National Squads and Teams

New Zealand Netball Awards

Netball’s finest in 2021 honoured.

Humble to the core but well equipped with a commanding playing presence, title-winning Northern Mystics captain Sulu Fitzpatrick has taken out the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award for 2021 at the annual New Zealand Netball Awards.

Recognised as the best Netballer across all competitions and campaigns, the powerful 29-year-old defender completed a defining 2021 through her influential play and irrepressible leadership skills.

Assuming the captaincy in 2021, Fitzpatrick led the Mystics to a historic maiden ANZ Premiership title, claiming the first silverware for an Auckland team since the introduction of franchise Netball in 1998.

Fitzpatrick’s contribution was further recognised when she was elevated to Silver Ferns vice-captain later in the 2021 year.

In a celebration of Netball excellence across 2021, super-consistent and athletic defender Karin Burger was crowned ANZ Premiership Player of the Year. Burger was a star turn for the The Good Oil Tactix throughout the season, completing the league with 48 intercepts (ranked first), 69 deflections (ranked second) and 27 rebounds (ranked second), while pocketing six Most Valuable Player accolades along the way.

In her fifth season as head coach, Helene Wilson was named ANZ Premiership Coach of the Year having guided the Mystics to the title for the first time in their 14-year history.

After whistling 113 games in elite domestic competition, Southland’s wellperformed Kristie Simpson continued to excel throughout the season to claim the ANZ Premiership Umpire of the Year award.

From lifting to new levels during 2021, ever-present midcourter Samantha Winders was named Silver Ferns Player of the Year. With her leadership and consistency skills to the fore, Winders was just one of three Silver Ferns to play in all seven internationals against the Australian Diamonds and England Roses.

In the infancy of her elite-level career, Paris Lokotui won the perfect accolade as Aspiring Silver Fern after an impressive first season with the Central Pulse, while also being selected for the Silver Ferns training squad for this year’s Cadbury Netball Series against the England Roses and Aotearoa Men.

Top-shot Saviour Tui won the National Netball League Player of the Year after an outstanding individual season. A fully contracted player with the Mystics, Tui played all nine NNL matches for the Northern Marvels in 2021, going on to lead all shooters with 337 goals (ranked first) for a successful return of 91 percent, which ranked her top as well. Tui was a key contributor in helping the Marvels win the title for the first time. On the back of an impressive season, Ripeka Pirie was awarded National Netball League Coach of the Year. An influential figure as head coach, Pirie guided the Marvels to a historic first title when they took down the previously unbeaten Northern Comets 64-55 in the Grand Final.

Zak Middleton was awarded the National Netball League Umpire of the Year on the back of a strong season which culminated in his appointment, for the first time, as umpire of the NNL Grand Final.

Featuring in all nine NNL matches for the title-winning Marvels, promising young defender Carys Stythe was awarded Secondary Schools Player of the Year. Stythe was also a key player for the Auckland 1 team, who won the inaugural Celebration Box Netball NZ U18 Champs.

With her many years as a bench official standing her in good stead, Anne Harrison handled her new role of coordinating bench officials during some challenging COVID-19 times to ensure the seamless running of international, ANZ Premiership and NNL matches throughout the year, to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Netball by a Technical Official award.

Former Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene was honoured for her Contribution to the New Zealand Netball Players Association (NZNPA). An original board member when the NZNPA was formed in 2008, Mene served for 10 years, demonstrating her outstanding governance skills and knowledge while providing support to the country’s Netball professionals.