stars training partner Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa as cover in the defensive end. Silver Fern Kate Heffernan was out after picking up a knee injury earlier in the week during training - it's not known how serious it is. So assistant Steel coach and former Silver Fern Liana Leota was named on the bench for the southerners. To the delight of the crowd, the 40-year-old spent 10 minutes on court at wing attack for her old club, when she was injected in the third quarter. Last year Leota stepped down from her role as England Roses technical coach and her position as Leeds Rhinos director of netball to take up the assistant coaching role at the Steel. Her last season playing domestic netball was in 2022 in the England league. Tactix captain Erikana Pedersen said they got a heads up on Saturday that Leota might take the court. "We were extremely shocked actually, we heard that she was on the list but Ellie Bird was coached by her when she played in England and said that she was still playing some great netball," Pedersen said. "It was cool to see her play. I actually debuted against Liana about 10 or 11 years ago so it was a bit of a full-circle moment. She was the Pulse wing attack and I was the Mystics wing defence so yeah old memories. "She looks great for 40 and just watching her agility and speed out there she's still got it."
