New Zealand's top netballers are confident they won't lose any ground against Australia when the new domestic competition starts this weekend, despite it missing their old rivals.
Anna Harrison of the Mystics with an intercept against Chelsea Locke of the Pulse. 2016 ANZ Championship Photo: Photosport
The two countries decided to part ways last year and set up their own standalone leagues and our elite netballers are determined it won't compromise our footing at the international level.
After nine years of trans-Tasman netball, the lop-sided results in Australia's favour, meant the split was inevitable.
The new ANZ Premiership features five of the existing franchises, in addition to the new Northern Stars team, based in South Auckland.
Southern Steel captain Wendy Frew who played in the old domestic league before it was replaced by the trans-Tasman competition, is excited about a return to the old days.
"For me I was playing when it was the Sting days and we were doing the New Zealand derby matches so it's quite exciting to go back to that and there's a lot of hype around it which is really refreshing and I know everyone's eager to get into it."
At the same time Frew said they had definitely learnt lessons from playing in the now defunct competition.
"I feel like as Kiwis we have learnt a lot from being in the Australian league and it will develop our game and I think we'll bring a wee bit to the table that's different but I think it's come a long way since we've played with the Aussies too."
Silver Fern Te Paea Selby-Rickit shoots over Sharni Layton during an encounter with the Australian Diamonds. Photo: PhotoSport
There is some concern that by not playing Australian sides regularly that the gap between the Silver Ferns and the world champions will grow.
But others believe the trans-Tasman competition may have actually been detrimental to New Zealand teams, who at times tried to replicate the Australian style of play.
Experienced Australian coach Julie Hoornweg was brought over to lead the new Northern Stars outfit and is impressed by the natural flair that players here possess.
"They are just so athletic, and every training session, I go 'wow, where did that come from? How did they do that? Or wow, look at that opportunity'. So it's just been delightful."
Julie Hoornweg said it was a matter of fully harnessing those talents.
"It's about how to bring those qualities out in a game and practising the sorts of things and at the intensity you need to practice at training so I think probably the training is what I noticed was a little different."
Julie Hoornweg will coach the new Auckland-based franchise in the ANZ Netball Elite League. Photo: Photosport
Should netball fans here be worried about the split?
"Not if you go about your job really well, train with intensity and play at the top level, I wouldn't be all that worried," said the Northern Stars' foundation coach.
Hoornweg said with three teams added to the Australian league, some of the early results suggested that it may have watered down some of the competition there.
"I'm not sure that the Australian competition is going to be as even as it needs to be, that it might start drifting apart. If you don't have competitive games it doesn't matter how much talent you've got you need that tight match play to put pressure on and have critical moments, and I think there'll be plenty of those over here."
The other Australian coaching in New Zealand's competition, Sue Hawkins, is all for the breakaway.
"I think it's going to really bring back identity in to New Zealand. That was the rivalry way back when I played was how good New Zealand was in the aerial game and their ability to steal ball and that's what I'm looking forward to seeing out on New Zealand courts again," said the Mainland Tactix coach.
Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua returns to the court after a year out following the birth of her first child.
It is a highly anticipated comeback but Kopua is being cautious about her Silver Ferns prospects.
Casey Kopua Photo: Photosport
She said there had been no change to training standards at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic just because Australia had departed the competition.
"Expectations are training and everything is we're trying to be world class and trying to hit those gold standards because the rest of the New Zealand teams are still very competitive and will be doing the same thing."
The new coach of the Central Pulse, Yvette McCausland-Durie, is also the Silver Ferns assistant coach.
She said the new competition, coupled with the introduction of the Beko league last year, which underpins top tier netball, was good for player development.
At 16-years-old Tiana Metuarau, the daughter of Silver Ferns legend Wai Taumaunu, will be the youngest player in the ANZ Premiership when she bibs up for the Pulse.
McCausland-Durie said she was looking forward to seeing a lot of young players on this platform.
"Across all teams there are a number of really young players who may not have had this opportunity earlier and I think people like Tiana [Metuarau] ...while she will be the youngest player in the premiership, she has been around a high performance environment for a very long time," .
As for who might take out the title - the Southern Steel are firm favourites after retaining most of their squad from the one that won the minor premiership last year.
The competition kicks off on Sunday in Hamilton with a 'Super' round, featuring all six teams.
