2022 ANZ Premiership Elimination Final Preview
We preview the 2022 ANZ Premiership Elimination Final between the Robinhood Stars and MG Mystics.
Wednesday, 8 June
Stars vs Mystics, 7.15pm at Pulman Arena in Auckland
Plenty of questions will be answered at Pulman Arena in a highly anticipated ANZ Premiership Elimination Final.
The Robinhood Stars have turned out some stunning netball in recent weeks and punters will be wondering whether the Maia Wilson-led side can go all the way and snatch a maiden title this year.
It may depend on which MG Mystics side they meet in the must-win match with the defending champions battling injuries and illness – all eyes will be on the team list and whether their strongest side can rediscover the form which took them to the top of the Premiership points table up until recently.
The Mystics haven’t won a game since losing shooter Grace Nweke to an ankle injury in the Round 11 win over the Tactix, but coach Helene Wilson remains confident in whichever players she has in her squad for the Elimination Final.
The return of Peta Toeava, Tayla Earle and Nweke will be key if the Mystics are to play in a second straight Grand Final.
“We’re really proud with what we’ve done, and we’ll work with who we have,” Wilson said.
“We’ll get out there and write the story of courage and just getting out there and playing.”
It has been a different story for the Stars who last year missed the Finals Series despite dominating the Premiership for much of the regular season.
But wing attack Gina Crampton believes the side is finding it’s “groove” at the right time and she was looking forward to seeing what this group could produce in their first Finals Series together.
She has been particularly pleased with what the attacking line has contributed in recent weeks with the combination of Wilson, Jamie Hume, herself and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan delivering for a full 60 minutes against the Steel last week.
“I think we’re starting to play with a bit more variety. We really wanted to work on our ball speed and movement so that’s been good. Our defence has been firing all year and finally we’re catching up so that’s nice.”
The Stars are on a six-match winning streak heading into the sudden death Elimination Final and progressing to the Grand Final would see them equal their team record of seven straight wins. This is the second time the Stars have reached the Finals Series having gone on to the Grand Final in 2019 where they lost to the Pulse by four goals.