Mystics take down Steel for fourth netball title
- 8 hours ago
- 3 min read
The Mystics have won netball's ANZ Premiership title with a 56-46 in the 2026 Grand Final against the Southern Steel in Auckland,
After missing out last year, the Mystics secure a record fourth title to become the most successful team in the Premiership era.
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The Mystics previously won the title in 2021, 23, 24 and now 2026 which was the 10th year of the competition.
In making their first Grand Final appearance in eight years, the Steel could not the key to finsih off a successful season. They remained in the game through the first three-quarters but couldn’t apply enough consistent pressure on their rivals to make the decisive breakthrough before fading in the fourth.
The Mystics had the edge throughout the game as shooters, Filda Vui (27/29), in the first half, and Maia Wilson (29/31), in the second, were accurate and consistent while the remainder of the team was consistent.
The Mystics put paid to a promising start by the Steel through some big defensive returns from the experienced pairing of Michaela Sokolich-Beatson and Phoenix Karaka to help the home side click into gear.
Trailing early on, the defensive gains added the impetus for the Mystics, midcourt general Peta Toeava conducting the flow on attack while the shooter-to-shooter connection between Wilson and Vui paid off handsomely. With the accomplished Vui providing a flawless shooting return the Mystics shot out to a five-goal lead.
Steel defender Carys Stythe got in the act to give her side the opportunity to reduce the gap when the Mystics took a 15-11 lead into the first break.
With the Mystics pushing out to a seven-goal advantage quickly after the resumption, the Steel injected Queensland injury replacement Jessie Laga’aia into the fray in a bid to tame the home side’s midcourt dominance.
Toeava and Vui continued to shine while stretching the Steel’s defensive tactics, the visitors struggled to get maximum value at either end of their court.
The threat of Steel shooters Aliyah Dunn and Georgia Heffernan was well-contained by the constant movement and smothering defensive work of Sokolich-Beatson and Karaka before a late rally gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.
With the Mystics going slightly off the boil, the Steel pounced, closing to with two goals before the home side slid back into control mode and regathering the momentum while building on a handy 29-23 lead at halftime.
After an untidy start by both sides with turnovers going both ways, the Steel made a strong run to break the goal-for-goal impasse. Inspired by a Stythe defensive gain and inaccuracy from the Mystics, the visitors got a rare opportunity to eat into the deficit.
With three goals in a row and closing to within three of the Mystics, the Steel had their moment but the class and experience of the home side showed its value with a strong response while being able to maintain overall control.
With Wilson stepping up to dominate the Mystics shooting circle through slick movement and accurate scoring, combined with crisp transition through court and relentless defence, the home side denied their southern rivals any threatening raids.
Unable to contain the Mystics dominance, the Steel slipped further behind, a Dunn two-pointer on the stroke of three-quarter time reducing the deficit to six and still within touching distance after drawing the third stanza. However, it was a staunch Mystics who remained in the box seat when leading 44-38 at the last turn.
