Courtney Tairi’s 2023 season predictions

Get the inside word from former Silver Fern Courtney Tairi, who shares her predictions for the 2023 ANZ Premiership season.

We’re only one round deep into the ANZ Premiership and it’s already shaping up to be an absolute cracker of a competition as we speed towards the Netball World Cup faster than Sam Winders hustling for a loose ball.

It’s a season that promises twists, pivots and plenty of action, so to get the inside scoop on 2023 ANZ Premiership, Kelly Bertrand sat down for a chat with former Silver Fern-turned Sky Sport broadcaster Courtney Tairi for her predictions, insights and just who to keep an eye out for come game day.

Kia ora Courtney! Ok first things first, the big question – who do you think will take out the ANZ Premiership this year?

I’m going to say the Trident Homes Tactix! I think they’ve recruited really strong, and they’re strong all over the court, especially with Jane Watson coming back from maternity leave, and then they’ve got Laura Malcolm in the middle which really takes the pressure off Kimiora Poi, and then down with Aliyah Dunn and Te Paea Selby-Rickit. So on paper I think they’re a super-strong team, and this is their year to do it.

Aliyah Dunn came from the Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse last year, so this environment will be new to her so this will be a good test? 

Yeah, she’s the most accurate shooter – it’ll just be a case of whether she and Te Paea can gel.

How hard is it to ‘gel’, in your professional opinion? It sounds so simple but a great combination is pretty rare – is it hard work, or chemistry? 

It’s chemistry, but it’s also time and getting to know each other and getting to know what the other likes. Sometimes you might be playing with another player who’s really dominant – but these two shooters are used to sort of taking a backseat role in the shooting circle. So this is a good opportunity for them to stand up and be that dominant shooter.

A lot of people are talking up the MG Mystics too with such strength at both ends? 

Oh yeah, they’re stacked at both ends with Sulu Fitzpatrick and Phoenix Karaka in defence and Grace Nweke in the shooting circle. But it’s the feeding combination with Grace and Peta Toeava that’s super-exciting for me, and I think all of New Zealand will be watching that from a Silver Ferns perspective – Peta was incredible last year and I’m looking forward to watching that grow. But it’s when they’re not firing – who else can stand up for the Mystics? All of the defenders will be going hard on Grace. Defensively, they’re stacked – but it’ll be getting the ball down that’s the key.

Do you think Grace will be feeling more pressure this year with the ANZ Premiership acting, effectively, as one long Silver Ferns trial? So many people are already comparing her to Irene van Dyk! 

Nah – she’s a player that thrives under pressure. She’s a great girl and she knows where her strengths are. I think she’s a confidence player – every time she gets on court, she grows. I feel like she’s gone to another level since the Quad Series.

And of course, there are the defending champions, the Pulse – they’ve got something to prove, right? 

Yeah, and they also have a target on their backs as well. They’ve only had a few changes, they’ve kept their core squad but I feel like they’ll be feeling the pressure that they have to live up to the pressure of what they did last year. Kelly Jury has gone from strength to strength – I’ve loved watching her develop her game. But for me it’s Joyce Mvula, their import player from Malawi and the Manchester Thunder, that’s exciting – we saw in pre-season her connection with Tiana Metuarau growing. But there is still a little hesitancy with some attacking – Joyce has that slightly unconventional Malawi style – but a massively impressive accuracy rate.

Let’s talk about both the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and the Robinhood Stars, both of whom were hit with player injury or unavailability in the pre-season? 

The Steel have lost George Fisher and that was a massive blow. I think they would have been really up there if they had her still. And Kayla Johnson (nee Cullen) is now out for the Stars after announcing she’s pregnant with her second child. But both of these teams have come through adversity before the season’s even started, but it will affect their season.

The Steel do have the Heffernan twins though, which are always an exciting combination to watch – when you know which one is which! 

They do play different positions – Georgia’s a shooter and Kate’s in the midcourt, but they also often wear different shoe colours to help us out! I feel like, is this the year of Georgia Heffernan? Kate’s already made a splash with the Ferns, of course. But she has moments of brilliance and whether or not she’ll take opportunities with two hands, that’s the thing.

And let’s talk the Avis Magic, because history has always taught us to never count them out, right? 

They could be the dark horses, for sure. Attacking-wise, the Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Bailey Mes combination looks unreal. They struggled with their mid-court last year due to injuries – and their big thing this year will be whether they can get the ball in defence and then convert it.

What do you think about the overall vibe of the season? 

I think all of the teams have recruited really well, to be honest. I think it’ll be quite even, and because it’s a World Cup year, it adds another layer. Players will be wanting to do the best for their frachise but selection will be in the back of their brains, especially for players like the Steel’s Sam Winders and the Stars’ Mila Reuelu-Buchanan who are always on the cusp. And in the past, there’s always been a ‘bolter’ – so it’ll be intense!

So, who are you thinking will be in that Grand Final in Hamilton this year? 

Mystics and Tactix! You heard it here first.