KEY POINTS:
Concerns have been raised over the future of the Central Pulse in the transtasman competition, with the franchise likely to field a significantly weaker team next year.
The Pulse finished bottom of the table in the first year of the ANZ Championship after failing to notch a
win.
The beleaguered franchise is now facing an exodus of players as the fallout from their disappointing inaugural season continues.
Star import Sonia Mkoloma is unlikely to return to the franchise next season and is believed to be weighing up options here and across the Tasman, while this year's captain and Wellington stalwart Frances Solia has been linked with a shift to the Magic.
With defender Kahurangi Waititi also set to leave the franchise, most likely to take up a contract with the Canterbury Tactix, the Pulse will be without three of their starting seven from this year.
While the Pulse are struggling to assemble a competitive team, at the other end of the scale the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are set to strengthen their line-up by adding another Silver Fern to their already considerable stable of national players.
As well as attracting Solia, the Magic are also in talks with Ferns defender Leana de Bruin, who is looking to move to Cambridge and has indicated she would like to join the Waikato side.
The early transfer movement in the ANZ Championship marketplace has been met with concern from Netball New Zealand.
Netball NZ chief executive Raelene Castle said while the signings haven't been confirmed yet, it would be worrying to see the talent concentrated in one area.
"That would be a concern for Netball New Zealand.
"One of the ideals for the ANZ Championship is that we have 10 competitive teams and if all the Silver Ferns are stacked in one team that wouldn't be ideal," said Castle.
Though it is written into the competition's charter, there is very little Netball NZ can do to ensure talent is spread evenly.
Castle said the only mechanism to "ensure competitive balance" is the salary cap, which sits at $300,000.
But with very few players making a full-time living from netball anyway, it seems money is not a big motivator for a lot of the players.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua said after securing her "main firepower" from this season there is very little money left to attract any new players, yet she has been bombarded with approaches from players from other regions.
Taurua said both Solia and de Bruin could earn up to three times more at other franchises, but both wish to play for the Magic for "lifestyle reasons".
But the Magic coach admits having six first-string Silver Ferns in her line-up may not be in the best interests for New Zealand netball.
"I can understand that and I do see that side of things but there are lots of reasons why players want to switch and you can't really dictate where players live."
Franchises are to submit their draft line-ups to the ANZ Championship office by October 1.
