Netball: Magic again lead NZ challenge in ANZ Championship

Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin has left the Mystic for the Magic. Photo / Getty Images

It would be comforting to think things can only improve for the New Zealand franchises as the 2009 transtasman netball league gets under way this weekend.

The off-season has seen a couple of changes in coaches, a few player re-shuffles, but by and large it would seem once again that only the near Silver Fern-strength Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic have the roster to challenge last year's Australian dominance.

The Magic were the only team to fly the New Zealand flag high in last year's ANZ Championship, winning the minor championship before falling 65-56 to the NSW Swifts in the grand final.

The next best New Zealand finishers were the Southern Steel, who were sixth. The Northern Mystics and Canterbury Tactix finished ahead of only the West Coast Fever and the winless Wellington-based Central Pulse.

This year's Magic squad, coached by the redoubtable Noeline Taurua, have retained their 2008 roster, headed by the Silver Ferns shooting duo of Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.

A swathe of other New Zealand players join the pair - midcourter Laura Langman will again orchestrate the attack, while defenders Joline Henry, Jodi Tod and Casey Williams have been boosted by the signing of Silver Ferns teammate Leana de Bruin.

Another franchise to have significantly strengthened their position in the off-season are the Southern Steel, with former Silver Ferns Adine Wilson and Donna Wilkins returning to the court after time off to start a family.

Sheryl Scanlan has made the long trek south after playing for the Mystics last year to stiffen the defensive third for the Steel, whose roster has an impressive array of New Zealand squad members.

Midcourters Liana Barrett-Chase and Wendy Telfer, coupled with defenders Katrina Grant and Erika Burgess, give the Steel a realistic shot at the playoffs this year.

Northern Mystics, seventh last year, have perhaps made the biggest changes, with coach Yvonne Willering replaced by another former Silver Fern in Te Aroha Keenan, and three top-line players moving to other franchises.

But although the Mystics have picked up England shooter Pamela Cookey, they have lost Silver Ferns de Bruin (Magic), Scanlan and Paula Griffin (Pulse) and could struggle at the defensive end of the court.

For all that, any team with Temepara George directing operations at centre, and former New Zealand and Fijian goal keep Vilimaina Davu standing guard at the back cannot be discounted.

The other New Zealand franchises have both made useful additions to their rosters, with the Tactix looking to have the more well-rounded team as England defender Sonia Mkoloma and Kahurangi Waititi moving in tandem from the Pulse to bolster the defence.

New Zealand captain Julie Seymour is back again to direct the Tactix midcourt with national teammate Maree Bowden, while former Silver Fern Jodi Brown will be in charge in the shooting circle.

The troubled Pulse franchise have appointed national under-21 coach Yvette McCausland-Durie to take the reins for this year's league, and she presides over a very young squad.

The acquisition of shooter Griffin at one end of the court has been balanced by uncompromising Jamaican defender Althea Byfield at the other.

It remains to be seen whether the Pulse has enough strength across the board to get the most out of these top-class players.

Of the Australian teams, the NSW Swifts, Melbourne Vixens and Adelaide Thunderbirds should again feature, with the Queensland Firebirds and West Coast Fever not far behind.

The strength of all five Australian franchises is obvious - last year's league was notable for the fact that no New Zealand team managed a win when playing across the ditch.

Only the Pulse returned with a point when their game was in Perth was abandoned due to the fortunate combination of a tropical downpour and a leaky roof.

This year, the New Zealand franchises will be desperate for victories based on grit and skill.

- NZPA