Grace Rasmussen encapsulates why the new-look Magic have still got the magic.

Dunedin Police have been called in to investigate death threats made against controversial netball coach Norma Plummer.

The Mystics have revived their ANZ Championship season with a spectacular extra time victory over reigning premiers the Adelaide Thunderbirds tonight.

Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald believes the poor strike rate of the Kiwi teams across the Tasman over the first six seasons of the ANZ Championship is a mental failing.

The Magic have assumed the unlikely position atop the ANZ Championship ladder after surviving their first real test of the season.

As far as halftime entertainment goes, you couldn't get any more fitting than the "panic room'' radio station promotion during the Mystics' loss to the Pulse tonight.

By tomorrow night, the Magic could be top of the ANZ Championship with a 100 per cent record from their first three games. It wasn't meant to be like this.

This is rare air for the Central Pulse. They finally have the squad they want, a coach they're happy with and next to no excuses as they approach the latest instalment of the ANZ Championship.

Northern Mystics captain Maria Tutaia is resting much easier on the eve of the transtasman league season than this time last year.

Triumphant Adelaide Thunderbirds coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson expects cashed-up rivals to try to poach many of her transtasman netball championship winners.

The Magic's margin for error in the transtasman league is narrowing, with stiffer competition on the home front this season.

Joline Henry's return to the netball court came at just the right time for the Central Pulse as they beat the Southern Steel 59-56 in Palmerston North tonight.

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

There are fears that better pay deals will see one of the 'Big Four' quit the championship-winning Magic.