August 22, 2025 • 8 mins
The Wellington Lions head into round four of rugby's NPC on the back of a high-scoring defeat to Otago at Porirua.
Adam Cooper speaks with Lions head coach Trent Renata ahead of Sunday's match against Manawatu.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
News looks it be on Wellington's All Sport Breakfast twenty
two away from nine. It's round four of the NPC
this weekend. The Wellington Lions one win from their three
games so far, the latest on the back of last
weekend's high scoring match against Otago at Pottydoor Park. But
was the Wellington Lions going down to Otago for the
(00:20):
second loss of the campaign, so they'll have a chance
to bounce back from that. Tomorrow afternoon up the road
in Palmerston North, it's Wellington taking on neighbors Manawatu as
part of round four. Let's head into the Lions camp
now at head coach for twenty twenty five of the
Lions is Trent and Ana. Morning to you, Trent, what
(00:41):
have you done during the week to try and remedy
what might have cost you the game against Otago last weekend?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, I suppose.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
And reflection and review of that game, we spoke a
lot about clocking in and stay clockton. Really, you know
a lot of good things. When you score forty one points,
you're probably pretty happy on the attack inside, but when
you leak as much as we did, we just thought
we weren't could probably be better and let ourselves down
(01:10):
in a couple of eras, but looking forward to Sunday
and Rick define that.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, indeed, you know, how quickly can you change some
defensive plans and things to remedy not letting that many points?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, I don't think it's anything to sort of pushing
the alarm bells or anything on. It's a bet a
detail like I sort of talked about reflection of the game,
just stay in locked and we knew O Tigo posed
a threat that they're a team that they came and
they never went away and sort of just how the
game plaid out and everything like that. But yeah, an
(01:42):
opportunity for us to get a few things right on Sunday,
And there's definitely been the focus over the last couple
of days of training.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
What about the highlights for you so farther the season
a few rounds and now you've had a look at
a lot of your players, what have you been most
impressed with from the team.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, I suppose with most PC teams, i'd say around
a short little preseason hit. I suppose in preparation for things,
it's not ideal, but sort of we know that.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
And growing and getting through the season.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
We've got a few things that we need to correct
and it's probably just building on and stacking our weeks
and growing and progressing. We came out the gate round
one positive performance last week. I mean in the areas
and the weekend, we show that we can what we
can do, but probably trying to get that consistency.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So just looking to build towards that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And a suffer Oh more came on during that game.
He got a decent number of minutes. He's got the
starting shirt this week. I guess how important is it
having him as part of the Lion's front row, but
also I guess for him as he hopefully gets back
to higher honors at some point during the season.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yes, no, I mean, first off, it's I think everyone's
just happy to see a Huffle back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
On the field.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
We all know the great player he can be, and
you know, he obviously adds to En Bryman and I
suppose you add to any and the player that he is.
So we're looking forward to him getting get into his
groove on Saturday. I'm still trying to, I suppose build
him up personally, and you know he's just looking forward
to getting back out there.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And playing footy and no Callum Harken this week of
course after leaving the fields with the head knock last weekend.
Is it any more serious than the mandatory standown period
for him?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
No, just the usual stand down. I say, we sort
of spoke about it after it was brave, probably not smart,
but yeah, he's he's just a stand down period for
this week and we'll just assessed as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And Trent with Callum Harken out, can you just explain
what sort of led to your decisions around the back
three for this weekend? Stanley Solomon to start at fullback,
Tom Mayava to number eleven on the left, and t
J Clark back to the bench.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, I suppose even though the season and probably parts
is a bit of a sprint, still the importance of
growing our groups so through our weeks and this is
looking for they're down the track to its importance around
getting everybody the game's time they need in order to
grow themselves in the environments. We definitely put an emphasis
(04:10):
on our training weeks and I suppose with the boys
have got the starting duties or even in the twenty three,
they event their time and they earned their spots so
I'm looking forward to how they go on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And just on Stanley Solomon Trent. Obviously, he's been someone
that's been talked about as a young up and comer
since his years at Wellington College. Obviously, most recently this
year been a part of the Under Twenties campaign and
this week confirming he'll be heading down south for Super Rugby,
joining the Highlanders for the next two years. So what
have you made of that? And I guess as coach
of him now at MPC level, what are you kind
(04:42):
of working with him on at this point of his career.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, Stanley, he's an energetic and enthusiasm character.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
He brings a lot of we say, their energy to
our environment. I've sort of seen them the last couple
of years with the twenties and and what he can
do and what he's done in that environment there, And
I mean he's only young starting in his career.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
He's still got a lot of growth and them.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
You know, he'll go as far as he as he
wants to go with everything going, but I suppose and
coming into this environment with a lot of the experience
boys and stuff like that within our backs and with
our he had a little bit of I say, again,
their energy and a bit as up. He still spoke
to him the other day and asking and when are
(05:32):
we going to see the Stanley Solomon stuff I've seen
him in and probably the younger grades and all.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
The things and what he can do with the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And he's still growing his game and things around it too.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So yeah, that's a good opportunity for him on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, great, and I mean just amazing to be how
to balance someone like him out was the likes of
Julian Savia and Matt Proctor, you know, mainstays of the team. Trent,
and I'm sure you'd probably shared the field with him
in the lines Jersey once or twys, didn't you.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, there's a few moons ago. But yeah, the
pillars and leaders in our environment, and they're doing an
exceptional job of the running of our weeks and sending
standards throughout our environment. So no, they're massive, but in
saying and what the work that they do, generally get
the feel with a lot of these boys, and you
(06:18):
talk about the Tom Harvis just before and around those
guys getting the opportunity to step up to this level.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
We have great.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Leaders in our environment. They do a great job of
sending these boys up to just from.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What you've observed of other matches and things, how tough
is this competition going to be? You know, you mentioned
the word sprint before as a key sort of focus
and just that the nature of it sometimes, But you know,
how tough are you expecting the opposition to be as
you get closer to the business end of the.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Comp Every week's tough, I think, and even in the
status in which we obviously hold from our season, and
I don't take that as anything really last year was
last year, But even that, I know teams come into
our backyard with that mindset and mentality and they're going
(07:03):
to continue to keep coming. Watching across the competition, yeah,
teams that are obviously in the start, there's ones who
have got out the gates pretty quick. Others they're probably
not so much, but I wouldn't count them out. I
think you'll see week to week and throughout games that
anyone's capable of tipping up anyone really, So yeah, we
(07:25):
just stick to our process and what we need to
do and take it as it comes.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
But yeah, now we move forward.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, great, and manawat two obviously you know, one of
their high profile players not in La Marpe, part of
their team. Obviously a great first up win for them
a couple of weeks that they might not have been
overly happy with. What kind of challenge do you think
they'll pose up there on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Yeah, it's always a tough one for us when we
hit the PAMI. We pay respect to them around their game.
They was coming out for the call as I'm sure
they're well on Sunday and we sort of spoke about
it the little Brother Big Brother sort of title.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I know that's Fobby and and their minds a little
bit too. But yeah, we look forward to the challenge.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's not not an easy one, or don't men or
be any easy one in any of.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Our games that are definitely up there. They've got a
point to prove.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And they bring it through their physicality, So we look
forward to the challenge.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Brilliant Trent Hayle, appreciate your time, thanks for all the
infos you build up to week number four of the MPC.
So thanks for channing Matten, go well up and part
me now.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Thank you very much for more from News Talk st
B Listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio
News looks it be on Wellington's All Sport Breakfast twenty
two away from nine. It's round four of the NPC
this weekend. The Wellington Lions one win from their three
games so far, the latest on the back of last
weekend's high scoring match against Otago at Pottydoor Park. But
was the Wellington Lions going down to Otago for the
(00:20):
second loss of the campaign, so they'll have a chance
to bounce back from that. Tomorrow afternoon up the road
in Palmerston North, it's Wellington taking on neighbors Manawatu as
part of round four. Let's head into the Lions camp
now at head coach for twenty twenty five of the
Lions is Trent and Ana. Morning to you, Trent, what
(00:41):
have you done during the week to try and remedy
what might have cost you the game against Otago last weekend?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah, I suppose.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
And reflection and review of that game, we spoke a
lot about clocking in and stay clockton. Really, you know
a lot of good things. When you score forty one points,
you're probably pretty happy on the attack inside, but when
you leak as much as we did, we just thought
we weren't could probably be better and let ourselves down
(01:10):
in a couple of eras, but looking forward to Sunday
and Rick define that.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Yeah, indeed, you know, how quickly can you change some
defensive plans and things to remedy not letting that many points?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Do you think?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Yeah, I don't think it's anything to sort of pushing
the alarm bells or anything on. It's a bet a
detail like I sort of talked about reflection of the game,
just stay in locked and we knew O Tigo posed
a threat that they're a team that they came and
they never went away and sort of just how the
game plaid out and everything like that. But yeah, an
(01:42):
opportunity for us to get a few things right on Sunday,
And there's definitely been the focus over the last couple
of days of training.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
What about the highlights for you so farther the season
a few rounds and now you've had a look at
a lot of your players, what have you been most
impressed with from the team.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Yeah, I suppose with most PC teams, i'd say around
a short little preseason hit. I suppose in preparation for things,
it's not ideal, but sort of we know that.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
And growing and getting through the season.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
We've got a few things that we need to correct
and it's probably just building on and stacking our weeks
and growing and progressing. We came out the gate round
one positive performance last week. I mean in the areas
and the weekend, we show that we can what we
can do, but probably trying to get that consistency.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
So just looking to build towards that.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And a suffer Oh more came on during that game.
He got a decent number of minutes. He's got the
starting shirt this week. I guess how important is it
having him as part of the Lion's front row, but
also I guess for him as he hopefully gets back
to higher honors at some point during the season.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Yes, no, I mean, first off, it's I think everyone's
just happy to see a Huffle back.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
On the field.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
We all know the great player he can be, and
you know, he obviously adds to En Bryman and I
suppose you add to any and the player that he is.
So we're looking forward to him getting get into his
groove on Saturday. I'm still trying to, I suppose build
him up personally, and you know he's just looking forward
to getting back out there.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And playing footy and no Callum Harken this week of
course after leaving the fields with the head knock last weekend.
Is it any more serious than the mandatory standown period
for him?
Speaker 3 (03:22):
No, just the usual stand down. I say, we sort
of spoke about it after it was brave, probably not smart,
but yeah, he's he's just a stand down period for
this week and we'll just assessed as we move forward.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
And Trent with Callum Harken out, can you just explain
what sort of led to your decisions around the back
three for this weekend? Stanley Solomon to start at fullback,
Tom Mayava to number eleven on the left, and t
J Clark back to the bench.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah, I suppose even though the season and probably parts
is a bit of a sprint, still the importance of
growing our groups so through our weeks and this is
looking for they're down the track to its importance around
getting everybody the game's time they need in order to
grow themselves in the environments. We definitely put an emphasis
(04:10):
on our training weeks and I suppose with the boys
have got the starting duties or even in the twenty three,
they event their time and they earned their spots so
I'm looking forward to how they go on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
And just on Stanley Solomon Trent. Obviously, he's been someone
that's been talked about as a young up and comer
since his years at Wellington College. Obviously, most recently this
year been a part of the Under Twenties campaign and
this week confirming he'll be heading down south for Super Rugby,
joining the Highlanders for the next two years. So what
have you made of that? And I guess as coach
of him now at MPC level, what are you kind
(04:42):
of working with him on at this point of his career.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
Yeah, Stanley, he's an energetic and enthusiasm character.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
He brings a lot of we say, their energy to
our environment. I've sort of seen them the last couple
of years with the twenties and and what he can
do and what he's done in that environment there, And
I mean he's only young starting in his career.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
He's still got a lot of growth and them.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
You know, he'll go as far as he as he
wants to go with everything going, but I suppose and
coming into this environment with a lot of the experience
boys and stuff like that within our backs and with
our he had a little bit of I say, again,
their energy and a bit as up. He still spoke
to him the other day and asking and when are
(05:32):
we going to see the Stanley Solomon stuff I've seen
him in and probably the younger grades and all.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
The things and what he can do with the ball.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
And he's still growing his game and things around it too.
Speaker 2 (05:41):
So yeah, that's a good opportunity for him on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, great, and I mean just amazing to be how
to balance someone like him out was the likes of
Julian Savia and Matt Proctor, you know, mainstays of the team. Trent,
and I'm sure you'd probably shared the field with him
in the lines Jersey once or twys, didn't you.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Yeah, yeah, there's a few moons ago. But yeah, the
pillars and leaders in our environment, and they're doing an
exceptional job of the running of our weeks and sending
standards throughout our environment. So no, they're massive, but in
saying and what the work that they do, generally get
the feel with a lot of these boys, and you
(06:18):
talk about the Tom Harvis just before and around those
guys getting the opportunity to step up to this level.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
We have great.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Leaders in our environment. They do a great job of
sending these boys up to just from.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
What you've observed of other matches and things, how tough
is this competition going to be? You know, you mentioned
the word sprint before as a key sort of focus
and just that the nature of it sometimes, But you know,
how tough are you expecting the opposition to be as
you get closer to the business end of the.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Comp Every week's tough, I think, and even in the
status in which we obviously hold from our season, and
I don't take that as anything really last year was
last year, But even that, I know teams come into
our backyard with that mindset and mentality and they're going
(07:03):
to continue to keep coming. Watching across the competition, yeah,
teams that are obviously in the start, there's ones who
have got out the gates pretty quick. Others they're probably
not so much, but I wouldn't count them out. I
think you'll see week to week and throughout games that
anyone's capable of tipping up anyone really, So yeah, we
(07:25):
just stick to our process and what we need to
do and take it as it comes.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
But yeah, now we move forward.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, great, and manawat two obviously you know, one of
their high profile players not in La Marpe, part of
their team. Obviously a great first up win for them
a couple of weeks that they might not have been
overly happy with. What kind of challenge do you think
they'll pose up there on Sunday afternoon.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
Yeah, it's always a tough one for us when we
hit the PAMI. We pay respect to them around their game.
They was coming out for the call as I'm sure
they're well on Sunday and we sort of spoke about
it the little Brother Big Brother sort of title.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I know that's Fobby and and their minds a little
bit too. But yeah, we look forward to the challenge.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
It's not not an easy one, or don't men or
be any easy one in any of.
Speaker 2 (08:15):
Our games that are definitely up there. They've got a
point to prove.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
And they bring it through their physicality, So we look
forward to the challenge.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Brilliant Trent Hayle, appreciate your time, thanks for all the
infos you build up to week number four of the MPC.
So thanks for channing Matten, go well up and part
me now.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
Thank you very much for more from News Talk st
B Listen live on air or online, and
Speaker 3 (08:35):
Keep our shows with you wherever you go with our
podcast on iHeartRadio
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