The Mainland Tactix celebrate winning last year's ANZ Premiership crown. Photo / Photosport
Merryn Anderson for LockerRoom
With a mass exodus of Silver Ferns across the ditch to play in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball league, and a move to free-to-air broadcasting, the 2026 ANZ Premiership is shaping up to be a curious experiment.
There are nine players with Ferns caps playing in the Australian competition this year, with seven who played in last year’s Kiwi competition either receiving exemptions to still play for the Ferns or simply taking the risk.
All six ANZ Premiership coaches return to their respective sides, but that’s just about the only constant, with multiple teams retaining only a handful of players. Both the Stars and Mystics boast four current Silver Ferns squad members, with two at the Steel, and one apiece at the Magic and Pulse.
Expect a shake-up in the ladder this year, with plenty of off-season signings and departures creating a big unknown. But here’s all the preparation you need before the season kicks off on Saturday.
2025 finish: 1st
2026 team: Amorangi Malesala, Hannah Glen, Charlie Bell, Holly Mather, Erikana Pedersen, Fa’amu Muliaga (née Ioane), Parris Petera, Josie Seymour, Ash Barnett, Laura Balmer
In: Malesala, Glen, Bell, Muliaga, Seymour, Barnett, Balmer
Out: Ellie Bird, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Martina Salmon, Paris Lokotui, Karin Burger, Jane Watson, Charli Fidler
Coach: Donna Wilkins
With only three returning players from last year’s premiership-winning team, the Tactix have a big hill to climb if they want to finish on top again. While their midcourt stays very similar – losing Paris Lokotui, but gaining Fa’amu Muliaga from the Pulse – the shooting and defensive ends have completely changed, and the team has no current Silver Fern squad members.
Australian Charlie Bell was one of the most accurate goal shooters in the competition last season for the Stars, with a 93% accuracy from the one-point zone. She’ll team up in the red dress with one of the most prolific two-point shooters in the competition, Amorangi Malesala, who sank 22 super shots last year.
Karin Burger and Jane Watson have both left to play in Australia, for the Lightning and the Giants respectively, leaving the Tactix with a comparatively inexperienced defensive end. Laura Balmer moves south from the Pulse, and Josie Seymour (daughter of Ferns legend Julie) makes the step up from the National Netball League (NNL) to her first professional contract. The defensive end is completed by Ash Barnett, jumping over the ditch after playing for the Queensland Firebirds last year, and being a solid performer in age-group and reserves netball.
2025 finish: 2nd
2026 team: Maia Wilson, Filda Vui, Sophia Lafaiali’i, Peta Toeava, Katie Te Ao, Tayla Earle, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Catherine Hall, Phoenix Karaka, Charlotte Manley
In: Wilson, Lafaiali’i, Karaka
Out: Donnell Wallam, Hannah Glen, Holly Rae
Coach: Tia Winikerei
The Mystics boast the most unchanged squad in the competition this year, with just three new faces in their roster. Featuring in four of the last five ANZ Premiership finals, and winning three titles since 2021, the Mystics are a consistent team and look to put that brand of netball out on court again this year.
Their import Donnell Wallam has returned to Australia this season, but they gain the experienced Maia Wilson, who has moved across Auckland after nine years at the Stars. Wilson has 52 caps for the Silver Ferns and can play both shooting positions, which leaves room for one of the breakout stars of last season.
Sophia Lafaiali’i was elevated to the Mystics squad last year when Wallam was injured, and immediately made a name for herself with her confidence and skill. She earns a full contract this year, and fans will look forward to seeing her connection with Wilson and with goal attack and new Silver Fern Filda Vui.
The solid Mystics midcourt remains the same, and in the defensive end, Catherine Hall, Charlotte Manley and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson return, alongside Phoenix Karaka, who comes back to the Mystics after having her second child in April last year.
2025 finish: 3rd
2026 team: Ine-Marí Venter, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Khiarna Williams, Lili Gorman-Brown, Erana Ngarimu, Emma Thompson, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Holly Comyns, Parris Mason, Madi Thomas
In: Venter, Ekenasio, Gorman-Brown, Ngarimu, Thompson, Comyns, Thomas
Out: Amelia Walmsley, Tiana Metuarau, Whitney Souness, Maddy Gordon, Fa’amu Muliaga, Laura Balmer, Kelly Jackson
Coach: Anna Andrews-Tasola
There’s a long list of Silver Ferns who’ve departed the Pulse this season, and only one current national squad member in Parris Mason, but the team are boosted by the return of former Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
Ekenasio has been playing in the ANZ Premiership/Championship since 2010. Her experience at domestic and international level sees her named co-captain of the Pulse, alongside Mason.
They aren’t the only squad members with international experience, though. Ekenasio is joined in the shooting circle by Ine-Marí Venter, who made her debut for South Africa 10 years ago, amassing over 50 caps. Khiarna Williams rounds out the shooting end, a talented player who’s been marred by injuries over her career.
Local youngsters Erana Ngarimu and Madi Thomas are making the step up to elite netball, both travelling through the Pulse pathways. Ngarimu made her ANZ Premiership debut last season, while defender Thomas had her U21 dream ended when a freak netball injury left her with two broken arms last year.
Midcourter Emma Thompson rejoins the ANZ Premiership after suffering an ACL injury playing for the Stars in 2024, and will team up with Ainsleyana Puleiata, who has recovered from three ACL surgeries during her netball career.
2025 finish: 4th
2026 team: Aliyah Dunn, Georgia Heffernan, Josie Bingham, Serina Daunakamakama, Renee Savai’inaea, Kimiora Poi, Ashleigh Poi, Khanye’-Lii Munro-Nonoa, Carys Stythe, Jess Milne
In: Bingham, Ashleigh Poi, Munro-Nonoa, Milne
Out: Summer Temu, Kate Heffernan, Abby Lawson, Dakota Thomas
Coach: Wendy Frew
For the first time, viewers won’t be seeing double with the Steel. Kate Heffernan has made the move to the Adelaide Thunderbirds, while identical twin sister Georgia stays with the Southern side. But there’s still a sister connection at the team, with Silver Fern Kimiora Poi being joined in the midcourt by her younger sister Ashleigh, who receives her first ANZ Premiership contract.
Serina Daunakamakama and Renee Savai’inaea return to the Steel midcourt alongside the Poi sisters, while new Australian import Josie Bingham can also cover wing attack. But Bingham is bound to be used in the power play, confident in her long-range shots.
The Steel narrowly missed out on the elimination final last year, but maintain key figures of their squad, including Aliyah Dunn, who shot at 92% accuracy last year. Dunn will pair up with Heffernan in the shooting circle, the latter having some strong performances at international level last year.
The top rebounder of last season, Carys Stythe, comes back for another season at the Steel, the move south from the Mystics last year paying off for the in-circle defender, and will lead NZ U21 player Khanye’-Lii Munro-Nonoa.
2025 finish: 5th
2026 team: Saviour Tui, Kate Taylor, Sarah Guiney, Ariana Cable-Dixon, Ali Wilshier, Georgie Edgecombe, Brooklyn Murray, Oceane Maihi, Losa Fifita, Erena Mikaere
In: Guiney, Cable-Dixon, Murray, Fifita
Out: Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Reeghan de Bono, Claire O’Brien, Georgia Tong
Coach: Mary-Jane Araroa
The Magic are the only team in the history of the ANZ Premiership to have never made a final, never finishing higher than fourth on the ladder. And losing three capped Silver Ferns won’t help their campaign this year.
With Ekenasio’s departure, Saviour Tui becomes the senior shooter in the Magic circle. Tui is more than capable, finishing last year with a 93% accuracy at the one-point range and sinking an impressive 27 super shots, the most in the 2025 competition.
Not short on young talent, the Magic squad boasts three members of last year’s silver-medal winning Netball World Youth Cup team – shooters Kate Taylor and Sarah Guiney, and defender Losa Fifita. Fifita will be guided by Erena Mikaere, who has played domestic netball since 2011.
Losing midcourter Claire O’Brien to the Stars will be difficult for the Magic, but Georgie Edgecombe brings energy and leadership, while Ali Wilshier and Ariana Cable-Dixon bring experience with the Magic side, and know each other’s games well.
2025 finish: 6th
2026 team: Amelia Walmsley, Crystal Maro, Martina Salmon, Samon Nathan, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Claire O’Brien, Greer Sinclair, Kate Burley, Lili Tokaduadua, Aimee Landrigan
In: Walmsley, Maro, Salmon, O’Brien, Landrigan
Out: Maia Wilson, Monica Falkner, Charlie Bell, Lisa Mather, Remi Kamo
Coach: Temepara Bailey
The Stars had a nightmare 2025, winning just one of their 10 games, and most of their losses were heavy. But a revamped shooting circle and losing stalwart Maia Wilson may not be a cause of concern for Stars fans, with some strong players joining.
Amelia Walmsley, the top shooter of last season, moves north from the Pulse. Walmsley topped the ladder in both volume (491 goals – almost 100 clear of the next shooter) and in accuracy (96%). She’ll play alongside breakout star and fan favourite Martina Salmon, who had a whirlwind 2025, finishing with an international debut and nine Silver Ferns caps.
No stranger to the Stars, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan will captain the side this year and is joined by Claire O’Brien, another new Silver Fern, to form a strong midcourt with Samon Nathan and Greer Sinclair. It’s one of the most promising midcourts in the competition, with plenty of drive and energy.
Kate Burley and Lili Tokaduadua will form a solid defensive end with new signing, 1.9m Australian Aimee Landrigan. Landrigan will provide the height in the circle, with Burley and Tokaduadua uncharacteristically quiet last season, but both proven strong defenders.
This story was originally published at Newsroom.co.nz and is republished with permission.