Netball: NZ players' criticisms draw stern warning

Catherine Latu of the Mystics. Photo / Getty Images

Northern Mystics shooter Cathrine Latu and her Southern Steel counterpart Daneka Wipiiti have been lucky to escape sanction after publicly slating the standard of umpiring in their latest respective matches.

Both players were highly critical of the officiating after their sides' narrow losses across the Tasman in round six, claiming inconsistent decisions crippled their chances of winning.

ANZ Championship chief executive Anthony Everard is disappointed with the players' comments, which he said were in breach of league rules.

Everard said Latu and Wipiiti would be let off this time, but in light of their actions the league has warned all franchises that criticism of umpires will not be tolerated.

"We've put all teams on notice that we won't be taking such a lenient approach for the remainder of the season and we'll be paying close attention to comments made."

Everard said the league could impose sanctions ranging from a warning letter to a fine, or in severe cases even the docking of competition points.

"We won't hesitate to look at those sanctions if in fact the athletes chose to ignore the correct channels and voice their frustrations publicly."

Latu did not mince her words after Monday night's 57-55 loss to the Thunderbirds in Adelaide, claiming poor calls from the umpires cost her side. "Unfortunately you try and put all your skill and hard work out on court, just for a few bad calls to go against us," she fumed.

"A bit of consistency would be nice. If they're going to get away with it, we should be able to get away with it, too."

Wipiiti also felt her side got bad calls from the umpires in her side's 50-47 loss to the West Coast Fever in Perth.

"It was nice to be playing seven [players] in the first three quarters,"she said. "When you're playing against nine, it's really hard."

While the New Zealanders have been more vocal about their frustrations, Australian sides have been similarly aggrieved at the local umpiring on trips across the Tasman.

Everard confirmed the Melbourne Vixens complained to the league office about the umpiring after their 56-54 round four loss to the Mystics in Auckland.

They are likely to have more questions to ask after racking up 95 penalties in Monday night's 12-goal loss to the Magic - the second-highest penalty count in the history of the competition.

Umpiring controversy is nothing new in the transtasman league - rule interpretations between Australian and New Zealand umpires have been a regular talking point since it began in 2008.

But officials will be disappointed the debate has resurfaced in the lead-up to Rivalry Round. All games this weekend will be transtasman clashes.

New Zealand sides have won only two games in Australia in the championship's history, with the Magic the lone team to achieve that feat.

But the numbers are also stacked against Australians crossing the Ditch.

In the 91 transtasman clashes played to date, the visiting side has won just 23 times.