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NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Rising netball stars push for Silver Ferns selection after strong season
LockerRoom takes a look at four players pushing for their first Ferns test cap, and two premiership rookie standouts to look out for in the future. Filda Vui's clutch super shot has been outstanding in the new format competition. Photo / Michael Bradley Photography Filda Vui Filda Vui is by no means a new face in the ANZ Premiership, making her first appearance in 2020. However, being paired with Grace Nweke at the Northern Mystics meant Vui often took a backseat when it came to scoring goals, sometimes simply used as a second feeder to Nweke. In 2025, that's all changed. When Mystics goal shoot Donnell Wallam was ruled out of part of the season with injury, a leader needed to step up in the shooting circle, and Vui did so. Vui has the highest volume of two-point shots in the domestic competition, sinking 28 from 44 attempts this season. Her calm head in the circle and connections with her midcourters have shown her to be a proficient goal attack who could see higher honours soon. An uncapped Silver Fern, Vui was named in the team for the Netball Quad Series in January 2022 but didn't take the court, and hasn't managed to crack the squad since. Saviour Tui's smile is deceiving – seen here wrestling for possession with Mystics' Catherine Hall. Photo / Michael Bradley Photography Saviour Tui Often stuck on the bench, or behind a seasoned goal shoot, Saviour Tui has made a name for herself ever since moving to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2024 – having played two seasons for the Mystics and then two for the Steel. The third-most prolific shooter in the ANZ Premiership, Tui has thrived at goal shoot alongside Silver Fern Ameliaranne Ekenasio. She's also shown her range, with 27 super shots – the second highest in the competition. While she may not have the height of other goal shooters, at 189cm, Tui makes up for it with her athleticism and strong balance on the baseline. The 23-year-old's ability to rein in feeds and stay strong under the hoop could make her a great option up against international defenders for the Silver Ferns. A former New Zealand Secondary Schools representative, Tui has been a member of the NZ A and Ferns development squads, and even played for Samoa in 2022. Georgie Edgecombe goes from strength to strength with every season in the Magic. Photo / Michael Bradley Photography Georgie Edgecombe Georgie Edgecombe is a player who's gone from strength to strength. Still growing in her fifth full season with the Magic, the midcourter's athletic skills and physical strength are an asset to her team. Often seen at wing defence, Edgecombe finished the 2025 ANZ Premiership season with an impressive 33 deflections, one of the top in the competition. She also had 13 clean intercepts and 17 pick ups, with a never-give-up attitude for her side. Also with 33 feeds and 37 centre pass receives, she has shown she can be used at centre and is steady through the midcourt too. Previously a member of the NZA and Silver Ferns development squad, this could be the year Edgecombe pushes for that black dress. Carys Stythe was a spectacular signing for Steel in 2025. Photo / Michael Bradley Photography Carys Stythe Carys Stythe has been touted as a future Silver Fern for years now, after making her debut for the Mystics. But a move down south to the Southern Steel this year has seen a huge change in her game, and the call may be coming soon. Finishing top of the ladder in defensive rebounds with 21, Stythe's height in the defensive circle has made her one of the country's top goal keeps. She was a key member of the Steel team, reliable at the back of the court. A member of the Silver Ferns development squad, Stythe could very well see herself in the national team this year. But keep an eye out for former teammate Catherine Hall. Finding her feet at the Mystics after being largely kept on the bench, Hall now tops the season for deflections and intercepts and could find herself challenging some experienced players for that black dress. With Hall playing in the grand final on July 20, she still has one more game left to impress the Ferns selectors. Rookie Sophia Lafaiali'i shored up the Mystics shooting end while Wallam was injured. Photo / Mystics Sophia Lafaiali'i When Wallam went down injured in round three, the Mystics had the choice of finding an international or retired player to cover the goal shoot bib. Instead, they looked to their development players, specifically 20-year-old Sophia Lafaiali'i. Many thought the Mystics may struggle without Wallam, with wing attack Peta Toeava known for her pinpoint accurate feeds to taller shooters. But Lafaiali'i didn't skip a beat, playing a full 60 minutes in her second game, and only missing one goal. Shooting at 93% accuracy, Lafaiali'i has scored 137 goals since being introduced to the Mystics side. She's also since been rewarded with a call-up to trial for the NZ U21 team to play in the Netball World Youth Cup in September. Holly Mather in action for Tactix against her sister's side, Stars. Photo / Michael Bradley Photography Holly Mather In her first fully contracted season, Holly Mather has been busy. Playing in every game for the Tactix, Mather averages 52 minutes on court per game, typically running around at centre. Mather had played for both the Marvels and the Comets in the National Netball League, before making the step up to the ANZ Premiership, joining the Stars as injury replacement last season. Being able to play for the Stars alongside older sister Lisa in the midcourt was a special moment for the family from the Far North. With a massive 202 feeds this season, Mather's error rate was very low for a new player and she slotted into the Tactix environment seamlessly. Her reliability throughout court was impressive, and the likelihood of her being snapped up for another season in the ANZ Premiership will be very high after her showings on court this year. Tactix and Steel will face off in the ANZ Premiership elimination final at Wolfbrook Arena in Christchurch on Sunday, at 7.30pm. The game will be live on Sky Sport. This story was originally published at and is republished with permission.
Newsroom
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Newsroom
Young stars could be Silver Ferns bolters
As another season of the ANZ Premiership nears its conclusion, eyes will be turning to the upcoming international netball season. The Silver Ferns play three matches against South Africa in September, followed by the iconic Constellation Cup against Australia in October. With star shooter Grace Nweke's potential unavailability, there's likely to be some new faces in the Ferns squad. But who's put their hand up for national selection after a shortened domestic season? LockerRoom takes a look at four players pushing for their first Ferns test cap, and two premiership rookie standouts to look out for in the future. Filda Vui's clutch super shot has been outstanding in the new format competition. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Filda Vui Filda Vui is by no means a new face in the ANZ Premiership, making her first appearance in 2020. However, being paired with Grace Nweke at the Northern Mystics meant Vui often took a backseat when it came to scoring goals, sometimes simply used as a second feeder to Nweke. In 2025, that's all changed. When Mystics goal shoot Donnell Wallam was ruled out of part of the season with injury, a leader needed to step up in the shooting circle, and Vui did so. Vui has the highest volume of two-point shots in the domestic competition, sinking 28 from 44 attempts this season. Her calm head in the circle and connections with her midcourters have shown her to be a proficient goal attack who could see higher honours soon. An uncapped Silver Fern, Vui was named in the team for the Netball Quad Series in January 2022 but didn't take the court, and hasn't managed to crack the squad since. Saviour Tui's smile is deceiving – seen here wrestling for possession with Mystics' Catherine Hall. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Saviour Tui Often stuck on the bench, or behind a seasoned goal shoot, Saviour Tui has made a name for herself ever since moving to the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2024 – having played two seasons for the Mystics and then two for the Steel. The third-most prolific shooter in the ANZ Premiership, Tui has thrived at goal shoot alongside Silver Fern Ameliaranne Ekenasio. She's also shown her range, with 27 super shots – the second highest in the competition. While she may not have the height of other goal shooters, at 189cms, Tui makes up for it with her athleticism and strong balance on the baseline. The 23-year-old's ability to rein in feeds and stay strong under the hoop could make her a great option up against international defenders for the Silver Ferns. A former New Zealand Secondary Schools representative, Tui has been a member of the NZ A and Ferns development squads, and even played for Samoa in 2022. Georgie Edgecombe goes from strength to strength with every season in the Magic. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Georgie Edgecombe Georgie Edgecombe is a player who's gone from strength to strength. Still growing in her fifth full season with the Magic, the midcourter's athletic skills and physical strength are an asset to her team. Often seen at wing defence, Edgecombe finished the 2025 ANZ Premiership season with an impressive 33 deflections, one of the top in the competition. She also had 13 clean intercepts, and 17 pick ups, with a never give up attitude for her side. Also with 33 feeds and 37 centre pass receives, she has shown she can be used at centre and is steady through the midcourt too. Previously a member of the NZA and Silver Ferns development squad, this could be the year Edgecombe pushes for that black dress. Carys Stythe was a spectacular signing for Steel in 2025. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Carys Stythe Carys Stythe has been touted as a future Silver Fern for years now, after making her debut for the Mystics. But a move down south to the Southern Steel this year has seen a huge change in her game, and the call may be coming soon. Finishing top of the ladder in defensive rebounds with 21, Stythe's height in the defensive circle has made her one of the country's top goal keepers. She was a key member of the Steel team, reliable at the back of the court. A member of the Silver Ferns development squad, Stythe could very well see herself in the national team this year. But keep an eye out for former teammate Catherine Hall. Finding her feet at the Mystics after being largely kept on the bench, Hall now tops the season for deflections and intercepts and could find herself challenging some experienced players for that black dress. With Hall playing in the grand final on July 20, she still has one more game left to impress the Ferns selectors. Rookie Sophia Lafaiali'i shored up the Mystics shooting end while Wallam was injured. Photo: Mystics Sophia Lafaiali'i When Wallam went down injured in round three, the Mystics had the choice of finding an international or retired player to cover the goal shoot bib. Instead they looked to their development players, specifically 20-year old Sophia Lafaiali'i. Many thought the Mystics may struggle without Wallam, with wing attack Peta Toeava known for her pin-point accurate feeds to taller shooters. But Lafaiali'i didn't skip a beat, playing a full 60 minutes in her second game, and only missing one goal. Shooting at 93 percent accuracy, Lafaiali'i has scored 137 goals since being introduced to the Mystics side. She's also since been rewarded with a call-up to trial for the NZ U21 team to play in the Netball World Youth Cup in September. Holly Mather in action for Tactix against her sister's side, Stars. Photo: Michael Bradley Photography Holly Mather In her first fully contracted season, Holly Mather has been busy. Playing in every game for the Tactix, Mather averages 52 minutes on court per game, typically running around at centre. Mather had played for both the Marvels and the Comets in the National Netball League, before making the step up to the ANZ Premiership, joining the Stars as injury replacement last season. Being able to play for the Stars alongside older sister Lisa in the midcourt was a special moment for the family from the Far North. With a massive 202 feeds this season, Mather's error rate was very low for a new player and she slotted into the Tactix environment seamlessly. Her reliability throughout court was impressive, and the likelihood of her being snapped up for another season in the ANZ Premiership will be very high after her showings on court this year.
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Mystics get up as game slips away from Steel
The Northern Mystics hung on to beat the Southern Steel 56-52 in Auckland last night. It was a gutting end for the Steel — who grabbed a bonus point — in what was a must-win encounter for their playoff hopes. Down 43-40 heading into the final quarter, the Steel fought back and led by two heading into the final five minutes. But the hot hand of Mystics goal attack Filda Vui struck twice in the two-point zone to swing the momentum to the home side and secure the victory. It was a scrappy game from both teams. Their timing was out which made it difficult and often there was one option to the ball. Both teams were guilty of costly turnovers — the Steel finishing with 25 turnovers to the Mystics' 23 — and misplaced passes hurt. Mystics goal keep Catherine Hall, having somewhat of a breakout season, and Aliyah Dunn had a battle under the post. Dunn stood tall to finish 38 from 38 in the one-point zone, while Hall had 10 deflections. Earlier, Peta Toeava was given too much room on the feed. The wing attack hardly landed before she was letting it go into Donnell Wallam. Kimiora Poi had a good tussle with Michaela Sokolich-Beatson in the midcourt. The Steel wing attack did a lot of work to get herself prime space on the circle edge and Beatson never gave an inch. Carys Stythe — playing her 50th game — snapped up a deflection as she has done all season. Poi's sister, Ashleigh, made her Steel debut taking over from centurion Kate Heffernan, who is still coming back from injury. Vui nailed a two-pointer late to lead 16-12 at the break. The Steel were hungry on defence sitting in a box zone to push the Mystics wide and force the turnovers. They went on a four goal run and closed the gap to one. Both teams were guilty of being hesitant with the ball through court and there were countless misplaced passes. Stythe, who finished with six gain, punched through the top to steal the ball and Dunn finished it off. The Mystics struggled to do the work off the ball, which forced their attackers to fire in wayward balls off the circle edge. It helped the Steel level the score — but they too were guilty of easy turnovers. The Mystics adjusted their timing and found the openings easier to re-gain a four-point lead. They disrupted through court and used their ball speed to lead 30-24 at halftime. Wallam made her mark in the third quarter. She became more of a presence in the circle and the Mystics attackers used the depth of the pockets to find her. The Steel were down 41-34 when Dunn nailed their first two-pointer of the game to scrape back. The Steel's through court defence stepped up, forcing a held ball and it swung the momentum. Grace Namana — who was contracted to the Steel last year and filled in for Summer Temu who was sidelined — came on for Georgia Heffernan late in the third quarter. The Steel won the quarter 16-13 and trailed 43-40 at the break. ANZ Premiership The scores Northern Mystics 56 Donnell Wallam 45 (45/51) Filda Vui 11 (8/10) Southern Steel 52 Aliyah Dunn 38 (38/39), Georgia Heffernan 11 (10/13), Grace Namana 3 (3/4) Quarter scores: Mystics 16-12, 30-24, 43-40.
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Late Super Shots Help Mystics Squeeze Past Steel
Two vital super shots helped the Northern Mystics grab a tense 56-52 win in a momentum-swinging spectacle against a gallant Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel in front of a sold-out crowd in Auckland on Sunday. Both teams had everything to play for, with the Mystics chasing the hosting rights for the Grand Final and the Steel chasing a spot in the Series Finals, the tense atmosphere sitting heavily throughout. Both coaches called tactical timeouts during the final five minutes after the Steel, showing all their renowned spirit and grit, turned a three-goal three-quarter time deficit into a one-goal lead with just over five minutes to play. The Mystics timeout worked in their favour, with their efforts to limit penalties and retain the ball paying dividends, while super shot specialist Filda Vui stepped up in the heat of the moment to calmly nail two double-pointers. With time running out, the Steel lost any opportunity with panicky play as they desperately sought a miracle change in fortunes but deservedly came away with a bonus point. With their season hanging, the Steel also had milestone celebrations to add to the mix with midcourter Kate Heffernan lining up for 100th national league match and Carys Stythe her 50th. Umpire Cory Nicholls added to the game's special moments when taking charge of his 50th ANZ Premiership match. In an exciting opening, the lead changed hands several times, both teams taking time to settle into the match where defence played a big part. The Mystics all-smothering unit defence proved effective while the Steel employed a zone defence which was as equally valuable. Respective rising young goalkeepers Catherine Hall, for the home side, and Stythe picked off the spoils as both sides traded turnovers. A late rally, iced by a super shot with five seconds remaining gave the Mystics a 16-12 buffer at the first break. The second stanza followed a similar trend, the Steel getting off to the best of starts before being reeled in by the home side. The visitors did a terrific job of shutting down the Mystics attacking options to force the hosts into error while eating into the deficit early in the piece. On the other hand, the Steel showed resolute patience on attack with Georgia Heffernan and Dunn all composure under the hoop before momentum swung the other way. With the Steel momentarily hitting the lead, the introduction of Katie Te Ao at centre for the Mystics and the defensive work of Hall, Holly Rae and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson helped turn the tide. Te Ao and Peta Toeava found their connections with strike shooter Donnell Wallam in building an impressive attacking unit while continued pressure at the other end put the squeeze on the Steel. Enjoying more possession, the Mystics finished with a strong surge to build a 30-24 lead at the main break. With both sides taking great care of their possession, the pair traded goals through the opening five minutes of the third stanza. Wallam, who at times was unstoppable and finishing with the striking figures of 45 from 49, remained the steadying rock under the Mystics hoop but the Steel were far from done in delivering a threatening response. Showing creativity on attack and defensive ability to create turnover opportunities, momentum once again took another swing. With a big lift in energy after denying the Mystics in the attacking third and picking off valuable ball, through Kimiora Poi, Renee Savai'inaea, Abby Lawson and Stythe, the southerners cut into the deficit. The ice-cool Dunn, who delivered an impressive 38 from 38 return from the match, played the perfect role in the Steel circle with her poise, positioning and pin-point accuracy as the Steel went on to win the quarter 16-13. That left the match delicately-poised and up for grabs when the Mystics led 43-40 at the last turn.
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Table-Topping Win For Mystics
Maintaining their grip on the Northern Challenge, the Northern Mystics jumped to the top of the table after producing a comprehensive 67-47 win over Go Media Stars in Auckland on Monday. The Stars stayed in touch until the halfway mark but a big second half from the Mystics, where they dazzled in all facets of play while rubbing salt into the wound when Filda Vui iced the deal with two late super shots, consigned the hapless Stars to a hefty loss. There were few chinks in a complete team effort from the visitors, who dominated the possession stakes and revelled in their ability to swing from sizzling attacking play to rock solid defence. As the league heads towards the Finals Series, the Mystics were able to give all their squad time on court against a valiant Stars, the hard-luck story of the season with their loss of key personnel. Decimated by injury, the Stars had an unfamiliar look to their starting seven with permanent replacement player Crystal Maro stepping into goal attack and fellow replacement Julia Wynards slotting in at goal defence. The Mystics welcomed Australian import Donnell Wallam back from injury for the Round 8 match, the 1.93m back for her first match since Round 4 in an otherwise settled line-up. Both sides made promising starts with enterprising through-court play where respective towering shooters Charlie Bell and Wallam were the key targets. It didn't take long for Wallam to find her groove as the Mystics slowly gained an edge over their rivals. Slotting back in seamlessly, Wallam found an instant rapport with fellow shooter Vui and mercurial midcourter Peta Toeava. With their impressive speed of play and exploits of dynamic defender Catherine Hall, the Mystics took advantage to loosen a tight contest in the closing minutes when forging a 17-13 lead at the first break. Scoring the first three goals on the resumption, the Mystics threatened to open the floodgates as the Stars struggled to contain their opponents' speed and accuracy. The visitors had no trouble getting the ball into Wallam's hands while the Stars feeders had all sorts of problems getting the ball over and around the menacing defensive duo of Hall and Michalea Sokolich-Beatson. The rangy figure of defender Lili Tokaduadua was quickly injected for the Stars while the midcourt pairing of Samon Nathan and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan were able to get better ball into Bell's hands, all helping the home side get back into the contest. With the score blowing out to a 10-goal margin in the Mystics favour, the Stars did a good job of chipping away at the deficit but the defending champions finished the stronger in the closing minutes when taking a 31-24 lead into the main break. The Mystics highlighted their depth of talent when Toeava slipped into goal attack for the third stanza, where she continued to shine with her speed around the circle, deft off-loads and ability to put up the shot when required. With Tayla Earle at wing attack, Katie Te Ao at centre and Sokolich-Beatson, wing defence, the Mystics had speed to burn on attack while Hall and Holly Rae tightened the screws under the Stars hoop. Wallam could do little wrong as the Mystics wrested complete control during a dominant third quarter, even scoring a goal while falling out of court before taking a rest late in the piece. There was no respite when the Mystics latest shooting sensation Sophia Lafaiali'i took her place as the visitors bolted into a 49-35 lead at the last break.
