Finau Pulu

Last updated

Finau Pulu
Personal information
Born 1987 (age 3536)
United States
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Occupation Banking officer
Netball career
Playing position(s): WD, GD
YearsClub team(s)Apps
2006–2007 Northern Force
2009–2010 Northern Mystics
2011 Canterbury Tactix

Finau Pulu (born 1987 in the United States) is a New Zealand netball player of Pacific Islander descent. [1] In 2008, Pulu was signed to play in the ANZ Championship for the Northern Mystics, [2] having previously played for the Northern Force in the National Bank Cup. In 2010, Pulu was one of only four players to remain in the Northern Mystics side from last season. In 2011, Pulu played for the Canterbury Tactix in hopes of more court time. In round 10 against the Magic, Pulu got sent off by the umpires late in the second quarter for persistent infringing for the next three goals scored. This is the third send off in ANZ Championship history.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mainland Tactix</span> New Zealand netball team

Mainland Tactix are a New Zealand netball team based in Christchurch, Canterbury. Between 1998 and 2007, as Canterbury Flames, they played in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Between 2008 and 2012 they were known as Canterbury Tactix. However, after Netball Mainland was established in October 2012, the team subsequently adopted their current name. Netball Mainland is the governing body that represents the South Island regions of Canterbury, West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough. Since 2017, Tactix have represented Netball Mainland in the ANZ Premiership. During the ANZ Championship era, Tactix won just 20 of their 114 games and never featured in a finals series. However, during the ANZ Premiership era they emerged as challengers. They were grand finalists in both 2020 and 2021

Temepara Anne Bailey is a New Zealand international netball player of Samoan and Māori descent. She was a member of the Silver Ferns national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore. She played domestic netball in the ANZ Championship as captain of the Northern Mystics. Since the inaugural season, George has taken part in every quarter for the Mystics. She retired from all netball in 2012.

Julie Corletto is an Australian international netball player. She played for the Australian Diamonds and NSW Swifts but has now retired. She usually played in the positions of goal defence and wing defence. Corletto is the younger sister of former AFL footballer Ian Prendergast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANZ Championship</span> Defunct netball league

The ANZ Championship, also known as the Trans-Tasman Netball League, is a former netball league featuring teams from both Australia and New Zealand. Between 2008 and 2016, it was the top-level league in both countries. The competition was owned and administered by Trans-Tasman Netball League Ltd (TTNL), a joint venture between Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. It was effectively a merger of Australia's Commonwealth Bank Trophy and New Zealand's National Bank Cup. Its main sponsor was the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Folau</span> New Zealand netball player

Solonaima Maria Folau is a retired New Zealand netball player. She played regularly for the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Harrison (netball)</span> New Zealand netball international

Anna Maree Harrison is a New Zealand netball and beach volleyball player. She stands at 1.87 m. In netball Harrison plays as goal-keep, goal-defence and/or wing-defence.

Leana de Bruin is a South African and New Zealand international netball player. De Bruin played 34 tests for South Africa before moving to New Zealand in 2000. She made her on-court debut for the Silver Ferns in 2003, and has gone on to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games and Netball World Championships, playing in the goal defence and goal keeper positions. In 2009, she pulled out of the team due to pregnancy, before returning the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joline Henry</span> New Zealand netball player

Joline Henry is a New Zealand former netball player. Henry was a member of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns, and has played for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic (2008-2009) and the Northern Mystics (2010-2011) in the ANZ Championship. In 2012, Henry played with the Central Pulse for the 2012 ANZ Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Mystics</span> New Zealand netball team

Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland. Between 2008 and 2016, they played in the ANZ Championship. Since 2017 they have represented Netball Northern in the ANZ Premiership. Netball Northern is the governing body that represents the Auckland and Northland Regions. In 2021, Mystics won their first premiership.

Megan Anderson, also known as Megan McWilliams and previously known as Megan Dehn, is a former Australia netball international and current netball coach. Between 2000 and 2006 she made 20 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia team that won the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. During the Commonwealth Bank Trophy era, Anderson was a member of Sydney Swifts teams that won premierships in 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Southern Steel and Northern Mystics. After retiring as a player in 2011, she became a coach. In 2020 Anderson was appointed head coach of Queensland Firebirds.

Cathrine Tuivaiti is a New Zealand netball player of Tongan, Samoan, and Māori descent.

The 2011 ANZ Championship season was the fourth season of the ANZ Championship. The 2011 season began on 13 February and concluded on 22 May. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Lauren Nourse and featuring Romelda Aiken, Laura Geitz, Clare McMeniman and Natalie Medhurst, Queensland Firebirds finished the season undefeated. They became the first team in the history of the ANZ Championship to go through the regular season and the playoffs without losing a single match. In the major semi-final, Firebirds defeated Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and in the grand final they defeated Northern Mystics, winning their first premiership. This marked the beginning of a golden age for Firebirds. Between 2011 and 2016, Jencke guided them to five grand finals and three premierships.

The 2011 New South Wales Swifts season saw New South Wales Swifts compete in the 2011 ANZ Championship. During the regular season, Swifts finished in third place. They qualified for the playoffs but subsequently lost to Northern Mystics in the minor semi-final, finishing the season in 4th place. After fifteen seasons as Sydney Swifts/New South Wales Swifts head coach, this was the last season Julie Fitzgerald served as head coach. Following a controversial "internal review", Fitzgerald was replaced as head coach by Lisa Beehag. The review was conducted during the 2011 season. Catherine Cox and Liz Ellis publicly criticized Netball New South Wales for distracting players with the review and even alleged that it was responsible for Swifts losing the 2011 minor semi-final.

The 2011 Northern Mystics season saw Northern Mystics compete in the 2011 ANZ Championship. With a team coached by Debbie Fuller and captained by Temepara George, Mystics finished the regular season fourth behind Queensland Firebirds, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and New South Wales Swifts. During the regular season, Mystics claimed their first win in Australia, with a 56–54 win over West Coast Fever in Round 9. Mystics defeated Swifts in the minor semi-final and Magic in the preliminary final before losing to Firebirds in the grand final. Mystics finished the season second overall.

Kayla Malvina Johnson is a New Zealand netball player. As a high school student, Cullen played representative netball and basketball, and competed at a national level in athletics. In 2008, she was selected in the New Zealand U21 netball team, and was a member of the side that finished second at the 2009 World Youth Netball Championships, behind Australia.

The 2012 ANZ Championship season was the fifth season of the ANZ Championship. The 2012 season began on 31 March and concluded on 22 July. With a team coached by Noeline Taurua, captained by Laura Langman and featuring Leana de Bruin, Irene van Dyk, Julianna Naoupu and Casey Williams, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic eventually won the premiership. They became fifth team in as many seasons to win the title. Melbourne Vixens won the minor premiership after winning 10 of their 13 matches. Meanwhile, Magic lost their first four matches. However, they subsequently won 12 matches in a row to finish third during the regular season and champions overall. In the minor semi-final they defeated Adelaide Thunderbirds and in the preliminary final they defeated Northern Mystics after extra time. In the grand final they defeated Vixens 41–38. As a result, they became the first, and only, New Zealand team to win the Championship. They were also the first and only team to start the season with four defeats and win the title and the first and only team to finish third in the regular season and win the title.

The 2012 Melbourne Vixens season saw Melbourne Vixens compete in the 2012 ANZ Championship. With a team captained by Bianca Chatfield and featuring Madison Browne, Julie Corletto and Geva Mentor, Vixens finished the season as minor premiers. In the major semi-final they defeated Northern Mystics 56–50. This was the first ever netball match held at Rod Laver Arena. However they lost the grand final 41–38 to Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and finished the season as runners-up. After five years as head coach of Vixens, Julie Hoornweg announced her retirement at the end of the 2012 season.

Sulu Fitzpatrick, also known as Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, is a New Zealand netball and rugby sevens player. She plays for the Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championships. She can play the Goal Keeper, Goal Defence, and Wing Defence positions. She is of Samoan heritage.

The 2015 ANZ Championship season was the eighth season of the ANZ Championship. The season began on 28 February and concluded on 21 June. The 2015 season saw the introduction of several major format changes and initiatives, including a Conference system, a six-team Finals Series, drawn games and a new Ranfurly Shield-style competition, the Challenge Trophy. With a team coached by Roselee Jencke, captained by Laura Geitz and featuring Romelda Aiken, Clare McMeniman and Kim Ravaillion, Queensland Firebirds won the Australian Conference, the Challenge Trophy, the minor premiership and the overall championship. Firebirds narrowly defeated New South Wales Swifts in both the Australian Conference final and the Grand Final on their way to effectively winning four titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ANZ Premiership</span> Top level New Zealand netball league

The ANZ Premiership is the top level netball league featuring teams from New Zealand. In 2017 it replaced the ANZ Championship, which also included teams from Australia, as the top level netball league in New Zealand. It is organised by Netball New Zealand. Its main sponsor is ANZ. In 2017, Southern Steel were the inaugural ANZ Premiership winners. Central Pulse are the league's most successful team, having won three premierships.

References

  1. Northern Mystics profile. Retrieved on 2008-02-26.
  2. NZPA (5 November 2008). "Squads announced on Wednesday for next year's transtasman netball league". tvnz.co.nz. Retrieved 26 February 2009.