The Silver Ferns’ defensive line of Kelly Jackson, Karin Burger and Kate Heffernen are lining up in the Australian competition this season.
Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
Analysis – An exodus of some of the country’s top netballers across the ditch in the off-season has left some ANZ Premiership teams almost unrecognisable and the competition wide open to new title contenders.
Current Silver Ferns Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, and Karin Burger were swooped up by the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) franchises after Netball NZ loosened its eligibility criteria last year.
They have joined Silver Ferns shooter Grace Nweke, who essentially forced Netball NZ to revisit its strict selection policy, when she joined the NSW Swifts last year.
Once the national body relaxed its eligibility rules, six players applied for and were granted exemptions to play in Australia while still being able to play for the Silver Ferns.
Nine current and former Silver Ferns are playing in the SSN this year, including Jane Watson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit, who helped the Tactix win a maiden ANZ Premiership title last year.
The off-shore migration also seemed to spark a shuffling of the deck between franchises, which has meant some teams are almost starting over. But there is one team that remains a familiar threat.
Mystics
Filda Vui is one of the Mystics’ many veterans.
Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The Northern Mystics looked like they were on track to become the first team in the competition’s history to secure a three-peat in 2025 and were red hot favourites going into last year’s final.
But the Mainland Tactix played their best game of the season when it counted to lift the trophy for the very first time.
The 2025 runners-up have the least amount of changes of any of the teams ahead of this year’s premiership, which will make them dangerous again.
With just two new signings and the return of former Silver Fern Phoenix Karaka after the birth of her second child, they will be strong contenders for a record fourth title.
Losing fringe Diamonds shooter Donnell Wallam after just one season was a blow but new recruit Sophia Lafaiali’I impressed when she provided injury cover for Wallam last year.
Maia Wilson has moved to the franchise after nine seasons with the Stars and the former Silver Ferns shooter looked reinvigorated at the pre-season tournament in Ōtaki.
Mystics stalwarts Peta Toeava and Tayla Earle are one of the best midcourt combinations in the league.
Between Karaka, Mickaela Sokolich-Beatson, newly minted Silver Fern Catherine Hall, and Charlotte Manley, the Mystics boast one of the best defensive ends again.
With Filda Vui finishing the 2025 season as the most successful shooter from the two-point range, the side appears to have all bases covered.
Stars
The Stars pulled off a coup when they recruited Amelia Walmsley.
Photo: Photosport
Temepara Bailey endured a rough first season as head coach last year when she lost Greer Sinclair in the very first game to an ACL injury.
Experienced defender Kate Burley also missed most of the season due to a foot injury.
With Burley and Sinclair back, the Stars defensive end won’t leak as many goals as it did last year.
The Stars attacking end was not able to produce the volume of shots needed to be competitive in the league but Bailey has pulled together a dynamic attack line in 2026.
Young Silver Ferns shooters Amelia Walmsley and Martina Salmon are two of five new faces in the side.
Experienced wing attack Claire O’Brien has also been added to the mix, and will provide great service to the shooting end.
She will team up in the midcourt with Silver Fern Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, who has taken over the captaincy after the departure of long-standing skipper Maia Wilson.
The south Auckland based side finished with the wooden spoon last year but could challenge for the title in 2026.
Magic
Georgie Edgecome is one of the most exciting midcourters in the country.
Photo: DJ Mills / www.photosport.nz
The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic lost four players in the off-season including three key performers – Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Claire O’Brien, and Georgia Tong.
The loss of former Silver Ferns captain Ekenasio after four seasons was a blow for the Magic, who finished fifth last year.
It means Saviour Tui will have to become the leader in the shooting end with Kate Taylor only in her second year, and Sarah Guiney signing her first ANZ Premiership contract.
Georgie Edgecombe, who has been named co-captain this year along with Erena Mikaere, will drive the midcourt and win plenty of ball for her side.
Veteran Mikaere always brings a presence to the defence end and will be joined in the circle by new signing Losa Fifita, who along with Guiney and Taylor, was part of last year’s Youth World Cup team.
Rookie Brooklyn Murray has also been elevated to the squad and will most likely play at wing defence. Ariana Cable-Dixon returns to the franchise to provide a safe pair of hands in the midcourt.
Pulse
Ameliaranne Ekenasio returns to Pulse colours.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Following the review of the Silver Ferns eligibility policy, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse lost a large chunk of their core performers in the off-season to overseas leagues.
The Pulse and Tactix both lost seven players each in total – the most changes of any teams for the upcoming season.
Former and current Silver Ferns Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, and Whitney Souness crossed the ditch to Australia, while Tiana Metuarau headed to the English league.
Add to that, the loss of young Silver Ferns shooter Amelia Walmsley and the dependable Fa’amu Muliaga (nee Ioane) to rival ANZ Premiership sides, and the Pulse really were decimated.
The silver lining for the Pulse, who finished third last year, was picking up the prized signature of shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who is returning to the franchise after four years.
Experienced South African import Ine-Mari Venter joins Ekenasio in the circle and if young shooter Khiarna Williams can avoid another injury-plagued season, the Pulse shooting end will be formidable.
Silver Fern Parris Mason will now lead the defensive end, where she will be joined by new Australian signing Holly Comyns, a former U19 Australian squad member.
Other notable recruits include Australian import player Lili Gorman-Brown, who has come from the SSN, and powerful midcourter Emma Thompson, whose 2024 season with the Stars was cut short after a serious knee injury.
Tactix
The Tactix would have been relieved when Erikana Pedersen re-signed.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The defending champions lost a whopping seven players just days after their maiden title victory.
Losing Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Martina Salmon, along with the retirement of Ellie Bird, means a whole new shooting end.
The telepathic defensive combination of Karin Burger and Jane Watson also came to an end when they decided to cross the ditch, while wing defence Paris Lokotui made the switch to rugby.
Australian import shooter Charlie Bell has moved to the franchise, after a disappointing venture at the Stars last year.
She will team up with Hannah Glen, who has returned after two seasons at the Mystics, while the well-travelled Amorangi Malesala will provide much needed experience in the shooting end.
The Tactix’s brand new defensive end might be the youngest in the league but it’s exciting. At just 23, Australian import Ash Barnett is the senior member of the defence end.
The 1.90m tall Laura Balmer has shifted to the franchise with a year at the Pulse under her belt, while her World Youth Cup team-mate Josie Seymour gets her first contract.
Holly Mather and Erikana Pedersen stayed put at the franchise and will form a strong midcourt, along with wily wing defence Fa’amu Muliaga.
The Tactix defence end and midcourt could fire but the Mainlanders might struggle in the shooting end.
Southern Steel
Steel players Aliyah Dunn (left), Georgia Heffernan, and Kimiora Poi (right).
Photo: Marty Melville/Photosport
The Southern Steel, who finished fourth last year, retained seven of last year’s 10 players and might just push their way into play-off contention this year.
Goal shoot Aliyah Dunn provides one of the strongest targets in the ANZ Premiership and will pair up again with Georgia Heffernan, who impressed in her return to the Silver Ferns last year.
The Steel lost their most consistent performer and leader when Kate Heffernan took up contract in the Australian league.
But Silver Fern Kimiora Poi has got plenty of experience to lead the way in the midcourt, along with exciting young wing attack Serina Daunakamakama. Poi’s younger sister Ashleigh has picked up her first contract, after several seasons in the NNL (National Netball League).
Moving south seemed to work wonders for defender Carys Stythe last season and led to a Silver Ferns debut. She will team up with Kanye Munro-Nonoa, who earnt a full contract after impressing as injury cover last year. Munro-Nonoa won the Aspiring Silver Fern award and was named NZ Under-21 Player of the Year at the end of 2025.
Coach Wendy Frew recruited two Australian import players from Queensland’s semi-pro league, including versatile attacker Josie Bingham, and defender Jess Milne, who got her SSN debut last year as injury cover.
Top three predictions
Mystics – to win a record fourth title
Stars – runner up
Steel – third
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.