Steel ‘outclassed’ in final

The Northern Mystics celebrate winning the ANZ Premiership in Auckland on Saturday. PHOTOS: MICHAEL BRADLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Southern Steel coach Wendy Frew made no excuses after her team were outclassed by a slick Northern Mystics side, who become the most successful franchise in the ANZ Premiership.

The Mystics held a six-point buffer for much of Saturday night’s final and eventually ran away with a 56-46 win at a sold-out Trusts Arena in Auckland.

The Aucklanders collected their fourth title after also winning in 2021 and going back-to-back in 2023-24.

Frew was honest, saying the Steel were beaten by the better team.

‘‘We got outplayed by the Mystics and they deserve the win,’’ a visibly disappointed Frew said.

‘‘We were just outclassed. They had a lot of experience and yeah, we just didn’t do well.

‘‘It’ll be pretty tough to go watch this game, to be honest, but I think we’ll learn from this moment and the feelings.

‘‘We also need to take some pride out of our season.

‘‘We haven’t been in the finals since 2018 and we got there as a team. As hard as it’s going to be, we need to reflect on the success we’ve had.’’

There were pockets of rowdy Steel fans scattered throughout the stadium, decked out in old Steel dresses, pink cowboy hats, superhero capes and wigs, holding signs and bellowing the classic ‘‘steal it’’ chant in an attempt to will their team to victory.

‘‘It was really special to have all the families and heaps of people travel up,’’ Frew said.

‘‘As a province [we’re] extremely proud to get that love of netball. Everywhere you go ... people were so happy.

‘‘It was really sad we couldn’t do it for our family and friends.’’

While it was not the result the Steel wanted, there is still much to be proud of in 2026.

They returned to the final for the first time in eight years — since winning back-to-back titles in 2017-18 — a huge improvement from their 21-game losing streak three years ago.

But the Mystics, who were runners-up last year, had the experience to guide them home.

Filda Vui was exceptional. The goal attack’s subtle nuances shined as she hung out wide and did the majority of the shooting in the first half.

She played a key role, as did Phoenix Karaka. The unwanted Silver Ferns defender laid down a statement after missing Commonwealth Games selection, producing her biggest game of the season with 10 gains.

Steel wing defence Renee Savai’inaea brings the ball down the court as Mystics goal attack Filda Vui watches on during the final.

Vui fired a nice ball into the back space to find Maia Wilson, who won her first title in her 11-year career.

Karaka rejected Aliyah Dunn’s shot, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson picked up the crumbs and the Mystics goal-keep snatched another ball falling.

They went on a four-goal unanswered run, pouncing on the Steel’s errors.

But the Steel finished the quarter with a flurry. Carys Stythe picked off a cross-court ball and Georgia Heffernan flung it to Dunn, leaving the Steel to trail 15-11 at the break.

The Mystics’ defensive pressure was immense. Sokolich-Beatson tagged Heffernan’s every move, forcing the Steel’s goal attack to work overtime.

Jessie Laga’aia was injected at centre for the Steel, who trailed by six for much of the quarter.

The Mystics were slick on attack and tenacious in defence, desperate to rewrite last year’s final result.

The Steel were hesitant and forced to reset on attack.

They fought hard through the back end of the quarter. Laga’aia let the ball go to Heffernan and Dunn finished another to cut the lead to two.

But they let that momentum slide and the Mystics led 29-23 at halftime.

Laga’aia put a great long feed into Heffernan to start the second half as the Steel tried to eat into the deficit.

The Mystics were clinical with the ball. Peta Toeava used her speed to cut the top, Vui dropped in when needed and Wilson held her ground.

Stythe snatched an intercept and the Steel cut the lead to three.

The Steel started to find more rhythm on attack, using their depth to swing the ball.

But the Mystics used all their experience to withstand the Steel surge.

Katie Te Ao came screaming across court to steal the ball — Mystics coach Tia Winikerei leapt in the air on the bench — and the Mystics extended.

Dunn nailed a two-pointer to finish the quarter, but the Steel trailed 44-38.

Umpire Gareth Fowler umpired his final game in New Zealand and will move to the United Kingdom later this year. He umpired his seventh final and finished with 125 domestic games.

kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz