Mystics announce first three signings for 2017

The SKYCITY Mystics have re-signed star defender Anna Harrison for New Zealand’s ANZ Netball Elite League where she is set to form an exciting partnership with new signing Storm Purvis.

The duo will be joined by rising mid-courter Samon Nathan.

SKYCITY Mystics chief executive Julie Paterson said she was delighted to announce the player signings as they looked ahead to the exciting new league.

“We want to continue to build on our existing strengths. At the same time, now is the perfect opportunity to secure Auckland players who are committed to the SKYCITY Mystics, our fan base and Netball community,” Paterson said.

“Our focus remains on players who have been through the programmes within our Zone and who work hard to grow our high performance culture.”

Harrison, a mother-of two and with 79 Test Caps, has only ever pulled on the Mystics strip in the semi-professional era and was a key figure in helping the side reach the Finals Series of this year’s ANZ Championship.

It is the first time she will team up with Purvis but the two Silver Ferns’ Netball Quad Series team members both offer a vast amount of experience at Netball’s elite level.

Purvis, who was born in Christchurch but grew up in Auckland, started her playing career with Auckland Waitakere and Auckland Diocesan School where she was coached by Helene Wilson who will coach the Mystics next year. She joins the Mystics from the Southern Steel where she has been for the past six years.

Midcourter Nathan, 23, is also returning to her netballing roots after a season with the Central Pulse where she made an impact coming off the bench in her rookie year.

Nathan, who can cover all three midcourt positions, grew up in Auckland playing Netball across three centres including Waitakere, North Harbour and Auckland. She was a member of the Northern under-23 side which won the 2015 Netball NZ National Champs.