2024 ANZ Premiership Round 8 Preview
Take a look at the three match-ups coming in Round 6 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership.
4pm, Saturday 1 June
Steel v Pulse at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill
Live on Sky Sport and free to air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
Momentum is key for the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel as they feed off a key win over the Mystics last week.
Another big target lies in front of them in the form of a wounded Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse side who suffered their first loss of the season in Round 7. Steel captain Kate Heffernan was delighted with her team’s performance which earned the team a second victory in their 2024 campaign.
“I think we’ve been talking about it all season, just worrying about our own job and not going into help out mode,” she said.
Not even a late surge from the Mystics could derail the Steel which also impressed the skipper.
“We had that wee blip at the end, but we managed to gather ourselves which is really encouraging.”
Defensively, Abby Lawson was a standout for the Steel and has the ability to disrupt the Pulse’s attacking end which suffered a few wobbles last week. Watch out for the key match-up between Renee Savai’inaea and Pulse play-maker Whitney Souness, the latter instrumental in the running of the new-look frontline in yellow.
Pulse captain Kelly Jackson was not looking for excuses after the loss to the Magic last week but was looking ahead.
“We have to take learnings from that game. We don’t want to keep our heads down for too long. We want to come back harder and stronger, tougher, faster - whatever it’ll take to get a win.”
4pm, Sunday 2 June
Mystics v Tactix at The Trusts Arena in Auckland
Live on Sky Sport
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
The top of the table Trident Homes Tactix have shown their ability to come from behind in pressure-cooker moments but will want to ensure they don’t put themselves in that position when they face the MG Mystics at home.
Captain Kimiora Poi applauded her team’s “want to win” in the one-goal thriller over the Stars having come from five goals down heading into the final quarter.
“It was just that fight to the end,” she said of the difference.
They got the better of the Mystics when they met in Round 3 but could face a backlash from their hosts who couldn’t lift themselves on their southern sojourn to take on the Steel. Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson said her team’s performance was simply “not good enough” and they needed to rediscover their “belief”.
“There were lulls in our game when we got hesitant,” she said.
The midcourter is also calling on her team to give two options to the ball, especially up against the Tactix’ “box-zone defence”.
“We know what we need to do, it just takes each person to do their job. Tactix probably play similar with that box-zone defence with lots of switches - two options to the ball sounds easy but it’s not when they’re sticking to you like glue.”
The match-up in the middle between Tayla Earle and the Tactix captain promises plenty although don’t be surprised to see Poi dabble in the wing attack bib, giving national selectors lots to think about with her hot form at the midway mark of the Premiership.
7.30pm, Monday 3 June
Stars v Magic at Auckland Netball Centre in Auckland
Live on Sky Sport
International streaming on www.netballpass.com
AVIS Magic must be riding high on confidence after dealing to the table-topping Pulse last week although captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is keeping her feet on the ground, ready to take on the Stars in Auckland.
It was the first time that the Magic have won all four quarters as they found the right mix on both attack and defence against the Pulse - wing defence Georgie Edgecombe producing perhaps her best performance of the season, with four intercepts and two deflections. Ekenasio was proud of their efforts last week but know they need to step up again.
“We’re still building every single week. We still have to be better when we come out again.”
The goal attack said she was “stoked that everyone got stuck in” in what was a full 60-minute effort.
“At the end of the day, I think we all just did our jobs.”
They are coming up against a Stars side that also did their jobs to go close to an upset over the Tactix, falling by just one goal. Giving up a seven-goal buffer will be of concern for the Stars, but they know they can mix it with the top of the table teams and captain Maia Wilson says if they can’t make the Finals Series they are ready to put it to the Premiership points table.
“If we’re not in there than I just want to muck it up for everyone else.”
The Stars were buoyed by the return of Amorangi Malesala who has missed a large chunk of the season so far through injury, giving coach Kiri Wills plenty of options on the bench.