A major philosophical divide between how New Zealand and Australia view netball should be played has emerged in the wake of allegations of Aussie thuggery.

Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu is closely monitoring the workload of Mystics utility Kayla Cullen this season.

Given the significant setbacks they encountered in the preseason, this year has always promised to be challenging for the Northern Mystics.

It is fitting Kayla Cullen is making the transition to the midcourt, where Silver Ferns coaching staff believe her future rests, at a time when she is transitioning into adulthood.

It didn't take Northern Mystics chief executive Julie Paterson much to convince Ruth Aitken to take on the role of caretaker coach at the franchise this season.

Not even an hour had passed after the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic's stunning come-from-behind grand final over the Melbourne Vixens last year before talk of the transtasman league's premiership curse surfaced.

Playing netball for England was always a privilege for star defender Geva Mentor.

Any athlete will tell you reaching a performance plateau is an extremely frustrating time in their career.

The push towards professionalism with the advent of the transtasman league has come at the expense of the international game, some onlookers have warned.

Low wages combined with ever increasing demands of the professional era is forcing some players from the sport too early, says NZ netball players' association.

The transtasman league has netted a modest broadcast deal in Australia, but it will fall short of the bonanza netball bosses were counting on when the competition was conceived.

She was meant to be the final piece of the jigsaw but now Julie Corletto looks like the key to respectability for the Mystics this season.

You could say the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic are wrestling with the new netball season. They have enlisted New Zealand national wrestling coach Mark Grayling to hold duels and drills to strengthen the ANZ defending champions.

The leadership at Northern Mystics is being questioned after the young Auckland side's disastrous showing at a preseason tournament in Melbourne at the weekend.

The long-standing duopoly in international netball is under threat and Netball New Zealand admit they are "strategically concerned" following a huge cash injection into the English game.