September 5, 2025 • 8 mins
The Wellington Lions and Hawke's Bay meet in a decisive mid-table clash as part of the NPC's sixth round at Napier.
Adam Cooper speaks with Wellington utility back Callum Harkin who's switched to the midfield for the match.
Harkin also talks about his club rugby and NPC teammate Kyle Preston who's been named to debut for the All Blacks in the first Springboks test at Eden Park.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right on half past seven on the Illsport Breakfast there
on Wellington's newsg ZB. It's round six of the NPC
this weekend already wins so far for counties Monaco and Otago.
Was part of the big day and night of rugby today.
Some great matches obviously that Shields match between Southend and
Canterbury underway at five past four at in the Cargoo's
Rugby Park, but also as part of the light up,
(00:22):
it's an important game for the Wellington Lions. They are
up in Napier to take on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hawks Bay a two to five kickoff at McLean Park.
For that one, Wellington ninth on the table two wins
from five and Hawk's Bay a few places ahead and
sixth with three wins from five. So a very important
match for both teams. So let's head into the Wellington
Lions camp now to look at this match. Calum Harken,
of course, Hurricanes and Wellington Lions utility back is with
(00:51):
us now. Morning to you, Callum, and he's found himself,
which must just say before we bring you in. Callum
found himself playing second five eighth and for Julian Savia
this weekend. Julian ups supporting Artie Savia for one hundred
tests in Auckland. So callum harken to where the number
twelve jersey. He joins us now from Napier morning to you, Callum.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Good morning. How's it going.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I'm good mate, and yeah, give us your thoughts on
the season so far. You've had some good wins. Yeah,
you scraped through against Auckland last week and those horrific
conditions and body to I'm sure the Hawks Bay will
treat you a bit nicer this week here, mate, but
you have your assessed the campaign so far.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah. Look, there's been some results not go our way
and some go our way. I think we're sort of
figuring it out now as a group. There's a whole
lot of new new blood and new combinations, so we're
sort of figuring it out as we go. But we're
making good strides, I feel, and.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
For you personally on the on the back of a
breakout year and super rugby. I guess you've had to
go at a few positions this season for the Lions
as well these these last couple of months as well.
What's been your focus that this season so far?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, wherever I'm sort of put from a positional point
of view, the case of what can I do and
how can I help the team to be in the
best position to sort of get the best result. Like
I said, like there's some new personnel, So whether it's ten,
twelve or fifteen, I'm happy to play any of those
and yeah hoping it's hoping it's the right foot this
(02:17):
weekend and we can get a job done against the
Ned place.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah, so it's yourself at twelve, starting at second five
eighth this weekend, obviously in place of Judy and save
when you know how much time have you had in
the number twelve jersey over the years, Gil.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I've played some club games at twelve and I came
on against Auckland at twelve. I'm definitely not the same
sort of player that the bus is, but I'm hoping
I could sort of put my own sort of flavor
on the position and yeah, facilitate for the guys around me,
and I guess try my best physically. So yeah, I'm
(02:53):
excited for it. I'm ready for it, and it's something different,
it's a new challenge, so yeah, it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, obviously a big position both on attack and defensively.
What kind of focuses do you put on when you
are in the midfield.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I guess it's keeping the defense. Honest, I guess I
am a kicking threat. I don't mind running the ball
as long as it's not into guys two three times
my size. But yeah, I'll look to open up some
playmaking from that position, and I guess try and keep
the Magpies defense guessing a little bit, that's that's the goal.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And one of your other sparring partners from the from
the Canes, Harry Godfrey you'll be on the other side,
and Eddie and Nardi as well, So a few familiar
opponents to hopefully be able to crack some of their defense.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, yeah, a few familiar faces would be good to
see the boys. They're in a sort of similar position
to us from a seasonal point of view, so we're
both sort of hungry to get the win, I guess,
and yeah, no, be good. I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah great. Obviously disappointed to see Brad Shields pick up
that injury a couple of weeks ago. You know, leadership wise,
for this team, it's you know, the guy right next
to you on the park this weekend. Matt prok to
taking on the captaincy, So a lot of exme variance still,
but how you know much of that hit the team
losing the skipper for a decent amount of time.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, well, he probably won't suit up for the remainder
of the season, but he's still involved quite heavily, and
I mean it's a hats off to him. He played
fifty five sixty minutes with one knee, so it just
goes to show, like for Radley, have you get him
off in a stretcher to take him off the field.
But he's still heavily involved around the environment and adding
(04:26):
his two cents here or there. So it's not the
end of the world, but yeah, it just looks a
little bit different going forward without him.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
In general, how different is the team this year? Obviously
losing Doupes to All Black's duty I'm sure would have
been a hit for Wellington as much as everyone is
proud and you know, stoked to see what he's achieving
in the black jersey and more this weekend a couple
of other guys obviously in that friende all Blacks kind
of environment as well. How much has that changed? I
guess that the team environment this year.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
It's a different environment. It's not necessarily for the better
or for the worse, but it's definitely different without him.
He can be loud and boisterous at times, and I
guess you sort of notice that there's that sort of
void that's not being built. But it's an opportunity for
guys to step up and sort of show their worth
and show the game how good they are. So yeah,
(05:16):
it's different, but not necessarily for better or worse.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And how much in the back of your mind is
about getting set for season two with the Canes in
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, well, I guess the more minutes the better. It's
a lot easier to sort of come from the Cane
back into an NPC environment. So where I saught of
was in a I guess the headspace last year with
the Lines is this year just two different sort of planets.
So to keep evolving my game and continuing trying to
(05:48):
play well hopefully not pick up any injuries, I guess
are the main sort of things. But yeah, it's growth
in all areas as the goal.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So yeah, And can't go without asking you about your
old boys university teammates are Kyle Preston jeez. It just
the elevation that he's had just just keeps going right.
Amazing to seeing him get his chance this weekend against
the spring Box.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, I think that's a beautiful example of when preparation
meets opportunity, and the opportunity is there for him now
and obviously my goal is the same as his and hopefully.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
One day it's the case. But for him then just
over the moon, like just it's an astronomical sort of rise,
you know, not too long well, fourteen months ago he
was on a roof probably in a southerly in Wellington
and now he's at Eden Park alongside Ardie for his
hundreds and play against the spring Box. So there's no
(06:43):
greater pinnacle than that. I feel like that's just amazing. Yeah,
unbelievable him.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, I mean it has been incredible, hasn't it tell
us that you would have seen firsthand the work ethic
that he's had both at a club level and then
through the ranks at MPC last year and then obviously
against him and Super Rugby this year. Just tell us
about you know, what you've observed from him, especially before
the sudden rise happened. How much work has he been
putting into his rugby.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Well, he used to do Broncos midweek for fun prior
to club training, So doesn't say enough about him. I
don't know what does. But he's very much of the
sort of nature of the first and laughed out and
I think that's probably what best to put him mind
as KP and I guess, like I said, he's worked
and worked and worked, and sometimes the door don't open
(07:30):
first time, but he just kept banging and he's in
the door now. So yeah, the sky prelimit for him.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Have you caught up with them during the week at
all seen of the old message.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah, yeah I have. I have a sort of ask
him what the going is and whether he's got the
not and yeah, so he said, yep, he's on the
bench and that's yeah. Just couldn't have worked out any better,
I guess.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Amazing. And in terms of NPC that this week didn't
call hum and you mentioned a little bit of out
Hawks Bay before and both teams, you know, having points
to prove in this one coming up in the afternoon. Yeah,
just just what kind of match you're expecting to play
up up up and Apia be.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Fast and physical, hoping it's going to be a dry
track where the forecast looks like it might be. I
sen it's a scorch every day up there, so yeah,
hoping the boys have their SPF one and they're ready
to roll, because yeah, it's going to be a fast
and physical one with a lot of feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That'll be a nice change from the down Paurs and
the souther LEAs at Pottynour last week, right, yeah, yeah,
contrast that one brilliant callum. Hey, well, thanks for your
time as always, mates, and all the best this weekending
and for the coming weeks and the MPC and they're
getting the lines up into that that playoff zone, so
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Mate mate.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
For more from News Talks B listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Right on half past seven on the Illsport Breakfast there
on Wellington's newsg ZB. It's round six of the NPC
this weekend already wins so far for counties Monaco and Otago.
Was part of the big day and night of rugby today.
Some great matches obviously that Shields match between Southend and
Canterbury underway at five past four at in the Cargoo's
Rugby Park, but also as part of the light up,
(00:22):
it's an important game for the Wellington Lions. They are
up in Napier to take on.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hawks Bay a two to five kickoff at McLean Park.
For that one, Wellington ninth on the table two wins
from five and Hawk's Bay a few places ahead and
sixth with three wins from five. So a very important
match for both teams. So let's head into the Wellington
Lions camp now to look at this match. Calum Harken,
of course, Hurricanes and Wellington Lions utility back is with
(00:51):
us now. Morning to you, Callum, and he's found himself,
which must just say before we bring you in. Callum
found himself playing second five eighth and for Julian Savia
this weekend. Julian ups supporting Artie Savia for one hundred
tests in Auckland. So callum harken to where the number
twelve jersey. He joins us now from Napier morning to you, Callum.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Good morning. How's it going.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
I'm good mate, and yeah, give us your thoughts on
the season so far. You've had some good wins. Yeah,
you scraped through against Auckland last week and those horrific
conditions and body to I'm sure the Hawks Bay will
treat you a bit nicer this week here, mate, but
you have your assessed the campaign so far.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah. Look, there's been some results not go our way
and some go our way. I think we're sort of
figuring it out now as a group. There's a whole
lot of new new blood and new combinations, so we're
sort of figuring it out as we go. But we're
making good strides, I feel, and.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
For you personally on the on the back of a
breakout year and super rugby. I guess you've had to
go at a few positions this season for the Lions
as well these these last couple of months as well.
What's been your focus that this season so far?
Speaker 3 (01:55):
Well, wherever I'm sort of put from a positional point
of view, the case of what can I do and
how can I help the team to be in the
best position to sort of get the best result. Like
I said, like there's some new personnel, So whether it's ten,
twelve or fifteen, I'm happy to play any of those
and yeah hoping it's hoping it's the right foot this
(02:17):
weekend and we can get a job done against the
Ned place.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Yeah, so it's yourself at twelve, starting at second five
eighth this weekend, obviously in place of Judy and save
when you know how much time have you had in
the number twelve jersey over the years, Gil.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I've played some club games at twelve and I came
on against Auckland at twelve. I'm definitely not the same
sort of player that the bus is, but I'm hoping
I could sort of put my own sort of flavor
on the position and yeah, facilitate for the guys around me,
and I guess try my best physically. So yeah, I'm
(02:53):
excited for it. I'm ready for it, and it's something different,
it's a new challenge, so yeah, it's exciting.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
Yeah, obviously a big position both on attack and defensively.
What kind of focuses do you put on when you
are in the midfield.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
I guess it's keeping the defense. Honest, I guess I
am a kicking threat. I don't mind running the ball
as long as it's not into guys two three times
my size. But yeah, I'll look to open up some
playmaking from that position, and I guess try and keep
the Magpies defense guessing a little bit, that's that's the goal.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
And one of your other sparring partners from the from
the Canes, Harry Godfrey you'll be on the other side,
and Eddie and Nardi as well, So a few familiar
opponents to hopefully be able to crack some of their defense.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Yeah, yeah, a few familiar faces would be good to
see the boys. They're in a sort of similar position
to us from a seasonal point of view, so we're
both sort of hungry to get the win, I guess,
and yeah, no, be good. I'm looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah great. Obviously disappointed to see Brad Shields pick up
that injury a couple of weeks ago. You know, leadership wise,
for this team, it's you know, the guy right next
to you on the park this weekend. Matt prok to
taking on the captaincy, So a lot of exme variance still,
but how you know much of that hit the team
losing the skipper for a decent amount of time.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Yeah, well, he probably won't suit up for the remainder
of the season, but he's still involved quite heavily, and
I mean it's a hats off to him. He played
fifty five sixty minutes with one knee, so it just
goes to show, like for Radley, have you get him
off in a stretcher to take him off the field.
But he's still heavily involved around the environment and adding
(04:26):
his two cents here or there. So it's not the
end of the world, but yeah, it just looks a
little bit different going forward without him.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
In general, how different is the team this year? Obviously
losing Doupes to All Black's duty I'm sure would have
been a hit for Wellington as much as everyone is
proud and you know, stoked to see what he's achieving
in the black jersey and more this weekend a couple
of other guys obviously in that friende all Blacks kind
of environment as well. How much has that changed? I
guess that the team environment this year.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
It's a different environment. It's not necessarily for the better
or for the worse, but it's definitely different without him.
He can be loud and boisterous at times, and I
guess you sort of notice that there's that sort of
void that's not being built. But it's an opportunity for
guys to step up and sort of show their worth
and show the game how good they are. So yeah,
(05:16):
it's different, but not necessarily for better or worse.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
And how much in the back of your mind is
about getting set for season two with the Canes in
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Yeah, well, I guess the more minutes the better. It's
a lot easier to sort of come from the Cane
back into an NPC environment. So where I saught of
was in a I guess the headspace last year with
the Lines is this year just two different sort of planets.
So to keep evolving my game and continuing trying to
(05:48):
play well hopefully not pick up any injuries, I guess
are the main sort of things. But yeah, it's growth
in all areas as the goal.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
So yeah, And can't go without asking you about your
old boys university teammates are Kyle Preston jeez. It just
the elevation that he's had just just keeps going right.
Amazing to seeing him get his chance this weekend against
the spring Box.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Yeah, I think that's a beautiful example of when preparation
meets opportunity, and the opportunity is there for him now
and obviously my goal is the same as his and hopefully.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
One day it's the case. But for him then just
over the moon, like just it's an astronomical sort of rise,
you know, not too long well, fourteen months ago he
was on a roof probably in a southerly in Wellington
and now he's at Eden Park alongside Ardie for his
hundreds and play against the spring Box. So there's no
(06:43):
greater pinnacle than that. I feel like that's just amazing. Yeah,
unbelievable him.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, I mean it has been incredible, hasn't it tell
us that you would have seen firsthand the work ethic
that he's had both at a club level and then
through the ranks at MPC last year and then obviously
against him and Super Rugby this year. Just tell us
about you know, what you've observed from him, especially before
the sudden rise happened. How much work has he been
putting into his rugby.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Well, he used to do Broncos midweek for fun prior
to club training, So doesn't say enough about him. I
don't know what does. But he's very much of the
sort of nature of the first and laughed out and
I think that's probably what best to put him mind
as KP and I guess, like I said, he's worked
and worked and worked, and sometimes the door don't open
(07:30):
first time, but he just kept banging and he's in
the door now. So yeah, the sky prelimit for him.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Have you caught up with them during the week at
all seen of the old message.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Yeah, yeah I have. I have a sort of ask
him what the going is and whether he's got the
not and yeah, so he said, yep, he's on the
bench and that's yeah. Just couldn't have worked out any better,
I guess.
Speaker 4 (07:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Amazing. And in terms of NPC that this week didn't
call hum and you mentioned a little bit of out
Hawks Bay before and both teams, you know, having points
to prove in this one coming up in the afternoon. Yeah,
just just what kind of match you're expecting to play
up up up and Apia be.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Fast and physical, hoping it's going to be a dry
track where the forecast looks like it might be. I
sen it's a scorch every day up there, so yeah,
hoping the boys have their SPF one and they're ready
to roll, because yeah, it's going to be a fast
and physical one with a lot of feeling.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
That'll be a nice change from the down Paurs and
the souther LEAs at Pottynour last week, right, yeah, yeah,
contrast that one brilliant callum. Hey, well, thanks for your
time as always, mates, and all the best this weekending
and for the coming weeks and the MPC and they're
getting the lines up into that that playoff zone, so
I appreciate your time.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Mate mate.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
For more from News Talks 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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