ANZ Premiership Offseason Update: July 2023
ALTHOUGH the netball world’s attention is on the build up to the World Cup, there is still plenty happening on the domestic front.
Let us check in with where the ANZ Premiership is at as the teams finalise their squads .
This update will only include announcements made since our last update in June, so if you missed that update check it out here.
Pulse
The Pulse have finally announced their full squad for 2024, which is largely unchanged from the one that reached the semis in 2023.
There are three new faces donning the yellow dress in 2024.
Shooter Khiarna Williams was a Pulse training partner in 2023, but had a year ruined by injury, so will be keen to put that behind her heading into 2024.
Moving into the midcourt, and former Tactix player Parris Petera has come across to join the Pulse for next year.
The final new face is Kelea Iongi, who is coming off a year as a training partner with the NSW Swifts in the Suncorp Super Netball and is stepping up to a full contract in 2024.
2024 Pulse team: Maddy Gordon, Fa’amu Ioane, Kelea Iongi, Kelly Jury, Parris Mason, Tiana Metuarau, Parris Petera, Whitney Souness, Amelia Walmsley and Khiarna Williams
Stars
The Stars have also finalised their squad, having added the nine extra players needed to fill their squad.
Rahni Samason comes into the shooting contingent, and comes to the Stars having spent a year cursed by injury at the Melbourne Vixens.
Emma Thompson is the new face in the midcourt, while Lili Tokaduadua is the new face in defence.
Stars 2024 squad: Amorangi Malesala, Rahni Samason, Maia Wilson, Holly Fowler, Samon Nathan, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Emma Thompson, Kate Burley, Kelera Nawai-Caucau and Lili Tokaduadua
Steel
The Steel have announced their full squad for 2024, with a few new faces set to don the Steel dress next year.
There are three new faces in the defensive end for the Steel next year. South African Jeante Strydom is coming to New Zealand and will be joined by Taneisha Fifita and Abby Erwood, who are both returning to the Steel after two and three seasons away respectively.
Although she was signed to the club in 2023, George Fisher is essentially a new player too after a preseason ACL injury saw her unable to take to the court this year.
She is not the only new shooter at the Steel in 2024, with Grace Namana returning to her native New Zealand after playing in the UK this season.
The final new face for the Steel is Shannon Saunders, who is returning to the court after giving birth to her first child earlier this year.
Steel 2024 team: Ivari Christie, Abby Erwood, Taneisha Fifita, George Fisher, Georgia Heffernan, Kate Heffernan, Grace Namana, Renee Savai’inaea, Shannon Saunders and Jeante Strydom
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