2023 Northern Mystics season

Northern Mystics
2023 season
Head coachTia Winikerei
Asst. coachRob Wright
ManagerMeghan Robinson
CaptainSulu Fitzpatrick
Main venueThe Trusts Arena
Season results
Wins–losses12–4
Regular season1st
Finals placing1st
Team colours

The 2023 Northern Mystics season saw Northern Mystics compete in the 2023 ANZ Premiership.[1][2] With a team coached by Tia Winikerei,[3][4] captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Phoenix Karaka, Grace Nweke, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Peta Toeava, Northern Mystics won their second title.[5][6][7][8][9] Mystics finished the regular season as minor premiers, finishing above Central Pulse and Northern Stars.[8][10][11] Mystics defeated Stars 74–56 in the Grand final.[5][6][7]

Players

Player movements

Gains Losses

Source:[1][2][8]

Roster

2023 Northern Mystics roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
Danielle Binks GS
Tayla Earle C, WA, WD, GD (2000-04-22)22 April 2000 (aged 22) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Monica Falkner  GA, GS (1996-04-08)8 April 1996 (aged 26) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Sulu Fitzpatrick (c) GD, GK (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 30) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Catherine Hall GK,GD (2003-12-16)16 December 2003 (aged 19) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Phoenix Karaka GD, GK, WD (1993-11-06)6 November 1993 (aged 29) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Holly Mather
Grace Nweke GS (2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (aged 21) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Claire O'Brien1 (TRP) WA, C (1997-03-11)11 March 1997 (aged 25) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (vc) GD, WD, GK (1996-10-02)2 October 1996 (aged 26) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Katie Te Ao WD,C (2001-04-15)15 April 2001 (aged 21) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Elisapeta Toeava WA, C (1994-03-10)10 March 1994 (aged 28) 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in)
Carys Stythe GD,GK (2003-06-19)19 June 2003 (aged 19) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Filda Vui GS, GA, WA (1996-04-16)16 April 1996 (aged 26) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Head coach
  • Tia Winikerei
Assistant coach
  • Rob Wright

Manager:
Meghan Robinson
Physiotherapist:
Pat Hunt
Strength and conditioning:
Pera Gibbs


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Notes
  • ^1 In September 2022, it was announced that Claire O'Brien was leaving Mystics. However she returned as a temporary replacement player for Round 7 following an injury to Tayla Earle. She remained in the squad for the rest of the 2023 season.[8][12][16]

Milestones

Debutants

  • Mystics #84: Katie Te Ao made her Mystics debut in Round 1 against Southern Steel.[20]
  • Mystics #85: Catherine Hall made her Mystics debut in Round 5 against Southern Steel.[21]
  • Mystics #86: Holly Mather

Sources:[1][2][8][9]

Pre-season

Otaki tournament

Northern Mystics participated in the official ANZ Premiership tournament, hosted by Central Pulse at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki between 17 and 19 February. All six ANZ Premiership teams took part.[22]

Fri Feb 17 Mainland Tactix 54–50 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
10.30am
Fri Feb 17 Northern Mystics 50–42 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
4.30pm
Sat Feb 18 Northern Mystics 48–45 Northern Stars Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
10.30am
Sat Feb 18 Central Pulse 50–54 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
6:00pm
Sun Feb 19 Southern Steel 54–42 Northern Mystics Te Wānanga o Raukawa  
9:00am

Sources:[23][24][25]

Regular season

Fixtures and results

Round 1
Sat 4 Mar Northern Mystics 64–38 Southern Steel The Trusts Arena  
7:00PM Grace Nweke  46/48 (96%)
Monica Falkner  12/17 (71%)
Filda Vui  6/7 (86%)
Report
Stats
Jess Allan  15/19 (79%)
Georgia Heffernan  14/19 (74%)
Eseta Autagavaia  9/13 (69%)
Round 2
Sun 12 Mar Mainland Tactix 45–54 Northern Mystics Christchurch Arena  
4:00PM Aliyah Dunn  24/29 (83%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  20/26 (77%)
Vika Koloto  1/1 (100%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  46/52 (88%)
Monica Falkner  4/7 (57%)
Filda Vui  4/4 (100%)
Round 3
Sun 19 Mar Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 57–56 Northern Mystics Globox Arena  
4:00PM Bailey Mes  28/39 (72%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  29/34 (85%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  39/42 (93%)
Filda Vui  13/14 (93%)
Round 4
Sun 26 Mar Northern Mystics 62–59 Northern Stars The Trusts Arena  
4:00PM Grace Nweke  46/46 (100%)
Monica Falkner  15/17 (88%)
Filda Vui  1/1 (100%)
Report
Stats
Maia Wilson  32/34 (94%)
Amorangi Malesala  19/24 (79%)
Jamie Hume  8/14 (57%)
Round 5
Sat 1 Apr Southern Steel 48–64 Northern Mystics Edgar Centre  
7:00PM Saviour Tui  22/31 (71%)
Eseta Autagavaia  6/7 (86%)
Georgia Heffernan  20/29 (69%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  47/48 (98%)
Monica Falkner  17/19 (89%)
Filda Vui  0/1 (0%)
Mon 3 Apr Central Pulse 51–56 Northern Mystics Te Rauparaha Arena  
7:00PM Amelia Walmsley  27/34 (79%)
Tiana Metuarau  17/18 (94%)
Joyce Mvula  7/7 (100%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  45/48 (94%)
Monica Falkner  11/12 (92%)
Round 6
Sun 9 Apr Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 61–62 Northern Mystics Energy Events Centre  
2:00PM Bailey Mes  36/41 (88%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  25/27 (93%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  50/55 (91%)
Monica Falkner  7/8 (88%)
Filda Vui  5/6 (83%)
Round 7
Sat 15 Apr Northern Mystics 53–55 Central Pulse The Trusts Arena  
4:00PM Grace Nweke  41/45 (91%)
Monica Falkner  11/12 (92%)
Filda Vui  1/1 (100%)
Report
Stats
Amelia Walmsley  36/50 (72%)
Tiana Metuarau  17/19 (89%)
Joyce Mvula  2/4 (50%)
Round 8
Sun 23 Apr Northern Mystics 60–49 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic The Trusts Arena  
4:00PM Grace Nweke  50/62 (81%)
Filda Vui  10/15 (67%)
Report
Stats
Bailey Mes  24/29 (83%)
Ameliaranne Ekenasio  25/29 (86%)
Mon 24 Apr Northern Mystics 77–79 Northern Stars The Trusts Arena  
7:00PM Grace Nweke  70/75 (93%)
Filda Vui  7/11 (64%)
Report
Stats
Maia Wilson  50/54 (93%)
Amorangi Malesala  27/32 (84%)
Jamie Hume  2/3 (67%)
Round 9
Sun 30 Apr Mainland Tactix 77–79 Northern Mystics Christchurch Arena  
2:00PM Aliyah Dunn
Te Paea Selby-Rickit
Vika Koloto
Report
Grace Nweke  64/66 (97%)
Monica Falkner
Filda Vui
Round 10
Sat 6 May Northern Mystics 65–55 Southern Steel The Trusts Arena  
7:00PM Grace Nweke  53/58 (91%)
Filda Vui  12/16 (75%)
Report
Stats
Saviour Tui  41/51 (80%)
Georgia Heffernan  12/17 (71%)
Jess Allan  2/3 (67%)
Round 11
Sun 14 May Central Pulse 62–56 Northern Mystics TSB Bank Arena  
4:00PM Amelia Walmsley  47/57 (82%)
Tiana Metuarau  15/15 (100%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  46/51 (90%)
Filda Vui  10/15 (67%)
Round 12
Sun 21 May Northern Stars 63–58 Northern Mystics Pulman Arena  
2:00PM Maia Wilson  33/36 (92%)
Amorangi Malesala  25/29 (86%)
Report
Stats
Grace Nweke  52/56 (93%)
Filda Vui  11/13 (85%)
Mon 22 May Northern Mystics 64–61 Mainland Tactix Eventfinda Stadium  
7:00PM Grace Nweke  59/69 (86%)
Filda Vui  5/9 (56%)
Report
Stats
Aliyah Dunn  32/33 (97%)
Te Paea Selby-Rickit  29/33 (88%)

Final standings

Pos Team P W L GF GA GD G% BP Pts
1 15 11 4 930 828 102 112.3% 3 36
2 Central Pulse 15 10 5 802 746 56 107.5% 3 33
3 Northern Stars 15 9 6 889 835 54 106.5% 3 30
4 Mainland Tactix 15 9 6 793 760 33 104.3% 1 28
5 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 15 6 9 791 830 -39 95.3% 4 22
6 Southern Steel 15 0 15 653 859 -206 76.0% 4 4
Last updated: 7 August 2023

  Qualified for Grand final
  Qualified for Elimination final

Source:[26]


Finals series

Grand final

4 June 2023 Northern Mystics 74–56 Northern Stars    Globox Arena Sky Sport
Scoring by quarter: 21–17, 38–29, 54–45, 74–56
Grace Nweke  70/73 (96%)
Filda Vui  3/5 (60%)
Danielle Binks  1/1 (100%)
Maia Wilson  38/42 (90%)
Amorangi Malesala  17/21 (81%)
Jamie Hume  1/3 (33%)

Source:[5][6][7]

Award winners

Team of the season

Three Mystics players were included in Brendon Egan's Stuff's team of the season.

All Star Seven
Position Player
GS Grace Nweke
WD Michaela Sokolich-Beatson
Bench
Positions Player
GK, GD Phoenix Karaka

Source:[27]

Mystics Awards

Award Winner
MG Motor Fans Choice Phoenix Karaka
He Kakano Carys Stythe
Manawaroa Peta Toeava
Barfoot & Thompson MVP Fitzpatrick Medal Grace Nweke
Peta Toeava
H Toa Matarau (Supreme Award) Michaela Sokolich-Beatson

Source:[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "LockerRoom: Ins and outs of netball's No.1 league". www.nzherald.co.nz. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Brendon Egan (4 March 2023). "ANZ Premiership: Your team-by-team guide to the 2023 competition". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. ^ "MG Mystics appoint new head coach". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Former apprentice coach Tia Winikerei to guide Mystics in ANZ Premiership". stuff.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Mystics Grand Final win provides perfect send-off for Fitzpatrick". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "Perfect end for Sulu Fitzpatrick as Mystics beat Stars in ANZ Premiership final". stuff.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Mystics give Sulu Fitzpatrick fairytale send-off". www.rnz.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e "The real tale behind the MG Mystics' fairytale season". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Northern Mystics – History". www.northernmystics.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Mystics defeat Stars to clinch minor premiership". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  11. ^ Brendon Egan (21 May 2023). "Mystics topple crosstown Stars to secure place in ANZ Premiership decider". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b "MG Mystics farewell Claire O'Brien". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Te Ao has netball world at her fingertips". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Pulse confirm team for 2023 season". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  15. ^ "Ioane embraces new challenges with Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Tayla Earle ruled out of Round 7 with injury". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Rhapsody in blue – Sulu hits 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Mystics claim emphatic win over Steel to honour Fitzpatrick's big 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  19. ^ "ANZ Premiership: Northern Mystics mark Sulu Fitzpatrick's 150th with scrappy win". www.stuff.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  20. ^ "MG Mystics V Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Mystics relentless in win over steel to claim Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Teams set to test the waters at Ōtaki pre-season". www.pulse.org.nz. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Lapses prove costly for Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Pulse's true colours begin to show". www.pulse.org.nz. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Pulse end pre-season on disappointing note". www.pulse.org.nz. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  26. ^ "(2023) Fixtures & results". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  27. ^ Brendon Egan (3 June 2023). "Who makes the final cut for ANZ Premiership's All Star Seven?". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 August 2023.