National Netball League (New Zealand)
Netball league in New Zealand
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The National Netball League is a New Zealand Netball league. Since 2016, it has served as a second-level league, initially below the ANZ Championship and later below the ANZ Premiership. It is organised by Netball New Zealand. Between 2016 and 2020, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements, the NNL was known as the Beko Netball League. Since 2022, the league has been sponsored by Synergy Hair and, as a result, it is now known as the Synergy Hair National League. The teams in the competition are effectively the reserve teams of ANZ Premiership teams. Netball South won the inaugural title in 2016. Central Zone/Central Manawa have been the league's most successful team, winning three titles in a row between 2017 and 2019. A limited number of matches are broadcast live on Sky Sport (New Zealand).
| Founded | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Netball New Zealand |
| No. of teams | 6 (2022) |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Most recent champions | Mainland (1st title) |
| Most titles | Central Zone/Central Manawa (5 titles) |
| Broadcaster | Sky Sport (New Zealand) |
| Sponsor | Synergy Hair |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Related competitions | ANZ Premiership |
| Official website | National Netball League |
History
Foundation
The National Netball League was founded in 2016 by Netball New Zealand.[1][2][3] Netball South won the inaugural title after defeating Central Zone 51–46 in the grand final at The Trusts Arena.[4][5][6][7] At the 2016 New Zealand Netball Awards, Netball South winning the inaugural title was named Moment of the Year.[8][9][10]
Central three titles
Between 2017 and 2019, Central Zone/Central Manawa won three successive titles. After finishing as runners up in 2016, Central Zone won their first title in 2017. With a team featuring Karin Burger, Kimiora Poi and Tiana Metuarau, Central Zone defeated Hellers Netball Mainland 43–41 in the grand final. They completed a three in a row after retaining the title in both 2018 and 2019.[11][12][13][14]
COVID-19 pandemic
On 27 March 2020, Netball New Zealand announced that the Beko Netball League had been cancelled for 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 21 July, with the support and backing of Sport New Zealand, it was announced that a modified 2020 season would take place in August. A single round of matches would be played over three consecutive weekends in Auckland, Wellington and Te Aroha. However, due to another shift in COVID-19 alert levels in August, Netball New Zealand announced that the revised 2020 Beko Netball League was also cancelled.[15][16][17][18]
Teams
The five founding five members of the National Netball League were effectively the reserve teams of the five New Zealand ANZ Championship teams – Central Pulse, Mainland Tactix, Northern Mystics, Southern Steel and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. When the ANZ Championship was replaced in New Zealand by the ANZ Premiership, it featured a sixth team, Northern Stars. The National Netball League also gained a sixth team, Northern Comets.[1][19][20]
| Team | Affiliate | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Central Manawa[11] (Note 1) | Central Pulse | Te Rauparaha Arena |
| Netball Mainland Hellers[21] | Mainland Tactix | |
| Northern Comets[22][23] | Northern Stars | |
| Northern Marvels[23][24] | Northern Mystics | Netball Waitakere, Auckland |
| Southern Blast[25] (Note 2) | Southern Steel | |
| Waikato Bay of Plenty Matarau[26](Note 2) | Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic | |
- Notes
- ^1 Between 2016 and 2018 Central Manawa played as Central Zone.
- ^2 Southern Blast originally played as Netball South
- ^3 Waikato Bay of Plenty Matarau originally played as Waikato Bay of Plenty
Grand Finals
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016[4][5][6][7] | Netball South | 51–46 | Central Zone | The Trusts Arena |
| 2017[12][27] | Central Zone | 43–41 | Hellers Netball Mainland | The Trusts Arena |
| 2018[13][28][29][30] | Central Zone | 62–53 | Waikato Bay of Plenty | Pulman Arena, Takanini |
| 2019[14][31] | Central Manawa | 49–46 | Waikato Bay of Plenty | Horncastle Arena |
| 2020 | (Note 3) | |||
| 2021[32][33] | Northern Marvels | 64–56 | Northern Comets | The Trusts Arena |
| 2022[34][35] | Central Manawa | 49–41 | Mainland | Pulman Arena, Takanini |
| 2023[36][37] | Central Manawa | 45–43 | Northern Comets | TSB Bank Arena |
| 2024[38] | Northern Comets | 56–51 | Central Manawa | Te Rauparaha Arena |
| 2025[39] | Mainland | 48–44 | Central Manawa | TSB Arena |
- Notes
- ^3 The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.[18]
Awards
Player of the Year
| Season | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2016[8][40] | Karin Burger | Central Zone |
| 2017[12] | Mila Reuelu-Buchanan | Central Zone |
| 2018[13][30] | Simmon Howe | Waikato Bay of Plenty |
| 2019[14][41][42][43][44] | Ali Wilshier | Waikato Bay of Plenty |
| 2021[45][46][47] | Saviour Tui | Northern Marvels |
| 2022[48][49] | Ainsleyana Puleiata | Central Manawa |
| 2023[50] | Lisa Putt | Northern Comets |
| 2024[51] | Crystal Maro | Northern Comets |
| 2025[52] | Te Ata Hassan | Mainland |
Sources:[10]