Milestone moments at the half-way point
The half-way point of the ANZ Premiership is here. Six rounds have been completed, and with it we have seen experienced hands stand tall and youngsters burst onto the scene.
ANZPremiership.co.nz takes a look at the milestone moments at the half-way mark of the league…
150 matches
It’s a milestone many players can only dream about, wearing their team colours and playing top flight Netball for 150 matches.
For five players, they’ve done just that across the course of the previous National Bank Cup, Trans-Tasman Netball League and now the ANZ Premiership.
Northern Stars captain Leana de Bruin is the league’s highest capped player – a total 187 combined national league caps to her name, as at the end of Round 6 (56 NBC, 124 ANZC, 7 ANZP).
During the first half of the season, WBOP Magic captain Casey Kopua (Round 1), SKYCITY Mystics co-captain Maria Tutaia (Round 2), Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew (Round 5) and Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse shooter Cathrine Tuivaiti (Round 6) all played their 150th combined national league match.
100 matches
Mystics co-captain Anna Harrison celebrated her 100th combined national league match in Round 2. Anna played 45 NBC and 53 ANZC matches prior to the start of the ANZ Premiership season.
50 matches
Four players have hit the half century mark during the ANZ Premiership; Steel shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Mystics shooter Bailey Mes, Pulse defender Phoenix Karaka and most recently Silvermoon Tactix defender Zoe Walker.
Debutants
The moment you get handed a bib, tapped on the shoulder, or hear your name read out in the line-up is one players say they never forget.
In 2017, 27 players have made their national league debut at the halfway mark of the ANZ Premiership. These players have ranged from international imports, right through to some youngsters who are making their mark.
These players include:
Monica Falkner, Magic – Round 1
Emma Iversen, Stars – Round 1
Alex MacLeod-Smith, Magic – Round 1
Lenize Potgieter, Magic – Round 1
Afa Rusivakula, Stars – Round 1
Sara Bayman, Pulse – Round 1
Sasha Corbin, Mystics – Round 1
Kadeen Corbin, Tactix – Round 1
Grace Kukutai, Magic – Round 1
Tiana Metuarau, Pulse – Round 1
BrookeWatt, Mystics – Round 1
Kate Burley, Stars – Round 1
Jamie Hume, Steel – Round 1
Kate Lloyd, Tactix – Round 1
Ariana Cable-Dixon – Round 1
Christina Oscar, Stars – Round 2
Karin Burger, Pulse – Round 2
Ngawai Eyles, Steel – Round 3
Tera-Maria Amani, Mystics – Round 3
Mahara Feala, Tactix – Round 3
Tauhi Lopeti, Mystics – Round 3
Amorangi Malesala, Magic – Round 5
Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Pulse – Round 6
Aliyah Dunn, Steel – Round 6
Mererangi Paul, Mystics - Round 6
Ellie Bird, Tactix - Round 6
With 25 matches to play until the inaugural Grand Final, ANZPremiership.co.nz looks forward to bringing fans more milestone moments.