The Pulse chose the perfect time to put a full 60 minute performance together when they blitzed the Stars in the ANZ Premiership final last night.
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The Pulse beat the Stars 56-37 in Wellington, to win their third title and become the most successful side since the Premiership started in 2017.
It was expected to be a close grand final but it quickly became a one sided-affair when the Pulse got off to a flying start to take a 15-6 lead after the first quarter.
Going into the game the Pulse had the best defensive record of the competition - conceding a miserly 49 goals per match on average.
Restricting the Stars to just 37 goals last night was a phenomenal effort.
Stars' midcourters Gina Crampton and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan had great difficulty getting the ball to their shooters.
The Pulse must have studied the Stars closely after their elimination final win over the Mystics last week because the Pulse didn't give the Stars any rope to do what they did so well in that game.
Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said their strong start put scoreboard pressure on the Stars.
"And we actually had everybody on task at the same time and that's been our challenge all season. I'm really proud that they've been able to put together a performance that we're really proud of.
"During the week we made lots of disciplined efforts around what we thought was going to make a difference and we stayed focussed on our game and the task that we wanted to be better at," McCausland-Durie said.
"Everyone held their head for a very young group to be that disciplined and make the decisions they made."
Photo: Photosport
Prior to the final, the Stars had a 2-1 winning record over the Pulse this season.
Pulse co-captain Tiana Metuarau said she and fellow shooter Aliyah Dunn weren't happy with their last performance against the Stars.
"So we were quite deliberate in what we wanted to do but we just went right back to basics. But we also reiterated we just wanted to have some so I'd say that's probably one of the key factors to our success in the circle is when we let the ball do the work and just enjoy being on the court with each other."
Metuarau was thrilled they put out a complete performance.
"I said at the start of the game that we probably haven't put together a full 60 this season ...it's nice to see that the opportunity that presented itself tonight we made the most of it. We're just so young, I felt like I was dreaming out there, it's awesome," Metuarau said.
Pulse goal keep Kelly Jury picked up yet another MVP award.
The Pulse co-captain also highlighted the work of goal defence Kristiana Manu'a, who got four intercepts.
"I think that's the most intercepts Kris has got, I think she pulled out an awesome game.
"We were getting ball right throughout the court ...we know that if we get ball and give it to our shooters they're going to put it through the hoop and that's the confidence we grew off right from the first whistle.
"To put on a score like that, yeah pretty speechless and really proud of the girls," Jury said.
Kristiana Manu'a of the Pulse during ANZ Netball Premiership Grand Final at TSB Bank Arena in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday June 12, 2022. Copyright photo: Aaron Gillions / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
After finishing fifth last year, the Pulse made five changes to the side.
The Pulse have an average age of 23 - the youngest in the competition and McCausland-Durie said being really clear with players around their role was key.
"For us having a starting seven is really really important, it gives people the clear knowledge of what they need to do. Sometimes they make mistakes but they've got to have room to go back out there again and grow."
Erikana Pedersen, who came out of retirement earlier this year to provide injury cover for the Pulse, became an integral part of the side.
McCausland-Durie said Pedersen was elated to finally win a title and her calm presence at centre had added so much value to their team.
Dunn was also a stand-out for the Pulse sinking 44 from 47, in stark contrast to Stars' goal shooter Maia Wilson who couldn't get enough volume and finished with 21 from 25.
McCausland-Durie said Dunn was so safe when she had the ball in hand and hoped there was more ahead for her at a "higher level."
The veteran coach, who returned to the side this year, said there was lots of room for improvement in 2023 - "the pressure stays on we can definitely be fitter, faster, stronger."
Photo: Photosport
Stars' coach Kiri Wills said a lot of damage was done in the first quarter.
"Playing catch up netball takes a little bit away from the smartness of the play ...it just sort of took us a little bit away from our game plan and then they just built from there but full credit to them, they played well."
Wills said the Pulse midcourt really made life difficult for them.
"Their defensive unit has been tough all year ...but also outside the circle Maddy [Gordon] and Erikana [Pedersen] just put pressure on us, forced us to run laterally and they just went for stuff and had a go and had success."
Stars' captain Maia Wilson said after missing out on the finals last year, they had made a lot of progress.
"As a group we have grown so much over the last year ...we really did have the belief, it just wasn't our day today. For some of us we hadn't necessarily had the experience of what a grand final looks like, playing consistently 60 minutes.
"What great motivation for next year to try and build," Wilson said.
Wills said it would take a little while to get over the disappointment but there was a lot to be proud of.
"We could be at home watching it like four other teams are but we're here because we worked for it and we got here and I hope the girls remember after they get through their disappointment," Wills said.