May 10, 2025 • 8 mins
Mystics coach Tia Winikerei is excited by what their new shooter will bring to the team.
Australian shooter Donnell Wallam is set to debut for the two-time defending ANZ Premiership champions when they start their 2025 campaign against the Stars.
She joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB net Ball season is upon us and there's a
new face and the defending champion Northern Mystics lineup this season.
This is quite the coup. The Mystics have acquired the
services of Australian shooter Danell Wallom. It's the first to
go ahead by two. After that Walem, I couldn't get
the ball for Doji. Now back to Australia Weston.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
She finds proud Walem to win up Australia.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But you have written that if you tried Danel Warllhem. Yes, so,
Donell Wallam is now a Northern Mystics player and she
is with us in studio. Dennell, thank you for joining us,
Congratulations on the move, Welcome to New Zealand. How did
this all come about?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, so Mystics
reached out to my management at the end of last
year and I was obviously looking for a contract and
I was tossing up between the UK and New Zealand.
But after speaking to Tia at the Mystics here, I
knew that Mystics was a team I wanted to come to.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How easy has the Mystics environment been to fit into?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Oh? So easy. It's just you know, everyone has been
so welcoming and just probably the biggest barrier is like
just the difference in language that we use for netball.
It's just so interesting how so many people can interpret
the game so differently. But now I felt like a
smooth transition over here, and it's just been great.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So what are some of the examples that do we
just use different words over here for different things on
court and things like that?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, that's all right, just using different words. And then
I'm like, I don't really know what that means until
we start getting into it, and I'm like, oh, okay, yep.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Fair enough, and I'm glad you've got up to speed
with the season now here. Now this is the question
I'm sure you've been asked more than any other question.
Do you feel any pressure at all replacing Grace Wiki
in the Mystics lineup?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I did feel a little bit, a little bit
of pressure. You know, she's got an amazing shooter and
there's a big shoes to feel there. But something that
Tears said to me in the in our initial meeting
was that they just wanted me for me, and to
come over and be myself and bring the skills that
I bring. And so that kind of took the pressure
off and I knew that I didn't have to live
(02:24):
up to anybody else's expectations.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I just got to come and be me fantastic. So
here we are on the eve of the first game.
How are you feeling as a team hitting into weekend
one of the AMJ Premiership.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I'm really excited. As you said, it's a bit
of a new look team as well, so I'm excited
to see what we can do out on court, you know,
in that game, real game scenario. So I'm looking forward
to it. I can't wait. It's the Auckland Derby between
Mystics and Stars, so that's really exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So did you play basketball to quite a high level
growing up?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I did play basketball to I think they call it
NBL one now. Yeah, so, but I've just basketball was
probably the sport I've played my whole childhood. But I've
played bit of netball as well socially from my hometown.
And yeah, so I think there's a lot of similarities
in the two sports.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, the reason I ask a course is the two
point shot, which which is a new innovation we're all
looking forward to seeing in the A and Z Premiership
this year. Does that excite you as a as a
former basketball Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And you know, the SSN have been playing with it
for a few years, so I know how much it
excites the crowd as well, and how much it can
bring the crowd into the game, which is just so
good for Netbell. I think it just can change the
way a game goes as well. So I'm a big
fan of the super shot.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So can you tell us how the evolution of it
has worked, because it's new to us obviously, and talking
to a couple of the other teams, they're all sort
of in a little bit of an experimental phase as
to how best to use it both to shoot as
shooters and in the defensive circle as well. Are you
trying to score as many two pointers as possible in
(04:01):
that in those segments of the game or are you
still relying on the you know, under the hoop one
point as well.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, so I guess it depends where we're at in
the game. You know, if we've got a big lead,
then I guess we can afford to just take the
ones and keep kicking the scoreboard over. But if you're
chasing the lead, then you kind of have to back
yourself and go for those two pointers. It's high risk, but.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
High reward, absolutely, And so what of it? I mean,
I know you obviously do you know you operate at
the at the offensive end of the court, But have
you noticed the defenders and the team coming up with
their strategies. Obviously they've got to defend further out if
people aren't taking two point shots.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I think it's tricky for the defenders because you know,
they've been told any other time to push the defenders,
push the attackers out and make them shoot from you know,
long range. But soon as that supershot buzzer goes off,
they've got to do the complete opposite. So I think, yeah,
I'm in awe of the defenders when you know they've
got to try and switch their game plan around.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So yeah, coming into a new environment, Danelle, how hard
have you worked on establishing connect with you know, with
your fellow shooters, but also the mid quarters who are
going to be feeding you most off and across the season.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, that's been really important to me to try, and
you know, we had a shorter preseason, so I had
to kind of work on those connections really fast. But
thankfully we've had a few pre season games, so we've
got to figure each other out on the court and
also figure each other out off the court. I think
that's just as important as well. So we feel very
(05:32):
connected and I'm excited for us to have a crack
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And you've been part of the Australian Diamond set up
for the last few years. Is that still a focus
for you to represent Australia.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah, definitely. Like I'm just taking this season as it comes,
game by game, but you know, the ultimate goal is
to hopefully pull on the green and gold dress again.
So for me, I'm just coming over learning as much
as I can playing over here, and yeah, whatever will
be will be.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
What's the situation with because I'm sure you've picked up
on this that there's a bit of an eligibility discussion
going on over here around mainly around Grace actually and
the fact that she's playing in Australia, which prevents her
currently from playing for the Silver Ferns. Is that the
same rule that applies for Australia, like can you represent
Australia while playing for the Mystics.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, no, that's we don't have that rule in Australia.
And I spoke to Stacey Amrikovich, the Australian coach, and
she reassured me that, you know, she'd rather be playing
that ball than staying home in OZ to get a
training partner contract if that was the case. But she
said that over here, I'm still eligible for selection. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I feel like playing netball is the main thing, isn't
it Isn't you know playing is are going to be
a lot more beneficial than, as you say, being a
training partner.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, absolutely so. Yeah, that, like I said, it just
reassured me that coming over here was the right choice
for me as well.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Hopefully the powers will be on the side of the
Tasman will have a similar epiphany and the rules over here.
But I know that's got nothing to do with you, Deanell.
All your focusing on is the Mystics at the moment.
Look really appreciate your stepping into the studio and having
a chat to us. All the best for the season
ahead as the Mystics look to go back to back.
Thank you so much, No, thank you for stopping in
Dannel Dannell Wall. I'm there a new recruit for the
(07:12):
Northern Mystics, the defending champion Northern Mystics, of course, who
opened their campaign in a couple of hours four o'clock
center Pass against the Northern Stars at event find A
Stadium in Auckland. The Mainland Tactics hosting the Southern Steel
from seven o'clock this evening at Wolfbrook Arena in christ Church.
The season under way yesterday in Palmerston North, where the
(07:34):
Central Pulse were very impressive in beating the White Cuttle
Bay of plenty Magic fifty seven forty four. It was
the first chance to see the two point shot clearly.
Amelioraniicanassio has been working on it. I was watching it
yesterday and she was hitting two or three from out
in the two point area. If you've only just caught
up with us. Basically you think of the shooting circle
(07:54):
in netball, and the outer reaches of the shooting circle
that is now shaded on the court, and so if
you take a shot, it's only in the last two
minutes of each quarter. But if you take a shot
from in that shaded area, so the outside part of
the shooting circle and you land it, you get two points.
It's a new innovation this year, so'm be interesting to
(08:16):
see how it plays out and how teams will cope
with certainly having to defend it, but also how they
strategize about using it. It, I guess gives teams a
chance as well who might feel like there's a big
deficit to pull back. You know, eight to ten points
in the past, that might seem like, you know, a
few too many, But when you got two point shots
(08:36):
to rely on, maybe it's not quite so big a
deficit to pull back.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB net Ball season is upon us and there's a
new face and the defending champion Northern Mystics lineup this season.
This is quite the coup. The Mystics have acquired the
services of Australian shooter Danell Wallom. It's the first to
go ahead by two. After that Walem, I couldn't get
the ball for Doji. Now back to Australia Weston.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
She finds proud Walem to win up Australia.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
But you have written that if you tried Danel Warllhem. Yes, so,
Donell Wallam is now a Northern Mystics player and she
is with us in studio. Dennell, thank you for joining us,
Congratulations on the move, Welcome to New Zealand. How did
this all come about?
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thank you so much for having me. Yeah, so Mystics
reached out to my management at the end of last
year and I was obviously looking for a contract and
I was tossing up between the UK and New Zealand.
But after speaking to Tia at the Mystics here, I
knew that Mystics was a team I wanted to come to.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
How easy has the Mystics environment been to fit into?
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Oh? So easy. It's just you know, everyone has been
so welcoming and just probably the biggest barrier is like
just the difference in language that we use for netball.
It's just so interesting how so many people can interpret
the game so differently. But now I felt like a
smooth transition over here, and it's just been great.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
So what are some of the examples that do we
just use different words over here for different things on
court and things like that?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Yeah, that's all right, just using different words. And then
I'm like, I don't really know what that means until
we start getting into it, and I'm like, oh, okay, yep.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Fair enough, and I'm glad you've got up to speed
with the season now here. Now this is the question
I'm sure you've been asked more than any other question.
Do you feel any pressure at all replacing Grace Wiki
in the Mystics lineup?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I did feel a little bit, a little bit
of pressure. You know, she's got an amazing shooter and
there's a big shoes to feel there. But something that
Tears said to me in the in our initial meeting
was that they just wanted me for me, and to
come over and be myself and bring the skills that
I bring. And so that kind of took the pressure
off and I knew that I didn't have to live
(02:24):
up to anybody else's expectations.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
I just got to come and be me fantastic. So
here we are on the eve of the first game.
How are you feeling as a team hitting into weekend
one of the AMJ Premiership.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Yeah, I'm really excited. As you said, it's a bit
of a new look team as well, so I'm excited
to see what we can do out on court, you know,
in that game, real game scenario. So I'm looking forward
to it. I can't wait. It's the Auckland Derby between
Mystics and Stars, so that's really exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
So did you play basketball to quite a high level
growing up?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
I did play basketball to I think they call it
NBL one now. Yeah, so, but I've just basketball was
probably the sport I've played my whole childhood. But I've
played bit of netball as well socially from my hometown.
And yeah, so I think there's a lot of similarities
in the two sports.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Well, the reason I ask a course is the two
point shot, which which is a new innovation we're all
looking forward to seeing in the A and Z Premiership
this year. Does that excite you as a as a
former basketball Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
And you know, the SSN have been playing with it
for a few years, so I know how much it
excites the crowd as well, and how much it can
bring the crowd into the game, which is just so
good for Netbell. I think it just can change the
way a game goes as well. So I'm a big
fan of the super shot.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
So can you tell us how the evolution of it
has worked, because it's new to us obviously, and talking
to a couple of the other teams, they're all sort
of in a little bit of an experimental phase as
to how best to use it both to shoot as
shooters and in the defensive circle as well. Are you
trying to score as many two pointers as possible in
(04:01):
that in those segments of the game or are you
still relying on the you know, under the hoop one
point as well.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
Yeah, so I guess it depends where we're at in
the game. You know, if we've got a big lead,
then I guess we can afford to just take the
ones and keep kicking the scoreboard over. But if you're
chasing the lead, then you kind of have to back
yourself and go for those two pointers. It's high risk, but.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
High reward, absolutely, And so what of it? I mean,
I know you obviously do you know you operate at
the at the offensive end of the court, But have
you noticed the defenders and the team coming up with
their strategies. Obviously they've got to defend further out if
people aren't taking two point shots.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I think it's tricky for the defenders because you know,
they've been told any other time to push the defenders,
push the attackers out and make them shoot from you know,
long range. But soon as that supershot buzzer goes off,
they've got to do the complete opposite. So I think, yeah,
I'm in awe of the defenders when you know they've
got to try and switch their game plan around.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
So yeah, coming into a new environment, Danelle, how hard
have you worked on establishing connect with you know, with
your fellow shooters, but also the mid quarters who are
going to be feeding you most off and across the season.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, that's been really important to me to try, and
you know, we had a shorter preseason, so I had
to kind of work on those connections really fast. But
thankfully we've had a few pre season games, so we've
got to figure each other out on the court and
also figure each other out off the court. I think
that's just as important as well. So we feel very
(05:32):
connected and I'm excited for us to have a crack
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
And you've been part of the Australian Diamond set up
for the last few years. Is that still a focus
for you to represent Australia.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah, definitely. Like I'm just taking this season as it comes,
game by game, but you know, the ultimate goal is
to hopefully pull on the green and gold dress again.
So for me, I'm just coming over learning as much
as I can playing over here, and yeah, whatever will
be will be.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
What's the situation with because I'm sure you've picked up
on this that there's a bit of an eligibility discussion
going on over here around mainly around Grace actually and
the fact that she's playing in Australia, which prevents her
currently from playing for the Silver Ferns. Is that the
same rule that applies for Australia, like can you represent
Australia while playing for the Mystics.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, no, that's we don't have that rule in Australia.
And I spoke to Stacey Amrikovich, the Australian coach, and
she reassured me that, you know, she'd rather be playing
that ball than staying home in OZ to get a
training partner contract if that was the case. But she
said that over here, I'm still eligible for selection. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
I feel like playing netball is the main thing, isn't
it Isn't you know playing is are going to be
a lot more beneficial than, as you say, being a
training partner.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Yeah, absolutely so. Yeah, that, like I said, it just
reassured me that coming over here was the right choice
for me as well.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Hopefully the powers will be on the side of the
Tasman will have a similar epiphany and the rules over here.
But I know that's got nothing to do with you, Deanell.
All your focusing on is the Mystics at the moment.
Look really appreciate your stepping into the studio and having
a chat to us. All the best for the season
ahead as the Mystics look to go back to back.
Thank you so much, No, thank you for stopping in
Dannel Dannell Wall. I'm there a new recruit for the
(07:12):
Northern Mystics, the defending champion Northern Mystics, of course, who
opened their campaign in a couple of hours four o'clock
center Pass against the Northern Stars at event find A
Stadium in Auckland. The Mainland Tactics hosting the Southern Steel
from seven o'clock this evening at Wolfbrook Arena in christ Church.
The season under way yesterday in Palmerston North, where the
(07:34):
Central Pulse were very impressive in beating the White Cuttle
Bay of plenty Magic fifty seven forty four. It was
the first chance to see the two point shot clearly.
Amelioraniicanassio has been working on it. I was watching it
yesterday and she was hitting two or three from out
in the two point area. If you've only just caught
up with us. Basically you think of the shooting circle
(07:54):
in netball, and the outer reaches of the shooting circle
that is now shaded on the court, and so if
you take a shot, it's only in the last two
minutes of each quarter. But if you take a shot
from in that shaded area, so the outside part of
the shooting circle and you land it, you get two points.
It's a new innovation this year, so'm be interesting to
(08:16):
see how it plays out and how teams will cope
with certainly having to defend it, but also how they
strategize about using it. It, I guess gives teams a
chance as well who might feel like there's a big
deficit to pull back. You know, eight to ten points
in the past, that might seem like, you know, a
few too many, But when you got two point shots
(08:36):
to rely on, maybe it's not quite so big a
deficit to pull back.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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