Northern Mystics
New Zealand netball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Northern in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Northern is the governing body that represents the Auckland and Northland Regions. The Mystics have won three ANZ Premiership titles in 2021, 2023 and 2024.
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| Founded | 2007 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Based in | Auckland | ||
| Regions | Auckland Region Northland Region | ||
| Home venue | The Trusts Arena | ||
| Head coach | Tia Winikerei | ||
| Captain | Michaela Sokolich-Beatson | ||
| Premierships | 3 (2021, 2023, 2024) | ||
| League | ANZ Premiership | ||
| Website | northernmystics.co.nz | ||
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History
Formation
Northern Mystics were formed in 2007. The new team was effectively a merger of the two former National Bank Cup teams, Northern Force and Auckland Diamonds. Mystics subsequently became founder members of the ANZ Championship.[1][2][3] Yvonne Willering became Mystics first head coach and Temepara George became Mystics first player.[1][3][4][5]
ANZ Championship
Between 2008 and 2016, Mystics played in the ANZ Championship. On 6 April 2008, Mystics made their ANZ Championship debut in a match against Canterbury Tactix at The Trusts Arena, losing 44–48.[6][7]
In 2011, with a team coached by Debbie Fuller and captained by Temepara George, Mystics reached their first grand final. They finished the regular season fourth behind Queensland Firebirds, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and New South Wales Swifts.[3][7][8][9][10] During the regular season, Mystics claimed their first win in Australia, with a 56–54 win over West Coast Fever in Round 9.[7][11][12] Mystics defeated Swifts in the minor semi-final[13][14] and Magic in the preliminary final[15][16] before losing to Firebirds in the grand final.[10][17][18] Mystics finished the season second overall.[19]
In 2012, Mystics finished second on the table after the regular season. However, they subsequently lost the major semi-final to Melbourne Vixens and the preliminary final to Magic and finished in third overall.[7] On 20 May 2012, during a Round 8 match against Vixens, Mystics introduced the Harrison Hoist. Anna Harrison made several vital blocks while being hoisted rugby union lineout-style by her defensive partners. Harrison was lifted first by Kayla Cullen and then twice in the final quarter by Jessica Moulds. Mystics won the match 49–45.[3][20][21][22][23][24][25] Cullen and Moulds adopted the role of a lineout lifter to hoist Harrison and the move had the desired result in the final quarter when Vixens goal shooter Karyn Howarth's goal-bound shots were twice batted away.[20][26]
In 2015, Mystics went through the regular season unbeaten against their fellow New Zealand teams and topped the New Zealand Conference.[27][28] However they subsequently lost the Conference final to Magic[29] and a semi-final to Firebirds.[30][31][32]
- Regular season statistics
Grand finalists
New Zealand Conference minor premiers
ANZ Premiership
Since 2017, Mystics have played in the ANZ Premiership.[6][7][42] In 2021, with a team coached by Helene Wilson and captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Ama Agbeze, Bailey Mes and Grace Nweke, Mystics won their first ever premiership. After finishing the regular season as minor premiers, they defeated Mainland Tactix 61–59 in the grand final.[43][44][45][46][47][48] In 2023, with a team coached by Tia Winikerei, captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Phoenix Karaka, Grace Nweke, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Peta Toeava, Mystics won their second title.[7][49][50][51][52] Mystics finished the regular season as minor premiers, finishing above Central Pulse and Northern Stars.[52][53][54] Mystics defeated Stars 74–56 in the Grand final.[49][50][51]
- Regular season statistics
Minor Premiers and Premiership
Premiership
Grand finals
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011[17][18] | Queensland Firebirds | 57–44 | Northern Mystics | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre |
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017[70][71][72] | Southern Steel | 79–58 | Northern Mystics | Trafalgar Centre |
| 2019[73][74][75] | Collingwood Magpies | 49–42 | Northern Mystics | Trafalgar Centre |
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021[45][46][47] | Northern Mystics | 61–59 | Mainland Tactix | Spark Arena |
| 2023[49][50][51] | Northern Mystics | 74–56 | Northern Stars | Globox Arena |
| 2024[76] | Northern Mystics | 54–53 | Central Pulse | TSB Bank Arena |
Home venues
Mystics main home venue is The Trusts Arena.[6][77]
Notable players
2026 squad
| 2026 Northern Mystics roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaching staff | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Player profiles: Team website | Last updated: 19 February 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Internationals
Captains
| Years | |
|---|---|
| Temepara George[80][81][82] | 2008–2012 |
| Maria Tutaia[55][83][84] | 2013–2017 |
| Anna Harrison[55][57][83][84][85] | 2017–2018 |
| Phoenix Karaka[86][87] | 2019–2020 |
| Sulu Fitzpatrick[43][88][89] | 2021–2023 |
| Michaela Sokolich-Beatson[90][91] | 2024– |
Award winners
ANZ Championship awards
| Season | Player |
|---|---|
| 2012[92][93] | Temepara George (Note 1) |
- Notes
- ^1 Temepara George shared the award with Laura Langman (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic).
| Season | Player |
|---|---|
| 2011[94][95] | Kayla Cullen |
| 2015[96][97] | Serena Guthrie |
New Zealand Netball Awards
- New Zealand ANZ Championship Player of the Year
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2015[98][28] | Laura Langman |
| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2021[99][100] | Sulu Fitzpatrick |
Sources:[101]
Coaches
Head coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Yvonne Willering[4][102] | 2007–2008 |
| Te Aroha Keenan[103] | 2009–2010 |
| Debbie Fuller[40][104] | 2010–2012 |
| Ruth Aitken[105] | 2013 |
| Debbie Fuller[40][106][107] | 2013–2016 |
| Helene Wilson[108] | 2017–2022 |
| Tia Winikerei[109][110] | 2023– |
Assistant coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Te Aroha Keenan | 2008 |
| Debbie Fuller[104] | 2009–2010 |
| Jenny-May Coffin[111] | 2011 |
| Gail Parata | 2012 |
| Kiri Wills | 2013 |
| Helene Wilson | 2014 |
| Linda Vagana[57][59] | 2018–2019 |
| Sonya Hardcastle[57][59] | 2018–2019 |
| Margaret Forsyth[62] | 2020 |
| Tia Winikerei[48][112] | 2021–2022 |
| Rob Wright[48][112] | 2021– |
Source:[7]
Specialist coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Megan Dehn[113][114] | 2012 |
| Jenny-May Coffin[6] | 2017 |
Main sponsors
| Sponsors | Seasons |
|---|---|
| LG Electronics[4][106][115] | 2007–2015 |
| SkyCity Entertainment Group[28][40][55][57][116] | 2015–2018 |
| MG Motor New Zealand[77][117] | 2021– |
Reserve team
Since 2016, Netball Northern have entered a team in the National Netball League. In 2017 they became known as Northern Marvels. They are effectively the reserve team of Northern Mystics. Helene Wilson was their inaugural head coach. Former Marvels players include Elisapeta Toeava and Grace Nweke.[40][55][59][118][119] In 2021 Northern Marvels were NNL premiers after they defeated Northern Comets 64–56 in the grand final.[48][120]
Honours
- ANZ Premiership
- ANZ Championship
- Runners Up: 2011
- ANZ Championship – New Zealand Conference
- Minor premiers: 2015
- Netball New Zealand Super Club