1 week done, 9 more to go plus two extra when it comes to the Finals in this brand-new ANZ Premiership Season for 2025.
Both Tactix and Steel were side-by-side for the most part even though Steel lacked some quality due to injury. But what made one team stood out over the other was the use of subs as well as those tactics/game-plan where one could not see this coming.
What that said, Tactix came from behind by a single goal (26-27) at half-time to closing out on what has been a triumphant victory in front of their home fans, 57-50.
Happening Elsewhere
While the Pulse were comprehensive over the Magic (57-44) yesterday, Mystics also off to a flying start from earlier this afternoon over fellow Auckland side in the Stars (55-71). Gotta feel for those three Stars players being shot down due to injury unfortunately in Kate Burley, Greer Sinclair and Charlie Bell. Don’t know what else to say as this reminds me with Mila Relelu-Buchanan last year when she had a knee injury of her own that took many months to recover from her ACL before she was able to return at the start of this year.
And over in Australia’s Super Netball, glad to see the Swifts still unbeaten who has just wrote off the Melbourne Vixens but not so much for the Giants v SC Lightning.
Yes, Giants did win v Adelaide Thunderbirds last week but maybe T-Birds might’ve had some of their own injury issues & Giants took advantage of it.
Top 3 players
Take a bow Martina Salmon! Yes, she may not have been given the starting nod over Ellie Bird. But hey, her presence within the circle as goal shoot changed everything that the Steel couldn’t stop off-guard including that stunning two-point shot.
If one sub wasn’t enough that turned up the heat for the Tactix, especially when playing at home – how about another in Parris Petera at Wing Attack?
She and Salmon just came over from the Central Pulse btw where Petera & Salmon understood each other and you just cannot underestimate the way Tactix funnelled their passage of play.
They were relived to put this into bed with the good use of the Tactix’s stronghold bench by Donna Wilkins following a competive 2/3rds of tonight’s game that turned into a comfortable last quarter.
Carys Stythe – she has sure tightened up the Southern Steel defense as the mainstay GK now from the championship-winning Mystics. Her towering presence provided real frustration at times to the Tactix where Stythe’s new team gave themselves breathing room to stay on top of things as said with a robust squad that Wendy Frew added in the off-season.
Shoutout also to Liana Leota who just had played a bit of game time in a long time actually even though her main role is to be No.2 assistant coach to Frew. But the only reason why she was there because Steel were short-staffed due to injuries such as the one of the other co-captains in Kate Heffernan.
Although Steel’s boost of quality players has given themselves a fair fight along the way as sure we will that continue – fingers crossed with the group fully fit to take on the rest of this ANZP comp. Unfortunately, they’ve just lacked the right calls as well as the necessary experience required to close out games strong.
