“It gives us the option to be able to put anyone out there. We ve got a good mix of experience and youth, and hopefully we can bring those youthful players through to play a good season, which will hopefully put them on the path to national honours.” For Southern Steel captain Shannon Saunders, it was her young team’s potential to grow over the course of the season. “We have such a good vibe off the court and we have so much fun, so I m really looking forward to seeing that translate onto the court,” she said. For Mainland Tactix captain Jane Watson it was the fact that her side have held on to six of the seven starters from last year’s grand final loss to the Central Pulse, replacing the lone departee, Temalisi Fakahokotau, with fellow Silver Fern Karin Burger.
Australian shooting great Caitlin Bassett brings star-power to the ANZ Premiership with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
The fifth edition of the ANZ Premiership begins next Sunday with the two-time defending champion Pulse getting the competition started against the new look Northern Stars, who have recruited strongly. BRENDON EGAN looks at five players, who will be under the spotlight this season and must shine for their teams.
CAITLIN BASSETT (MAGIC) All eyes will be on Australian legend Bassett when she makes her premiership debut for the Magic against the Mystics next Monday. The 102-cap test veteran will play under traditional netball rules in New Zealand after she was effectively forced out of Australia s Super Netball due to the controversial ‘super shot’ two-point rule. If Bassett wants to feature for Australia at next year’s Commonwealth Games, she’ll need to regain top form for the Magic. Bassett lost her Australian starting goal shoot role to Cara Koenen in Ma
PACNEWS
Kelera Nawai. Picture: RNZ
AUCKLAND, 09 MARCH 2021 (RNZ PACIFIC) – Fijian defender Kelera Nawai is being tipped as one to watch after joining the champion Central Pulse for this year’s ANZ Premiership netball league.
The 23-year-old first came to New Zealand on a scholarship to St Andrews College seven years ago and was selected for the Fiji Pearls while still at school.
Nawai was a training partner with the Mainland Tactix in 2017 and played for the regional development team before visa issues forced her to return to Fiji.
The Fiji Peals international married in 2018 and had a baby boy before returning to New Zealand the following year to join her husband, who was working in South Canterbury.
Fijian defender Kelera Nawai is being tipped as one to watch after joining the champion Central Pulse for this year s ANZ Premiership netball league.
The 23-year-old first came to New Zealand on a scholarship to St Andrews College seven years ago and was selected for the Fiji Pearls while still at school.
Fiji Pearls defender Kelera Nawai will play for the Pulse in 2021.
Photo: Supplied/PhotoWellington
Nawai was a training partner with the Mainland Tactix in 2017 and played for the regional development team before visa issues forced her to return to Fiji.
The Fiji Peals international married in 2018 and had a baby boy before returning to New Zealand the following year to join her husband, who was working in South Canterbury.
No member of the squad, outside experienced shooter Bailey Mes, had previously touched the Constellation Cup, so to beat Australia three times in four games was a huge accomplishment. Ekenasio was delighted to get the silverware back in Netball New Zealand s trophy cabinet after nearly a decade across the ditch.
Peter Meecham/Getty Images
The Silver Ferns are all smiles after ending their nine-year Constellation Cup drought against Australia. The Ferns’ Constellation Cup success completes a rapid rise for the team under netball mastermind Dame Noeline Taurua, who took over from Janine Southby after the dark days of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.