11 April 2026
The reigning ANZ Premiership champions have made a statement in their first game of the 2026 season, the VIP Frame & Trusses Mainland Tactix beating the Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel 55-42 in a high energy match in Christchurch.
After a shaky start to the match, the Tactix dominated through court, winning by 13 goals. Their highly changed roster didn’t impact their dominance, with new faces making their mark on the Kiwi competition.
The Steel were clearly missing former captain Kate Heffernan, who signed for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball this year, leaving big shoes to fill in the midcourt. Coach Wendy Frew tried various combinations throughout the court, but none seemed to gel, the side committing 26 turnovers in the match.
In comparison, the Tactix didn’t make a single change until five minutes into the final quarter, resting centre Holly Mather for Taiana Day, and then bringing on Josie Seymour in the final two minutes. The Steel clawed back a 14-goal deficit in the fourth quarter to draw within nine goals, but couldn’t stop the dominance of the Tactix.
Bookending the Tactix team, Australians Charlie Bell and Ashlee Barnett were magnets for the ball. Bell is the tallest player in the ANZ Premiership, standing at 197cm and found no trouble breaking free from the Steel’s Carys Stythe - one of the standout defenders last season.
Bell had a massive 51 attempts, scoring 41 of them, and playing all 60 minutes alongside goal attack Amorangi Malesala. Barnett played a full match at goal keep, finishing with a massive 12 gains, four intercepts and seven rebounds.
As the Tactix continued to pile on the goals and extend their lead, Frew told her players to play for pride in their dress, and the Steel showed their Southern heart, never giving up and almost winning the final quarter but just falling short. The Steel have not beaten the Tactix in four years, as the Mainland team continue their dominance at home.
Throughout the match, the Steel had no answers to the Tactix attack, but were their own worst enemy in their attacking third, throwing possession away under the pressure of the Tactix defence. The Steel scored from only 53 percent of their centre passes, which will be disappointing for the inaugural champs nine years ago.
Shooting at just 70 percent accuracy, veterans Aliyah Dunn and Georgia Heffernan struggled under the Tactix defence, with rookie Ella Southby joining the duo in the circle to try and provide something different. Captain Kimiora Poi had a low error rate, but couldn’t find support and consistency in the midcourt, despite playing alongside younger sister Ashleigh.
For winning the match between the two southern teams, the Tactix were awarded the Hutton Family Trophy, to honour Megan and Kelly Hutton. Kelly passed in 2023 from ovarian cancer, and was a beloved member of the Canterbury netball family.
