The Tactix have secured their first ever ANZ Premiership title, dethroning the Mystics 58-46.
A week on from their victory, Lesley Murdoch was joined by coach Donna Wilkins, who paid tribute to the team’s efforts and gave some insights into what’s been happening since the championship.
They also touched on next year’s competition in the wake of the newly announced broadcast deal between Netball NZ and TVNZ.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
News talks'd b. It is seven minutes past eight. It
is Saturday, the second of August, and history was made
for the Tactics franchise, the Netwill franchise last Sunday up
in Auckland when our Tactics dealt to the Northern Mystics
in the grand finale. It was no contest in the end,
especially after that seventeen to eight first quarter. So let's
(00:22):
find out from the head coach, Donna Wilkins, what the
week has been like in celebration mode and congratulations Donna
Wilkins again, it's great to have you on air with us.
And how has the week been?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Look, I hasn't been too crazy, Leslie. To be fair,
we didn't land back until about quarter past eleven on
that Sunday night. We flew home after the game and
the flight was delayed, so we all grouped together actually
at the Commodore. They are really good to us. We
use their shuttle to and from the airport when we
go on away game. So we just went there for
a few hours. Being a Sunday night, I don't think
(00:56):
much happens, so that was quite nice to be altogether there.
And then yeah, Monday, they decided to all come around
to my place and that was good. Yeah, No, it
was pretty good. Yeah, lost, Well, I don't know. I've
actually lost my voice from the game or a mixture,
but it's slowly starting to come back. But it was
nice to be all together. And now it's just a
(01:16):
kind of a weird feeling because you've spent so much
time together and then it's completely shut off. But we've
been spending some time doing some review processes on the season,
and also I've met with all the players to discuss
out what they're looking at doing for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
How many times have you watched the final?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I actually haven't watched it once.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Made that I think I've watched it four times.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I know. I think there's a lot of people
that have rewatched it. To be fair, I will watch it,
but yeah, look, I think I remember most of the
moments in it. But it was pretty special.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That first quarter. Could you believe that?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yes or no? I know that it's been there, and
I think if we look back to the Pulse game
and the Elimination Final, we actually performed very similar in
that second half. It's just whether or not we could
do this sort of performance for a whole game, and
when they came out buzzing, it was just a joy
to watch, wasn't it Like they were just executing everything
defensively right from Ali Bird. You know, when did Ali
(02:16):
Bird ever get into sept So you know, it was
just a full team effort and it was just it
was a really proud moment as a coach to watch that.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Look, I remember Ericana Petterson saying that that elimination final
set you up for the final and I thought, look,
twenty eight years in the making, two hundred and fifty
eight matches the Tactics have played to get that title.
And I'm thinking, yes, let's see it in action and
they and she was absolutely right. And you've just said
it again that that specially that second half showed them
(02:44):
what they could do. And it's almost like, in this scenario,
maybe it's not a good thing to have a week off,
which is what the Mystics had.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah. Look, I learned that right from playing for the
Southern Sting Days and you know, back with Robin Broughton,
and we always and if we had a week off,
you know, if we advanced right through or whatever reason,
we would always sort of game. So even if we
had have won that game up in Auckland and Round
ten and had a grand final at home here and Crosses,
(03:14):
we would have played that week in between. I think
it's really important to keep your structure and your balance
and what you've been doing week on week out, you know,
and preparing for the game. So we definitely would have
had a game. So maybe that's something they may revisit.
It definitely helped us. Well.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
You know, there's no surprise to see your touch on
this team. We do know the hard yards that Mary
and Delaney Hoshi has put in when she took over
as coach midway through that season, having to juggle a
couple of positions as well, not only just coaching, but
your extra touch, your I think your demand and your
love of winning coming through.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Oh look, I think Mitch has done. Like I've talked
to her throughout the season quite a lot, and I
see her at kids basketball and everything else. But you know,
we started our network together, so I've had a lot
to do with her. And you know, last year they
were so unlucky. I still believe if they had won
that game against the Mystics, they would have went on
to win. So you know, she's done a lot of
work with a lot of these players, and that's why
(04:12):
they keep coming back. They want to win a championship.
And you know, I'm kind of just a coach at
Swandon and did a little bit extra work on team
defense and molding the team not the individual is what
I was trying to do. And you know, we were
lucky enough to come on top. It was a pretty
awesome final.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Yeah, it certainly was. And I think you're being very
modest and understated, but look, Monday there is a celebration
amural reception, which is really cool. We just need to
get everybody there four o'clock at the Art Gallery three thirty.
You're hopping on the tram.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah apparently, and it's quite exciting. I've ever been on
the tram, so I enjoy that. And yeah, then we're
going to go round to the art gallery, I think,
and hopefully there's a few people there for the girls
to see. We've had amazing support in every home game
and that set us up to get through to make
that top three with only having ten games the home
games of Vital So you know, without that support, we
(05:03):
may not have got across the line. So we really
appreciate and hopefully we can see some of that on Monday.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Well hopefully indeed. And look, while we're still reveling in
your outstanding when you've talked about it already, you're already
looking to twenty twenty six and we know it is
going to be different. The fact of the matter is
it changes broadcasters. That's not such a bad thing in
terms of at least it will be there on the
TV for people to watch. Disappointment there is around whatever
(05:29):
which gybe way you are going to view it, but
at least it's going to be broadcast and that's the
important thing.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Right one hundred percent, And we need to have that.
You know, net was a massive sport for our our
young athletes coming through them. If you don't have something
there visual for them to see, you know, they may
pick something out. So I think that's hugely important to
have our elite showcasing their talents on the TV. And
I'm excited that that's going to happen. Now, we've just
(05:54):
got to do the hard work and a short amount
of time and try and get a team together.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Absolutely, when will we expect to hear announcements on that?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I don't know Lylie, your guess is as good as
mine around that, I don't know. I think we've got
a couple of weeks before the other teams can approach
the players. But I think there's a lot of people
talking to everyone, you know right now, players looking to
you know. It's not like the days when I was playing.
I stayed at the Southern Thing for ten years. It
(06:22):
seems to be every year people change ship and go
for a different lock. So I'm not sure when we'll
vouve to announce what twenty twenty six looks like for
our team, right.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Okay, But in the meantime, you're going to keep doing
what you're doing and relax and enjoy what you've achieved
with the team.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yeah. Well, I'm about to go outside in that cold
and watch rugby and then go to Hagley Park to
watch netball and then basketball. So a full on day
of following my kids around the sports field, which is
also nice.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, fantastic. Well you wrap up warm. I know you
will and enjoy what you see because I know you've
got some talent there in your family. Fantastic, Thanks Easie,
and thanks for all the support. Well love it. Donna
Wilkins here Coach of the Technics, joining us live on
the program this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And for more from News talkst B. Listen live on
air or online, and
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
News talks'd b. It is seven minutes past eight. It
is Saturday, the second of August, and history was made
for the Tactics franchise, the Netwill franchise last Sunday up
in Auckland when our Tactics dealt to the Northern Mystics
in the grand finale. It was no contest in the end,
especially after that seventeen to eight first quarter. So let's
(00:22):
find out from the head coach, Donna Wilkins, what the
week has been like in celebration mode and congratulations Donna
Wilkins again, it's great to have you on air with us.
And how has the week been?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Look, I hasn't been too crazy, Leslie. To be fair,
we didn't land back until about quarter past eleven on
that Sunday night. We flew home after the game and
the flight was delayed, so we all grouped together actually
at the Commodore. They are really good to us. We
use their shuttle to and from the airport when we
go on away game. So we just went there for
a few hours. Being a Sunday night, I don't think
(00:56):
much happens, so that was quite nice to be altogether there.
And then yeah, Monday, they decided to all come around
to my place and that was good. Yeah, No, it
was pretty good. Yeah, lost, Well, I don't know. I've
actually lost my voice from the game or a mixture,
but it's slowly starting to come back. But it was
nice to be all together. And now it's just a
(01:16):
kind of a weird feeling because you've spent so much
time together and then it's completely shut off. But we've
been spending some time doing some review processes on the season,
and also I've met with all the players to discuss
out what they're looking at doing for twenty twenty six.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
How many times have you watched the final?
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I actually haven't watched it once.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Made that I think I've watched it four times.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yeah, I know. I think there's a lot of people
that have rewatched it. To be fair, I will watch it,
but yeah, look, I think I remember most of the
moments in it. But it was pretty special.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
That first quarter. Could you believe that?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Yes or no? I know that it's been there, and
I think if we look back to the Pulse game
and the Elimination Final, we actually performed very similar in
that second half. It's just whether or not we could
do this sort of performance for a whole game, and
when they came out buzzing, it was just a joy
to watch, wasn't it Like they were just executing everything
defensively right from Ali Bird. You know, when did Ali
(02:16):
Bird ever get into sept So you know, it was
just a full team effort and it was just it
was a really proud moment as a coach to watch that.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Look, I remember Ericana Petterson saying that that elimination final
set you up for the final and I thought, look,
twenty eight years in the making, two hundred and fifty
eight matches the Tactics have played to get that title.
And I'm thinking, yes, let's see it in action and
they and she was absolutely right. And you've just said
it again that that specially that second half showed them
(02:44):
what they could do. And it's almost like, in this scenario,
maybe it's not a good thing to have a week off,
which is what the Mystics had.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah. Look, I learned that right from playing for the
Southern Sting Days and you know, back with Robin Broughton,
and we always and if we had a week off,
you know, if we advanced right through or whatever reason,
we would always sort of game. So even if we
had have won that game up in Auckland and Round
ten and had a grand final at home here and Crosses,
(03:14):
we would have played that week in between. I think
it's really important to keep your structure and your balance
and what you've been doing week on week out, you know,
and preparing for the game. So we definitely would have
had a game. So maybe that's something they may revisit.
It definitely helped us. Well.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
You know, there's no surprise to see your touch on
this team. We do know the hard yards that Mary
and Delaney Hoshi has put in when she took over
as coach midway through that season, having to juggle a
couple of positions as well, not only just coaching, but
your extra touch, your I think your demand and your
love of winning coming through.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Oh look, I think Mitch has done. Like I've talked
to her throughout the season quite a lot, and I
see her at kids basketball and everything else. But you know,
we started our network together, so I've had a lot
to do with her. And you know, last year they
were so unlucky. I still believe if they had won
that game against the Mystics, they would have went on
to win. So you know, she's done a lot of
work with a lot of these players, and that's why
(04:12):
they keep coming back. They want to win a championship.
And you know, I'm kind of just a coach at
Swandon and did a little bit extra work on team
defense and molding the team not the individual is what
I was trying to do. And you know, we were
lucky enough to come on top. It was a pretty
awesome final.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Yeah, it certainly was. And I think you're being very
modest and understated, but look, Monday there is a celebration
amural reception, which is really cool. We just need to
get everybody there four o'clock at the Art Gallery three thirty.
You're hopping on the tram.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yeah apparently, and it's quite exciting. I've ever been on
the tram, so I enjoy that. And yeah, then we're
going to go round to the art gallery, I think,
and hopefully there's a few people there for the girls
to see. We've had amazing support in every home game
and that set us up to get through to make
that top three with only having ten games the home
games of Vital So you know, without that support, we
(05:03):
may not have got across the line. So we really
appreciate and hopefully we can see some of that on Monday.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Well hopefully indeed. And look, while we're still reveling in
your outstanding when you've talked about it already, you're already
looking to twenty twenty six and we know it is
going to be different. The fact of the matter is
it changes broadcasters. That's not such a bad thing in
terms of at least it will be there on the
TV for people to watch. Disappointment there is around whatever
(05:29):
which gybe way you are going to view it, but
at least it's going to be broadcast and that's the
important thing.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Right one hundred percent, And we need to have that.
You know, net was a massive sport for our our
young athletes coming through them. If you don't have something
there visual for them to see, you know, they may
pick something out. So I think that's hugely important to
have our elite showcasing their talents on the TV. And
I'm excited that that's going to happen. Now, we've just
(05:54):
got to do the hard work and a short amount
of time and try and get a team together.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Absolutely, when will we expect to hear announcements on that?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
I don't know Lylie, your guess is as good as
mine around that, I don't know. I think we've got
a couple of weeks before the other teams can approach
the players. But I think there's a lot of people
talking to everyone, you know right now, players looking to
you know. It's not like the days when I was playing.
I stayed at the Southern Thing for ten years. It
(06:22):
seems to be every year people change ship and go
for a different lock. So I'm not sure when we'll
vouve to announce what twenty twenty six looks like for
our team, right.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Okay, But in the meantime, you're going to keep doing
what you're doing and relax and enjoy what you've achieved
with the team.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yeah. Well, I'm about to go outside in that cold
and watch rugby and then go to Hagley Park to
watch netball and then basketball. So a full on day
of following my kids around the sports field, which is
also nice.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Yeah, fantastic. Well you wrap up warm. I know you
will and enjoy what you see because I know you've
got some talent there in your family. Fantastic, Thanks Easie,
and thanks for all the support. Well love it. Donna
Wilkins here Coach of the Technics, joining us live on
the program this morning.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And for more from News talkst B. Listen live on
air or online, and
Speaker 1 (07:07):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcasts on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.