Steel, Tactix fight for comforts of home

The Mystics might have secured top spot and a place in the grand final, but the Tactix and Steel have it all to play for in the final round of the ANZ Premiership.

Fight for home elimination final

Next Sunday’s elimination final will feature South Island sides, the Tactix and Steel, but whether the game is played in Christchurch or Invercargill is unclear.

The Tactix and Steel enter the final round tied for second on 30 points, but the Tactix own the tiebreaker courtesy of a superior goal percentage (104.2 v 102). The Steel play first, hosting the Pulse today, and need to win to have any shot of finishing second. It’s a formidable final game for the Tactix, taking on the premiership-leading Mystics in Christchurch tomorrow.

If the Tactix lose and the Steel win, they’d be off to Stadium Southland for the elimination final.

Amazing Grace

Congratulations to Mystics’ sharpshooter Grace Nweke, who is Stuff’s inaugural ANZ Premiership MVP winner. Nweke holds a four-point lead with one round to play from Tactix defender Karin Burger and can’t be caught.

After each game 3-2-1 points were awarded by the reporter covering the match. The 19-year-old is a deserving recipient, playing a crucial part in the Mystics’ success, which has seen them qualify for the August 8 grand final in Auckland. The form goal shoot in the premiership, Nweke must be named in the Silver Ferns’ national squad on August 10 with a test debut looming later in the year.

Off-season moves

The Stars, Pulse, and Magic won’t play finals netball this season and will all be thinking about their squads for 2022. After starting 5-0 and looking like early title favourites, the Stars imploded, losing six of their next nine, including four straight, following Monday’s 46-45 defeat to the Steel.

The Stars would be silly if they didn’t enquire about Sam Winders’ availability. Winders has spent her entire career at the Magic and is fiercely loyal to her home region, but would be an excellent fit in the Stars’ midcourt.

As for the Magic, Katrina Rore and Kayla Johnson, ne´e Cullen, both new mothers, will be names to monitor. Rore and husband Joel reside in Rotorua in Magic country and after a season away, she might want a fresh start.

Johnson is understood to be keen to return to elite netball. With rugby league-playing husband Shaun returning to the Warriors, she could be on the radar of the Magic or Auckland teams.

Coaching opportunities

Two of the six premiership teams are on the hunt for new coaches next season with Gail Parata stepping aside from the Pulse after just one season. The Magic are also looking to replace Amigene Metcalfe, who is moving on after three

You’ve got to feel for Parata. She inherited a rough situation with club legend Rore (new mother) unavailable and Karin Burger and Tiana Metuarau leaving in the offseason. The Pulse expected to have Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio anchoring their attack end, but she missed the start of the season with mental fatigue, then announced she was pregnant and wouldn’t play in 2021.

Game of the round?

Tactix v Mystics: Depending what happens with the Steel game today, this could have plenty riding on it for the Tactix. Both games between the sides this season have been cliffhangers, decided by one goal, and each team having a victory. It should be another classic with the battle between Nweke and the terrific Tactix defensive unit of Jane Watson and Burger having a huge bearing on the result.