2024 ANZ Premiership Round 3 Preview
Take a look at the three match-ups coming in Round 3 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership.
4pm, Saturday 27 April
Stars v Magic at Pulman Arena in Auckland
Live on Sky Sport and free to air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
AVIS Magic captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio was left ruing a similar storyline after her side started strongly but failed to maintain their form in the second half of their Round 2 match against the Pulse.
It had been a carbon copy of their opening game and Ekenasio is hoping they can make some changes to net their first win of the season when they travel to Auckland to take on the Stars. She believes they have enough in the tank but questioned whether they were using their “top two inches”.
“We’re shying away a bit of really wanting the ball, really demanding it. I don’t think we’re individually executing our role within our structures, so we just have to demand and expect more out of each other in those situations.”
They play a Stars side also searching for its first win although coach Kiri Wills is pleased that her team has made progress over the opening two rounds. With a number of new combinations still being bed in, the Stars were forced to use a new shooting duo last week with Summer Temu, the sister of former Stars defender Elle, making her debut. She may be an option again if Amorangi Malesala misses another week.
“I’ve been very impressed with our young ones – it’s a huge boost to our confidence. Summer is very very strong – she’s got a game sense about her that you can’t actually coach players. She’s one to watch.”
4pm, Sunday 28 April
Pulse v Steel at TSB Arena in Wellington
Live on Sky Sport
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
It may have been a long time between drinks for the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel, winning their last game in Round 12 in 2022, but they have shown signs that they could raise their glasses soon.
The Steel, boosted by the return of influential midcourter Shannon Saunders, showed they have what it takes to compete with the best. Her presence gave the southerners an obvious lift against the Mystics in Round 2 and they will need another step up when they travel north to play Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse.
Captain Kate Heffernan said they were “stoked” to have the former Silver Fern midcourter back on court and hoped they could build on the 28 minutes she got last week.
“Shannon made a massive difference and I think she just gives everyone a bit of confidence around her. She just knows how to bring the best out of everyone around her so stoked to have her back.”
The Pulse have utilised their bench in the opening two rounds, defender Kelea Iongi the latest to make the most of her opportunities when fellow defender Parris Mason was suspended and didn’t return to court. Co-captain Kelly Jackson, who was pleased with her team’s ability to absorb the pressure early last week, said she was excited to see a number of players getting minutes on court early in the ANZ Premiership, including shooter Khiarna Williams.
“We’ve put some young blood out there and they’re really stepped up which is great to see. It shows we’ve got good stock on the bench.”
7.30pm, Monday 29 April
Mystics v Tactix at The Trusts Arena in Auckland
Live on Sky Sport
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
One of these teams will suffer their first loss of the 2024 ANZ Premiership when they meet in Auckland. Both have made a strong start to the season, but many will expect the Trident Homes Tactix to have to pull out all of the stops if they are to get one over the MG Mystics.
They will be without shooter Aliyah Dunn for another week and look to be relying on the return of Ellie Bird to fill the spot. Coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek has been pleased with how Bird has slotted back into a familiar forward line and expects the combination only to grow.
“She was only in a week prior to our first game so I think they’ve managed to re-establish those links so quickly,” she said.
Captain Kimiora Poi continues to lead by example up front and showed in the fourth quarter last week, she is happy to send the ball into Bird. But it was a quiet defensive effort from the Tactix last week and they will need to be back to their best to break the connection between Peta Toeava and Grace Nweke.
Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson said it would be nice to be at home for the first time this season and play in front of home fans. The defending champions were tested against the Steel and Sokolich-Beatson said their experienced links helped them absorb the pressure.
“We’ve been together long enough to know how to pull things together when it’s not quite coming together. I think those connections pull us through those tough times.”