Heralding a new era, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse have completed a successful two-day camp to put their marker in the sand ahead of next year’s ANZ Premiership netball league.

The Pulse had eight of next year’s line-up in Wellington for the weekend, including Australians Lili Gorman-Brown and Holly Comyns. Being a stretch too far to pop over for the weekend, England-based Emma Thompson and South Africa’s Ine-Marí Venter were included in an online session with the rest of the team, while for those on hand, there was a mix of skill sessions, testing and a general meet and greet.

Having lost a host of familiar names in the off-season, the Pulse have just three – defender Parris Mason, midcourter Ainsleyana Puleiata and shooter Khiarna Williams – returning from last season with seven new players highlighting their 2026 roster.

``Because we’re such a new team with lots of different people coming in, it was really important that we started to get properly prepared, setting a base for the summer and making sure that everybody has what they need to be able to come into pre-season with a really good base of, not only the conditioning space, but also getting to know each other,’’ Pulse coach Anna Andrews-Tasola said.

``They’re all really excited, there’s been good energy and they’ve worked hard during this two-day camp, so we’re off to a good start.

``We’re setting them up at the moment to make sure they have a good programme over the summer and in the interim stay connected online to be ready to hit the ground running for the start of pre-season on January 26.’’

Next season starts after Easter in early April, slightly earlier than usual because of the Commonwealth Games in July-August.

For shooter Ameliaranne Ekenasio, making a return to Pulse colours after four years away, the attraction of playing at home with a new-look team resonates strongly.

``It does feel early in the piece but having such a new team, it’s so important to start the connection process early,’’ she said.

``You look at any good team and that seamless connection is so important for games, for trust and the united spirit of a team. We’ve got girls that have come over from Australia for this weekend, so for them getting their first little taste, makes it less confronting when they have to make the move, and making this weekend really valuable.

``This is obviously just a starting point, it feels really good, it’s nice having a fresh group and kind of just feels like you put a line in the sand of where we’re going to start from with everybody keen and eager to get into it. And that’s such a nice place to be in.

``It hasn’t quite sunk in yet but I just know it’s going to be so, so good. Not having to fly and just being up the road (from Pulse training base), it just means the easier things are, the more effort you can put in for the things that are harder. So, yeah, I’m really looking forward to being just down the road.’’

It didn’t take long for former Swifts midcourter Gorman-Brown, who will make the permanent move to Wellington in mid-January, to feel like she belonged.

``I was a bit nervous coming here,’’ she said. ``Obviously, it’s a new environment for me but as soon as I was here, I texted my family and told them it felt like home. It’s just got a good feel about it and everyone has been so welcoming.

``It’s starting to set in that I’m actually moving my life here and I’m very excited.’’

2026 Pulse team:
Shooters: Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Ine-Marí Venter, Khiarna Williams
Midcourt: Lili Gorman-Brown, Erana Ngarimu, Ainsleyana Puleiata, Emma Thompson
Defenders: Holly Comyns, Parris Mason, Madi Thomas




Ends
 

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Article added: Monday 03 November 2025