Midcourt Boost For Pulse

Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse have bolstered their midcourt stocks with the addition of experienced Australian duo Lili Gorman-Brown and Emma Thompson for the 2026 ANZ Premiership netball season.

Sydney’s Gorman-Brown, 26, excelled through the NSW under-age pathway ahead of being selected as a Swifts Academy athlete and Swifts training partner. The centre/wing attack made her debut for the Swifts in 2022 before also playing a key role in the club's march to the 2023 Grand Final. In 2024 Gorman-Brown earned her first fulltime contract as a rostered Swift.

Spending time in the Giants Academy, Melbourne-born Thompson, 28, who can cover all three midcourt positions, is a familiar face in New Zealand. Through her family ties on this side of the Tasman, the dual passport-holder has had previous experience in New Zealand and is keen for more.

Both were delighted when the Pulse reached out.

”I was super excited,” Gorman-Brown said. ”It took a few minutes for it to sink in but once it did, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

”There's always been a part of me that wanted to train and compete in a professional sports environment in another country, and it just feels like the right time for a new adventure and challenge for me as a player.”

A driven netballer with a high performance mindset, Gormon-Brown is renowned for her athleticism, work ethic, explosive speed and endurance.

”I have the desire, discipline and maturity to train in a high performance environment and compete in the ANZ Premiership. Most importantly, I am a positive team person and will give Pulse 100 percent effort to ensure their tradition of success continues,“ she said.

”This is an invaluable experience for me to grow my individual game and I am really looking forward to learning different styles of team play and improving my existing skill set.”

A talented all-round athlete having also represented Victoria in athletics and tennis, playing senior netball in New Zealand had always been part of Thompson’s development plan, making her initial move in 2020 when selected for the Northern Marvels in the National Netball League (NNL).

That was cut short due to Covid-19 and on returning to Australia, she took up a development opportunity with the NSW Premier League and the Giants Academy team.

With both her parents born in New Zealand and never losing sight of wanting to come back for netball, Thompson joined the Tactix as a training partner in 2023 while playing for Mainland in the NNL.

She was well on her way when gaining a full contract with the Stars in 2024 but a serious pre-season concussion ruled her out for weeks and shortly after returning to the action a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) put the stamp on a harrowing season.

Currently based in the UK where her partner is playing in the Rugby Super League, Thompson thought her netball career would be based in the Northern Hemisphere for the foreseeable future.

”When the Pulse offered me a contract, I was both surprised and excited at the opportunity to return to New Zealand for the season,“ she said.

”I have always felt that my time in the ANZ Premiership was unfinished, and being sidelined by injury was an incredibly challenging journey. However, I have been fortunate to have an outstanding support team around me, and their guidance and encouragement have been instrumental in helping me work my way back.

”I also know that the Pulse place strong emphasis on a one-on-one defensive structure, which has always been a particular strength of mine, so I am excited to bring that skill set to the team and contribute in that area, in particular.

”New Zealand has always held a special place in my heart because of my heritage. My extended family still resides there (some in Wellington) which is why I have actively explored opportunities to play there over the past few years. I am excited to return with a fresh perspective and feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to once again compete at this level.’’

Following the loss of several frontline players, Netball Central Director of High Performance Waimarama Taumaunu has welcomed the addition of two seasoned campaigners to the mix.

”Having come through the Australian system, Lili and Emma are well-acquainted with the high performance environment,” she said.

”They have experience under their belts, are well-performed athletes with skill sets to match and will give us variety and options in the midcourt. We’re delighted to have them onboard and are looking forward to having their talents at the Pulse.”

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