Changes hurting NZ netball

Northern Mystics' Maria Tutaia shoots over Laura Geitz of the Queensland Firebirds in a match the Mystics seemed unfazed about losing 53-47. Photo / Nick Reed

Assuring three spots each in playoffs has bred lack of urgency this side of Tasman.

The introduction of a conference system to the transtasman league was never greeted with widespread enthusiasm by the netball public. But the past two weeks of the ANZ Championship have given us further reason to be disgruntled about the competition's overhaul this season.

As much as league bosses insist the new structure, which will see three teams from Australia and three from New Zealand advance to the playoffs, was about ensuring all teams are in the finals hunt for longer and therefore maintaining the interest of more fans, it was only really ever about giving the Kiwi sides a helping hand.

Or, more accurately, keeping Sky Sport, who chip in a significant amount of the revenue that keeps the competition afloat, happy by ensuring New Zealand franchises featured more prominently in the playoffs.

The more the season wears on, the more it seems this benevolence is only going to hurt New Zealand netball in the long run.

The past two rounds, which have featured all-transtasman match-ups, have been ugly viewing for Kiwi fans. New Zealand sides are winless from the 10 transtasman match-ups over the past two weeks.

The only "high points" thus far have been Saturday's draw between the Pulse and Swifts and last night's draw between the Steel and the Thunderbirds.

Yet, on the whole, there seems to be a lack of concern from the New Zealand sides over these results, because they know it will not harm their playoff chances.

You can see a subtle mindset shift already among them.

Take the Northern Mystics - they seemed remarkably relaxed about Sunday night's 53-47 loss to the Queensland Firebirds, knowing it was not going to cost them their spot atop the New Zealand conference ladder.

Being safely cocooned in the New Zealand conference, the Kiwi sides seem to be taking the approach they will do the bare minimum to get to the finals and worry about tackling the Australian sides when they get there.

Which is not to suggest they are not trying to win every game, but rather the Kiwi sides don't have the same impetus to win the transtasman match-ups any more. The new structure has bred a lack of urgency in the New Zealand sides.

Meanwhile, the Australian franchises play with desperation every week, knowing every match - and indeed every extra goal they can add to improve their goal percentage - is critical to their play-off hopes.

It's that sort of competitiveness that compels teams and individuals to go in search of those extra "one-per centers" to help get them over the line.

It's that sort of competitiveness that New Zealand's elite players desperately need if they are going to bridge the gap with Australia.