2023 Northern Mystics season
| Northern Mystics | |
|---|---|
| 2023 season | |
| Head coach | Tia Winikerei | 
| Asst. coach | Rob Wright | 
| Manager | Meghan Robinson | 
| Captain | Sulu Fitzpatrick | 
| Main venue | The Trusts Arena | 
| Season results | |
| Wins–losses | 12–4 | 
| Regular season | 1st | 
| Finals placing | 1st | 
![]() 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
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Roster
| 2023 Northern Mystics roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Manager:  
 
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- 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
- On 6 May 2023, in Round 10 against Southern Steel, Sulu Fitzpatrick made her 150th senior league appearance.[17][18][19]
 
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
 
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 | 
Regular season
Fixtures and results
- Round 1
 
| Sat 4 Mar | Northern Mystics | 64–38 | Southern Steel | The Trusts Arena | |
| 7:00PM | Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Jess Allan  Georgia Heffernan Eseta Autagavaia  | 
- Round 2
 
| Sun 12 Mar | Mainland Tactix | 45–54 | Northern Mystics | Christchurch Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Aliyah Dunn  Te Paea Selby-Rickit Vika Koloto  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
- Round 3
 
| Sun 19 Mar | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 57–56 | Northern Mystics | Globox Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Bailey Mes  Ameliaranne Ekenasio  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
- Round 4
 
| Sun 26 Mar | Northern Mystics | 62–59 | Northern Stars | The Trusts Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Maia Wilson  Amorangi Malesala Jamie Hume  | 
- Round 5
 
| Sat 1 Apr | Southern Steel | 48–64 | Northern Mystics | Edgar Centre | |
| 7:00PM | Saviour Tui  Eseta Autagavaia Georgia Heffernan  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
| Mon 3 Apr | Central Pulse | 51–56 | Northern Mystics | Te Rauparaha Arena | |
| 7:00PM | Amelia Walmsley  Tiana Metuarau Joyce Mvula  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner  | 
- Round 6
 
| Sun 9 Apr | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | 61–62 | Northern Mystics | Energy Events Centre | |
| 2:00PM | Bailey Mes  Ameliaranne Ekenasio  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
- Round 7
 
| Sat 15 Apr | Northern Mystics | 53–55 | Central Pulse | The Trusts Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Grace Nweke  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Amelia Walmsley  Tiana Metuarau Joyce Mvula  | 
- Round 8
 
| Sun 23 Apr | Northern Mystics | 60–49 | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | The Trusts Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Bailey Mes  Ameliaranne Ekenasio  | 
| Mon 24 Apr | Northern Mystics | 77–79 | Northern Stars | The Trusts Arena | |
| 7:00PM | Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Maia Wilson  Amorangi Malesala Jamie Hume  | 
- 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  Monica Falkner Filda Vui  | 
- Round 10
 
| Sat 6 May | Northern Mystics | 65–55 | Southern Steel | The Trusts Arena | |
| 7:00PM | Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Saviour Tui  Georgia Heffernan Jess Allan  | 
- Round 11
 
| Sun 14 May | Central Pulse | 62–56 | Northern Mystics | TSB Bank Arena | |
| 4:00PM | Amelia Walmsley  Tiana Metuarau  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
- Round 12
 
| Sun 21 May | Northern Stars | 63–58 | Northern Mystics | Pulman Arena | |
| 2:00PM | Maia Wilson  Amorangi Malesala  | 
Report Stats  | 
Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
| Mon 22 May | Northern Mystics | 64–61 | Mainland Tactix | Eventfinda Stadium | |
| 7:00PM | Grace Nweke  Filda Vui  | 
Report Stats  | 
Aliyah Dunn  Te Paea Selby-Rickit  | 
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  Filda Vui Danielle Binks  | 
Maia Wilson  Amorangi Malesala Jamie Hume  | ||||||
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
- ^ a b c "LockerRoom: Ins and outs of netball's No.1 league". www.nzherald.co.nz. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ "MG Mystics appoint new head coach". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
 - ^ "Former apprentice coach Tia Winikerei to guide Mystics in ANZ Premiership". stuff.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
 - ^ a b c "Mystics Grand Final win provides perfect send-off for Fitzpatrick". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ a b c "Mystics give Sulu Fitzpatrick fairytale send-off". www.rnz.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
 - ^ 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.
 - ^ a b c "Northern Mystics – History". www.northernmystics.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
 - ^ "Mystics defeat Stars to clinch minor premiership". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
 - ^ Brendon Egan (21 May 2023). "Mystics topple crosstown Stars to secure place in ANZ Premiership decider". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ a b "MG Mystics farewell Claire O'Brien". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
 - ^ "Te Ao has netball world at her fingertips". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
 - ^ "Pulse confirm team for 2023 season". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
 - ^ "Ioane embraces new challenges with Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ "Tayla Earle ruled out of Round 7 with injury". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "Rhapsody in blue – Sulu hits 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "Mystics claim emphatic win over Steel to honour Fitzpatrick's big 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "ANZ Premiership: Northern Mystics mark Sulu Fitzpatrick's 150th with scrappy win". www.stuff.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "MG Mystics V Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "Mystics relentless in win over steel to claim Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
 - ^ "Teams set to test the waters at Ōtaki pre-season". www.pulse.org.nz. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ "Lapses prove costly for Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ "Pulse's true colours begin to show". www.pulse.org.nz. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ "Pulse end pre-season on disappointing note". www.pulse.org.nz. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
 - ^ "(2023) Fixtures & results". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
 - ^ Brendon Egan (3 June 2023). "Who makes the final cut for ANZ Premiership's All Star Seven?". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
 
