Northern Stars
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Northern Stars are a New Zealand netball team based in South Auckland. Since 2017 they have competed in the ANZ Premiership. The team was named after the Matariki star cluster which is also featured on the team's logo. They were grand finalists in 2019 and 2021.
History
Formation
After Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand announced that the ANZ Championship would be discontinued after the 2016 season, Netball New Zealand subsequently replaced it with the ANZ Premiership. The founding members of the ANZ Premiership included the five former New Zealand ANZ Championship teams – Central Pulse, Mainland Tactix, Northern Mystics, Southern Steel and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic – plus a brand new franchise, the South Auckland-based Northern Stars. The team was named after the Matariki star cluster which is also featured on the team's logo. Former Melbourne Vixens head coach, Julie Hoornweg, was named Stars inaugural head coach and Leana de Bruin became their first captain. Other members of the inaugural squad included vice captain Courtney Tairi plus Kayla Cullen, Maia Wilson, Malia Paseka and Sulu Fitzpatrick.
ANZ Premiership
Since 2017, Stars have played in the ANZ Premiership. They were grand finalists in 2019. In 2022, Stars were grand finalists for a second time.
Regular season statistics
| Season | Position | Won | Drawn | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5th | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| 2018 | 6th | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| 2019 | 3rd | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 2020 | 4th | 5 | 3 | 7 |
| 2021 | 4th | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| 2022 | 2nd | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3rd | 9 | 0 | 6 |
| 2024 | 5th | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 2025 | 6th | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Grand finalists
Grand finals
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Central Pulse | 52–48 | Northern Stars | Te Rauparaha Arena |
| 2022 | Central Pulse | 56–37 | Northern Stars | TSB Bank Arena |
| 2023 | Northern Mystics | 74–56 | Northern Stars | Globox Arena |
Home venues
Since 2018, Stars main home venue has been Takanini's Pulman Arena.
Notable players
2026 squad
| 2026 Northern Stars roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaching staff | |||
| Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height New Zealand Amelia Walmsley GS (2004-01-31)31 January 2004(age 22) 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) New Zealand Martina Salmon GS, GA (2003-06-19)19 June 2003(age 22) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) New Zealand Kate Burley WD, GD, GK (1997-04-23)23 April 1997(age 28) 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) New Zealand Samon Nathan WA, C, WD (1992-12-07)7 December 1992(age 33) 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) New Zealand Greer Sinclair C, WD (2000-09-26)26 September 2000(age 25) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) New Zealand Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (vc) WA, C (1998-05-11)11 May 1998(age 27) 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) New Zealand Lili Tokaduadua GD, GK (2004-09-24)24 September 2004(age 21) – New Zealand Claire O'Brien WA, C (1997-03-11)11 March 1997(age 29) 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) Australia Aimee Landrigan GK,GD 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) New Zealand Crystal Maro GA,GS – | Head coach Temepara Bailey Assistant coach Leana De Bruin Manager: Debra Charteris Physiotherapist: Sarah Fanuatanu Strength and conditioning: Barrie Jennings Notes (c) – Captain (cc) – Co-captain (vc) – Vice-captain – Injury / maternity leave (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player | |||
| Nat. | Name | Position(s) | DoB | Height |
| New Zealand | Amelia Walmsley | GS | (2004-01-31)31 January 2004(age 22) | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| New Zealand | Martina Salmon | GS, GA | (2003-06-19)19 June 2003(age 22) | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| New Zealand | Kate Burley | WD, GD, GK | (1997-04-23)23 April 1997(age 28) | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| New Zealand | Samon Nathan | WA, C, WD | (1992-12-07)7 December 1992(age 33) | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| New Zealand | Greer Sinclair | C, WD | (2000-09-26)26 September 2000(age 25) | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| New Zealand | Mila Reuelu-Buchanan (vc) | WA, C | (1998-05-11)11 May 1998(age 27) | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| New Zealand | Lili Tokaduadua | GD, GK | (2004-09-24)24 September 2004(age 21) | – |
| New Zealand | Claire O'Brien | WA, C | (1997-03-11)11 March 1997(age 29) | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Australia | Aimee Landrigan | GK,GD | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | |
| New Zealand | Crystal Maro | GA,GS | – | |
| Player profiles: | Last updated: 19 February 2026 |
Internationals
| Temepara Bailey Leana de Bruin Gina Crampton Monica Falkner Sulu Fitzpatrick Ellen Halpenny | Anna Harrison Kayla Johnson Amorangi Malesala Grace Kara Storm Purvis Elle Temu | Anna Thompson Courtney Tairi Mila Reuelu-Buchanan Malia Vaka Maia Wilson Katrina Rore |
Captains
| Years | |
|---|---|
| Leana de Bruin | 2017, 2019 |
| Grace Kara | 2018, 2020 |
| Maia Wilson | 2021– |
Coaches
Head coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Julie Hoornweg | 2016–2017 |
| Kiri Wills | 2017–2024 |
| Temepara Bailey | 2025– |
Assistant coaches
| Coach | Years |
|---|---|
| Temepara Bailey | 2017–2020 |
| Paula Smith | 2021–2024 |
| Leana De Bruin | 2025– |
Main sponsors
| Sponsors | Seasons |
|---|---|
| Robinhood | c. 2020– |
Reserve team
Since 2017, Northern Comets have competed in the National Netball League. They are effectively the reserve team of Northern Stars. Comets were originally governed and managed by Netball Northern. However in November 2019, Northern Stars began to directly manage the team. In 2019, Temepara Bailey was appointed Comets head coach. In 2021 she guided Comets to the NNL grand final.
Honours
- ANZ Premiership Runners Up: 2019, 2022, 2023