Three-time champions the Central Pulse begin their ANZ Premiership season in Palmerston North on Saturday, hosting the Magic.
The pre-season has been affected by several injuries, including to shooter Khiarna Williams and midcourters Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness.
Head coach Anna Andrews-Tasola joined Adam Cooper to update their recoveries, and cast her eye over the new season.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And the A and Z Netball Premiership is underway for
twenty twenty five. Today our Central Pulse head into the
year after going down a course by just one goal
in last year's final to the Mystics. Of course, both
the Pulse and Mystics share the most titles in the
A and Z Premiership since it became a domestic league,
with three each in the competition, so for the Polse
(00:21):
to start the season, few injuries to deal with during
pre season and of course the hiring of Diamonds veteran
Gabby Simpson from across the Tasman as a replacement player
for these early weeks of the competition. So the season
starts up the roads in Palmerston North today the Pulse
hosting the White Cut the Bay of Plenty Magic and
to look ahead to the season, we head to Parmis.
(00:41):
The North Pulse coach Anna Andrews Desolas with me this morning.
Morning to your ana, I guess firstly you never want
injuries to start the year. But how ready as this
team do you think to get going in Game one
a bit later on today?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, to be honest, we thought we left twenty twenty
four injuries there last year, but Unfortunately we've had a
couple this year, but really good news. We're starting to
get back on track and other likes of Whitney and
media studying to build themselves up and we'll hopefully have
some minutes tonight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Great, So I guess all the more important to get
them back as soon as possible, right given the new
format this year, it's not been cut by a third
pretty much, hasn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, it's a really quick and sharp season, so every
single game counts. But also we're very lucky to have
Gabby Simpson who's come over from Australia to be able
to help us out and bring that experience in the
mid quarter as well, so we're excited to see her
on court with our other players.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, and it's been great seeing some of the footage
from trainings and a few interviews that Gabby's done the
last few weeks since he's been here. It's always good
to see someone with so much experience join a new
team and seem to be just enjoying it and offering
something off the court as much as on the court.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, she brings a different perspective and she's been in
the game a really long time. But also just seeing
all three them and all of our midcres compete at
training but really fun for me as well. So they're
doing a good job pushing each other to be better.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So what is the ETA on Maddian and Whitney for
for sort of you know, inclusion in terms of a
matchday squads as these early rounds go on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, so hopefully they'll be able to have some minutes
tonight and then we'll just build them up each week.
And we're very mindful that we've got important things coming
up up over the next couple of years, so we
need to take care of them as well.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Why Gabby Simpson from Australia rather than someone from sort
of Manawar or around the local central zone.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, so we've been developing our Manawa team members. They
were with us during pre season and to be honest,
they haven't had a full development season at N and
L yet, so it'll be irresponsible of us to put
that pressure on them as well. So it was really
important that while we need somebody in there, they need
(02:56):
to be experienced as well.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And I guess you're able to call on a New
Zealand player Amangi Mali Sala to sort of fill another
gap at the front of the court as well. Can
you tell us a little bit about her and in
these early rounds as she fills in for Kiana Williams,
how she'll compliment to the likes of Tiana and a
media up front.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, she's done an amazing job sitting in with a team,
So her strength is who shooting and with a new
two point game happening in the two point rule, it
was really important that we added that to our firepower
as well. So she's been an awesome addition to our team. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I was going to ask about the two point rule,
and obviously it's a significant change, I guess one that
everyone has probably known that's going to be coming for
some time. So have you have you always had had
a thoughts at the back of your mind about to
how to approach it and is it time to execute that.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, it's very different, and all the teams during pre
season have been trying different strategies as well. So to
be honest, we're going to see how it goes tonight
and see what we do and just pay what's in
front of us, because it depends on scoring pressure, depends
how hot the shooters are. Feeling as well, so there's
lots lots of decisions to make during that time.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, And just in terms of the strengths overall of
the team, well, I mean it's aside from those injuries,
are relatively consistent roster again for the Pulse this year.
What is the team's biggest strength approaching the season do
you feel?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I think it's our defensive end as well. So
our assistant coach Kim has done a great job with
our defense and they've been solid and been able to
sit in with each other as well, where we probably
need some more connection and timers in our attacking end.
We've probably had forty five minutes in total over the
last two seasons due to all the injuries. So hopefully
(04:37):
really looking forward to seeing our full team out on
court over the next couple of weeks and seeing what
they've got.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
How mauch ready is the team from preseason given as
you say, you're going to have to hit the ground
running ready from from round one.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Based on the challenges that we had last year, we
always found a way to win and to make the
Grand Final as well. So they're professionals and we'll make
sure that we'll go out there to do our best.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Have you looked back on that moment as you started
this year's campaign, I guess, falling just short and what was,
as you say, a rewarding season in many aspects. Has
that formed part of your discussions as the team's gathered
for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, absolutely, we always face into that stuff as well,
Like they were at the end of the day, we
didn't win the championship, so we cut that open pretty
much and made sure that we took the learnings from
it to be able to move forward and go one
base far further.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
And the magic, I guess sometimes people might be sure,
what kind of magic is going to turn out for
the season. What are you expecting from them? Especially this
first one tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I'm expected them to be super strong. They've had an
awesome preseason tournament. They've been playing really well. They've got
strong connections, they've got great shooters and excellent experience of
the sense of in mid court end as well, So
it's going to be a great battle out there tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Obviously there's a bit of uncertainty around the future of
the competition, So how's everyone, I guess, coping with just
being able to fully put the minds on this year
and this year only, I guess, and not let the
uncertainty kind of get into camp or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, I think it's really important to focus on why
we are here in it for our community and for
performance as well. So our mind and our inspiration is
always towards that. So the organizations will take care of
that stuff, but it's really important that we shop and
put out a good performance.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And I guess there's a lot of chat around, you know,
not only the competition, but also eligibility. And you know,
there's been a lot talked about this week about the
likes of Grace and Wiki and keeping players playing in
New Zealand. As you know, the Polse coach is you know,
where do you stand on that sort of eligibility stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, that's a tough one. As performance athletes and performance coaches,
you always want to play against the best to be better.
So whatever decision is made, we just have to deal
with it and move forward.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You've obviously got a lot of silver ferns who, despite
the uncertainty, obviously are sort of you know, eyeing national honors,
the next World Cup and things like that. Is that
a key part of your role for them as a
domestic coach as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah. Absolutely, there's two key things that I want to
achieve each year. That's making sure that we win the championship,
but also that we have a number of silver Ferns
or international players as a part of the group. We
want to excel and that's what our environment's about. So
we make sure that we do that for them.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And the Pulse has been fantastic over the many seasons.
You know that most of us can remember of just
unearthing new talent, New superstars have born from this franchise.
Is there anyone that our listeners listening this morning should
be looking out for at the start of the season,
someone that you think is going to make a real
impact based on pre season.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Oh, look, everyone's been working super hard and we'll just
see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Yeah, right, the whole team. All right, Well, Heyada, always
great to chat, Thanks so much and all the best time.
Getting things underwa a little bit later today.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Nhe cheers Ana.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Andrews Desola with us here on the All Sport Breakfast,
the coach of the Central Pulse. It's a four o'clock
cent to pass today in Palmerston, North so they're getting
the season underway by taking one of the home games
on the roads too within the zone, and I do
believe the game today will be freak for anyone to
watch on TV and Z on Channel two but also
on TV and Z plus. So Yeah, Live and free
(08:08):
Nipple available on TV and Z and you can catch
the Pulse game from four o'clock this afternoon. For more
from News Talk zed B, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio
And the A and Z Netball Premiership is underway for
twenty twenty five. Today our Central Pulse head into the
year after going down a course by just one goal
in last year's final to the Mystics. Of course, both
the Pulse and Mystics share the most titles in the
A and Z Premiership since it became a domestic league,
with three each in the competition, so for the Polse
(00:21):
to start the season, few injuries to deal with during
pre season and of course the hiring of Diamonds veteran
Gabby Simpson from across the Tasman as a replacement player
for these early weeks of the competition. So the season
starts up the roads in Palmerston North today the Pulse
hosting the White Cut the Bay of Plenty Magic and
to look ahead to the season, we head to Parmis.
(00:41):
The North Pulse coach Anna Andrews Desolas with me this morning.
Morning to your ana, I guess firstly you never want
injuries to start the year. But how ready as this
team do you think to get going in Game one
a bit later on today?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, to be honest, we thought we left twenty twenty
four injuries there last year, but Unfortunately we've had a
couple this year, but really good news. We're starting to
get back on track and other likes of Whitney and
media studying to build themselves up and we'll hopefully have
some minutes tonight. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Great, So I guess all the more important to get
them back as soon as possible, right given the new
format this year, it's not been cut by a third
pretty much, hasn't it.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yeah, it's a really quick and sharp season, so every
single game counts. But also we're very lucky to have
Gabby Simpson who's come over from Australia to be able
to help us out and bring that experience in the
mid quarter as well, so we're excited to see her
on court with our other players.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, and it's been great seeing some of the footage
from trainings and a few interviews that Gabby's done the
last few weeks since he's been here. It's always good
to see someone with so much experience join a new
team and seem to be just enjoying it and offering
something off the court as much as on the court.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, she brings a different perspective and she's been in
the game a really long time. But also just seeing
all three them and all of our midcres compete at
training but really fun for me as well. So they're
doing a good job pushing each other to be better.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
So what is the ETA on Maddian and Whitney for
for sort of you know, inclusion in terms of a
matchday squads as these early rounds go on.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Yeah, so hopefully they'll be able to have some minutes
tonight and then we'll just build them up each week.
And we're very mindful that we've got important things coming
up up over the next couple of years, so we
need to take care of them as well.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Why Gabby Simpson from Australia rather than someone from sort
of Manawar or around the local central zone.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah, so we've been developing our Manawa team members. They
were with us during pre season and to be honest,
they haven't had a full development season at N and
L yet, so it'll be irresponsible of us to put
that pressure on them as well. So it was really
important that while we need somebody in there, they need
(02:56):
to be experienced as well.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
And I guess you're able to call on a New
Zealand player Amangi Mali Sala to sort of fill another
gap at the front of the court as well. Can
you tell us a little bit about her and in
these early rounds as she fills in for Kiana Williams,
how she'll compliment to the likes of Tiana and a
media up front.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Yeah, she's done an amazing job sitting in with a team,
So her strength is who shooting and with a new
two point game happening in the two point rule, it
was really important that we added that to our firepower
as well. So she's been an awesome addition to our team. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
I was going to ask about the two point rule,
and obviously it's a significant change, I guess one that
everyone has probably known that's going to be coming for
some time. So have you have you always had had
a thoughts at the back of your mind about to
how to approach it and is it time to execute that.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Yeah, it's very different, and all the teams during pre
season have been trying different strategies as well. So to
be honest, we're going to see how it goes tonight
and see what we do and just pay what's in
front of us, because it depends on scoring pressure, depends
how hot the shooters are. Feeling as well, so there's
lots lots of decisions to make during that time.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
Yeah, And just in terms of the strengths overall of
the team, well, I mean it's aside from those injuries,
are relatively consistent roster again for the Pulse this year.
What is the team's biggest strength approaching the season do
you feel?
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Yeah, I think it's our defensive end as well. So
our assistant coach Kim has done a great job with
our defense and they've been solid and been able to
sit in with each other as well, where we probably
need some more connection and timers in our attacking end.
We've probably had forty five minutes in total over the
last two seasons due to all the injuries. So hopefully
(04:37):
really looking forward to seeing our full team out on
court over the next couple of weeks and seeing what
they've got.
Speaker 1 (04:43):
How mauch ready is the team from preseason given as
you say, you're going to have to hit the ground
running ready from from round one.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Based on the challenges that we had last year, we
always found a way to win and to make the
Grand Final as well. So they're professionals and we'll make
sure that we'll go out there to do our best.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Have you looked back on that moment as you started
this year's campaign, I guess, falling just short and what was,
as you say, a rewarding season in many aspects. Has
that formed part of your discussions as the team's gathered
for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, absolutely, we always face into that stuff as well,
Like they were at the end of the day, we
didn't win the championship, so we cut that open pretty
much and made sure that we took the learnings from
it to be able to move forward and go one
base far further.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
And the magic, I guess sometimes people might be sure,
what kind of magic is going to turn out for
the season. What are you expecting from them? Especially this
first one tonight.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
I'm expected them to be super strong. They've had an
awesome preseason tournament. They've been playing really well. They've got
strong connections, they've got great shooters and excellent experience of
the sense of in mid court end as well, So
it's going to be a great battle out there tonight.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
Obviously there's a bit of uncertainty around the future of
the competition, So how's everyone, I guess, coping with just
being able to fully put the minds on this year
and this year only, I guess, and not let the
uncertainty kind of get into camp or anything like that.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, I think it's really important to focus on why
we are here in it for our community and for
performance as well. So our mind and our inspiration is
always towards that. So the organizations will take care of
that stuff, but it's really important that we shop and
put out a good performance.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
And I guess there's a lot of chat around, you know,
not only the competition, but also eligibility. And you know,
there's been a lot talked about this week about the
likes of Grace and Wiki and keeping players playing in
New Zealand. As you know, the Polse coach is you know,
where do you stand on that sort of eligibility stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Yeah, that's a tough one. As performance athletes and performance coaches,
you always want to play against the best to be better.
So whatever decision is made, we just have to deal
with it and move forward.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
You've obviously got a lot of silver ferns who, despite
the uncertainty, obviously are sort of you know, eyeing national honors,
the next World Cup and things like that. Is that
a key part of your role for them as a
domestic coach as well.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Yeah. Absolutely, there's two key things that I want to
achieve each year. That's making sure that we win the championship,
but also that we have a number of silver Ferns
or international players as a part of the group. We
want to excel and that's what our environment's about. So
we make sure that we do that for them.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
And the Pulse has been fantastic over the many seasons.
You know that most of us can remember of just
unearthing new talent, New superstars have born from this franchise.
Is there anyone that our listeners listening this morning should
be looking out for at the start of the season,
someone that you think is going to make a real
impact based on pre season.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Oh, look, everyone's been working super hard and we'll just
see how it goes.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Yeah, right, the whole team. All right, Well, Heyada, always
great to chat, Thanks so much and all the best time.
Getting things underwa a little bit later today.
Speaker 2 (07:45):
Nhe cheers Ana.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Andrews Desola with us here on the All Sport Breakfast,
the coach of the Central Pulse. It's a four o'clock
cent to pass today in Palmerston, North so they're getting
the season underway by taking one of the home games
on the roads too within the zone, and I do
believe the game today will be freak for anyone to
watch on TV and Z on Channel two but also
on TV and Z plus. So Yeah, Live and free
(08:08):
Nipple available on TV and Z and you can catch
the Pulse game from four o'clock this afternoon. For more
from News Talk zed B, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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