2025 ANZ Premiership Previews – Round Eight

Take a look at the three match-ups coming in Round 8 of the 2025 ANZ Premiership.

Saturday, 28 June

Steel v Magic, 4pm at ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill

Talking points:

• The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel set tongues wagging in Round 7 with their fight and desire to keep their season alive.  Coming from nine goals down to beat the Pulse by one goal signals they are desperate to reach the top three but must continue on the winning path and consistency could now be their biggest hurdle to conquer.  There have been glimpses of this strong Steel side all season but stringing together two performances is now vital – every match a must-win from here on in.
  
  
• It’s been a rollercoaster ride for AVIS Magic with just two wins and five losses – their last two matches indicative of their season including a narrow two-goal loss to the Mystics before the margin blowing out to 12-points just five days later.  Shooter Saviour Tui found her long range radar netting seven two-point shots but getting ball into her hands, over Carys Stythe, will be the big ask this weekend.
  
  
• Steel goal attack Georgia Heffernan produced the goods in the win over the Pulse with an outstanding work-rate – it also helped the southerners having her twin sister, Kate Heffernan, back in action for much of the match and her experience in the middle will again be vital for the hosts.

Final thought:

“There’s a lot of hard work that goes in to getting that result in the last second – it makes us pretty proud.  We’ve talked about having belief.  Wanting to do our own jobs and have pride in that dress.  It’s like something’s clicked finally.” – Steel coach Wendy Frew on their win last week and the confidence now in the side.

Pulse v Tactix, 4pm at TSB Arena in Wellington

Talking points:

• It has been uncharacteristic to see Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in such territory with three straight losses now on their 2025 record.  Connections looked strong for the team – an area that had been lacking in recent weeks – for much of the match but when the pressure went on, the errors slipped back into their game, and they struggled to hold their composure.
  
  
• VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix produced 30 strong minutes against the Stars last week, but coach Donna Wilkins described the second half – where she emptied her bench – as “scratchy” as they let their opponent back into the match.  With their place in the finals series already confirmed, will Wilkins tinker with her line-up or ensure her connections remain solid as they vie for prime seat in the play-offs and possibly hosting rights.
  
  
• Pulse coach Anna Andrews-Tasola has plenty to ponder leading into the rematch – her team going down by 11 goals in Round 6 – particularly around the goal attack role.  Tiana Metuarau has landed just 11 goals in her last two outings and while she led the goal assists and feeds for her side against the Steel, she will need to take on some of the scoring responsibilities to take the heat off her shooting partner Amelia Walmsley.

Final thought:

Two teams in two very different positions – the Tactix are travelling to enemy territory safe in the knowledge they will feature in the finals series, but the Pulse are playing each match now as if it is their final knowing that they must win to stay a step ahead of a Steel side breathing down their necks.

Stars v Mystics, 7.30pm at Pulman Arena in Auckland

Talking points:

• Spoiler will be the role of the Go Media Stars who are out of the running for the ANZ Premiership finals series.  It seems an eternity ago when these two teams last met, back in the opening round, when the Stars had the better of their cross-town rivals in the first quarter.  But it all went wrong in the remaining three quarters with major injuries to Greer Sinclair and Kate Burley a foreboding sign of what was to come in their campaign.  The Stars never really fully recovered from those injuries, and their season has since suffered.
  
  
• There has been no word yet on when import shooter Donnell Wallam will return to action after the Australian injured her wrist in Round 3.  Rookie Sophia Lafaiali'i has stepped up for the Mystics but with the play-offs looming, coach Tia Winikerei must be wanting to get the experienced Wallam on court for some valuable game play.
  
  
• Stars coach Temepara Bailey may also wish to call on the services of goal attack Marie Hansen again with the NNL player making a huge impact as injury cover last week. Hansen, who plays for the Comets, made her Premiership debut last week and netted an impressive five super-shots for the Stars showing plenty of poise under pressure.

Final thought:

The Mystics are just one point behind the Tactix on the Premiership points ladder and have a tough ride home with games against the in-form Steel team and a match-up against the table-topping Tactix to round out the regular season.  Both of those games will be at home which could work to their advantage as they push for the number one ranking – slipping up against the Stars is not an option.