Whether it is just a blip or the beginning of a trend is unclear, but some of the scores registered in the competition so far have been extraordinary.
Round two was the highest-scoring round in the history of the tournament, with 576 goals scored in five matches - an average score of 57.6 goals per team.
The Steel contributed to that, posting its highest total in a 75-56 win against the Tactix.
The West Coast Fever scored 80 goals the next day in a 27-goal drubbing of the Northern Mystics. In round four, the Tactix beat the Mystics 80-78 in extra time. The Mystics gave up 68 goals to the Pulse the following week but still won, albeit by one goal and thanks to a controversial contact call.
In 23 games, there have been 12 scores of 65 or more, and the 70-goal barrier has been broken seven times.
There is the odd game bucking the trend. the Thunderbirds beat the Vixens 39-38 in a tough defensive match in Adelaide on Sunday.
But, generally, attack has been dominating, and Steel captain Jodi Brown has a theory. The Silver Ferns shooter believes the higher scores are a product of greater athleticism.
''I don't know if my theories are right but I think it is the way the game is changing at the moment,'' Brown said.
''Each year we get fitter, stronger and faster, and each year the volume of shots taken is getting higher as well. And the accuracy is so much higher.
''If you have a look at the stats around shooting percentages, they are quite high. I think there are three or four teams who are shooting in the 90% range.''
The Steel leads the league in shooting with 90.4% accuracy. It is that kind of superb execution in the shooting circle that is seeing the scores lift.
It is a problem for defenders in the competition. Once the ball gets into the circle, the chances of a shooter missing have dropped, so the onus is on trying to stop the ball getting into the hands of an Irene van Dyk or a Jhaniele Fowler.
Defensive efforts need to lift throughout court and that is what the Steel has been concentrating on before its crucial match against the Mystics in Invercargill on Monday night.
''Teams need to put more emphasis on what happens further up court,'' Brown said.
''When you get shooters shooting over 90%, the work has to be done before it gets to them.
''I do think [higher scores are] part of a trend. Each year the game progresses, and if you don't get fitter, faster and stronger, then you are going to get left behind.''
The Steel has played well in patches this season but has let itself down at crucial periods in the match. When teams have rallied, the Steel has been too slow to respond, Brown said.
''When the defence has changed, we've taken too long to switch into plan B.
''I think in our last two games we've played well for 54 minutes out of 60 and we just need to find that extra six minutes.''
Brown said the team was coming to terms with Netball South's surprise decision to sack assistant Steel coach Natalie Avellino last week.
''Anything like that is going to be a disruption for the team. It was quite a shock to the players but we understand the process and have done our best just to move on and make sure that we continue achieving what we want to on court.''
