Netball New Zealand is yet to confirm whether the domestic competition will return in 2027, while the Northern Mystics have already cast an eye to Australia to protect their future.
Netball South chairman Dean Johnson and chief executive Sonya Fleming in a joint statement acknowledged it was a tough time.
‘‘This is an incredibly unsettling time for netball and the uncertainty around what the future holds undoubtedly impacts all facets of our game — our players, coaches, management, officials, staff, funders, sponsors, and volunteers,’’ they said.
‘‘As administrators of netball in the South, we are working hard to ensure our voice continues to be heard at a national level to protect our Steel franchise and the legacy it has proudly built over the past 19 seasons.’’
The Mystics have submitted a bid to be one of the two new franchises in Australia’s Super Netball competition from 2028.
Johnson and Fleming did not respond to questions regarding whether the Steel considered their own bid.
Mystics coach Tia Winikerei beamed when talking about the prospect of joining Super Netball.
‘‘We put the bid in when the stage opened because we felt, like, to be at the table was a really important part of the process,’’ Winikerei said.
Super Netball has influenced the ANZ Premiership, including the introduction of the two-point shot.
The two-point shot was added in Australia in 2020, while the ANZ Premiership added it in 2025 with the zone 3.5m away compared to Australia’s which is 3m away.
‘‘We advocated for it to be where it is because we thought that you had to earn the two-point shot.’’
Winikerei felt her shooters mainly shot from where the Australian two-point zone already was and would be ready to step up.
Mystics captain Michaela Sokolich-Beatson joined the franchise in 2016, the final year of the former transtasman ANZ Championship.
She was confident her team could hold their own in Australia, but was unsure if she would still be around.
‘‘I don’t even know if my feet will be in netball shoes by 2028,’’ Sokolich-Beatson said.
‘‘But I think if the team could get there, I think it would be amazing for those girls to have a crack over there because I think we’re good enough.
‘‘We’ve got a team that has really strong values and I think in tough times, your values hold you strong, so I think it would be cool to see the girls have a crack.’’
