Round 3 of the ANZ Premiership sees early-season momentum begin to take shape, with one unbeaten side, one still searching for its first win, and several evenly matched contenders looking to settle into the competition.
The GoSweetSpot Northern Mystics retained their grip on the silverware when winning a fifth successive Hobbiton Cup after dismantling Avis Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 57-37 in Tauranga on Saturday.
Round 2 of the 2026 ANZ Premiership is set to deliver a compelling weekend of elite domestic netball, with historic rivalries, milestone moments and early-season momentum on the line.
It was smiles all-round for a jubilant Stars Netball side who broke a seven-game losing streak when taking a hard-fought 63-59 win against their crosstown rivals GoSweetSpotNorthern Mystics at Pulman Arena on Sunday.
Based in Auckland, the Northern Mystics were formed in 2007 and represent the Netball Northern Zone whose geographical region stretches from Kaitaia to Waiuku. The Northern Zone has 17 Netball Centres and four satellite venues. The Zone makes up 34 percent of the playing population in New Zealand.
Effectively a merger between the two former National Bank Cup teams, Northern Force and Auckland Diamonds, the Mystics subsequently became founder members of the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship in 2008.
The Mystics remained for the duration of the ANZ Championship, which ended in 2016, and since 2017 have represented Netball Northern in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Northern is the governing body that represents the Auckland and Northland regions.
Yvonne Willering became the Mystics first coach, in 2007, and Temepara Bailey (nee George) its first player.
The Mystics had their best season in the ANZ Championship in 2011 when the Debbie Fuller-coached team made the Grand Final but had to settle for the runners-up spot when losing to the Queensland Firebirds. They finished third in 2012.
In the ANZ Premiership, introduced in 2017, the Mystics clinched their first-ever domestic silverware after a 14-year wait when winning the 2021 title.
The Mystics’ playing strip is predominantly blue while their home venues are The Trusts Arena, Eventfinda Stadium and Vector Arena.