All six National Netball League (NNL) teams will take to the court this weekend in the first full round of one the sport’s key performance pathways.
A COVID-disrupted season last year resulted in two false starts for the National Netball League – which sits directly below the ANZ Premiership and is aimed at strengthening Netball New Zealand’s performance pathways – and it was eventually cancelled.
Now six teams, aligned with the ANZ Premiership franchises, are set to put weeks of pre-season into action on Sunday where the Central Manawa will host the Waikato-BOP in Wellington, the Southern Blast travel to Auckland to meet the Northern Marvels and the Northern Comets and Mainland go head-to-head in Papakura.
The NNL (formerly known as the Beko League) has been an important stepping stone for a number of New Zealand’s elite netballers including Karin Burger (Tactix), Tiana Metuarau (Steel), Grace Nweke (Mystics), Elle Temu (Stars), Parris Mason (Pulse) and Khiarna Williams (Magic), to name just a few, who have gone on to compete in the ANZ Premiership and higher honours.
Other NNL athletes have already been called upon to take the step up this season with Waikato-BOP’s Ivana Rowland on loan to Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse for the early stages of the ANZ Premiership.
It is also a pathway for those looking to return to the top level after injury with the likes of Steel shooters Jen O’Connell and Georgia Heffernan (knee) both set to use this year’s NNL in their return to play.
The Northern Comets have already flexed their muscle when opening the NNL in Invercargill against the Southern Blast last week – a commanding 30-goal win ensuring they will be a team to watch this season.
Coached by former Silver Fern Temepara Bailey, the Comets dominated from the start led by a stand-out shooting performance from Maine-Crystal Maro and an imposing defensive duo in Francesca Tua and Nanise Waqaira.
There are other former Silver Ferns taking the reins of NNL teams including midcourter Julie Seymour who will juggle her time between an assistant coach role with The Good Oil Tactix and head coach of Mainland.
It is a similar position for former Ferns shooter Jo Morrison who will balance her time with the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel and the Southern Blast.
The NNL will run over 11 rounds, including seven matches to be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3, culminating in a Grand Final on 4 July at The Trusts Arena in Auckland.