2025 ANZ Premiership Previews – Round Nine

Take a look at the three match-ups coming in Round 9 of the 2025 ANZ Premiership.

Pulse v Stars, 4pm at TSB Arena in Wellington

Talking points:

• Has the monster stirred? The might of Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse was witnessed last week when they dominated the Tactix for a crucial win and they can almost taste the ANZ Premiership playoffs with just two games remaining in the regular season.  The circle combination of Kelly Jackson and Parris Mason impressed from the outset and after a quiet few weeks they picked up 14 gains between them and will be a handful for a struggling Go Media Stars shooting circle.
  
  
• Again the Stars showed glimpses of the team they can be, but their season of pain continued after a hefty loss to the Mystics.  Coach Temepara Bailey said it had been great to see the “good parts of our game have extended longer” but they were still disappointed not to be able to maintain that intensity.  “I’ve kind of go mixed feelings of the season,” she said.  “I wanted to start really strong and finish strong.  Things happened and no excuses, but I think the positive of (the season) are opportunities for players.”
  
  
• What a battle there is going on in the goal keeper role this season – Kelly Jackson has two of the country’s young promising defenders nipping at her heels in Carys Stythe (Steel) and Catherine Hall (Mystics).  The Pulse captain is behind Stythe in defensive rebounds and deflections and four intercepts shy of leader Hall on the league ladder.

Final thought:

It would be a brave person to bet against the Pulse on their home patch against the bottom-placed Stars, but stranger things have happened in sport and the visitors will have nothing to lose when they head to the Capital.

Mystics v Steel, 4pm at The Trusts Arena in Auckland

Talking points:

• Bookended by two impressive performances – Donnell Wallam a stand-out on her return to play from injury while Catherine Hall was a menace on defence – the Mystics have moved to the top of the league ladder.  They must have an eye on a home final but can let nothing slide when they take on the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel – just one goal separating the two teams back in Round 3 – and the southerners having now strung three wins together.
  
  
• The match-ups at either end of the court promise plenty with Carys Stythe and Wallam set to go head-to-head – the latter going off with an injured wrist in the third quarter when they met in Dunedin over a month ago.  Stythe has grown plenty since then but will have to be at her best against Wallam who last week showed a superb hold and safe hands receiving some bullet passes from her feeders.  Hall was also at her best last week and will be challenged against Aliyah Dunn who is the league’s second most prolific scorer.
  
  
• Steel midcourter Renee Savai’inaea has been switching between wing defence and centre in recent weeks as Kate Heffernan continues her return from injury.  Savai’inaea will need to be at her best to stop the quick ball released by Toeava – the league’s leader for feeds – who has shown she can deliver ball into a moving circle or into the tall holding shooter.

Final thought:

“We just have the belief.  A lot of us have been here the last few years when it’s been hard and we have this real hunger to turn it around and be part of the team that turns it around. We’re going in the right direction, but we’ve got a few more jobs to do for sure.” – Steel midcourter Kate Heffernan.

Tactix v Magic, 7.30pm at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch

Talking points:

• Only four points separated the two teams back Round 3 and it took until the fourth quarter for the VIP Frames and Trusses Tactix to get up over AVIS Magic.  It’s a different look to both campaigns now however with the Tactix still needing a point to ensure no-one sneaks by them in the last two rounds of play.  Comprehensively beaten by the Pulse last week, the Tactix need to rediscover their flow up front to return to the winner’s circle.
  
  
• The Magic finished strongly against the Steel last week, but the game was already somewhat out of reach and three super shots from Saviour Tui in the dying minutes helped close the gap to nine points by the final whistle.  They will need to pick up more ball on defence against the Tactix having only grabbed six gains across the board in Round 8.
  
  
• Tactix captain Erikana Pedersen felt her team didn’t match the “energy” their opponents brought last week and it’s something they will need to address ahead of their last game at home, where maximum points would put the red-and-blacks in a strong position.  “We probably didn’t have the flow that we’re used to, down in the attacking end,” she said.  “Having that ability to just look in and give balls as well.”

Final thought:

The Tactix have more to lose in this outing in what is their last game of the regular season with the backing of their loyal fan base.  Getting safe ball into the hands of either Ellie Bird or Martina Salmon will be vital in their chances of knocking over the Magic for a second time this season.