On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave and Jason Pine for 29 May 2026, with the All Whites FIFA World Cup campaign looming an Argentinian influencer decided to dub Tim Payne as the 'hero' of the tournament encouraging his followers to follow him. He has since amassed 1.3 million followers in two days having started at 4,700. David Dome is the General Manager of the Wellington Phoenix, and he joined D'Arcy to discuss.
Piney shares his thoughts on the Hurricanes team selection for the final round of Super Rugby
And D'Arcy and Piney discuss the final round matchups of Super Rugby and the Warriors massive clash against the Panthers on Sunday night
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Howard By News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be hello there, welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. At
the start of what is for many people along weekend.
Have you got some good plans? But before you set
off on the pursuit of those plans, welcome to Sportsfix,
where we chat sport, uh, pretty much every day and
today Friday, May twenty nine, no different. I'm Jason Fine,
I'm Darcy Audergro.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I've got plans all right. They involve our suns and
a couch and a television.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Right, well, look at it seems eerily similar to my plans,
I must say. But when there's so much sport to enjoy,
I think we can probably be forgiven lost to talk
about over the weekends. But a preview of the Warriors
and the Chamber, but a preview of super Rugby in
the Chamber. As far as the different voice is concerned,
who we're hearing from.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Piney, We're going to have a chat to David Dome.
He's the general manager of the Wellington Phoenix. After what's
happened to one of their players, Tim Payne, and a
wonderful wide world of social media Instagram specifically, we're going
to find out from David how on Earth can the
Phoenix capitalize or moneytize the fact that Tim Pain's picked
(01:23):
up what one million, three hundred thousand followers in the
last forty eight hours.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Looking forward to that and the latest in sports news too,
So let's go in other news. Lant's kick things off
with a look at some of the big sports stories
around today. Ireland are sixty five for two at stumps
following on on the second day of their maiden cricket
Test against New Zealand and Belfast. Ireland will bowled out
for one hundred and seventy nine in their first and
things in reply to New Zealand's four hundred and ninety
(01:51):
eight declared New Zealand past bowl and Nathan Smith took
six for forty and says enforcing the follow on was
the logical move. We only sort of fielded forty odd overs,
I think, so we sort of made the call and
thought we're fresh enough to do so.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Heavy roller sort of flattened it out for a bit,
but now we're starting to see a little bit of
variable bounce.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Leading plower agent Bruce Sharik has sounded a warning over
the diminishing value of the all Blacks as rugby grapples
with an increasingly tough player market. He's been asked whether
the black jersey still holds the same lure for his clients.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
No.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
No, and I think that's another realization that needs to
be understood.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
I won't mention names, but I could speak to twenty
four year old all pecks at the moment that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Are talking about what happens after the World Cup. I mean,
that was never the case.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Once you got that jersey, you would stay the year
that you had to get the chisel to get it
off your back.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And a shock.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
At the French Tennis Open, top seed and tournament favorite
Yarnick Sinner has been beaten by world number fifty six
one man well Sarrondalo across five sets in the searing
Perizian heat.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Starting to feel very dizzy. Tried to serve it out,
but then it didn't have a lot of energy before
it set. I let it go a little bit, trying
to have a bit manager. In the fifth very important game,
the first one couldn't hold and dan it wentl a
bit downwards US.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And a Vinion. It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and
Dussy Walter Gray.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
I'm joining it now on the Sportslex podcast by David Dome,
the general manager of the Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Get I David, Hey, Darcy, how are you going? Mate?
Speaker 4 (03:17):
The season's over, but I'll still pest to you all
the time. You must have thought you'd probably had the
end of US news talks eb kids.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Right, there's never an end of season in sports. It's
always something going on and we're straight back into planning
for you for the next season already and there's plenty
to do, so no problems.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
It's a non football but it is a football story.
I think most people when they woke up and read
this on Instagram and the media whatever, it was the
whole Tim Pain. I've got one point three million followers
on Instagram after an influence that decided he was the man.
This crazy stuff from the world of Instagram. What are
(03:58):
you guys doing around this to kind of capitalize on
this if you can?
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Well, that's right, So we're looking into it now, and
you're quite right. He's gone from pretty much you know,
five hundred followers now to well over one million followers,
and you know this is great for Tim as a
player because he could use that platform now and you're
no doubt he'll be talking to his people about how
he can monetize that as an asset. And certainly we're
looking at it and going, well, how can we you know,
(04:25):
what is there that makes sense? I mean most of
the followers are in it looks like they're in South America.
Are their relationships that we can build up through that
platform now into South America, whether that's corporate or B
to b with another football club. You know, it's exciting.
But World Cup hasn't even started yet and he's already
top of it. He's always front page news.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
It's crazy how effective and how big social media can be.
And it's not till it's in your face like this
that you actually realize the huge reach of Instagram. You
know that. So when this news dropped the new sword,
what was your initial thought on what you could do
around this?
Speaker 5 (05:05):
I mean, it's almost by definition viral means, doesn't it.
I mean Tim now has more followers than the influencer
who start started the whole thing, which is quite incredible.
It just goes to show that's gone from one person
another another person. So yeah, I mean we obviously we
didn't obviously didn't know what was coming. He just he
just started, you know, he's just started this this little
(05:26):
campaign and it has it has gone ballistic, and we
were watching with interest yesterday. I think it sort of
sort of broke yesterday, didn't it. And then the numbers
kept growing and you know, you keep checking this morning.
You wake up this morning, your check and he's gone
over a million, and it is quite incredible. And yeah,
we're to be honest, we're trying to get a hit
around at ourselves and we're you know, we're reaching out
to a few people and you know in the markets
(05:48):
in South America, you know, how do we leverage this? Now?
Where do we where can we take this? Given that
one of our one of our long term players, we'll
be playing in a World Cup and we'll be being
followed by well over a million people, have.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
You got any ideas about where this goes? You don't
want to blow this opportunity, but you also don't want
to let this opportunity slide, because it's why hot right now.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Yeah, I mean the obvious one is to try and
reach out to a few corporates in South America who
see value in the New Zealand and South America whatever
country that is, or indeed it's tending around the World Cup,
you know. So that's that's our initial thoughts. But you know,
the followers are teams, they're not they're not the Phoenixes,
so we have to be careful that, you know, we're
to do the right thing by the player as well. So, yeah,
(06:32):
it is a new territory, but we're certainly going to
explot Fort's worth, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Have have you talked to mister Payne yet or not?
Speaker 5 (06:39):
No, he's in camp now with the All Whites, and
so he's off our not off our box, but he's
certainly off our, off our radar, and we we let
them get on with it now from here on out,
we just let them. Let Bays do what he needs
to do with his team in preparation for some big
tournaments and some big games of course, because he's got
a couple of friendies coming up that are pretty exciting
that no doubt we'll all be watching. But yeah, no,
(06:59):
no to and some days we're going to have to.
We're going to have to have a bit of a
powerwow amongst ourselves at Phoenix stage qure and and then
go back to Tim and some so I would suggest,
you know, maybe up the work up and go what
do you want to do with this now?
Speaker 4 (07:12):
David Dome, general manager of the Well and Phoenix, joins us.
Not the right word, but I'll use it anyway. How
do you guys weaponize your what one hundred thousand odd
Instagram followers? How have you used it over here? If
indeed you have.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
It's often used as a communications channel, but we use
it primarily as a communications channel so that you know,
it's a way to interact with fans, keep their breast
of what's happening in the club, to get messages from
the club to people, but it's also a way for
us to get the messages from our key corporate to
that our key partners to get their messages across to
a pretty dedicated following base. We've done some research over
(07:47):
the years and the Phoenix is one of the most
dedicated own followers in the entire A league. So you know,
you know that that's a really positive thing for us,
and we certainly use that and you know, our partners
can appreciate the reach that we do give them, has.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
It got proven reach? Like, how do you know that
it's actually working. It's all very well putting out there
in the effort, but how do you judge whether it's
been a success or not. Because it's still a relatively
new thing. I mean, when you started running the Phoenix
way back in the dark ages, I don't even know
if you had iPhones. So it's changed a lot.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
It has changed. I remember I remember starting the club's
Facebook and Twitter accounts and thinking wow, especially with Twitter
as it was then thinking ah, look, I'm not sure
where is going to go, but let's just start this
just in case it takes off. And yeah, you know
it's a new world, isn't it. And no, no, we
monitor all our social media channels. We monitor to click
throughs and the changes and the demographics and if we
(08:44):
do a campaign and the number of people that we
use it and go through and so it is. It's
an absolutely crucial and fundamental part of the business.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sports Fix with Jason Fine
and Ducy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We're going to talk super Rugby and the Chamber in
just a second, but before we do, just a few
thoughts on what the Hurricanes in particular have done around
team select for this weekend. You have probably caught up
with this. They have rested a number of players for
tonight's final regular season game against the Crusaders and given
guys who have had fewer opportunities this year and opportunity,
(09:22):
and included a couple of debutantes as well in their
match Day twenty three tonight. Now, some will say, well,
that's not good. That jeopardizes the integrity of the competition.
You should put your strongest side out every time you play.
I disagree. The Hurricanes have absolutely nothing to gain by
running out players tonight who they don't have to, players
(09:44):
who have had a lot of rugby up to this
point and would benefit hugely from having a weekend off,
Players who are carrying niggling, little injuries that perhaps a
week off would really help in terms of recovering from those.
And the Hurricanes have spent the last thirteen matches earning
the right to do exactly what they're doing tonight. Across
(10:07):
the regular season, they have been the best side. They
have opened up an unassailable lead at the top, and
they know that win, lose, or draw tonight they will
finish first in the regular season of Super Rugby Pacific.
So why wouldn't they give a couple of guys debuts.
Why wouldn't they freshen a few guys up. Why wouldn't
(10:28):
they do everything in their power to make sure that
when they hit week one of the finals next weekend,
and it's a short turn around two they play on Friday,
that everything is in their favor. You can talk about integrity,
you can talk about responsibility, you can talk about the
downfalls of rest and rotation, you can talk about momentum
(10:48):
all you like, but it's as simple as this. If
the Hurricanes go on to win Super Rugby, will anybody
really remember their final regular season game against the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And to the Chamber we go. We gather here to
discuss sporting matters. Normally, on a Friday, we look at
head to a couple of the big sporting contests of
the weekend. So why should today be any different? Tonight
Crusaders v. Hurricanes, Tomorrow Chiefs v. Blues. Now this has
a large bearing on the table. Not the top two
we know who they are, but the Crusaders and the
(11:23):
Blues are both and with a chance of finishing third.
The Crusaders can beat the Hurricanes tonight, but they need
the Chiefs to beat the Blues if they are to
sneak into third spot. The Crusaders, so let's fast forward
to that, dast Do you see the Chiefs beating the
Blues tomorrow night and denying the Blues probably that third spot?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Well you can't not see that happening, can you? And
this is more of a commentary on where the Blues
are at right now, more so than where the Chiefs at.
They've named a slightly weakened side. There's been a bit
of debate around this this week because of course we've
had the same drill with the Hurricanes. If named less
(12:03):
than the strongest side they've got because they got nothing
to want to lose, it doesn't matter. But I think
the playing them, the Crusaders and the Sorry, the Crusaders
and the Blues, they've got a lot of interest here,
so they're looking at these weekend teams going this is
a really big opportunity. We've read too much into this.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
It's really hard to know because I understand why the
Chiefs and the Hurricanes have done it. You know they
don't have anything to gain. They cannot go up a spot,
they cannot go down a spot. They know they're finishing
first and second regardless of what happens tonight in christ
Church and tomorrow night in Hamilton. So you can understand
why the Hurricanes and the Chiefs have done what they've done.
(12:43):
You don't have to agree with it, but you can
see the rationale. I think all the Crusaders can do
is go out there and win tonight and just hope
that the Chiefs, albeit without a couple of key players.
Can't you know that the Chiefs can beat the Blues
and the Crusaders would sneak into third. And I tell
you what does I wouldn't want to be playing the
Crusaders at Takaha in a knockout game next weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
No, no one does. What are your thoughts around what
may happen though in the game tonight and on Saturday
night's game as well. I mean, you look at favoritism
planning on the ladder. We know who the favorites are,
but now the teams have come out, do you think
that's adjusted somewhat?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Absolutely, it has yeah, well it has tonight, and if
we use the tab odds as a guide for that,
the Hurricanes are paying three dollars fifty tonight. When has
the top side in Super Rugby and the final game
of the season in normal circumstance has ever been paying
three dollars fifty. It's directly down to their lineup. But
then fast forward to tomorrow night, the Chiefs are still
(13:39):
firm favorites against the Blues, even though they have rested
a couple and that probably circles back to your initial comment.
The Blues are just having a bit of a struggle
at the moment, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
They've gone off the rails. We can't work out exactly
why that is. I'm sure Stern Wern is particularly stern
going into this, but there are some great players in
that Blue side. Then I'll be looking at themselves going
this is not Blues rugby. This is an insult to
our fan base. It My producer, Cordon Boyd is a
Blues fan. He's been absolutely crest for in recent weeks.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
I guess the problem that they strike the Blues is
if they don't win tomorrow night and the Crusaders do,
it's very likely that it's the Blues who have to
go to christ and try and win a game down there,
and as you say, in the form that they're in,
they wouldn't be nowhere near favorite to do that. This
season could be over by the back end of next weekend,
could be But.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
You know the best thing about all of this, if
you try and step away from the team that you follow,
you the Hurricanes meet and the Crusaders. How good is
it that all these New Zealand teams are going hammer
and tongues toward the point at the end of the competition.
This promises some fantastic displays of rugby, surely.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Absolutely, Yep, that's what you'd hope. And with you know,
even the guys who are coming in, not the regular starters,
they've got plenty of approve, a lot of them on debuts,
a lot of them with very little experience. They'll be
going hammer and tongs tonight and tomorrow night. Hey, just
on the Warriors quickly as well, Panthers. This is the
back end of Sunday Night eight pot fifteen New Zealand
Times Sunday Night Warriors, Panthers. Warriors have to be at
(15:08):
li eas to start as chances don't they.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I'd say more than a starter's chance. The way they're
being traveling, especially away from home, they really enjoy that.
And let's find out again if there's more Warriors fans
and the stands and there are pen with fans, because
that's that's been almost tradition this season, hasn't it all
the Warriors fans all over Australia because we know that
the brain drain or whatever it has so many Kiwis
now I've moved to Australia, They've all taken their jerseys
(15:32):
with them and they're they're supporting this vast team. I
think they're on they're on an absolute run at the
moment and they don't look we're missing two guys from Origin,
but I think the depth of this team we're going
to again see on Sunday why everybody is so excited
about these players coming through, Because like you said about
the young guys that debutante's coming in in Super Rugby,
(15:53):
they're not gonna let this chance go. They are going
to perform and they're going to show exactly how good
they are. So Andrew Webster doesn't forget I.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Think you've talked about a next man up mentality a
few times when we talk about the Warriors and you're right, okay,
well and no Mitch Barnett, but Jackson Ford back into
the starting side and then you know, Jacob Laban into
the second row. That you know there is a real
depth building at the Warriors, and it's vital. You know,
you can't win a comp with thirteen players or seventeen players.
(16:23):
You really need twenty or more, players, don't you if
you're going to want to camp and you.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Say next man up? And that's something that the Warriors
have struggled with previously a lot of injuries and everything
just collapsed underneath them. So lessons learned if you will.
And I'll say, okay, no, everybody is ready and just
as valid as the last guy. No, Roger tivas Aschek.
But that's okay because the next man up is going
to go. You know what, I can do this too.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
You just watch me and amongst all the sport to
watch across the weekend, Crusaders Hurricanes tonight, Chiefs Blues tomorrow
nights and Warriors Panthers on Sunday night. And that's just
scratching the surface. But as always, there's a time limit
here in the chamber. He didn't mention one thing. I'm
loving this.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Novak Djokovic has got a really good chance now to
spend a week going. I'm gonna get title number twenty
five with no al kaav and no sinner at the
French Open. And that's one for you night Ols.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
I told you we'd only scratch the surface. We're out
see U beating a vix.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks IVY.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
And here is the official outro to the Sports Fix podcast,
which means we're bringing it to a close. We greatly
appreciate you listening, downloading, subscribing and all the rest, and
we appreciate you being an advocate. If you've got a
friend of yours who liked their sport, then get them
involved as well.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Indeed, if you want to be involved on a regular
or radio we've got that for you as well. News
Talk ZEBB, the runaway juggernaut of talk radio. Thanks very much,
Mike Hosking, Jason and I both have got position between
seven and eight pm Monday through Friday for sports Talk.
Jason's got Monday, although you get this weekend off because
it's King's birthday. I've got the rest of the week
(18:05):
and then over the weekend. What have you got for
us on weekend in Sport between twelve and three anything, big.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Yeah, a real mix of all sorts of things. And
in particular, just after midday tomorrow Saturday, could the All
Blacks have a Netflix series that succeeds Dame Julie Christy
knows all about this. She's going to talk to us
after midday tomorrow about that. But there's heaps of other
things to listen out for as well.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Does March listen to radio, get a monst and carry
on with us podcast. Both Jason and I are hugely
thankful for your engagement in this.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
You look after yourself, Piney, Happy long weekend.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Us for more from news Talks, there'd be listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Howard By News Talk said.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Be hello there, welcome into the Sports Fix podcast. At
the start of what is for many people along weekend.
Have you got some good plans? But before you set
off on the pursuit of those plans, welcome to Sportsfix,
where we chat sport, uh, pretty much every day and
today Friday, May twenty nine, no different. I'm Jason Fine,
I'm Darcy Audergro.
Speaker 4 (00:39):
I've got plans all right. They involve our suns and
a couch and a television.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Right, well, look at it seems eerily similar to my plans,
I must say. But when there's so much sport to enjoy,
I think we can probably be forgiven lost to talk
about over the weekends. But a preview of the Warriors
and the Chamber, but a preview of super Rugby in
the Chamber. As far as the different voice is concerned,
who we're hearing from.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
Piney, We're going to have a chat to David Dome.
He's the general manager of the Wellington Phoenix. After what's
happened to one of their players, Tim Payne, and a
wonderful wide world of social media Instagram specifically, we're going
to find out from David how on Earth can the
Phoenix capitalize or moneytize the fact that Tim Pain's picked
(01:23):
up what one million, three hundred thousand followers in the
last forty eight hours.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Looking forward to that and the latest in sports news too,
So let's go in other news. Lant's kick things off
with a look at some of the big sports stories
around today. Ireland are sixty five for two at stumps
following on on the second day of their maiden cricket
Test against New Zealand and Belfast. Ireland will bowled out
for one hundred and seventy nine in their first and
things in reply to New Zealand's four hundred and ninety
(01:51):
eight declared New Zealand past bowl and Nathan Smith took
six for forty and says enforcing the follow on was
the logical move. We only sort of fielded forty odd overs,
I think, so we sort of made the call and
thought we're fresh enough to do so.
Speaker 5 (02:03):
Heavy roller sort of flattened it out for a bit,
but now we're starting to see a little bit of
variable bounce.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Leading plower agent Bruce Sharik has sounded a warning over
the diminishing value of the all Blacks as rugby grapples
with an increasingly tough player market. He's been asked whether
the black jersey still holds the same lure for his clients.
Speaker 5 (02:20):
No.
Speaker 4 (02:21):
No, and I think that's another realization that needs to
be understood.
Speaker 5 (02:24):
I won't mention names, but I could speak to twenty
four year old all pecks at the moment that.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Are talking about what happens after the World Cup. I mean,
that was never the case.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Once you got that jersey, you would stay the year
that you had to get the chisel to get it
off your back.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
And a shock.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
At the French Tennis Open, top seed and tournament favorite
Yarnick Sinner has been beaten by world number fifty six
one man well Sarrondalo across five sets in the searing
Perizian heat.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Starting to feel very dizzy. Tried to serve it out,
but then it didn't have a lot of energy before
it set. I let it go a little bit, trying
to have a bit manager. In the fifth very important game,
the first one couldn't hold and dan it wentl a
bit downwards US.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
And a Vinion. It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and
Dussy Walter Gray.
Speaker 4 (03:08):
I'm joining it now on the Sportslex podcast by David Dome,
the general manager of the Wellington Phoenix.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
Get I David, Hey, Darcy, how are you going? Mate?
Speaker 4 (03:17):
The season's over, but I'll still pest to you all
the time. You must have thought you'd probably had the
end of US news talks eb kids.
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Right, there's never an end of season in sports. It's
always something going on and we're straight back into planning
for you for the next season already and there's plenty
to do, so no problems.
Speaker 4 (03:35):
It's a non football but it is a football story.
I think most people when they woke up and read
this on Instagram and the media whatever, it was the
whole Tim Pain. I've got one point three million followers
on Instagram after an influence that decided he was the man.
This crazy stuff from the world of Instagram. What are
(03:58):
you guys doing around this to kind of capitalize on
this if you can?
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Well, that's right, So we're looking into it now, and
you're quite right. He's gone from pretty much you know,
five hundred followers now to well over one million followers,
and you know this is great for Tim as a
player because he could use that platform now and you're
no doubt he'll be talking to his people about how
he can monetize that as an asset. And certainly we're
looking at it and going, well, how can we you know,
(04:25):
what is there that makes sense? I mean most of
the followers are in it looks like they're in South America.
Are their relationships that we can build up through that
platform now into South America, whether that's corporate or B
to b with another football club. You know, it's exciting.
But World Cup hasn't even started yet and he's already
top of it. He's always front page news.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
It's crazy how effective and how big social media can be.
And it's not till it's in your face like this
that you actually realize the huge reach of Instagram. You
know that. So when this news dropped the new sword,
what was your initial thought on what you could do
around this?
Speaker 5 (05:05):
I mean, it's almost by definition viral means, doesn't it.
I mean Tim now has more followers than the influencer
who start started the whole thing, which is quite incredible.
It just goes to show that's gone from one person
another another person. So yeah, I mean we obviously we
didn't obviously didn't know what was coming. He just he
just started, you know, he's just started this this little
(05:26):
campaign and it has it has gone ballistic, and we
were watching with interest yesterday. I think it sort of
sort of broke yesterday, didn't it. And then the numbers
kept growing and you know, you keep checking this morning.
You wake up this morning, your check and he's gone
over a million, and it is quite incredible. And yeah,
we're to be honest, we're trying to get a hit
around at ourselves and we're you know, we're reaching out
to a few people and you know in the markets
(05:48):
in South America, you know, how do we leverage this? Now?
Where do we where can we take this? Given that
one of our one of our long term players, we'll
be playing in a World Cup and we'll be being
followed by well over a million people, have.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
You got any ideas about where this goes? You don't
want to blow this opportunity, but you also don't want
to let this opportunity slide, because it's why hot right now.
Speaker 5 (06:10):
Yeah, I mean the obvious one is to try and
reach out to a few corporates in South America who
see value in the New Zealand and South America whatever
country that is, or indeed it's tending around the World Cup,
you know. So that's that's our initial thoughts. But you know,
the followers are teams, they're not they're not the Phoenixes,
so we have to be careful that, you know, we're
to do the right thing by the player as well. So, yeah,
(06:32):
it is a new territory, but we're certainly going to
explot Fort's worth, that's for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Have have you talked to mister Payne yet or not?
Speaker 5 (06:39):
No, he's in camp now with the All Whites, and
so he's off our not off our box, but he's
certainly off our, off our radar, and we we let
them get on with it now from here on out,
we just let them. Let Bays do what he needs
to do with his team in preparation for some big
tournaments and some big games of course, because he's got
a couple of friendies coming up that are pretty exciting
that no doubt we'll all be watching. But yeah, no,
(06:59):
no to and some days we're going to have to.
We're going to have to have a bit of a
powerwow amongst ourselves at Phoenix stage qure and and then
go back to Tim and some so I would suggest,
you know, maybe up the work up and go what
do you want to do with this now?
Speaker 4 (07:12):
David Dome, general manager of the Well and Phoenix, joins us.
Not the right word, but I'll use it anyway. How
do you guys weaponize your what one hundred thousand odd
Instagram followers? How have you used it over here? If
indeed you have.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
It's often used as a communications channel, but we use
it primarily as a communications channel so that you know,
it's a way to interact with fans, keep their breast
of what's happening in the club, to get messages from
the club to people, but it's also a way for
us to get the messages from our key corporate to
that our key partners to get their messages across to
a pretty dedicated following base. We've done some research over
(07:47):
the years and the Phoenix is one of the most
dedicated own followers in the entire A league. So you know,
you know that that's a really positive thing for us,
and we certainly use that and you know, our partners
can appreciate the reach that we do give them, has.
Speaker 4 (08:01):
It got proven reach? Like, how do you know that
it's actually working. It's all very well putting out there
in the effort, but how do you judge whether it's
been a success or not. Because it's still a relatively
new thing. I mean, when you started running the Phoenix
way back in the dark ages, I don't even know
if you had iPhones. So it's changed a lot.
Speaker 5 (08:22):
It has changed. I remember I remember starting the club's
Facebook and Twitter accounts and thinking wow, especially with Twitter
as it was then thinking ah, look, I'm not sure
where is going to go, but let's just start this
just in case it takes off. And yeah, you know
it's a new world, isn't it. And no, no, we
monitor all our social media channels. We monitor to click
throughs and the changes and the demographics and if we
(08:44):
do a campaign and the number of people that we
use it and go through and so it is. It's
an absolutely crucial and fundamental part of the business.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sports Fix with Jason Fine
and Ducy Walter Grave.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
We're going to talk super Rugby and the Chamber in
just a second, but before we do, just a few
thoughts on what the Hurricanes in particular have done around
team select for this weekend. You have probably caught up
with this. They have rested a number of players for
tonight's final regular season game against the Crusaders and given
guys who have had fewer opportunities this year and opportunity,
(09:22):
and included a couple of debutantes as well in their
match Day twenty three tonight. Now, some will say, well,
that's not good. That jeopardizes the integrity of the competition.
You should put your strongest side out every time you play.
I disagree. The Hurricanes have absolutely nothing to gain by
running out players tonight who they don't have to, players
(09:44):
who have had a lot of rugby up to this
point and would benefit hugely from having a weekend off,
Players who are carrying niggling, little injuries that perhaps a
week off would really help in terms of recovering from those.
And the Hurricanes have spent the last thirteen matches earning
the right to do exactly what they're doing tonight. Across
(10:07):
the regular season, they have been the best side. They
have opened up an unassailable lead at the top, and
they know that win, lose, or draw tonight they will
finish first in the regular season of Super Rugby Pacific.
So why wouldn't they give a couple of guys debuts.
Why wouldn't they freshen a few guys up. Why wouldn't
(10:28):
they do everything in their power to make sure that
when they hit week one of the finals next weekend,
and it's a short turn around two they play on Friday,
that everything is in their favor. You can talk about integrity,
you can talk about responsibility, you can talk about the
downfalls of rest and rotation, you can talk about momentum
(10:48):
all you like, but it's as simple as this. If
the Hurricanes go on to win Super Rugby, will anybody
really remember their final regular season game against the Crusaders.
Speaker 1 (10:59):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfax.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
And to the Chamber we go. We gather here to
discuss sporting matters. Normally, on a Friday, we look at
head to a couple of the big sporting contests of
the weekend. So why should today be any different? Tonight
Crusaders v. Hurricanes, Tomorrow Chiefs v. Blues. Now this has
a large bearing on the table. Not the top two
we know who they are, but the Crusaders and the
(11:23):
Blues are both and with a chance of finishing third.
The Crusaders can beat the Hurricanes tonight, but they need
the Chiefs to beat the Blues if they are to
sneak into third spot. The Crusaders, so let's fast forward
to that, dast Do you see the Chiefs beating the
Blues tomorrow night and denying the Blues probably that third spot?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Well you can't not see that happening, can you? And
this is more of a commentary on where the Blues
are at right now, more so than where the Chiefs at.
They've named a slightly weakened side. There's been a bit
of debate around this this week because of course we've
had the same drill with the Hurricanes. If named less
(12:03):
than the strongest side they've got because they got nothing
to want to lose, it doesn't matter. But I think
the playing them, the Crusaders and the Sorry, the Crusaders
and the Blues, they've got a lot of interest here,
so they're looking at these weekend teams going this is
a really big opportunity. We've read too much into this.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (12:22):
It's really hard to know because I understand why the
Chiefs and the Hurricanes have done it. You know they
don't have anything to gain. They cannot go up a spot,
they cannot go down a spot. They know they're finishing
first and second regardless of what happens tonight in christ
Church and tomorrow night in Hamilton. So you can understand
why the Hurricanes and the Chiefs have done what they've done.
(12:43):
You don't have to agree with it, but you can
see the rationale. I think all the Crusaders can do
is go out there and win tonight and just hope
that the Chiefs, albeit without a couple of key players.
Can't you know that the Chiefs can beat the Blues
and the Crusaders would sneak into third. And I tell
you what does I wouldn't want to be playing the
Crusaders at Takaha in a knockout game next weekend.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
No, no one does. What are your thoughts around what
may happen though in the game tonight and on Saturday
night's game as well. I mean, you look at favoritism
planning on the ladder. We know who the favorites are,
but now the teams have come out, do you think
that's adjusted somewhat?
Speaker 3 (13:17):
Absolutely, it has yeah, well it has tonight, and if
we use the tab odds as a guide for that,
the Hurricanes are paying three dollars fifty tonight. When has
the top side in Super Rugby and the final game
of the season in normal circumstance has ever been paying
three dollars fifty. It's directly down to their lineup. But
then fast forward to tomorrow night, the Chiefs are still
(13:39):
firm favorites against the Blues, even though they have rested
a couple and that probably circles back to your initial comment.
The Blues are just having a bit of a struggle
at the moment, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
They've gone off the rails. We can't work out exactly
why that is. I'm sure Stern Wern is particularly stern
going into this, but there are some great players in
that Blue side. Then I'll be looking at themselves going
this is not Blues rugby. This is an insult to
our fan base. It My producer, Cordon Boyd is a
Blues fan. He's been absolutely crest for in recent weeks.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
I guess the problem that they strike the Blues is
if they don't win tomorrow night and the Crusaders do,
it's very likely that it's the Blues who have to
go to christ and try and win a game down there,
and as you say, in the form that they're in,
they wouldn't be nowhere near favorite to do that. This
season could be over by the back end of next weekend,
could be But.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
You know the best thing about all of this, if
you try and step away from the team that you follow,
you the Hurricanes meet and the Crusaders. How good is
it that all these New Zealand teams are going hammer
and tongues toward the point at the end of the competition.
This promises some fantastic displays of rugby, surely.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
Absolutely, Yep, that's what you'd hope. And with you know,
even the guys who are coming in, not the regular starters,
they've got plenty of approve, a lot of them on debuts,
a lot of them with very little experience. They'll be
going hammer and tongs tonight and tomorrow night. Hey, just
on the Warriors quickly as well, Panthers. This is the
back end of Sunday Night eight pot fifteen New Zealand
Times Sunday Night Warriors, Panthers. Warriors have to be at
(15:08):
li eas to start as chances don't they.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
I'd say more than a starter's chance. The way they're
being traveling, especially away from home, they really enjoy that.
And let's find out again if there's more Warriors fans
and the stands and there are pen with fans, because
that's that's been almost tradition this season, hasn't it all
the Warriors fans all over Australia because we know that
the brain drain or whatever it has so many Kiwis
now I've moved to Australia, They've all taken their jerseys
(15:32):
with them and they're they're supporting this vast team. I
think they're on they're on an absolute run at the
moment and they don't look we're missing two guys from Origin,
but I think the depth of this team we're going
to again see on Sunday why everybody is so excited
about these players coming through, Because like you said about
the young guys that debutante's coming in in Super Rugby,
(15:53):
they're not gonna let this chance go. They are going
to perform and they're going to show exactly how good
they are. So Andrew Webster doesn't forget I.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Think you've talked about a next man up mentality a
few times when we talk about the Warriors and you're right, okay,
well and no Mitch Barnett, but Jackson Ford back into
the starting side and then you know, Jacob Laban into
the second row. That you know there is a real
depth building at the Warriors, and it's vital. You know,
you can't win a comp with thirteen players or seventeen players.
(16:23):
You really need twenty or more, players, don't you if
you're going to want to camp and you.
Speaker 4 (16:28):
Say next man up? And that's something that the Warriors
have struggled with previously a lot of injuries and everything
just collapsed underneath them. So lessons learned if you will.
And I'll say, okay, no, everybody is ready and just
as valid as the last guy. No, Roger tivas Aschek.
But that's okay because the next man up is going
to go. You know what, I can do this too.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
You just watch me and amongst all the sport to
watch across the weekend, Crusaders Hurricanes tonight, Chiefs Blues tomorrow
nights and Warriors Panthers on Sunday night. And that's just
scratching the surface. But as always, there's a time limit
here in the chamber. He didn't mention one thing. I'm
loving this.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
Novak Djokovic has got a really good chance now to
spend a week going. I'm gonna get title number twenty
five with no al kaav and no sinner at the
French Open. And that's one for you night Ols.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
I told you we'd only scratch the surface. We're out
see U beating a vix.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix powered by
News Talks IVY.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
And here is the official outro to the Sports Fix podcast,
which means we're bringing it to a close. We greatly
appreciate you listening, downloading, subscribing and all the rest, and
we appreciate you being an advocate. If you've got a
friend of yours who liked their sport, then get them
involved as well.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
Indeed, if you want to be involved on a regular
or radio we've got that for you as well. News
Talk ZEBB, the runaway juggernaut of talk radio. Thanks very much,
Mike Hosking, Jason and I both have got position between
seven and eight pm Monday through Friday for sports Talk.
Jason's got Monday, although you get this weekend off because
it's King's birthday. I've got the rest of the week
(18:05):
and then over the weekend. What have you got for
us on weekend in Sport between twelve and three anything, big.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
Yeah, a real mix of all sorts of things. And
in particular, just after midday tomorrow Saturday, could the All
Blacks have a Netflix series that succeeds Dame Julie Christy
knows all about this. She's going to talk to us
after midday tomorrow about that. But there's heaps of other
things to listen out for as well.
Speaker 4 (18:27):
Does March listen to radio, get a monst and carry
on with us podcast. Both Jason and I are hugely
thankful for your engagement in this.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
You look after yourself, Piney, Happy long weekend.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Us for more from news Talks, there'd be listen live
on air or online and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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