February 27, 2026 • 10 mins
The Wellington Phoenix begin a new chapter this weekend under interim coach Chris Greenacre.
Their match against Sydney FC is the first since Giancarlo Italiano's sudden resignation in the wake of the 5-nil derby defeat to Auckland FC last weekend.
To find out how the week played out in Phoenix camp, Adam was joined by All Whites defender Bill Tuiloma.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Eight past eight though here on the Ill Sport Breakfast
and a lot changes in a week, doesn't it. At
this time last week on the show, we were contemplating
and hoping that the Wellington Phoenix may have been set
for their first derby win over Auckland in their sixth attempt.
But as we all know, it was something quite different
that played out at Sky Stadium a week ago, a
five nil defeat, a sixth straight loss to Auckland and
(00:22):
equalling the team's worst defeat at home. Now, it wasn't
long after full time when coach Giancarlo Italiano handed in
his resignation. He departs after two and a half seasons
at the Helm. Predictably, Chris Greenaked has slotted in for
his fourth stint as interim coach and I thought he
fronted media with energy, positivity and enthusiasm and a clear
(00:45):
desire to restore pride in the Phoenix shirt as their
top six chances still remain and they'll have the chance
for redemption in front of home fans this weekend the
hosting Sydney FC at home tomorrow three pm kickoff at
the Stadium, which now is actually going to be formal
No as Henry Stadium for the first time. Experienced All
Whites defender Bill Toyloma, who joined the Phoenix in January,
(01:07):
is with me now just to talk through everything going on. Bill.
Morning to you, mate, appreciate your time and I guess firstly,
it's always disruptive when a team loses a coach mid season.
But from the week you've had and Chris appointed to
that role, do you feel the team is in a
better position now to push for the top six compared
to a week ago.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, morning, thanks for having me on. Yeah, like you said,
the energy is there, the the vibes around training with
the players is there. So we're very very pomped and
like you said before, you know we want to win
(01:48):
and also win trust from our fans.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You're at a very experienced footballer Bill around the globe
and experienced internationally as well. Tell us how the racing
room felt for you after that game against Auckland, maybe
halftime and then at full time, compared to some other
tough moments in your career.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, for me, especially halftime. You know, It's to be honest,
it was you know, it wasn't the best feeling ever.
It's not. It's not good going into the change room
and being you know, three three, four goals down. You know,
there's it's just not you know, it's not it's not
the best feeling. It was a better frustration, and you know,
(02:31):
now we're you know, coming into second half, we just
you know, had to you know, fight and play for
the badge and play for the team and give it
give it out all. You know, Like like you said that,
you know, six games going, you know, defeat against gets
a team that's you know, basically a ribrary team. Now
you know that this is their second season and you know,
(02:53):
if they're if they're beating us six times, it's not
it's not the best feeling. You know, it's you know,
personally for me, it was you know, it was embarrassing
and just didn't feel just didn't feel right there. You know,
we've you know, we've lost that game like that. But again,
you know, it's the new week. New coaches come in
and boarding a lot of fire and you know a
(03:17):
lot of energy into the team, and yeah, which is
excited and pun foot tomorrow's game.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
How much of a game changer is having a coach
who a has played professionally but be played for the
team they are coaching. I have been a pretty big club
legend for that team.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, you know, it's it's it's a big deal. It's
a big deal. He knows, you know, especially like you said,
he's been he's he's been a player, he's been on
that on on our side, off the field, and now
he's you know, now he's he's on the other side
off the field and on the on the sideline and
coaching the team. Not taking anything away from you know, Chief.
(03:55):
You know, I've heard good things that he's done for
the club. But yeah, there's another you know, an extra
boost to the to the team. And we will see tomorrow.
Like I said, the boys are pumped and they're ready
for tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
How much has been talked about in terms of Chris
wanting to change things up or is there an important
part of needing to just sort of keep what Chief
these plans where, at least for the interim as you adapt.
How much change could we see tomorrow from this team?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
There's not a lot, you know, He's he's coming with
eight games left. I think you know, if you come
in and try and change a lot of things, it
could it could go very well. It could go very bad.
But he's come in he said, you know, a few
few powerpoints and we know stick it to the plan.
He hasn't changed a lot, but he just he definitely
(04:47):
wants to know us to give one hundred percent on
the field. That's all. That's what he asks for us,
and and that's what we would do.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's always an interesting debate and sport, isn't it. Bill
arounds you know when when teams have tough moments do
you blame the coach? Do you blame the players? How
much responsibility or how much of a sense of responsibility
has there been and the playing group since full time
on on Saturday about where this team's at and who's
responsible of bringing them out of the run.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I think personally it's ultimately it comes down to the players,
because the eleven players are on the field. You know,
as a coach, you can only give us so much
information to go and try and execute that on the field.
But ultimately it's done to the players to perform and
to you know, get the result. And like I said,
(05:38):
as much as I don't want to talk about it,
you know, we keep going back to last week and
you know, we didn't we didn't we didn't perform and
we didn't give execute the you know, instructions that chiefly
gave us. But you know, it's not all the blame
goes to the coach. To the coach, it goes it's
you know, most of us on the players, because we
(05:59):
are the ones that are playing and the ones that
are on the pitch for ninety plus minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Is it frustrating given that there have been some really
strong moments from the Phoenix this season, and you know,
goals have been scored, but there have been kind of
lapses at particular points of games that have seen the
team ultimately not secure the three points, not secure a
point when they have been in positions where you'd expect
them to maybe go on and do that from your observations,
(06:26):
is that something that can be fixed in terms of
mindsets or focus as you get to quite an important
phase of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Now, yeah, definitely, definitely that can be changed. You know,
like you said, we've you know, come up to zero
and you know the teams could come back to to
but that can definitely change. It's something that you know,
as players need to work on and yes, we've got
(06:53):
to focus on not just forty five minutes. We're going
to focus on the ninety plus mons, even at times
when it's the ten minutes and you're fatigued and you
know you're tired, and you know you just want the
game to be done and wouldn't get the three points.
But those are the moments where we can Those are
the moments where you know, define players and how you
(07:15):
can push through that and you know, finding that extra
extra gas in the tank to you know, to push
and secure the game.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah. Great, take the result. Aside from last week, Bill,
just the derbies in general, You've been away from playing
club football in New Zealand for a very long time.
What's how special is it, do you think, just for
football and New Zealand to have this derby between these
two teams that really gets the fans going.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, it's very special. Was free you know, like I've
played when I was in Portland played against Seattle and
that's a big game. When I was in my time
in Charlotte it was against Atlanta that's another big game.
And then my time in France it was against PSG.
It's it's such a big deal for New Zealand football
(08:00):
to have another team and to have this this derby
game every every season. You know, it gets the fans
behind it, and now it's you know, it's it's it's
a fight for you know, to fight for the New Zealand,
the New Zealand fans. She put it that way at
the moment, you know, Auckland, you know, running and running
(08:22):
away with the with the injured fans. But I believe
that Phoenix can turn it around.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You and several others have come back to play in
New Zealand and the lead up to the World Cup.
Has what's happened at the Phoenix recently affected the way
you have wanted to build up to the World Cup
in an ideal world?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Sorry you're cutting out all these out again.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
No worries. I was just going to say, you and
others have obviously come back to play in New Zealand
leading up to the World Cup. Has what happened has
what's happened at the Phoenix over the past month or
so affected your build up to the World Cup as
to to sort of how you had it ideally amount?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah, I mean I think you know, coming in, you
know you want it. You want to be playing and
at the same time you want to be performing and
you know as as a as a you know, as
a player and as a collective, you know, hasn't gone
how's it going? Pretty has gone very well, But ultimately
you're going to you know, just going to train and
(09:15):
you're going to keep playing games and keep pushing forward.
And you know, you've got eight games left, so you know,
we've got eight games to put it right and get
the wins and get points and climb off the table
and then everything else will fall and will fall into
place after that with the all White team. So you know,
just I want to focus on playing games and you know,
(09:38):
getting the results for the team and then you know,
hopefully get selected to go to the next All Ways Tour.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
As you say, playoffs are still in reach, five points
outside the top six, eight games to go. What's your
message to fans who may be weighing up coming along
tomorrow getting behind the team as you approach the playoffs?
What would you like to say to them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I know the fans are being you know, there been
the top twelfth player for this for this club and
this organization, and we love every every time when they're
coming out to the field, to the stadium and support us.
And you know, we were We're very excited for them
to come out, and you know, we're all fired up
and we want to you know, we want to give
back and get that one and climb up to the
(10:20):
table because it's it's you know, eight games and it's
possible to get up to the playoffs. But we're very
excited for the fans and we appreciate the support every year.
But yeah, we're very excited to see them tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Right Hey, Bell ready, appreciate you joining us here on
the show this morning. Go well tomorrow and for the
rest of the season, mate, and of course everything on
the horizon for you this year too, So I appreciate
you you're taking the call this morning.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yep. Thank you for more from Used Talks ed B.
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Eight past eight though here on the Ill Sport Breakfast
and a lot changes in a week, doesn't it. At
this time last week on the show, we were contemplating
and hoping that the Wellington Phoenix may have been set
for their first derby win over Auckland in their sixth attempt.
But as we all know, it was something quite different
that played out at Sky Stadium a week ago, a
five nil defeat, a sixth straight loss to Auckland and
(00:22):
equalling the team's worst defeat at home. Now, it wasn't
long after full time when coach Giancarlo Italiano handed in
his resignation. He departs after two and a half seasons
at the Helm. Predictably, Chris Greenaked has slotted in for
his fourth stint as interim coach and I thought he
fronted media with energy, positivity and enthusiasm and a clear
(00:45):
desire to restore pride in the Phoenix shirt as their
top six chances still remain and they'll have the chance
for redemption in front of home fans this weekend the
hosting Sydney FC at home tomorrow three pm kickoff at
the Stadium, which now is actually going to be formal
No as Henry Stadium for the first time. Experienced All
Whites defender Bill Toyloma, who joined the Phoenix in January,
(01:07):
is with me now just to talk through everything going on. Bill.
Morning to you, mate, appreciate your time and I guess firstly,
it's always disruptive when a team loses a coach mid season.
But from the week you've had and Chris appointed to
that role, do you feel the team is in a
better position now to push for the top six compared
to a week ago.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, morning, thanks for having me on. Yeah, like you said,
the energy is there, the the vibes around training with
the players is there. So we're very very pomped and
like you said before, you know we want to win
(01:48):
and also win trust from our fans.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
You're at a very experienced footballer Bill around the globe
and experienced internationally as well. Tell us how the racing
room felt for you after that game against Auckland, maybe
halftime and then at full time, compared to some other
tough moments in your career.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, for me, especially halftime. You know, It's to be honest,
it was you know, it wasn't the best feeling ever.
It's not. It's not good going into the change room
and being you know, three three, four goals down. You know,
there's it's just not you know, it's not it's not
the best feeling. It was a better frustration, and you know,
(02:31):
now we're you know, coming into second half, we just
you know, had to you know, fight and play for
the badge and play for the team and give it
give it out all. You know, Like like you said that,
you know, six games going, you know, defeat against gets
a team that's you know, basically a ribrary team. Now
you know that this is their second season and you know,
(02:53):
if they're if they're beating us six times, it's not
it's not the best feeling. You know, it's you know,
personally for me, it was you know, it was embarrassing
and just didn't feel just didn't feel right there. You know,
we've you know, we've lost that game like that. But again,
you know, it's the new week. New coaches come in
and boarding a lot of fire and you know a
(03:17):
lot of energy into the team, and yeah, which is
excited and pun foot tomorrow's game.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
How much of a game changer is having a coach
who a has played professionally but be played for the
team they are coaching. I have been a pretty big club
legend for that team.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, you know, it's it's it's a big deal. It's
a big deal. He knows, you know, especially like you said,
he's been he's he's been a player, he's been on
that on on our side, off the field, and now
he's you know, now he's he's on the other side
off the field and on the on the sideline and
coaching the team. Not taking anything away from you know, Chief.
(03:55):
You know, I've heard good things that he's done for
the club. But yeah, there's another you know, an extra
boost to the to the team. And we will see tomorrow.
Like I said, the boys are pumped and they're ready
for tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
How much has been talked about in terms of Chris
wanting to change things up or is there an important
part of needing to just sort of keep what Chief
these plans where, at least for the interim as you adapt.
How much change could we see tomorrow from this team?
Speaker 2 (04:27):
There's not a lot, you know, He's he's coming with
eight games left. I think you know, if you come
in and try and change a lot of things, it
could it could go very well. It could go very bad.
But he's come in he said, you know, a few
few powerpoints and we know stick it to the plan.
He hasn't changed a lot, but he just he definitely
(04:47):
wants to know us to give one hundred percent on
the field. That's all. That's what he asks for us,
and and that's what we would do.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
It's always an interesting debate and sport, isn't it. Bill
arounds you know when when teams have tough moments do
you blame the coach? Do you blame the players? How
much responsibility or how much of a sense of responsibility
has there been and the playing group since full time
on on Saturday about where this team's at and who's
responsible of bringing them out of the run.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
I think personally it's ultimately it comes down to the players,
because the eleven players are on the field. You know,
as a coach, you can only give us so much
information to go and try and execute that on the field.
But ultimately it's done to the players to perform and
to you know, get the result. And like I said,
(05:38):
as much as I don't want to talk about it,
you know, we keep going back to last week and
you know, we didn't we didn't we didn't perform and
we didn't give execute the you know, instructions that chiefly
gave us. But you know, it's not all the blame
goes to the coach. To the coach, it goes it's
you know, most of us on the players, because we
(05:59):
are the ones that are playing and the ones that
are on the pitch for ninety plus minutes.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Is it frustrating given that there have been some really
strong moments from the Phoenix this season, and you know,
goals have been scored, but there have been kind of
lapses at particular points of games that have seen the
team ultimately not secure the three points, not secure a
point when they have been in positions where you'd expect
them to maybe go on and do that from your observations,
(06:26):
is that something that can be fixed in terms of
mindsets or focus as you get to quite an important
phase of the season.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Now, yeah, definitely, definitely that can be changed. You know,
like you said, we've you know, come up to zero
and you know the teams could come back to to
but that can definitely change. It's something that you know,
as players need to work on and yes, we've got
(06:53):
to focus on not just forty five minutes. We're going
to focus on the ninety plus mons, even at times
when it's the ten minutes and you're fatigued and you
know you're tired, and you know you just want the
game to be done and wouldn't get the three points.
But those are the moments where we can Those are
the moments where you know, define players and how you
(07:15):
can push through that and you know, finding that extra
extra gas in the tank to you know, to push
and secure the game.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Yeah. Great, take the result. Aside from last week, Bill,
just the derbies in general, You've been away from playing
club football in New Zealand for a very long time.
What's how special is it, do you think, just for
football and New Zealand to have this derby between these
two teams that really gets the fans going.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, it's very special. Was free you know, like I've
played when I was in Portland played against Seattle and
that's a big game. When I was in my time
in Charlotte it was against Atlanta that's another big game.
And then my time in France it was against PSG.
It's it's such a big deal for New Zealand football
(08:00):
to have another team and to have this this derby
game every every season. You know, it gets the fans
behind it, and now it's you know, it's it's it's
a fight for you know, to fight for the New Zealand,
the New Zealand fans. She put it that way at
the moment, you know, Auckland, you know, running and running
(08:22):
away with the with the injured fans. But I believe
that Phoenix can turn it around.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
You and several others have come back to play in
New Zealand and the lead up to the World Cup.
Has what's happened at the Phoenix recently affected the way
you have wanted to build up to the World Cup
in an ideal world?
Speaker 2 (08:38):
Sorry you're cutting out all these out again.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
No worries. I was just going to say, you and
others have obviously come back to play in New Zealand
leading up to the World Cup. Has what happened has
what's happened at the Phoenix over the past month or
so affected your build up to the World Cup as
to to sort of how you had it ideally amount?
Speaker 2 (08:55):
Yeah, I mean I think you know, coming in, you
know you want it. You want to be playing and
at the same time you want to be performing and
you know as as a as a you know, as
a player and as a collective, you know, hasn't gone
how's it going? Pretty has gone very well, But ultimately
you're going to you know, just going to train and
(09:15):
you're going to keep playing games and keep pushing forward.
And you know, you've got eight games left, so you know,
we've got eight games to put it right and get
the wins and get points and climb off the table
and then everything else will fall and will fall into
place after that with the all White team. So you know,
just I want to focus on playing games and you know,
(09:38):
getting the results for the team and then you know,
hopefully get selected to go to the next All Ways Tour.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
As you say, playoffs are still in reach, five points
outside the top six, eight games to go. What's your
message to fans who may be weighing up coming along
tomorrow getting behind the team as you approach the playoffs?
What would you like to say to them.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
I know the fans are being you know, there been
the top twelfth player for this for this club and
this organization, and we love every every time when they're
coming out to the field, to the stadium and support us.
And you know, we were We're very excited for them
to come out, and you know, we're all fired up
and we want to you know, we want to give
back and get that one and climb up to the
(10:20):
table because it's it's you know, eight games and it's
possible to get up to the playoffs. But we're very
excited for the fans and we appreciate the support every year.
But yeah, we're very excited to see them tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
Right Hey, Bell ready, appreciate you joining us here on
the show this morning. Go well tomorrow and for the
rest of the season, mate, and of course everything on
the horizon for you this year too, So I appreciate
you you're taking the call this morning.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Yep. Thank you for more from Used Talks ed B.
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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