Tactix coach Donna Wilkins on her champion squad being turned upside down and why the ANZ Premiership must remain
Friday, 10 April 2026
Title-winning Tactix coach Donna Wilkins has a clear message for the Netball New Zealand decision makers.
The 10th edition of the ANZ Premiership starts on Saturday with uncertainty around the future direction of the competition for the second straight season.
How New Zealand’s elite domestic netball league looks and whether there will even be one for 2027 has not been confirmed by NNZ.
These are interesting old times for New Zealand elite netballers. NNZ are on the hunt for a long-term chief executive and new board chair with Jennie Wyllie and Matt Whineray both resigning after an ugly end to 2025, dominated by the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s season opener against the Steel at Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena, Wilkins urged NNZ to provide some much-needed clarity for the players.
“We have to have a [New Zealand-based] competition. We’re not going to get six teams into the Australian competition. Is that the right pathway for us to go over there and play? We’ve got to look after these players, keep them in the game, so we’re having growth,” she said.
While it was unsettling for players going into a new season with no answers around what the future held, Wilkins said they had tried to focus on the present.
Their immediate priority was winning games of netball and starting the competition strongly. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, or months, NNZ would have some transparency around 2027 and the long-term direction of the ANZ Premiership.
“Our focus is this campaign and our home court on Saturday against the Steel. I’m sure [NNZ are] working really hard to try and come up with some options for us for 2027, but I’m just focusing on this year. I don’t even know what I’m doing next year. It’s all about these girls and the here and now.”
The defending champion Tactix faced the daunting scenario of losing seven members of their title-winning squad.
They have a completely new-look shooting end and defensive circle with captain Erikana Pedersen, Holly Mather, and Parris Petera (all midcourters) the lone fully contracted members back from last season.
Wilkins always sensed there would be some turnover, regardless of whether they captured the title, given where some of their squad were at in their careers.
Tactix veterans Jane Watson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit both departed for the bright lights of Australian Super Netball, as did star Silver Ferns defender Karin Burger. Shooter Ellie Bird has retired, while Martina Salmon has joined the south Auckland-based Stars and Paris Lokotui has switched to rugby, being confirmed in the Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki squad on Thursday.
“They’ve been so good for the Tactix franchise, you can’t begrudge them going and it’s exciting and what a great opportunity for the youth to come through,” Wilkins said.
Filling the void of those pivotal performers are Australian duo, shooter Charlie Bell (a temporary injury replacement player for the Tactix in 2024) and defender Ash Barnett, who has plenty to prove after missing a Super Netball contract. Bell played for the Stars in the ANZ Premiership last year.
The Tactix have snared Pulse trio, two-point shooting gun Amorangi Malesala, defender Laura Balmer, and experienced wing defence Fa’amu Muliaga, nee Ioane. Wing defence-goal defence Josie Seymour, the daughter of Silver Ferns and Canterbury netball great Julie Seymour, also earned her first full contract.
Wilkins was chuffed they had managed to retain long-serving captain Pedersen, the team’s longest tenured player. Pedersen is back for her 10th season with the team and is a vital cog in the midcourt from the wing attack or centre positions.
She labelled Pedersen the best wing attack in the ANZ Premiership last season and believed she had gone from strength to strength in the captaincy role.
Even though the Tactix squad looked almost unrecognisable from 12 months ago, Pedersen was impressed how the new additions had fitted in and how combinations were coming together.
“Players have brought their uniqueness and their strengths into this team as well. It’s not going to be probably our usual style or what people are used to seeing, but I think that’s exciting for our region. It’s exciting for the game as well,” Pedersen said.
AT A GLANCE:
Tactix 2026 squad
Shooters: Charlie Bell (Australia), Hannah Glen, Amorangi Malesala
Midcourters: Erikana Pedersen (capt), Holly Mather, Fa’amu Muliaga (nee Ioane), Parris Petera
Defenders: Laura Balmer, Ash Barnett (Australia), Josie Seymour.
Major gains: Charlie Bell (Stars), Hannah Glen (Mystics), Amorangi Malesala (Pulse), Fa’amu Muliaga (Pulse), Laura Balmer (Pulse), Ash Barnett (Australia).
Major losses: Karin Burger (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Jane Watson (Giants Netball), Ellie Bird (retired), Martina Salmon (Stars), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Queensland Firebirds), Paris Lokotui (rugby), Charli Fidler (Birmingham Panthers).