August 1, 2025 • 8 mins
The Wellington Lions begin their 2025 NPC title defence with a new permanent home ground of Porirua Park, and a new skipper with Brad Shields taking over from new All Black Du'Plessis Kirifi.
To preview the season, Adam Cooper spoke with Lions halfback Kyle Preston, who's back in the capital after a strong debut Super Rugby season with the Crusaders.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ten past eight though, and Wellington's NPC title defense for
the year begins at Potty to A Park this afternoon
at five pass two, taking on Canterbury. Some expected in
Wellington today, so it should be a nice game to
start Wellington's season of twenty twenty five. A few new
things about this year's competition for Wellington. Of course they
are moving away for the round robin anyway from sky Stadium,
(00:23):
so all games this year are being played as afternoon
games at Potty to a Park. They will be playing
at sky Stadium if they host any playoff games. But
also now without a couple of their mainstays from the
last few seasons, Captain Dupless could ef now of course
a newly named All Black, so his leadership has done.
Brad Shields has taken over the Captain c It's well
(00:45):
not not too bad of a replacement option, is it
to replace duplasy Cadfi with someone of Brad Shields's stature
In the Wellington rugby scene. The likes of Billy Proctor
and Rubin Love also mainly focused on All Black duties now,
of course they've been big parts of the line success
over the last few years, but of course Rubin Love
will start at fullback today, having been released by the
(01:06):
All Blacks for this game in particular, So should be
a good occasion out there this afternoon for a good
Wellington Canterbury battle to start the NPC for them, and
someone that's we've got a bit of a Canterbury connection
now as part of this Wellington Lions team is starting
Lions half back today. Kyle Preston, who, of course, after
last year's success with the Wellington Lions, was picked up
(01:27):
by the Crusaders and of course went on to play
a major role for the Crusaders and their Super Rugby
title this year. So Kyle's back in Wellington, he's with
us now. Morning to your Kyle, Thanks to your time mate,
and so nice to be back in your hometown gearing
up for an MPC title defense.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, I know it's been pretty full on the last
twelve months, like you said, pretty lucky to be in
the environments that I've been in to get a bit
of success. But yeah, obviously twenty twenty five is a
new year for Wellington Lions, and yeah, we don't know
how it's going to go, so each week we take
as it comes and just best really I guess we.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Take a look at the Lions squad that's been named
for the game to they nearly all of you have
super rugby experience, which is pretty impressive for the start
of an NPC campaign. What's the biggest change you feel,
Kyle in the camp this year compared to we were
at in pre season last year.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
I think this year the turnround has been quite quick,
so it's not a lot of time with each other.
Probably the biggest thing I've noticed so doing the best
thing for ourselves is connecting with each other as quick
as we can.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So. Yeah, because it's such a short campaign and.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
It was a tough loss to Tartanuki last week in
pre season, how many tough discussions took place after that
about getting things set for today.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, obviously it was pretty tough hit out, but first
game is always going to be.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
But it did is we had some positives out of it.
But I think the big one is.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Just a physicality upfront and if an intent and what
we bring to the game.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
That's a big focus for us this week.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
How much do you feel you've changed as a half
back since your time down at the Crusaders and all
the success that came with that.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I wouldn't say a hell of a lot. They just
like to bring the best out of the boys that
they've got down there and allow.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Us to be ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So obviously you pick a couple lot of things as
you go, but yeah, just being able to express myself
and play how I play with a big part of
being down there. So hopefully I can bring that to
my game again through the NBC campaign.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And you're getting pretty used to winning Kyle Old Boys
University here in Wellington last year, the Lions last year,
of course the Crusaders this year. What have those triumphs
taught you about what makes a winning team?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I think the culture is a massive one and been
able to have a good environment for everyone to, like
I said before, be themselves which definitely feeds out onto
the paddic and boys being excited and happy to play,
so yeah, brings out the missing each other. So I
think that's probably the massive one. Has been able to
be your stuff in an environment that you're in.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And how have you looked back on your time with
the Crusaders ever since you burst onto that scene that
amazing deb against the Hurricanes way back to start the competition.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, obviously that started quite fast, and I didn't expect
it to go like that. But I think for me
it's obviously the first game was pretty special, but just
to not let that get into my head too much
and to be able to kind of just take every
game as it comes, and yeah, take the opportunity that
I was getting. So I was pretty happy to be
able to get what forwarding games in over the season,
(04:31):
So it was cool.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Is that more than you were expecting when you sort
of decided to head down there.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Obviously, just me being myself, I like to think big
and obviously wanted to play as many games as I could.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But yeah, for sure, I didn't expect it to go
like it did.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
And there are a lot of experienced guys in that
Crusaders team. Was there anyone you particularly learned off or
enjoyed spending time with to get better?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I think for sure, Like there's like a lot of
the leaders in that group. I'm a very open to conversation,
so you just kind of connect to where you need
to in different parts of the game and areas of
attach defense. And yeah, obviously without us half Becks are
quite a tight knit group of four who work well
with Brad Moore, which was Yeah, definitely a good part
of the game. We have a lot of conversations with
(05:15):
each other around how to be better and it helps
all four of us.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
So yeah, so there's definitely a few a lot of
boys in that group.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And more recently you decided to re sign for another
couple of seasons. Was that a no brainer for you?
Did you look around at some other options or feel
that the Crusaders are your place to be for the
next couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah, I think definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
The love and support that they showed, not just to
me but my family tours are pretty special and it
means a lot, so I think, yeah, super excited that
I was able to extend on from another couple of
years with them.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
And you're back now home in Wellington of course, but
ironically Red and Black's not far away from you. There
your fierce up opponents in the NPC this afternoon. What
kind of game do you expect to play out at
Potidoor Park.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's funny going back and forth between you
know a lot of the boys between each team, so
they'll be cool to see a lot of those super
Rugby Crusader boys in there.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
But yeah, another game. Like you said that potual park
my kind of local area.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So it'll be cool going out to obviously do a
job and win the games. Obviously good mates there, but
on the field where business.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And so you're going to be looking back from the
back of the scrum and see Jackson Garden bash of
at ten then Julie and Saba and Matt Procter in
the midfield. Almost feels like, you know, twenty fifteen again.
But you'll have a fair bit of experience around you,
weren't you.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, for sure, I think we're quite lucky with the
group that we have.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
There is a lot of the older boys with good experience,
but there's also a mix as well with some of
the younger fellows coming through. So yeah, strong, strong starting lineup.
So yeah, I guess we'll just have to see how
it goes.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And Duski, after six seasons a very successful tenure as captain,
has has finished up. Now of course he's part of
the All Blacks. How much of a hold does that
leave the team with? But I guess given you've got
a local legend and Brad Shields taking young band, is
there much of a transition, do you feel.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, obviously Dups is a massive loss, like like you shaid,
but we also just talked about their amount of leadership
and older boys at in the environment that offer a
lot as well. We've got Sean here and Peter Luco
and the flanks who are pretty special too. So yeah,
like you said, it's obviously a big loss, and he's
Dups has done really well to do high honors, so
I think we just have to deal without him this year.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But yeah, definitely a big loss for us.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And Potty to a park. All your home round robin
games this year will be played there. Is it nice
to have that that permanent fixture a bit more of
a community feel.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yeah, for sure, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Obviously it's nice to play at the stadium, but to
be able to get a kind.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Of local feel, and it feels like kind of.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
We packed out the stadium or packed out in the
park a little bit more than we would at the stadium,
so it gives a bit of a more rustic kind
of feel in the local city.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So it's cool.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
And you said earlier you're enjoying being back in your
hometown Wellington, Kyle, I know you were seen on the
sideline checking out a game at Tawa College during the week.
Has that been important to you, kind of reconnecting with
some of you at your grassroots rugby people.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I obviously twa boy throw them through, so been able
to get down and watch the Bear trophy was good
and see them lock it away for the season.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
It's cool And just to look back, Kyle, what a
journey over the past twelve months. This time last year
you were getting ready for NPC with alongside still doing
work as a roofer. Now you're a full time rugby
player year round. Is it hard to believe when you
look back just how far things have come over the
past year.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, it's pretty sure eally. I was obviously had a
few conversation about it.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But at the start of last year I was doing
my roofing apprenticeship and I had just finished it in
time to start the NBC campaign, which I thought was
a good coincidence, and then for it to flow on
into full time footy for me is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
And 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.
Ten past eight though, and Wellington's NPC title defense for
the year begins at Potty to A Park this afternoon
at five pass two, taking on Canterbury. Some expected in
Wellington today, so it should be a nice game to
start Wellington's season of twenty twenty five. A few new
things about this year's competition for Wellington. Of course they
are moving away for the round robin anyway from sky Stadium,
(00:23):
so all games this year are being played as afternoon
games at Potty to a Park. They will be playing
at sky Stadium if they host any playoff games. But
also now without a couple of their mainstays from the
last few seasons, Captain Dupless could ef now of course
a newly named All Black, so his leadership has done.
Brad Shields has taken over the Captain c It's well
(00:45):
not not too bad of a replacement option, is it
to replace duplasy Cadfi with someone of Brad Shields's stature
In the Wellington rugby scene. The likes of Billy Proctor
and Rubin Love also mainly focused on All Black duties now,
of course they've been big parts of the line success
over the last few years, but of course Rubin Love
will start at fullback today, having been released by the
(01:06):
All Blacks for this game in particular, So should be
a good occasion out there this afternoon for a good
Wellington Canterbury battle to start the NPC for them, and
someone that's we've got a bit of a Canterbury connection
now as part of this Wellington Lions team is starting
Lions half back today. Kyle Preston, who, of course, after
last year's success with the Wellington Lions, was picked up
(01:27):
by the Crusaders and of course went on to play
a major role for the Crusaders and their Super Rugby
title this year. So Kyle's back in Wellington, he's with
us now. Morning to your Kyle, Thanks to your time mate,
and so nice to be back in your hometown gearing
up for an MPC title defense.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Yeah, I know it's been pretty full on the last
twelve months, like you said, pretty lucky to be in
the environments that I've been in to get a bit
of success. But yeah, obviously twenty twenty five is a
new year for Wellington Lions, and yeah, we don't know
how it's going to go, so each week we take
as it comes and just best really I guess we.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Take a look at the Lions squad that's been named
for the game to they nearly all of you have
super rugby experience, which is pretty impressive for the start
of an NPC campaign. What's the biggest change you feel,
Kyle in the camp this year compared to we were
at in pre season last year.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
I think this year the turnround has been quite quick,
so it's not a lot of time with each other.
Probably the biggest thing I've noticed so doing the best
thing for ourselves is connecting with each other as quick
as we can.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So. Yeah, because it's such a short campaign and.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
It was a tough loss to Tartanuki last week in
pre season, how many tough discussions took place after that
about getting things set for today.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, obviously it was pretty tough hit out, but first
game is always going to be.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
But it did is we had some positives out of it.
But I think the big one is.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Just a physicality upfront and if an intent and what
we bring to the game.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
That's a big focus for us this week.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
How much do you feel you've changed as a half
back since your time down at the Crusaders and all
the success that came with that.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
I wouldn't say a hell of a lot. They just
like to bring the best out of the boys that
they've got down there and allow.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Us to be ourselves.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
So obviously you pick a couple lot of things as
you go, but yeah, just being able to express myself
and play how I play with a big part of
being down there. So hopefully I can bring that to
my game again through the NBC campaign.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
And you're getting pretty used to winning Kyle Old Boys
University here in Wellington last year, the Lions last year,
of course the Crusaders this year. What have those triumphs
taught you about what makes a winning team?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I think the culture is a massive one and been
able to have a good environment for everyone to, like
I said before, be themselves which definitely feeds out onto
the paddic and boys being excited and happy to play,
so yeah, brings out the missing each other. So I
think that's probably the massive one. Has been able to
be your stuff in an environment that you're in.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
And how have you looked back on your time with
the Crusaders ever since you burst onto that scene that
amazing deb against the Hurricanes way back to start the competition.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Yeah, obviously that started quite fast, and I didn't expect
it to go like that. But I think for me
it's obviously the first game was pretty special, but just
to not let that get into my head too much
and to be able to kind of just take every
game as it comes, and yeah, take the opportunity that
I was getting. So I was pretty happy to be
able to get what forwarding games in over the season,
(04:31):
So it was cool.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Is that more than you were expecting when you sort
of decided to head down there.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Obviously, just me being myself, I like to think big
and obviously wanted to play as many games as I could.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
But yeah, for sure, I didn't expect it to go
like it did.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
And there are a lot of experienced guys in that
Crusaders team. Was there anyone you particularly learned off or
enjoyed spending time with to get better?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
I think for sure, Like there's like a lot of
the leaders in that group. I'm a very open to conversation,
so you just kind of connect to where you need
to in different parts of the game and areas of
attach defense. And yeah, obviously without us half Becks are
quite a tight knit group of four who work well
with Brad Moore, which was Yeah, definitely a good part
of the game. We have a lot of conversations with
(05:15):
each other around how to be better and it helps
all four of us.
Speaker 3 (05:19):
So yeah, so there's definitely a few a lot of
boys in that group.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
And more recently you decided to re sign for another
couple of seasons. Was that a no brainer for you?
Did you look around at some other options or feel
that the Crusaders are your place to be for the
next couple of seasons.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Yeah, I think definitely.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
The love and support that they showed, not just to
me but my family tours are pretty special and it
means a lot, so I think, yeah, super excited that
I was able to extend on from another couple of
years with them.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
And you're back now home in Wellington of course, but
ironically Red and Black's not far away from you. There
your fierce up opponents in the NPC this afternoon. What
kind of game do you expect to play out at
Potidoor Park.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Yeah, yeah, it's funny going back and forth between you
know a lot of the boys between each team, so
they'll be cool to see a lot of those super
Rugby Crusader boys in there.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
But yeah, another game. Like you said that potual park
my kind of local area.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
So it'll be cool going out to obviously do a
job and win the games. Obviously good mates there, but
on the field where business.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And so you're going to be looking back from the
back of the scrum and see Jackson Garden bash of
at ten then Julie and Saba and Matt Procter in
the midfield. Almost feels like, you know, twenty fifteen again.
But you'll have a fair bit of experience around you,
weren't you.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Yeah, for sure, I think we're quite lucky with the
group that we have.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
There is a lot of the older boys with good experience,
but there's also a mix as well with some of
the younger fellows coming through. So yeah, strong, strong starting lineup.
So yeah, I guess we'll just have to see how
it goes.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
And Duski, after six seasons a very successful tenure as captain,
has has finished up. Now of course he's part of
the All Blacks. How much of a hold does that
leave the team with? But I guess given you've got
a local legend and Brad Shields taking young band, is
there much of a transition, do you feel.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, obviously Dups is a massive loss, like like you shaid,
but we also just talked about their amount of leadership
and older boys at in the environment that offer a
lot as well. We've got Sean here and Peter Luco
and the flanks who are pretty special too. So yeah,
like you said, it's obviously a big loss, and he's
Dups has done really well to do high honors, so
I think we just have to deal without him this year.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
But yeah, definitely a big loss for us.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
And Potty to a park. All your home round robin
games this year will be played there. Is it nice
to have that that permanent fixture a bit more of
a community feel.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
Yeah, for sure, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
Obviously it's nice to play at the stadium, but to
be able to get a kind.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Of local feel, and it feels like kind of.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
We packed out the stadium or packed out in the
park a little bit more than we would at the stadium,
so it gives a bit of a more rustic kind
of feel in the local city.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So it's cool.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
And you said earlier you're enjoying being back in your
hometown Wellington, Kyle, I know you were seen on the
sideline checking out a game at Tawa College during the week.
Has that been important to you, kind of reconnecting with
some of you at your grassroots rugby people.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
I obviously twa boy throw them through, so been able
to get down and watch the Bear trophy was good
and see them lock it away for the season.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
It's cool And just to look back, Kyle, what a
journey over the past twelve months. This time last year
you were getting ready for NPC with alongside still doing
work as a roofer. Now you're a full time rugby
player year round. Is it hard to believe when you
look back just how far things have come over the
past year.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, it's pretty sure eally. I was obviously had a
few conversation about it.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But at the start of last year I was doing
my roofing apprenticeship and I had just finished it in
time to start the NBC campaign, which I thought was
a good coincidence, and then for it to flow on
into full time footy for me is pretty special.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
And 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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