Netball: Mystics most prepared for season

Kayla Cullen has signed up with Northern Mystics. Photo / Steven McNicholl

It has been a strange off-season in the transtasman league.

With the early finish of the 2011 competition and disruption of the world championships in July, it has been difficult to keep track of all the comings and goings within teams.

Over the extended off-season some teams have taken shape quickly.

Others have found it a struggle to put their roster together. But there are now just two weeks remaining before each franchise has to submit a list of 10 contracted players to the ANZ Championship office, with a full squad of 12 to be named by October 31.

Most are now at the stage of putting the finishing touches on their team, with the remaining spots likely to be filled by players who stand out during the national provincial championships, which wrap up in Porirua early next month.

Northern Mystics
Confirmed signings

Temepara George, Cathrine Latu, Maria Tutaia, Anna Scarlett, Jade Clarke (import), Kayla Cullen, Grace Rasmussen, Rachel Rasmussen, Jess Moulds.

Of all the New Zealand teams the Northern Mystics are the most advanced in their planning for 2012.

The Auckland side have retained the bulk of their team that reached the ANZ Championship grand final this year, but have lost two experienced campaigners in Joline Henry (Pulse) and Australian import Megan Dehn (retired).

English midcourter Jade Clarke will likely take Henry's spot at wing defence but brings with her the advantage of also being able to provide back-up at centre for captain Temepara George.

With just three spots remaining on their roster, the Mystics will be on the look-out during the Lion Foundation national championships for at least one more shooter, and two midcourters.

However, there is also speculation Canterbury's Charlotte Kight, who turned down a contract with the Tactix, may yet join the Mystics. Kight's inclusion would make for a very defensive-heavy line-up and put pressure on the Mystics frontliners on attack.

Waikato/BoP Magic
Confirmed signings

Irene van Dyk, Leana de Bruin (Steel), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, Jess Tuki, Julianna Naoupu, Erena Mikaere.

The Magic's recruitment drive started off extremely well, re-signing star shooter Irene van Dyk, and luring Cambridge local Leana de Bruin back in to Magic colours. But since then the signings have slowed to a trickle, with very few player announcements coming from Magic-land.

Captain Laura Langman and star defender Casey Williams are believed to have indicated they are returning, but neither signing has been confirmed. The reasons for the hold-up are not clear.

Provided the Magic retain their "big three" they will once again be one of the teams to beat in 2012.

Of their six confirmed signings, the Magic have three in-circle defenders and two shooters and one utility in Jess Tuki.

Goodness knows which bib Tuki, who plays in the defensive circle at NPC level and wing attack for the Magic, will end up wearing next season.

But their biggest concern at the moment appears to be the midcourt, following the retirement of import Peta Scholz and Frances Solia.

It is believed the Magic, who are the only New Zealand team with an import spot still open, are in talks with Australian midcourter and former Steel player Natasha Chokljat.

With a shortage of experienced attacking players available, the remaining spots will have to be filled by young up-and-coming players.

Central Pulse
Confirmed signings

Katrina Grant, Caitlin Thwaites, Camilla Lees, Joline Henry (Mystics), Paula Griffin (Steel), Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (Steel), Amber Bellringer, Daya Pritchard.

The Pulse have been the movers and shakers in the off-season, recruiting the makings of a very good team more through fortunate circumstances than good management.

First they snapped up veteran coach Robyn Broughton, who defected from the Steel. Broughton took with her Silver Fern shooter Paula Griffin and highly-rated defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and boasts Liana Leota would have come too if the zippy midcourter wasn't heading overseas.

Then they picked up Silver Ferns defender Joline Henry, who the Mystics had to let go as they could not afford to match what they had paid her in previous seasons.

Add to that a strong core of existing players including Ferns defender Katrina Grant, Australian shooter Caitlin Thwaites and midcourter Camilla Lees, and the Pulse are well-placed for a much stronger showing in 2012. Of the eight players signed, the only question mark is over midcourter Daya Pritchard, who is due to have her first baby in December and will face a race to get fit next season.

The Pulse have spaces left for one more shooter, two midcourters and a defender, which, in light of the franchise's spending, are likely to be filled by development players.

Canterbury Tactix
Confirmed signings

Anna Thompson, Jo Harten (import), Bessie Manu (Pulse)

With two weeks to go before they have to submit their list of 10, and just three confirmed signings, the Canterbury Tactix situation is looking dire.

But Tactix chief executive Peter Smith this week moved to placate their fans, confirming that they have filled eight spots on their roster.

Smith did not say who these players were, but given they have not been moved to put out any press releases on their signings, it is likely they are young players, with shooters Ellen Halpenny, Sophia Fenwick and promising defender Jo Trip believed to be in the mix.

Worryingly, there doesn't appear to be a great deal of experience to sit alongside that, with Canterbury stalwart and star midcourter Maree Bowden still weighing up her future, as is veteran defender Anna Galvan.

The biggest gap in their roster looks to be in the defence end, with Charlotte Kight turning down a contract and last year's import, Jamaican Kasey Evering, not returning.

To help bolster their defence end, the Tactix have put in a proposal to Netball New Zealand and trans-tasman league officials to sign a second overseas import alongside English shooter Jo Harten.

There is precedent for this: the league granted dispensation for the Central Pulse to sign two overseas-based imports in 2010 after finishing at the bottom of the ladder for two years. While the rule has since been rescinded with the change of ineligible players allowances this season, it is likely the ANZ Championship will be sympathetic given the unique challenges the Tactix have faced with their recruitment as Christchurch continues to recover from the February 22 earthquake.

Southern Steel
Confirmed signings

Jodi Brown, Wendy Frew, Hayley Saunders, Courtney Tairi (Swifts), Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Louise Thayer, Sheryl Scanlan, Demelza McCloud (import)

Like their fellow South Island franchise, the Southern Steel have been finding recruitment tough going.

Their remote location means it is always going to be difficult to lure players away from other regions, but when you throw in the bad publicity they received following the loss of coach Robyn Broughton, the challenges increased tenfold.

With new coaches Natalie Avellino and Janine Southby on board, the Steel have been trying to drive the franchise in a bold new direction.

But having failed to attract any big names to Invercargill, it is clear they may experience further pain before they achieve gain.

The Steel have eight players signed up and within that group they have four former internationals, and four players tipped to be future stars. But they don't have any that are in their prime right now.

Australian defender Demelza McCloud will fill the import spot on the Steel's roster and will be joined by Sheryl Scanlan, who has been sidelined for virtually three seasons through injury.

In the midcourt locals Wendy Frew and Hayley Saunders return, they will be joined by former Swifts rookie Courtney Tairi, who is eligible to play here through Kiwi parents.

Former Fern Jodi Brown will anchor the shooting end, the Steel are still on the hunt for someone to partner her in-goal. It has been suggested there may have been a thawing of tensions between local hero Donna Wilkins and the franchise, and they should be doing everything to get her on board. If they don't it could be a very long season for the team from the deep South.