Change in the air as new-look ANZ Premiership gets underway

Saturday, 10 May 2025

The ANZ Premiership could be set for a significant shake-up

ANALYSIS: New Zealand elite netballers can finally exhale.

At last they have some clarity around the future of domestic netball as edition nine of the ANZ Premiership starts on Saturday.

Netball New Zealand (NNZ) confirmed at Monday’s season launch the six-team league, which has run since 2017, will remain for 2026.

Prior to that there had been uncertainty around the direction of the competition and what shape it would take in the future.

There were rumblings there could be some trans-Tasman crossover component at the end of the season, which may still happen. Whispers of several Kiwi teams competing in Australia’s Super Netball, or even a full blown New Zealand-Australia reunion (remember the ANZ Championship which ran from 2008-16), even surfaced.

While the ANZ Premiership will continue for now, there is still plenty to unpack.

Leading Silver Ferns Ameliaranne Ekenasio (Magic) and Kelly Jackson (Pulse) pictured at the ANZ Premiership season launch.

NNZ’s broadcasting deal with Sky ends after this season and the governing body is exploring all options for the future with traditional media and/or streaming.

Broadcasting revenue is paramount to elite netball in New Zealand and covers the salary caps of the six premiership teams.

Silver Ferns and Magic captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio was pleased to have clarity for the premiership and said it had been an anxious time for players, coaches, and support staff.

Comedians Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce pictured at the ANZ Premiership season launch in Auckland.

“Leading up to that point yeah it’s like not knowing if you’ve got a job, no matter how well you do,” Ekenasio told The Post.

“It definitely was a real worry point. As athletes you pour every single thing into your career and for that to be up in the air it definitely was a worry. For us, we’ve got a family. That’s a bit of a scary reality to be facing, not having a job. It is nice now knowing we have something in the pipeline.”

What happens beyond 2026 will need to be addressed by NNZ in time.

Swifts goal shoot Grace Nweke brings in the ball against the Melbourne Mavericks in Super Netball this season.

Much has changed in Kiwi netball since the Mystics hoisted the title at Wellington’s TSB Arena in August, edging the Pulse in a dramatic grand final finish.

In two huge off-season storylines, New Zealand’s best netballer Grace Nweke packed her bags for the NSW Swifts in Australia’s Super Netball. In doing so, Nweke, who was instrumental in helping the Mystics to back-to-back titles, became ineligible to represent the Silver Ferns, at least for this year.

Nweke has excelled for the table-topping Swifts, who are unbeaten through four games. She is the most prolific goal-scorer in Super Netball with 202, even without scoring any ‘Super Shot’ long range goals.

Magic captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio puts up a shot at the ANZ Premiership season launch.

NNZ followed in the footsteps of Australia and England’s domestic competitions, bringing in the two point ‘Super Shot’ for this season.

The two point shot will be active in the final five minutes of each quarter. Shooters must be at least 3.5m away from the goalpost for the two point shot to count (as with the Fast5 shortened version). Only the goal shoot and goal attack are allowed to put up ‘Super Shot’ attempts.

The rule change was years in the making and got the green light late last year after overwhelming support from players, coaches, team chief executives, and other stakeholders in their end of season feedback.

Pulse goal keep Kelly Jackson controls the ball against the Magic last season.

It won’t be the only innovation.

There will also be a coach’s box designated space in front of the team’s bench to allow more direct engagement and strategic communication with players.

Each team will be able to call one strategic timeout per half (must be requested by an on-court player after a goal is scored). Umpires will wear microphones with live audio broadcast in the stadium to provide fans greater insight into officiating decisions and improving clarity.

Magic wing attack Claire O'Brien earned first-time selection to the Silver Ferns last year after a breakout ANZ Premiership season.

If that’s a lot to take in, the ANZ Premiership will also run to a condensed two full round schedule this year, down from three (15 round games to 10).

Many believed the competition dragged on too long. Playing each side three times in round play had become dull.

Teams knew they could drop a few games early and still make the top three finals. The intensity should only ramp up with five fewer round matches and less margin for error.

Vast changes aside, the importance of the ANZ Premiership cannot be understated.

Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua and the national selectors will be glued to every game with positions in the side always open.

Last year, Pulse defender Parris Mason, Magic wing attack Claire O’Brien and midcourter Kimiora Poi, now at the Steel, forced their way into the Ferns with standout campaigns.

With Nweke set to be unavailable and fellow shooting talent Amelia Walmsley also likely out (representing the New Zealand under-21s at September’s Netball Youth World Cup), the shooting stocks will need bolstering.

This is a quieter year for the Silver Ferns, but with the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney looming, Taurua will be planning carefully for those pinnacle events.

AT A GLANCE:

ANZ Premiership round one:

Saturday, 4pm: Pulse v Magic at Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North

Sunday, 4pm: Mystics v Stars at Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland

Sunday, 7pm: Tactix v Steel at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch