Donna Wilkins: Mainland Tactix coach on the team selections for their ANZ Premiership defence

The Tactix roster for their ANZ Premiership title defence is complete with the signing of circle defender Ash Barnett from Queensland. 

She's filled the second import position alongside goal shoot Charlie Bell, who has returned after a season with the Stars. 

The Tactix have also confirmed the addition of New Zealand age group defender Laura Balmer from the Pulse. 

Coach Donna Wilkins joined Lesley Murdoch to discuss the team selection – will their latest signings get them a back-to-back Premiership title? 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
And Donna Wilkins, former silver Fern, former double Olympian, Olympian
eight one four and of course head coach of our
tactics joins us once more to chew the fat on
the twenty twenty six tactics roster.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning, Good morning, Mitali.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Well it looks really interesting. Let's go through at first.
Hannah Glenn, Charlie Bell, Amarangi, Melissalla, Holly Mather, Edikana Peterson, Paris,
Petra Farmo, Yoanni, Josie Seymour, Laura Obama and Ash Barnett. Wow,
it's interesting. I mean there's lots of different well, of

(00:34):
course Ash from the Firebirds, Laura from Wellington, Josie homegrown.
That's exciting.

Speaker 3 (00:41):
Yeah, look at it as an I guessed from all
the social media posts about us losing seven players that
was always going to be a little bit tricky to
try and get the teen for twenty twenty six, but
we're really happy with it. And yeah, you say, Laura
Obama comes and play from the Pulse, But we actually
tried to sign a for twenty twenty five as our
tenth play but due to a medical studies that didn't

(01:02):
fit in, So you know, she has been on our
watch list and an exciting under twenty one player along
with Josie.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
So you know they're about to go to tournament.

Speaker 1 (01:11):
When you look at your shooting circle, because that's what
interest is of Well, Hannah Glenn coming home. We've spoken
to her, Charlie Bell who came over and initially to
the tactics, and then when went North and of course
the two point shooting queen amarang em Alasella. I mean,
that's an exciting circle for you to work with.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
Look at it, and we had to clearly find three
shooters and Mary Anne brought over Charlie, you know for
a couple of weeks, and so I've got a little
bit of time that I've had worked with her in
the past, and you.

Speaker 2 (01:42):
Know, I like what I see.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
She's tall, she's strong, she shoots a high percentage from one.
So you know, if I can just change a little
tweak here and there, I think, you know that ball
going in is going to be going through that post,
and that's what we want.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
You know, you get.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
Equal possession and equal opportunity and a game of netbol,
so you know you need to be scoring your own
ball and Amani, how awesome is she from two? You know,
we would like to see her playing more than just
that five minute period.

Speaker 1 (02:07):
Absolutely. Now what I do like because I think one
of the most underrated players in the am Z Premiership
is for Arma Yoanni and she it's clear that she
needs a real home. She's been around a few clubs,
a few franchises, but this could be her year.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Well it could be you know, losing poise lockatilit she's
going over to try cross coding over to rugby and
we wish her all the best. But you know opens
up a door for someone to come in here and
stake their claim. And whether that's jo c Seymour, whether
that's move taking that wing defense.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
Bob who knows.

Speaker 3 (02:38):
You know, I'm always you've got to earn the right
to own that starting spot.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
So it's anybody's at the moment.

Speaker 3 (02:44):
But you know, with her experience as well, I think
is something that we need, especially with such a young
and you know changing roster.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
Yeah, absolutely, Ash Barnett, what does she bring.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
Look, she's probably one of the most unlucky players over
in the Australian league, isn't she? She was if the
Firebirds didn't make you know, that initial selection so she's
taken an opportunity to come over here and help us, which.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know we're really looking forward to.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
She can play both Goldie and goalkeeper and I'm sure
working with Mark with the S and C will be
be a benefit to her program. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:15):
Absolutely in the mid cord course, Holly Math, Paris Peter
Kana Peterson, I'm so admiring of Ericana staying with the tactics.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
Oh how good.

Speaker 3 (03:25):
Look we've retained all three of the mid court and
that was our shining light with all the departures, and
I was very happy that.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
That Kanna decided to stay.

Speaker 3 (03:33):
She could have very easily gone with everybody else and retired,
but you know, look, she's got so much to give
and she proved that this season. I thought she was outstanding,
not only as a captain but just her performance on court.
And you know, she wants to stick around and she
wants to see where her game can go, but she
also wants to help those younger ones coming through and
in you know, the like Savannah Glenn coming back to

(03:54):
christ Church and that's someone that Ercana's worked with before,
and you know, just having those connections is pretty exciting.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Now you sound as though you still got a cold,
have you?

Speaker 3 (04:03):
I do, and my ears are block So I'm really
sorry if I sound but I think you've had a
christ chitch.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
I think I've had it about three times a season.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
I was going to say you've had a tough time
of it.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
I have, But you know, maybe it's because everything's slowed
down now. You know, you go from being so busy
and now it's a matter of trying to pack everything
up and go back to the farm. So maybe I'll
just go a little bit run down, or maybe wasn't
doing too much and managed to get another bit of
the case of the flu.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, congratulations on putting this together. I know there's been
a lot of work behind the scenes to secure some
of these players. Not an easy time in the environment
that Nippel finds itself. But just popping onto another sport
for a minute, I mean, you do locate yourself down
the bottom of the South Island. Now does that mean
you're you're a Southland Stag?

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Oh look, how good?

Speaker 3 (04:50):
And I'm really really sorry, but I will be supporting
them to win that today and keep it, I guess,
and you know, not just have it for a week,
but have it for another week, and I'm pretty certain
most of sou will.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Be at that game.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
Like, you know, is there a rugby test on tonight?
I think the Stags Kennedy game is going to be
the one that everyone will be watching.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
Oh my goodness, I've heard that the weather is not
flashed down there right now. Terrible.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
Look.

Speaker 3 (05:12):
I have no idea because, as I say, I haven't
quite made it back down south yet.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
I think I've been there for two days since Debrion Farm.
So I'm looking forward to getting back down there.

Speaker 1 (05:22):
Oh very good. Now, just finally All Black South Africa.
How do you see that?

Speaker 3 (05:27):
Oh, I'm a little bit nervous about that one. Everyone
keeps talking about the records, don't they, And you know,
it's been so long since a team's beaten the All
Blacks at Eden Park, and I hope that's the case tonight.
But you know, going on performance at the moment and
the changes, it's probably anyone's game to be fair.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah, absolutely, who starts, well, that's the key. Thank you
very much, Donor Welkins joining us on the program really appreciated.
All we can say is go, well, when do you
gather as a team.

Speaker 3 (05:52):
I think the date that everyone has to be in
is on the twenty sixth of January. But to be fair,
let I actually haven't signed on the dotted line if
I'm been absolutely honest, and my intention is to come back,
but I guess there's a little bit of paperwork to
do before and.

Speaker 1 (06:06):
Wow you to get that signature sealed, signed and delivered,
that's for sure. Can't afford to lose you. Thank you
very much. Gosh, that's given us some thought and get well,
that's what we need to say to you. Look after yourself. Okay,
Thanks Donna, Donna Wilkins giving us all the latest on
the tactics.

Speaker 2 (06:24):
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Speaker 1 (06:28):
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