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Northern Mystics
2023 season
Head coach	Tia Winikerei
Asst. coach	Rob Wright
Manager	Meghan Robinson
Captain	Sulu Fitzpatrick
Main venue	The Trusts Arena
Season results
Wins–losses	12–4
Regular season	1st
Finals placing	1st
Team colours
Northern Mystics seasons
← 2022 2024 →

The 2023 Northern Mystics season saw Northern Mystics compete in the 2023 ANZ Premiership. With a team coached by Tia Winikerei, captained by Sulu Fitzpatrick and featuring Phoenix Karaka, Grace Nweke, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Peta Toeava, Northern Mystics won their second title. Mystics finished the regular season as minor premiers, finishing above Central Pulse and Northern Stars. Mystics defeated Stars 74–56 in the Grand final.

Players

Player movements

Gains	Losses
Catherine Hall (Northern Marvels) Holly Mather (Northern Marvels) Katie Te Ao (Waikato Bay of Plenty NNL)	Fa'amu Ioane (Central Pulse) Grace Namana (Severn Stars)

Source:

Roster

2023 Northern Mystics roster
Players	Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height Danielle Binks GS – Tayla Earle C, WA, WD, GD (2000-04-22)22 April 2000 (aged 22) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) Monica Falkner  GA, GS (1996-04-08)8 April 1996 (aged 26) 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) Sulu Fitzpatrick (c) GD, GK (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 30) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Catherine Hall GK,GD (2003-12-16)16 December 2003 (aged 19) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) Phoenix Karaka GD, GK, WD (1993-11-06)6 November 1993 (aged 29) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Holly Mather – Grace Nweke GS (2002-02-07)7 February 2002 (aged 21) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Claire O'Brien (TRP) WA, C (1997-03-11)11 March 1997 (aged 25) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (vc) GD, WD, GK (1996-10-02)2 October 1996 (aged 26) 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) Katie Te Ao WD,C (2001-04-15)15 April 2001 (aged 21) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) Elisapeta Toeava WA, C (1994-03-10)10 March 1994 (aged 28) 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) Carys Stythe GD,GK (2003-06-19)19 June 2003 (aged 19) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) Filda Vui GS, GA, WA (1996-04-16)16 April 1996 (aged 26) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)	Head coach Tia Winikerei Assistant coach Rob Wright Manager: Meghan Robinson Physiotherapist: Pat Hunt Strength and conditioning: Pera Gibbs Notes (c) – Captain (cc) – Co-captain (vc) – Vice-captain – Injury / maternity leave (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player

Notes

• ^1 In September 2022, it was announced that Claire O'Brien was leaving Mystics. However she returned as a temporary replacement player for Round 7 following an injury to Tayla Earle. She remained in the squad for the rest of the 2023 season.

Milestones

• On 6 May 2023, in Round 10 against Southern Steel, Sulu Fitzpatrick made her 150th senior league appearance.

Debutants

• Mystics #84: Katie Te Ao made her Mystics debut in Round 1 against Southern Steel.
• Mystics #85: Catherine Hall made her Mystics debut in Round 5 against Southern Steel.
• Mystics #86: Holly Mather

Sources:

Pre-season

Otaki tournament

Northern Mystics participated in the official ANZ Premiership tournament, hosted by Central Pulse at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in Ōtaki between 17 and 19 February. All six ANZ Premiership teams took part.

Sources:

Regular season

Fixtures and results

Round 1

Sat 4 Mar	Northern Mystics	64–38	Southern Steel	The Trusts Arena
7:00PM	Grace Nweke  46/48 (96%) Monica Falkner  12/17 (71%) Filda Vui  6/7 (86%)	Report Stats	Jess Allan  15/19 (79%) Georgia Heffernan  14/19 (74%) Eseta Autagavaia  9/13 (69%)

Round 2

Sun 12 Mar	Mainland Tactix	45–54	Northern Mystics	Christchurch Arena
4:00PM	Aliyah Dunn  24/29 (83%) Te Paea Selby-Rickit  20/26 (77%) Vika Koloto  1/1 (100%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  46/52 (88%) Monica Falkner  4/7 (57%) Filda Vui  4/4 (100%)

Round 3

Sun 19 Mar	Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic	57–56	Northern Mystics	Globox Arena
4:00PM	Bailey Mes  28/39 (72%) Ameliaranne Ekenasio  29/34 (85%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  39/42 (93%) Filda Vui  13/14 (93%)

Round 4

Sun 26 Mar	Northern Mystics	62–59	Northern Stars	The Trusts Arena
4:00PM	Grace Nweke  46/46 (100%) Monica Falkner  15/17 (88%) Filda Vui  1/1 (100%)	Report Stats	Maia Wilson  32/34 (94%) Amorangi Malesala  19/24 (79%) Jamie Hume  8/14 (57%)

Round 5

Sat 1 Apr	Southern Steel	48–64	Northern Mystics	Edgar Centre
7:00PM	Saviour Tui  22/31 (71%) Eseta Autagavaia  6/7 (86%) Georgia Heffernan  20/29 (69%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  47/48 (98%) Monica Falkner  17/19 (89%) Filda Vui  0/1 (0%)

Mon 3 Apr	Central Pulse	51–56	Northern Mystics	Te Rauparaha Arena
7:00PM	Amelia Walmsley  27/34 (79%) Tiana Metuarau  17/18 (94%) Joyce Mvula  7/7 (100%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  45/48 (94%) Monica Falkner  11/12 (92%)

Round 6

Sun 9 Apr	Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic	61–62	Northern Mystics	Energy Events Centre
2:00PM	Bailey Mes  36/41 (88%) Ameliaranne Ekenasio  25/27 (93%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  50/55 (91%) Monica Falkner  7/8 (88%) Filda Vui  5/6 (83%)

Round 7

Sat 15 Apr	Northern Mystics	53–55	Central Pulse	The Trusts Arena
4:00PM	Grace Nweke  41/45 (91%) Monica Falkner  11/12 (92%) Filda Vui  1/1 (100%)	Report Stats	Amelia Walmsley  36/50 (72%) Tiana Metuarau  17/19 (89%) Joyce Mvula  2/4 (50%)

Round 8

Sun 23 Apr	Northern Mystics	60–49	Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic	The Trusts Arena
4:00PM	Grace Nweke  50/62 (81%) Filda Vui  10/15 (67%)	Report Stats	Bailey Mes  24/29 (83%) Ameliaranne Ekenasio  25/29 (86%)

Mon 24 Apr	Northern Mystics	77–79	Northern Stars	The Trusts Arena
7:00PM	Grace Nweke  70/75 (93%) Filda Vui  7/11 (64%)	Report Stats	Maia Wilson  50/54 (93%) Amorangi Malesala  27/32 (84%) Jamie Hume  2/3 (67%)

Round 9

Sun 30 Apr	Mainland Tactix	77–79	Northern Mystics	Christchurch Arena
2:00PM	Aliyah Dunn Te Paea Selby-Rickit Vika Koloto	Report	Grace Nweke  64/66 (97%) Monica Falkner Filda Vui

Round 10

Sat 6 May	Northern Mystics	65–55	Southern Steel	The Trusts Arena
7:00PM	Grace Nweke  53/58 (91%) Filda Vui  12/16 (75%)	Report Stats	Saviour Tui  41/51 (80%) Georgia Heffernan  12/17 (71%) Jess Allan  2/3 (67%)

Round 11

Sun 14 May	Central Pulse	62–56	Northern Mystics	TSB Bank Arena
4:00PM	Amelia Walmsley  47/57 (82%) Tiana Metuarau  15/15 (100%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  46/51 (90%) Filda Vui  10/15 (67%)

Round 12

Sun 21 May	Northern Stars	63–58	Northern Mystics	Pulman Arena
2:00PM	Maia Wilson  33/36 (92%) Amorangi Malesala  25/29 (86%)	Report Stats	Grace Nweke  52/56 (93%) Filda Vui  11/13 (85%)

Mon 22 May	Northern Mystics	64–61	Mainland Tactix	Eventfinda Stadium
7:00PM	Grace Nweke  59/69 (86%) Filda Vui  5/9 (56%)	Report Stats	Aliyah Dunn  32/33 (97%) Te Paea Selby-Rickit  29/33 (88%)

Final standings

  Qualified for Grand final
  Qualified for Elimination final

Source:

Finals series

Grand final

4 June 2023		Northern Mystics	74–56	Northern Stars		Globox Arena	Sky Sport
		Scoring by quarter: 21–17, 38–29, 54–45, 74–56
		Grace Nweke  70/73 (96%) Filda Vui  3/5 (60%) Danielle Binks  1/1 (100%)		Maia Wilson  38/42 (90%) Amorangi Malesala  17/21 (81%) Jamie Hume  1/3 (33%)

Source:

Award winners

Team of the season

Three Mystics players were included in Brendon Egan's Stuff's team of the season.

All Star Seven

Bench

Source:

Mystics Awards

Source:

References

1. ^ "LockerRoom: Ins and outs of netball's No.1 league". www.nzherald.co.nz. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
2. ^ Brendon Egan (4 March 2023). "ANZ Premiership: Your team-by-team guide to the 2023 competition". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
3. "MG Mystics appoint new head coach". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
4. "Former apprentice coach Tia Winikerei to guide Mystics in ANZ Premiership". stuff.co.nz. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
5. ^ "Mystics Grand Final win provides perfect send-off for Fitzpatrick". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
6. ^ "Perfect end for Sulu Fitzpatrick as Mystics beat Stars in ANZ Premiership final". stuff.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
7. ^ "Mystics give Sulu Fitzpatrick fairytale send-off". www.rnz.co.nz. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
8. ^ "The real tale behind the MG Mystics' fairytale season". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
9. ^ "Northern Mystics – History". www.northernmystics.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
10. "Mystics defeat Stars to clinch minor premiership". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
11. Brendon Egan (21 May 2023). "Mystics topple crosstown Stars to secure place in ANZ Premiership decider". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
12. ^ "MG Mystics farewell Claire O'Brien". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
13. "Te Ao has netball world at her fingertips". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 17 April 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
14. "Pulse confirm team for 2023 season". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
15. "Ioane embraces new challenges with Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
16. "Tayla Earle ruled out of Round 7 with injury". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
17. "Rhapsody in blue – Sulu hits 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
18. "Mystics claim emphatic win over Steel to honour Fitzpatrick's big 150". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
19. "ANZ Premiership: Northern Mystics mark Sulu Fitzpatrick's 150th with scrappy win". www.stuff.co.nz. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
20. "MG Mystics V Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 5 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
21. "Mystics relentless in win over steel to claim Georgie Salter Memorial Trophy". www.northernmystics.co.nz. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
22. "Teams set to test the waters at Ōtaki pre-season". www.pulse.org.nz. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
23. "Lapses prove costly for Pulse". www.pulse.org.nz. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
24. "Pulse's true colours begin to show". www.pulse.org.nz. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
25. "Pulse end pre-season on disappointing note". www.pulse.org.nz. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
26. "(2023) Fixtures & results". www.anzpremiership.co.nz. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
27. Brendon Egan (3 June 2023). "Who makes the final cut for ANZ Premiership's All Star Seven?". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 August 2023.

• Northern Mystics seasons
• 2023 ANZ Premiership season
• 2023 in New Zealand netball