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Winning one game a season was once considered an achievement by the Mainland Tactix.
How the times have changed.
On the back of their best campaign in team history last year, where they won nine games and made the grand final, much is expected of the Tactix in 2021.
Many in netball circles have dubbed them favourites for this year’s ANZ Premiership, which begins next Sunday.
READ MORE:
* Feeble to finalists: The story behind the Mainland Tactix incredible ANZ Premiership turnaround
* ANZ Premiership: Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek is netball's answer to Scott Robertson
* ANZ Premiership: Mainland Tactix overcome the obstacles to play their only home game
The talk is justified. The Tactix have nine of their 10 contracted players back from last season with the only change seeing Silver Ferns defender Karin Burger joining from the Central Pulse, replacing Temalisi Fakahokotau, who has shifted north to the Magic.
In pre-season, the Tactix were sharp at the premiership’s annual warm-up tournament in Ōtaki, being the only team to go unbeaten.Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek celebrates with Kimiora Poi after clinching their spot in the ANZ Premiership grand final. Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek knows it is…Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Members of the six ANZ Premiership teams pose with the trophy at the 2021 season launch on Monday.
It can be funny how some questions are easier to answer than others – but understandable too.
At the ANZ Premiership season launch this week, the gathered players found it easy to talk about the things that had them excited ahead of the first round, which begins on Sunday.
But it was a bit more difficult when they were asked what, if anything, had them worried, with several remarking it was a question that made them think.
The Mainland Tactix are being pegged as the favourites heading into the new season, though the TAB is keeping the faith the two-time defending champion Central Pulse, and has the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic tucked in behind them, thanks to their acquisition of Australian Diamonds shooter Caitlin Bassett.
READ MORE:
* ANZ Premiership: What everyone is excited about with less than a week to go
* ANZ Premiership: Spotlight shines brightly on Australian netball legend Caitlin Bassett with Magic
* ANZ Premiership: Mainland Tactix taking favourites tag in their stride
* ANZ Premiership: Mainland Tactix make early statement in pre-season
But…
Not long ago, the idea of labelling the Canterbury Tactix as "favourites" for New Zealand’s domestic netball competition would've been laughable.
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After years of pain, the Tactix believe they can go one better than last year and win their first title. Source: 1 Sport
But after years of pain, that's their new reality as this year's ANZ Premiership was launched today.
Tactix coach Marianna Delaney-Hoshek has noticed the change though with a distinct air of assuredness around her this year.
“I’d like to think we're in and around [title contention],” she said.
The confidence is all the more significant when fans reflect on where the Tactix have come from; a painful history of single-win seasons and unwanted records.
In fact, there was a time between 2010 and 2017 where out of 106 games, they won just 12.
But fast forward to 2020 and those dark days became nothing more than a distant memory with the Tactix finishing second in the premiership’s regular season with a 9-4 record before they lost the final to the Pulse.
This year, they’re aiming to go one step further to where no Canterbury netball team has gone before…