2025 ANZ Premiership Previews – Round Five

Take a look at the three match-ups coming in Round 5 of the 2025 ANZ Premiership.

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

Talking points:

• Outstanding one week, ordinary the next. The Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel delivered for just 15 minutes in a big loss to the Pulse and will need to recover quickly when they meet the table-topping VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix in Invercargill.  Hesitancy on attack hurt the Steel and captain Kimiora Poi said her team “went into ourselves a bit” which led to some missed timing up front.  “We really need to have that eye contact with each other and connecting and demanding the ball,” she said.
  
  
• A strong fourth quarter ensured the Tactix took bragging rights in the season opener between these two teams (57-50), but you can expect a close southern battle with the hosts licking their wounds from last week.  Aliyah Dunn remains the league’s most accurate shooter in the one-point zone and the Tactix struggled to shut her down in Round 1.  But both Jane Watson and Karin Burger made a shift in their performance last week picking up 11 gains between them.
  
  
• Tactix goal attack Te Paea Selby-Rickit has been doing a wealth of work up front for her team, particularly with her feeding game and receiving the centre pass.  She put in 26 feeds to Ellie Bird last week and took the lion’s share of centre pass receives while still managing to land 10 from 10 and one super shot.  She will be a player the Steel will need to shut down.

Final thought:

Strategies on how to use the Summerset super shot are still being fine tuned from all six teams in the ANZ Premiership.  With the game out of reach last week, the Steel put up 17 attempts in the super shot zone and were successful just five times.  In contrast, the Tactix had just three attempts for one successful two-point shot.

Pulse v Mystics, 7pm at TSB Arena in Wellington

Talking points:

• Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse monstered the Steel last week with their defensive prowess setting the tone from early on.  The defensive unit, led by Parris Mason, shut down options for a faltering Steel frontline and picked up a massive 16 gains.  With little pressure through the middle, the Pulse were rampant, and captain Kelly Jackson was pleased with her team’s ability to respond when their opponent took a run at them in the third quarter.  She is also happy with how her team has bounced back since the 11-goal loss to the MG Mystics in Round 2, which she said exposed areas they have since worked on.
  
  
• The loss of shooter Donnell Wallam was big for the Mystics who struggled to find the right combo up front in the loss to the Tactix.  Her return to court remains unclear with the Australian having scans on her wrist this week and a second straight game without her would be tough.  If they were looking for positives in the 11-goal loss, it would come in the form of goal keep Charlotte Manley who made the most of her 25 minutes on court with three gains for her team.
  
  
•  Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley was a key target last week netting all but one of her 51 attempts at goal and is the league’s most prolific scorer.  Her combination with Tiana Metuarau continues to grow but it is the service from both Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness which impresses with each outing.  Their ability to share the workload means opponents can’t just target one of the midcourt to slow the amount of ball reaching Walmsley.

Final thought:

The Pulse look unstoppable at the moment with strengths across the court and at the midway point of the ANZ Premiership will have their eye already a Finals spot – who is going to be the team to halt their progress?

Stars v Magic, 7.30pm at Pulman Arena in Auckland

Talking points:

• A quirk of the draw or the ultimate opportunity for head coaches to have another crack at the same opponent seven days later.  GoMedia Stars captain Maia Wilson believes the 72-51 scoreline in favour of AVIS Magic in Round 4 was not a true indication of how close the game was and with their purple army behind them this week, will be out for redemption.
  
  
• Magic goal shooter Saviour Tui produced her best performance of the season as the frontline rediscovered their mojo.  It may not be such an easy ride this time round with Stars defender Kate Burley expected back in the mix as she returns from a foot injury.  Tui netted half of her super shot attempts and all but three of her 57 attempts at one-point goals as she reacquainted herself with the baseline where she found great space and showed plenty of composure.
  
  
• Stars midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan has worked her way almost back to full minutes following last year’s devastating knee injury.  Her presence in the midcourt will be vital for the hosts as she led the stats sheet with feeds and assists last week.  A couple of heavy falls during the game will have given coach Temepara Bailey a few heart flutters but Reuelu-Buchanan bounced back to play an influential role through the middle.

Final thought:

There is already a gap opening on the ANZ Premiership ladder between the top three and the bottom three.  Already into Round 5 it is important for both teams to take maximum points to give them the chance to stay in touch with the frontrunners – the Magic currently in fifth place on four points and the Stars point back at the bottom of the ladder.