Adelaide Thunderbirds captain Mo'onia Gerrard was unhappy with the umpires' performance in her side's 55-22 loss to the Northern Mystics at Waitakere Stadium on Saturday.
Gerrard bemoaned the two whistle blowers, Bronwyn Meele and Mandy Nottingham, saying the pair were not up to scratch.
"The umpires need more training to keep up with the growing game," the New South Wales-born 32-Test wing-defence said.
"That's one point that's lagging behind. I think everyone needs to support the umpires so they can become professionals and keep up with us."
Gerrard also picked the Northern Mystics as early title favourites, saying they will be 'the team to beat' in this year's ANZ Championship.
After recruiting four current and one former international, including Silver Ferns' Maria Tutaia and Joline Henry (Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic), Larrissa Wilcox (Canterbury Tactics), Jamaican intercept queen Althea Byfield (Central Pulse) and former New Zealand international and now broadcaster Jenny May-Coffin, the Mystics harness heavy expectations – and rightly so.
"They have recruited well at each end. It's definitely a team to watch out for," she said.
"Maria and Joline, in particular, bring extra spice. I think I'm feisty, but she [Henry] puts just as much on court. Pure passion is what she brings."
Despite the visitors reducing an eight-goal deficit in the final quarter to draw level with two minutes remaining, Gerrard was disappointed, and wanted more aggression and assertiveness on the ball from her side.
"It's disappointing we got so far behind. We are still young – five of their 12-strong-squad is 23 or younger - but now they have had a taste of what this level's all about," she said.
"I have no doubt they will bounce back next week against the Swifts."
Tutaia, who sunk 25 from 30 attempts at 85 percent, didn't notice the game was tied as the clock ticked down.
"I knew they were catching up but I had no idea it was 51-all," the 23-year-old 40-Test veteran said.
"I'm glad I didn't look at the scoreboard, but I back myself to make my shots. I'm very happy with the win."
While admitting to a few 'jitters' in her first championship game in a Mystics bib, she enjoyed playing alongside Cathrine Latu in the shooting circle.
"I absolutely loved it," she said.
"She's got a great hold and she brings a whole different style to the ball game. When she's under the hoop with her arm up it's so easy to feed her."
The Mystics will need that shooting combination to flourish against an improving Pulse next Saturday in Porirua.