Adrian Seconi

Southern Steel defender Katrina Grant is the first to admit she had a horror start to the ANZ Championship.

Three busloads of Southlanders are destined for the Lion Foundation Arena would likely have been described as an invasion of sorts last year.

Otago Nuggets coach Don Sims left Dunedin bound for Seattle yesterday, his future with the franchise in limbo.

Melancholy and the Otago Nuggets go together like fish and chips.

Even West Coast Fever coach Sue Gaudion had to laugh at the irony of an indoor game being called off because the surface was too wet to continue.

In less than impressive fashion the Hawkes Bay Hawks ground their way to an inevitable victory against the Otago Nuggets at the Lion Foundation Arena in Dunedin on Saturday night.

The Southern Steel was touted as a play-off contender by many, but midway through the inaugural ANZ Championship it is clear the Otago-Southland combined side has struggled to match the billing. Netball writer Adrian Seconi casts an eye ahead.

The Otago Rebels have gone and the Otago Nuggets could be the next franchise to disappear from Dunedin.

Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg has called for more consistency from the umpires after she was left bewildered with some of the calls during her side's 46-47 loss to the Southern Steel at Stadium Southland on Saturday.

Former Silver Fern turned television commentator Tania Dalton has made a surprise comeback from retirement to help the injury-plagued Southern Steel today.

The Otago Nuggets' tumultuous season has taken a turn for the worse, with general manager Warrick Diack quitting after a dispute over money.

It is too late for Don Sims to work miracles this season but he backs his ability to turn the ailing Nuggets franchise around.

Highlanders bookend Jamie Mackintosh will be propping up the entertainment during the half-time break of the Southern Steel's ANZ Championship match against the Melbourne Vixens at Stadium Southland on Saturday.

If there is a positive side to Brent Charleton's season-ending knee injury, it is that the Otago Nuggets have just one game left.

The Auckland Stars will play the Otago Nuggets' leftovers in the biggest mismatch since a three-legged blind corgi barked at a rottweiler.

The last time the Southern Steel and the Central Pulse met overtime was needed to separate the sides.