New-look squad, no problem for defending champion Mainland Tactix
Sunday, 19 April 2026
New-look squad, no problem for coach Donna Wilkins and her defending champion Mainland Tactix in netball’s ANZ Premiership.
With just three contracted players back from last season including captain Erikana Pedersen, the Tactix are the only unbeaten side after two rounds thanks to an authoritative 53-48 win over Central Pulse in Christchurch on Sunday.
Led by slick shooting performances from Australian Charlie Bell (29/31) and former Pulse goal attack Amorangi Malesala (22/25), the Tactix drew clear to lead by 10 at three-quarter time and it was game over, for their eighth successive home win.
The match of the round between two winning sides from week one was a replay of last year’s elimination final which the Tactix won 57-52.
Both sides are barely recognisable with their Silver Ferns stars absent in Australia’s Super Netball and plenty of player movement across the country.
The Tactix have recruited smartly and three new arrivals from the Pulse - Malesala, defender Laura Balmer and wing defence Fa’amu Muliaga (nee Ioane) - were big contributors.
Balmer and Australian goal keep Ash Barnett were a daunting defensive duo while Malesala was excellent and showed her two-point shot prowess.
Wilkins was heard to tell her side at quarter time: “We are fitter. We can sustain this work rate,” and so it proved in a crucial second quarter when they restricted the visitors to just seven goals.
The Pulse struggled for momentum and their big signing - former Silver Ferns skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio - only let fly with her first two-point shot with three minutes remaining. Ekenasio shot eight from 10 while South African Ine-Mari Venter went 35 from 42 to tell a story of the Tactix defence.
Stung by a 13-goal loss to a vastly altered Tactix side in their season opener, the Steel delivered the bounce-back showing coach Wendy Frew demanded.
Back in front of their vociferous home fans in Invercargill, the Steel resembled a different side, toppling the Stars, fresh off an impressive first round win, 69-60.
While it was not quite must-win material, the Steel were desperate to avoid an 0-2 start and it showed in their play on-court.
Aliyah Dunn was central to the their success, producing a blinder with 54 goals from 56 attempts, mixed in with three rebounds. Silver Fern Georgia Heffernan was a perfect foil, converting 13 from 14 (including 2/2 from two point range) and firing off 25 goal assists.
Willed on by their vocal home crowd, the Steel brought the energy defensively with Carys Stythe leading the way with four intercepts and two deflections.
The Steel coughed up 26 turnovers in their opening round loss, but showed greater care with possession against the Stars.
An emphatic 21-7 second quarter from the Steel proved the critical moment in the match after the Stars had led 19-15 after the first term.
They were not the only first round loser to rebound win a win. The Northern Mystics outclassed the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic 57-37 in Tauranga in Saturday’s other match, having lost the Auckland derby to the Stars in week one.
The Mystics had too much quality across the court for the Magic. Even without injured midcourters Tayla Earle and Katie Te Ao, the Mystics controlled the contest.
Defensively, the Mystics set the tone, limiting the Magic to 37 goals with Catherine Hall and the vastly experienced Phoenix Karaka in dominant touch.
With the Mystics in charge on the scoreboard, they were able to mix up the shooting workload. Sophia Lafaiali'i, who took her chance last year when injury hit, again showed she belongs at this level, slotting 19 from 21 in 23 minutes on court, including one two-point shot.
The Mystics’ shooting trio of Maia Wilson, Filda Vui and Lafaiali'i missed just eight of their combined 64 attempts (88%), compared to the Magic, who landed a sub-par 67% (35 from 52).
The Magic - who host the Tactix on Saturday - have now lost seven straight games, dating back to last season, with their last win coming on June 9.