July 17, 2026 • 12 mins
Adam Cooper is joined for his weekly football wrap by Joe Serci from the Tackld Podcast.
They feature round 14 of the men's Central League, while also revisiting their World Cup predictions ahead of Monday's final.
They also cast their eyes ahead to next week's Chatham Cup quarterfinals.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We continue our preview of all the sport happening around
the Wellington region this weekend and local football. Next on
the list our rotation with the Central League this week
is the men's side of things, so we go to
Joe Cercy from the Tackled podcast, Want it to you, Joe.
Lots of football going on.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, very good morning to you, Adam, and as always
trying to prioritize local football, but there is a World
Cup happening on Monday morning, so hopefully we can make
a start with a quick reflection on that.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, as long as we don't talk about our two predictions,
because they're both out and we're down to two.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I think my prediction was a total fiesco. I don't
know why I went for Brazil. I've never supported Brazil.
Of course, what I meant to say, Adam was to
travel further south and South America. I was meant to
say Argentina, and of course the final on Monday is
Argentina against Spain. There's two interesting little records at play,
so it should be a good game. I think two
(00:55):
of the better teams have made the final. I don't
think anyone's got any question marks over the credentials of
these teams, but Argentina they are of course the defending champions.
They are looking to be the first nation, the first
country since nineteen sixty two to go back to back.
(01:17):
So Brazil did it nineteen fifty eight, nineteen sixty two.
Interestingly enough, the only other country that's ever done it's
way back in the nineteen thirties where Italy did a double.
So Argentina looking to get themselves in a very exclusive
club of been able to go back to back in
the World Cup and then if we go with Spain
(01:39):
and once the record they are looking to achieve. Well,
Spain is currently sitting on thirty seven international games, so
that's full top tier international games unbeaten in a row.
So they have gone thirty seven consecutive games unbeaten. They
are currently equal with Italy who also have thirty. Evan so, obviously,
(02:01):
of Spain wins on Monday, they've not only won the
World Cup, but they've created a new world record.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, fascinating. I mean, Argentina, they've certainly got some momentum
behind them, don't they So not going to be going
to be a great final to watch, right, Well, let's
talk local football. Because as you say, Joe, plenty happening
between now and that big final on Monday morning, Central League,
we must be getting closer to the end of the
Central League. Joe.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, we're at round fourteen and there's this week plus
four more rounds, so obviously there's ten teams in the competition.
There's a home and away games, so there's eighteen games
in total, so we are approaching the climax of the competition.
And just to remind that there is no relegation this
(02:52):
season in the Central League, so all eyes are pretty
much focused on the top. And if you're talking about
where's things in terms of the top of the table.
As joint leaders Napier City Rovers and Merrima, they're both
on thirty two points. The difference is goal difference Napier
City Rovers plus twenty five Merrimar plus twenty pretty much. Adam,
(03:15):
I would say the competition will be decided on Sunday,
twenty third August, when those two teams meet at Blue
Water in Napier, And just to run through the rest
of the top four, it is an Olympic on twenty
nine points and then a further gap to West on
twenty five.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
All right, and one of those leading teams will start
with their game. Naper City Rovers have the trip down
this afternoon to Fraseer Park to take on the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, it's been a pretty disappointing season for the Phoenix Reserves.
It's not quite happened for them. The academy team, the
young guys haven't been able to back up what they
did last year where they had a top four finish.
This season, they're sitting on two wins and four draws.
If we look at Napier City Rovers when these two
teams meet meet previous Obviously I just said Napier City
(04:01):
Rovers at the top end the table. But when they
met previously at Blue Water, Naper City Rovers won two
one and with the brace from their young strikers Sam
Lack that got them through that day. Interesting enough, Napier
City Rovers always say we hate the artificial. We don't
play like playing on turf. We don't have turf in
the Hawk's Bay. But yet they've won all four of
(04:24):
their encounters on the turf this season. So I think
all things point to Napier City Rovers getting another three points.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
All right, let's go to Upper Huts next, Maidstone Park
they're hosting Western Suburbs out there.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, another game on the turf. If we talk about
Upper Hats City, I've always got to go back to
the quote that their young coach, Toby Welton shared with me,
which he says, our aim, our realistic Golder season is
to be best of the rest. They are the team
that's coming fifth in the table. Probably the thing that
they'll most be disappointed about the season is in concer
(05:00):
including inconsistency at home. Last time these two teams meet
West one two to one, it was a close encounter.
I'm expecting another close encounter at Maidstone Park. But I
think Western Suburbs will have the bits between the thief
to make sure that they're still accumulating points just in
case one of the teams above them faulters and they're
(05:22):
able to further close the points gap on the Central
League table. So expect Western Suburbs to take this even
though it's been played at Maidstone Park.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
All right, three o'clock, kick golf fan from one turf
to another. Just down the roads at three point fifteen
Batony at home against one of the leaders, Murmai Rangers.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, I've done a little bit of analysis on this
one for you, Adam. I've looked at the Towney it's
not necessarily been a great season for the end of
won three drawn two, looked at their last nine games,
and I think the big question they'll be asking, and
their supporters will be asking, is where's the goals? Because
in those last nine games, five of them they haven't
(06:00):
scored any goals. Three they've scored the one, and the
one they've scored two, which I think was there too
and went over waters Corory. So their problem that the
creative team, the nice team to watch, they're just not
getting the ball in the back of the net and
as really cost him the season. Meanwhile, we look at Mirama.
Their coach Jamie o'conne's played a few nail biters. The
(06:22):
one thing about that is, even though they are scoring
good wins, I guess they're a bit like that sort
of heavyweight boxer that's had a few goals in the ring,
though obviously still alive in the Chatham Cup. We might
talk about that in the moment. They've sort of been
jigging it out, but a large number of their games
have been close ones. They've had like a number of
(06:43):
games that they've only won by one goal point in case.
Last weekend they played Wellington Phoenix Reserves at home in
just one one nil even though despite that, and even
if we look at the results going back early in
the season, Mrrama won four to one against Potania. Was
a kind of ghoul hat trick that got them through.
I'm expecting another close one, but I'm still going with
(07:06):
the blue team, which is Mirrimar Rangers, to take this one.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
All right, let's go for the South Island Bay United
at home at Wakefield and I've got Olympics.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah, another game on the turf. A lot of turf
games at the moment. Obviously, someone who's in charge of
the league must be thinking Wellington weather this time of year.
Keep it on the artificial look. Olympic are coming off
a resounding nine to zero win against FC Western last weekend.
When these two teams met, it was obviously played at
(07:38):
Wakefield Park, they won five to one. I'm expecting the
Olympic to continue their good form. I think their forward muscles,
their forward combinations are starting to come together. And the
other piece of good news for Olympic is defender Adam
Supik is back. Adam of course was part of the
(07:58):
maiden oath the Premiership League season we played for Buller
and VG. I think he had a good time of it.
I think he enjoyed the experience. But I think Olympic
will becoming in welcoming back his defensive prowess. All signs
suggest Olympics should take this.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Very good sam Then wrapping up the rounds action tomorrow
at Waterside Krori with the trip up to Saranaki.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, Sunday clash if see Weston and Waterslide Qrory, we're
talking about the eighth place team playing the tenth place team,
so we are down the cellar of the table. Interesting
enough though, both these clubs, if you look at the
last few fixtures, they've had the most puriple of patches
(08:44):
you're looking at. If se Western at home, they've scored
a win, a drawer. Then they played Wellington Phoenix Reserves
at Fraser Park they had a drawer. In the last
four games, I've only had one loss and that was
against Botany and that was a close one to one.
Wes like Corory equally, they've had two wins, a draw
and a loss in the last few games. I'd say
(09:06):
Waterside Couri are looking to we'll be looking to take this.
This is the game I think, Adam, every time I
talk to you, I keep saying sc Western the King
to play a game at Stadium Taranaki. They had air
marked this one for Stadium Taranaki, but they made a
decision a couple of weeks ago not to pursue that
because it was more work than what it was worth.
(09:28):
So this would be played at their regular park. Like
I say, Watersy Cooria, I think should get the away points.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
All right, yep, I agree there there we have it
to the latest round of the Central League. And as
you mentioned, Joe, next weekends well two Central League teams,
one Wellington team involved in of course the quarterfinals of
the Chatham Cup.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah. Just looking at the survivors from the Central League
and it is the two top teams. They're both having
resounding seasons. Really, I think the Aps City Rovers will
be a lot happier with drawer. They've coming up against
Biscus Coast from northern part of Auckland. Hip Biscus Coasts.
They play in the second tiered in the Losso NRFL Championship.
(10:12):
I think Naples City Rovers, like I say, we'll be
delighted with that and we'll be looking forward to achieving
a win up there. Memrima Rangers maybe got one of
the tougher results. Just to remind about remember our Rangers.
They haven't played a home game yet in the Chatham
Cup and they drew another away game. They're going to
go down to christ Church, which is Kashmir Tech. Remember
(10:33):
our Rangers. To get there. They've definitely beaten the best
of the best in the Central League. They beat defending
Chatham Cup holders when it's the Olympic, they beat Western
Suburbs and they beat Ireland Bay. Last time Cashmere Tech
won this ficture Adam was twenty twenty one. It was
a game played at Jerry Collins Stadium and it was
(10:55):
against Murmut Rangers. It was a thrilling four to two fixture.
It was affected by COVID, so I don't believe there
was much of many supporters at the ground. I did
talk to Kashmir Tech's coach Dan Schwartz during the week
and I asked them for a bit of a preview
of this game, and what he said to me is
(11:16):
expect goals. They love to attack Kashmir Tech. And as
I said in last week's show, their goal difference is
plus fifty two, which definitely suggests I've got good streams
up the front.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Great boats to be a good one next weekend. Great
to catch up Joe, Appreciate your time as always, enjoy
all your football watching over the weekend and all do
it all again in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah. Well, look, definitely looking forward to Monday, definitely looking
to forward to being more productive at work, and definitely
looking forward to having more opportunity more time to focus
on local football.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
For more from News Talks, ab listen live on air
or online, and
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on Irradio
We continue our preview of all the sport happening around
the Wellington region this weekend and local football. Next on
the list our rotation with the Central League this week
is the men's side of things, so we go to
Joe Cercy from the Tackled podcast, Want it to you, Joe.
Lots of football going on.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Yeah, very good morning to you, Adam, and as always
trying to prioritize local football, but there is a World
Cup happening on Monday morning, so hopefully we can make
a start with a quick reflection on that.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Yeah, as long as we don't talk about our two predictions,
because they're both out and we're down to two.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
I think my prediction was a total fiesco. I don't
know why I went for Brazil. I've never supported Brazil.
Of course, what I meant to say, Adam was to
travel further south and South America. I was meant to
say Argentina, and of course the final on Monday is
Argentina against Spain. There's two interesting little records at play,
so it should be a good game. I think two
(00:55):
of the better teams have made the final. I don't
think anyone's got any question marks over the credentials of
these teams, but Argentina they are of course the defending champions.
They are looking to be the first nation, the first
country since nineteen sixty two to go back to back.
(01:17):
So Brazil did it nineteen fifty eight, nineteen sixty two.
Interestingly enough, the only other country that's ever done it's
way back in the nineteen thirties where Italy did a double.
So Argentina looking to get themselves in a very exclusive
club of been able to go back to back in
the World Cup and then if we go with Spain
(01:39):
and once the record they are looking to achieve. Well,
Spain is currently sitting on thirty seven international games, so
that's full top tier international games unbeaten in a row.
So they have gone thirty seven consecutive games unbeaten. They
are currently equal with Italy who also have thirty. Evan so, obviously,
(02:01):
of Spain wins on Monday, they've not only won the
World Cup, but they've created a new world record.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Yeah, fascinating. I mean, Argentina, they've certainly got some momentum
behind them, don't they So not going to be going
to be a great final to watch, right, Well, let's
talk local football. Because as you say, Joe, plenty happening
between now and that big final on Monday morning, Central League,
we must be getting closer to the end of the
Central League. Joe.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, we're at round fourteen and there's this week plus
four more rounds, so obviously there's ten teams in the competition.
There's a home and away games, so there's eighteen games
in total, so we are approaching the climax of the competition.
And just to remind that there is no relegation this
(02:52):
season in the Central League, so all eyes are pretty
much focused on the top. And if you're talking about
where's things in terms of the top of the table.
As joint leaders Napier City Rovers and Merrima, they're both
on thirty two points. The difference is goal difference Napier
City Rovers plus twenty five Merrimar plus twenty pretty much. Adam,
(03:15):
I would say the competition will be decided on Sunday,
twenty third August, when those two teams meet at Blue
Water in Napier, And just to run through the rest
of the top four, it is an Olympic on twenty
nine points and then a further gap to West on
twenty five.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
All right, and one of those leading teams will start
with their game. Naper City Rovers have the trip down
this afternoon to Fraseer Park to take on the Phoenix.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, it's been a pretty disappointing season for the Phoenix Reserves.
It's not quite happened for them. The academy team, the
young guys haven't been able to back up what they
did last year where they had a top four finish.
This season, they're sitting on two wins and four draws.
If we look at Napier City Rovers when these two
teams meet meet previous Obviously I just said Napier City
(04:01):
Rovers at the top end the table. But when they
met previously at Blue Water, Naper City Rovers won two
one and with the brace from their young strikers Sam
Lack that got them through that day. Interesting enough, Napier
City Rovers always say we hate the artificial. We don't
play like playing on turf. We don't have turf in
the Hawk's Bay. But yet they've won all four of
(04:24):
their encounters on the turf this season. So I think
all things point to Napier City Rovers getting another three points.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
All right, let's go to Upper Huts next, Maidstone Park
they're hosting Western Suburbs out there.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yeah, another game on the turf. If we talk about
Upper Hats City, I've always got to go back to
the quote that their young coach, Toby Welton shared with me,
which he says, our aim, our realistic Golder season is
to be best of the rest. They are the team
that's coming fifth in the table. Probably the thing that
they'll most be disappointed about the season is in concer
(05:00):
including inconsistency at home. Last time these two teams meet
West one two to one, it was a close encounter.
I'm expecting another close encounter at Maidstone Park. But I
think Western Suburbs will have the bits between the thief
to make sure that they're still accumulating points just in
case one of the teams above them faulters and they're
(05:22):
able to further close the points gap on the Central
League table. So expect Western Suburbs to take this even
though it's been played at Maidstone Park.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
All right, three o'clock, kick golf fan from one turf
to another. Just down the roads at three point fifteen
Batony at home against one of the leaders, Murmai Rangers.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, I've done a little bit of analysis on this
one for you, Adam. I've looked at the Towney it's
not necessarily been a great season for the end of
won three drawn two, looked at their last nine games,
and I think the big question they'll be asking, and
their supporters will be asking, is where's the goals? Because
in those last nine games, five of them they haven't
(06:00):
scored any goals. Three they've scored the one, and the
one they've scored two, which I think was there too
and went over waters Corory. So their problem that the
creative team, the nice team to watch, they're just not
getting the ball in the back of the net and
as really cost him the season. Meanwhile, we look at Mirama.
Their coach Jamie o'conne's played a few nail biters. The
(06:22):
one thing about that is, even though they are scoring
good wins, I guess they're a bit like that sort
of heavyweight boxer that's had a few goals in the ring,
though obviously still alive in the Chatham Cup. We might
talk about that in the moment. They've sort of been
jigging it out, but a large number of their games
have been close ones. They've had like a number of
(06:43):
games that they've only won by one goal point in case.
Last weekend they played Wellington Phoenix Reserves at home in
just one one nil even though despite that, and even
if we look at the results going back early in
the season, Mrrama won four to one against Potania. Was
a kind of ghoul hat trick that got them through.
I'm expecting another close one, but I'm still going with
(07:06):
the blue team, which is Mirrimar Rangers, to take this one.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
All right, let's go for the South Island Bay United
at home at Wakefield and I've got Olympics.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
Yeah, another game on the turf. A lot of turf
games at the moment. Obviously, someone who's in charge of
the league must be thinking Wellington weather this time of year.
Keep it on the artificial look. Olympic are coming off
a resounding nine to zero win against FC Western last weekend.
When these two teams met, it was obviously played at
(07:38):
Wakefield Park, they won five to one. I'm expecting the
Olympic to continue their good form. I think their forward muscles,
their forward combinations are starting to come together. And the
other piece of good news for Olympic is defender Adam
Supik is back. Adam of course was part of the
(07:58):
maiden oath the Premiership League season we played for Buller
and VG. I think he had a good time of it.
I think he enjoyed the experience. But I think Olympic
will becoming in welcoming back his defensive prowess. All signs
suggest Olympics should take this.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Very good sam Then wrapping up the rounds action tomorrow
at Waterside Krori with the trip up to Saranaki.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
Yeah, Sunday clash if see Weston and Waterslide Qrory, we're
talking about the eighth place team playing the tenth place team,
so we are down the cellar of the table. Interesting
enough though, both these clubs, if you look at the
last few fixtures, they've had the most puriple of patches
(08:44):
you're looking at. If se Western at home, they've scored
a win, a drawer. Then they played Wellington Phoenix Reserves
at Fraser Park they had a drawer. In the last
four games, I've only had one loss and that was
against Botany and that was a close one to one.
Wes like Corory equally, they've had two wins, a draw
and a loss in the last few games. I'd say
(09:06):
Waterside Couri are looking to we'll be looking to take this.
This is the game I think, Adam, every time I
talk to you, I keep saying sc Western the King
to play a game at Stadium Taranaki. They had air
marked this one for Stadium Taranaki, but they made a
decision a couple of weeks ago not to pursue that
because it was more work than what it was worth.
(09:28):
So this would be played at their regular park. Like
I say, Watersy Cooria, I think should get the away points.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
All right, yep, I agree there there we have it
to the latest round of the Central League. And as
you mentioned, Joe, next weekends well two Central League teams,
one Wellington team involved in of course the quarterfinals of
the Chatham Cup.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Yeah. Just looking at the survivors from the Central League
and it is the two top teams. They're both having
resounding seasons. Really, I think the Aps City Rovers will
be a lot happier with drawer. They've coming up against
Biscus Coast from northern part of Auckland. Hip Biscus Coasts.
They play in the second tiered in the Losso NRFL Championship.
(10:12):
I think Naples City Rovers, like I say, we'll be
delighted with that and we'll be looking forward to achieving
a win up there. Memrima Rangers maybe got one of
the tougher results. Just to remind about remember our Rangers.
They haven't played a home game yet in the Chatham
Cup and they drew another away game. They're going to
go down to christ Church, which is Kashmir Tech. Remember
(10:33):
our Rangers. To get there. They've definitely beaten the best
of the best in the Central League. They beat defending
Chatham Cup holders when it's the Olympic, they beat Western
Suburbs and they beat Ireland Bay. Last time Cashmere Tech
won this ficture Adam was twenty twenty one. It was
a game played at Jerry Collins Stadium and it was
(10:55):
against Murmut Rangers. It was a thrilling four to two fixture.
It was affected by COVID, so I don't believe there
was much of many supporters at the ground. I did
talk to Kashmir Tech's coach Dan Schwartz during the week
and I asked them for a bit of a preview
of this game, and what he said to me is
(11:16):
expect goals. They love to attack Kashmir Tech. And as
I said in last week's show, their goal difference is
plus fifty two, which definitely suggests I've got good streams
up the front.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Great boats to be a good one next weekend. Great
to catch up Joe, Appreciate your time as always, enjoy
all your football watching over the weekend and all do
it all again in a couple of weeks.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Yeah. Well, look, definitely looking forward to Monday, definitely looking
to forward to being more productive at work, and definitely
looking forward to having more opportunity more time to focus
on local football.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
For more from News Talks, ab listen live on air
or online, and
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on Irradio
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