Ameliaranne Ekenasio Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The former Silver Ferns captain says the challenge for players left in the ANZ Premiership is to make New Zealand's domestic competition as strong as it can be.
The Pulse announced on Wednesday that Ameliaranne Ekenasio will be returning to the franchise for next year's ANZ Premiership after four seasons at the Magic.
The domestic competition has lost eight current and former Silver Ferns to the Australian league next year, in the wake of Netball New Zealand loosening its eligibility rules.
Signing Ekenasio is a huge boost to the Pulse roster, which was left gutted with the loss of nine players from this year's team, as opportunities elsewhere beckoned.
Ekenasio, who last played for the Pulse in 2020, is almost returning to a blank canvas.
"There will obviously be lots of work to do, it was probably quite a scary time for the club I guess. They've had some really big names here, lots of changes coming but I'm really excited by it, having that many new players I think it gives you a real fresh start," Ekenasio said.
There are concerns that with so many top players missing next year, that the standard of New Zealand's domestic competition will slip.
"It will be around making environments as professional and as hard working as possible to get the best out of every single athlete coming in and keep expectations high... this is how hard you have to work here in ANZ so there's a lot of work to be done but I think it can be done."
Pulse stalwarts Kelly Jackson, Maddy Gordon, and Whitney Souness were lured to the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) league for 2026, while shooter Tiana Metuarau will play in the English Super League next year.
The Pulse also lost Silver Ferns shooter Amelia Walmsley, who is heading to the South Auckland based Stars.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio was a key cog in the Pulse during her first stint at the club. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rookie Laura Balmer and former Australian Diamond Gabi Simpson aren't returning. Shooter Amorangi Malesala has signed with the Tactix, and experienced wing defence Fa'amu Ioane is also leaving.
The Pulse are expected to announce more signings from here on, so that suggests they've held onto Parris Mason, Khiarna Williams, and Ainsleyana Puleiata.
Ekenasio, who was born and bred in Australia, started her elite career at the Queensland Firebirds in the old trans-Tasman championship, before moving to the Pulse in 2015 for more court time.
In 2017, the two countries went separate ways and the ANZ Premiership was born but its long-term future is unclear.
A one-year broadcast deal recently signed with TVNZ means every game will be shown on free-to-air television for the first time in years, but players are likely to face pay cuts.
Ekenasio said it felt like they were entering a new era.
"It's going to be really different and obviously we lose the bulk of our experience in New Zealand, playing over in Australia, which is fantastic for them, they get to grow their games so much.
"But it is probably a bit of a worrying time I would say for the future of ANZ but at the same time it's exciting for young players that get the opportunity to step up."
Ekenasio would have been on the radar of SSN coaches, but the 34-year-old said she ruled out a move to Australia early on.
"We pretty much took ourselves off the table completely ...I knew I really needed a break and you know I've definitely got this next six months locked in [for a break]."
The mother of two said she had a strong desire to get back to Wellington, where her family is based.
"To just give me a really stable base to be able to perform from and when you're an athlete you're an athlete 24/7 and I could not imagine moving my family to another country within six months, that would have just been one step too far, that probably would have broken us right now. In the future we would love to, but we just need to get more organised now."
Ekenasio announced last month that she was taking a break from netball and would not make herself available for the Silver Ferns 2025 international season.
Ekenasio has not retired from international netball but said she was taking it "year by year".
"I'm really looking forward to next year, excited to still be playing netball, which is important."
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