Netball's transtasman league is "headed for a shock split with it looking increasingly likely this year's ANZ Championship will be the last of its kind," according to Dana Johannsen of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. New Zealand and Australian teams will "almost certainly compete in separate competitions next year," with netball bosses in the process of finalizing a new format. The favored option would see the top sides "meet in a separate Champions League-style series at the end of the season." Other options include a pre-season competition, or a mid-season transtasman "super round." A restructure of the league "has been brewing for some time," with Netball Australia pushing for a New Zealand team to be dropped from the competition "due to concerns over the competitiveness of the Kiwi sides." But Netball NZ "staunchly protected" its patch, arguing cutting back the number of teams would "only further reduce New Zealand's talent pool." NNZ was, however, "supportive of moves to increase the number of Australian teams" (NZ HERALD, 3/1).
