2023 ANZ Premiership shaping up as best yet
Columnist Kelly Bertrand takes a look at the 2023 ANZ Premiership season and why it’s shaping up to be the best one yet.
Finally, franchise netball is BACK and better than ever, and this year is shaping up to be a doozy!
We’re in Auckland for the launch of this year’s ANZ Premiership, and as officials, coaches and impossibly tall players mingle before festivities kick off (why didn’t I wear heels?!) there’s a buzz about the upcoming season that promises the best netball we’ve see in Aotearoa New Zealand in quite some time. Why? Well, it’s World Cup Year, baby!
Things are also looking a little different in 2023 with a grand final venue already announced, heaps of exciting new signings and the added excitement of the looming Silver Ferns selection casting a thrilling shadow on the competition.
It’s a HUGE year for netball in Aotearoa with July’s Netball World Cup promising to be the most competitive and tightest in quite some time – and with the ANZ Premiership essentially serving as one long Silver Ferns trial we’re in for some truly epic netball, says the big boss, Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie.
“This year is all about us leading into the Netball World Cup,” Jennie says. “We have some real fresh faces that are vying for a spot in the team, so it’s really a crucial year.
“We’ll be seeing [Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua] Noels on the floor more, and we’ve now got a grand final scheduled with some certainty, which is fantastic.”
The decision to hold the ANZ Premiership grand final at Globlox Arena in Hamilton was one undertaken with the consultation of all six franchises, and offers both players and fans certainty in a post-Covid world, where event venue availability is tough.
“What we know about netball fans is that they appreciate good netball and a good game, and to have the two best teams playing off in the final, the fans will be there irrespectively!” says Jennie.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie, who says Pulse fans are some of the absolute best, and she has no doubt that the defending champions will have a tidal wave of yellow and black in their corner this year.
“Even when we weren’t going great, they were right there with us,” she nods.
“I’m really looking forward to this season – we have a young team and I’ll be very interested to see how it goes. There’s been a lot of changes [four new signings including Malawi star Joyce Mvula] so I’ll be looking forward to seeing how they link.”
Yvette is also keen to see how the added spark of Silver Ferns selection impacts the Premiership, with three of her players - Maddy Gordon, Whitney Souness and co-captain Kelly Jury currently in the Silver Ferns squad.
“It’s such an important year,” she says.
“It definitely adds to it – and it’s trying to manage the challenge of them being anxious about it, but also being present in what they’re doing. But we also need to recognise that it’s important to give them opportunities to shine, too.”
It’s a thought echoed by Pulse co-captain and defence superstar Kelly Jury, who reckons it’s important to stay in the now when it comes to big selections.
“Obviously, the ones of us who are gunning for that spot will have that pressure, we know that our performances out on court with ANZ will influence those decisions. But we know we have to not get too far ahead of ourselves and taking it one game at a time.”
So, with such a big year in the netball calendar almost upon us, what’s Kelly the most excited for?
“Just to get out there and begin!” she says with a laugh.
“We had such an awesome year last year when we took out the Premiership. Honestly, the grand final night was one of the best nights of my life, I’ve never experienced anything like it. I want that again!”
As for who’s shaping up to be the favourites, netball commentators reckon that this is the most wide-open season in some time, with tantalising matchups and exciting new stars emerging.
So, who are YOU backing this year?
Catch all matches live on Sky Sport!