# 2021 ANZ Premiership season

The 2021 ANZ Premiership season was the fifth season of Netball New Zealand's ANZ Premiership. With a team coached by Helene Wilson, captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Ama Agbeze, Bailey Mes and Grace Nweke, Northern Mystics won their first ever premiership. Mystics finished the regular season as minor premiers, above Southern Steel and Mainland Tactix. In the Elimination final, Tactix defeated Steel 54–49. In the Grand final, Mystics defeated Tactix 61–59.

## Transfers

| Player | 2020 team | 2021 team |
| Paris Lokotui | Central Manawa | Central Pulse |
| Parris Mason | Central Manawa | Central Pulse |
| Kelera Nawai | | Central Pulse |
| Whitney Souness | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Central Pulse |
| Karin Burger | Central Pulse | Mainland Tactix |
| Ama Agbeze | | Northern Mystics |
| Kate Burley | Northern Stars | Northern Mystics |
| Fa'amu Ioane | Northern Stars | Northern Mystics |
| Gina Crampton | Southern Steel | Northern Stars |
| Monica Falkner | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Northern Stars |
| Anna Harrison | retirement | Northern Stars |
| Amorangi Malesala | | Northern Stars |
| Elle Temu | Central Pulse | Northern Stars |
| George Fisher | Saracens Mavericks | Southern Steel |
| Tiana Metuarau | Central Pulse | Southern Steel |
| Rene Savai'inaea | Central Pulse | Southern Steel |
| Caitlin Bassett | Giants Netball | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Georgie Edgecombe | NNL Waikato Bay of Plenty | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Temalisi Fakahokotau | Mainland Tactix | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Grace Kara | Northern Stars | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Tori Kolose | NNL Waikato Bay of Plenty | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
| Chiara Semple | London Pulse | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic |
Sources:

## Head coaches and captains

| Team | Head coach | Captain |
| Central Pulse | Gail Parata | Claire Kersten |
| Mainland Tactix | Marianne Delaney-Hoshek | Jane Watson |
| Northern Mystics | Helene Wilson | Sulu Fitzpatrick |
| Northern Stars | Kiri Wills | Maia Wilson |
| Southern Steel | Reinga Bloxham | Shannon Saunders |
| Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | Amigene Metcalfe | Samantha Winders |
Source:

## Pre-season
### Otaki tournament

Central Pulse hosted the official ANZ Premiership tournament at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Otaki between 26 and 28 March. All six ANZ Premiership teams took part. With two wins and a draw, Mainland Tactix were the only team not to lose a match.

#### Day 1

Source:

#### Day 2

Source:

#### Day 3

Sources:

## Regular season
### Round 15
#### Notes

* ^1 The Round 11 match between Central Pulse and Mainland Tactix was postponed after a change in COVID-19 alert levels. The match was rescheduled for Friday, 9 July.

## Final Standings

2021 ANZ Premiership laddervte :
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | G% | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Northern Mystics | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 929 | 873 | 56 | 106.4% | 4 | 37 |
| 2 | Southern Steel | 15 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 818 | 801 | 17 | 102.1% | 0 | 33 |
| 3 | Mainland Tactix | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 801 | 775 | 26 | 103.4% | 4 | 31 |
| 4 | Northern Stars | 15 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 825 | 791 | 34 | 104.3% | 2 | 29 |
| 5 | Central Pulse | 15 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 789 | 810 | -21 | 97.4% | 8 | 20 |
| 6 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 15 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 802 | 914 | -112 | 87.7% | 7 | 10 |
| Last updated: 9 August 2022 ||||||||||||
Qualified for Grand final Qualified for Elimination final
Source:

## Finals Series
### Elimination final

| Sun 1 Aug | Southern Steel | 49–54 | Mainland Tactix | Stadium Southland | Sky Sport |
| Sky Sport |||
| Sun 1 Aug | George Fisher 39/41 (95%) Tiana Metuarau 10/13 (77%) | | Ellie Bird 39/41 (95%) Te Paea Selby-Rickit 15/20 (75%) | Stadium Southland | Sky Sport |
Source:

### Grand final

| Sun 8 Aug | Stats | Northern Mystics | 61–59 | Mainland Tactix | Spark Arena Attendance: 5,000 | SKYSport |
| SKYSport |||
| Sun 8 Aug | Stats | Grace Nweke 58/62 (94%) Filda Vui 2/3 (67%) Bailey Mes 1/1 (100%) | | Ellie Bird 38/44 (86%) Te Paea Selby-Rickit 21/39 (54%) | Spark Arena Attendance: 5,000 | SKYSport |
Source:

## Award winners
### New Zealand Netball Awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award | Sulu Fitzpatrick | Northern Mystics |
| ANZ Premiership Coach of the Year | Helene Wilson | Northern Mystics |
| ANZ Premiership Player of the Year | Karin Burger | Mainland Tactix |
Source:

### ANZ Premiership Awards

| Award | Winner | Team |
| Grand Final MVP | Peta Toeava | Northern Mystics |

## Season statistics

Goal Shooters (by Goals Scored) :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Goals (%) |
| 1 | Grace Nweke | Northern Mystics | 852/951 (90%) |
| 2 | Ellie Bird | Mainland Tactix | 647/726 (89%) |
| 3 | George Fisher | Southern Steel | 585/640 (91%) |
| 4 | Aliyah Dunn | Central Pulse | 539/601 (90%) |
| 5 | Maia Wilson | Northern Stars | 483/594 (81%) |
| 6 | Caitlin Bassett | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 474/518 (92%) |
Circle Feeds :
| Pos. | Player | Team | CF |
| 1 | Peta Toeava | Northern Mystics | 662 |
| 2 | Gina Crampton | Northern Stars | 642 |
| 3 | Shannon Saunders | Southern Steel | 583 |
| 4 | Kimiora Poi | Mainland Tactix | 469 |
| 5 | Samantha Winders | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 465 |
| 6 | Whitney Souness | Central Pulse | 446 |
Deflections :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Def |
| 1 | Jane Watson | Mainland Tactix | 78 |
| 2 | Anna Harrison | Northern Stars | 66 |
| 3 | Taneisha Fifita | Southern Steel | 63 |
| 3 | Erena Mikaere | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 63 |
| 5 | Sulu Fitzpatrick | Northern Mystics | 58 |
| 6 | Kelly Jury | Central Pulse | 51 |
Intercepts :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Inter. |
| 1 | Karin Burger | Mainland Tactix | 48 |
| 2 | Anna Harrison | Northern Stars | 39 |
| 3 | Taneisha Fifita | Southern Steel | 25 |
| 3 | Kelera Nawai-Caucau | Central Pulse | 25 |
| 5 | Sulu Fitzpatrick | Northern Mystics | 21 |
| 6 | Erena Mikaere | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 11 |
| 6 | Holly Fowler | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 11 |
Rebounds :
| Pos. | Player | Team | Reb. |
| 1 | Sulu Fitzpatrick | Northern Mystics | 30 |
| 2 | Karin Burger | Mainland Tactix | 27 |
| 3 | Kelera Nawai-Caucau | Central Pulse | 22 |
| 4 | Taneisha Fifita | Southern Steel | 19 |
| 5 | Elle Temu | Northern Stars | 18 |
| 6 | Temalisi Fakahokotau | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 14 |
Source: