May 11, 2026 • 18 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 11 May 2026, the proposed privately-backed NZ20 competition launch will be pushed back by one year, New Zealand Cricket confirmed today. In March, the NZ20 was chosen by New Zealand Cricket (NZC) as its preferred option for the future of the domestic game, but faced a tight deadline to be able to launch in January 2027 as hoped. NZ20 committee chair Don Mackinnon joins the podcast to discuss the postponement.
Piney, has some thoughts on the Auckland FC and Adelaide United rivalry.
Plus, Adam Cooper is in The Chamber, looking at the Wellington Phoenix woman booking their ticket to the A-League Grand Final and the Hurricanes continue their winning ways in Super Rugby.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News talkst B. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Source Fax Howard By News Talks B.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into a new week and to
a fresh episode of the Sports Fixed podcast. I'm Jason Pine.
On Monday, the eleventh of May, at the back end
of a weekend where there was great success for the
Wellington Phoenix Women. They are into the A League's Grand
Final for the very first time, beating Brisbane on aggregate
(00:41):
three to two. They'll face Melbourne City this coming Saturday
evening a chance to win the club's first ever piece
of silverware. Adam Cooper pops into the chamber to discuss
that and the latest ground in Super rugby. The other
big news today is the proposed launch of the privately
backed n ZED twenty cricket competition is being pushed back
by a year. It will now start in the summer
(01:01):
of twenty twenty seven twenty eight. Chair of the NZ
twenty Establishment Committee, Don McKinnon is with us on Sports
Fix to unpack this and tell us why this is
the best decision. And I guess it's not really his
question to answer, but what will happen to the domestic
competition the Super Smash Now in the summer of twenty
six twenty seven. The latest in sports news coming too,
(01:22):
so let's get into it. In other news, let's get
you underway, where a look at some of the big
sports stories around today. Mikayla Woods is sealed in a
League Football final spot for the Wellington Phoenix away against
Melbourne City Saturday night. She scored twice to secure a
two nil win in the second League of the semi
against Brisbane, enabling the Knicks to win three to two
(01:44):
on aggregate. So what was going through Mikayla Wood's mind
as she chased a through ball in extra time?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Black?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Absolutely not absolutely, I think I can't lie to you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I was.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I was proving myself.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I think you know it's hard. They had mortal chances
to end it in ninety and my team.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Do you just continue to put believe in me. Meantime,
another pivotal day in the Premier League competition. Leader's Arsenal
have been in west Ham one nil, extending their competition
lead to five points over Manchester City. Seid to do
have a game in hand. West Ham, though remain in
the relegation zone with two games to go. The result
included this controversy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
You'll keep a.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Forward for it through the hands of his office in
under clean up the nine. But we t bo, we
did it, hit it art, it's gone.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
It's gone. In what a moment.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah. The west Ham equalizer though denied by var due
to a foul, and the Tactics home winning streak has
been tested but remains after a fifty two to fifty
one over the Stars, and Netball's A and Z Premiership
coach John and Wilkins says Side responded to the crowd's energy.
It's all about getting bums on seats and we're really
really proud of our Cantab crowd and been able to
(02:51):
open up the top tier was testament to how these
Gills have been playing.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Leading of its. We've got just the ticket. It's Sportsfix
Talks ivy.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. There will be
a postponement in the start of the new n Z
twenty privately backed domestic T twenty cricket competition. It will
now start in January twenty twenty eight, with the Super
Smash to continue in the interim. A key consideration appears
to have been the international calendar, with test series against
(03:23):
Australia and Sri Lanka in January and February, reducing the
window that was available for n ZED twenty to get
underway in its inaugural season. Welcoming into Sports Fix nd
ZED twenty Establishment Committee chair Don McKinnon, Don, when did
it become clear that the original January twenty twenty seven
launch date was no longer realistic?
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Probably only made the call in the last few days
with New Zealand Cricket Jason, But we've sort of been
becoming more and more inevitable, sort of as you dig
into the project, and in particular, once we realized through
endz See that the Shrilanking tour was very much locked
in and couldn't be pushed back, we just reached a
point where we were looking at a competition and typically
(04:08):
needs about thirty two to thirty three days to run,
and next year with the Aussie tests finishing on I
think the last test in Australia finishes on the eighth
of January. Test matches against Sri Lanka starting in the
beginning of February, the window was just too tight and
we kept looking at each other going. You know, we're
running around like man things trying to squeeze this in
(04:30):
and ultimately we'd be compromising our very first launch year.
Logical decision then became, actually, why are we trying to
do this. It's better to do it in the following
summer when we can make sure we do this as
well as we possibly can in a proper window. So
probably only recently, very recently got to this point because
we've really tried to do jan twenty seven, but it
(04:52):
was just too many compromises.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, that word again, compromises. I see you quoted us
saying that in the media release we're determined to ensure
n Z twenty launches without compromise. What specifically would have
been compromised if you'd tried to rush this.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Well, firstly, we would have had to run a huge
number of double headers, so the quality of a competition.
Then you know you're compacting it that impacts on fandom,
it impacts on broadcasts, and get impacts on sponsorship. So
all of your commercials therefore were slightly compromised, and not
slightly significantly compromised. But even running a really good process
(05:31):
around finding our team owners, finding our league investor. We've
got really good interest in that regard, but we're going
to have to make a really quick, potentially knee jerk decision,
whereas you know, let's take the time, run a really
good process to find our owners, really good competitive process
to find our locations. You know, we could have we
could have made you know, sudden quick decisions on all
(05:53):
of those things, but it just didn't make sense to
do that when we actually have the ability. As we
said right from the start. You know, January twenty eight
was acceptable to New Zealand Cricket when they told us
that we had their own principal support, So just makes
sense to take that time.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You mentioned there's strong investment investor interest. How significant are
the names and the financial backing that the competition is
likely to attract.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Look, we remain really confident. I've said right from the start,
you know, this is a startup and you never know
till the money is in the till, and you know,
we have to be conscious of that. But nothing that
we've seen in the last two or three months changes
our view that there's huge interest in this competition from
all over the world and from Kiwis and you know,
(06:41):
we keep reiterating the fact we're not sort of reinventing
the wheel here. This has been done really successfully in
other cricketing nations. So yeah, we have a high confidence level.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
How confident are you that the revised timeline is now
firm that we won't see another delay that January twenty
twenty eight is when NZ twenty will definitely launch.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, extremely confident.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
What we would hope to be able to do is
actually start with our women's comp in December twenty seventh,
all going well, and then be straight into our men's
compon Jane twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
There's a really good window.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
At the moment for that, and NESN Cricket will have
made it clear to us they'll work really hard to
make sure that window stays open.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
So yeah, look.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
We're were doing our best to get as much of
this nailed this year so that most of next year
is actually more focused on promoting the competition and you know,
running a really good player auction and the like.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So very very, very very confident, is the answer.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
How advanced are discussions around franchise locations.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Well, as we've said from the start, the goal is
to put these teams in areas where our fans are
so in December and January. We've done quite a lot
of research on where people are at those times a year,
where the money is being spent and where the greatest interests.
At the end of the day, though, we've got a
(08:06):
paper prepared already that will form the basis for a
location selection. The part of our license agram with New
Zeland Cricket that will working through at the moment is
to nail that document. So we will want a competitive
process and we hope the cities and towns of New
Zealand really want to put their hand up and fight.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Hard for a team.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
But yeah, we'll have a really good professional process and
hopefully end up going where most of our people are.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
And one of the big planks of this obviously was
was having New Zealand's best players play an n Z twenty.
The postponement of this won't change that in any regard.
What sort of feedback of your head from players the
players association around the postpone.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Yeah, we've had a chat with Cricket Plazers Association. You know,
they've made it clearly huge supporters of this, as you know,
they will do their best to ensure any players that
take on overseas contracts or take on other end Z
twenty sorry take on any other T twenty contracts. Look
to do that on the short term we could lose
(09:08):
some players as a result of the decision. We might
also pick some up that have a you know, one
more year of a commitment next year and therefore can
be available in.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Jane twenty eight.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
But I suppose all I can say is we've had
discussions with the CPA.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
They remain really supportive.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
They will do all they can to make sure we
have a huge number of our best players available.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Great to hear, Don, thanks for joining us on sports Fix.
So that is n Z twenty establishment committee chaired Don McKinnon.
N ZED twenty will now start in January of twenty
twenty eight.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
After the history created by the Wellington Phoenix women yesterday
making an A League Grand Final for the very first
time and becoming the first New Zealand club side men
or women to go through to an A League football
Grand final, Auckland FC have the chance to emulate them
when they had to Adelaide for the second League of
their men's semi final this coming Friday night in the
(10:06):
wet and the rain Go Media Stadium on Saturday evening.
Auckland FC and Adelaide United continued this extremely close rivalry
that they have, playing out a one to one drawer
in five matches between the two. Four of those have
now ended in the draws, the only other result a
narrow two to one win for Auckland FC earlier on
(10:28):
in this regular season. They are just so hard to separate.
It has become already a fierce rivalry, with passions overflowing
at times on Go Media Stadium on Saturday night. So
what now are the chances of Auckland FC going to
Adelaide and winning over there to take their place in
(10:48):
the A League Men's Grand Final. Well, the odds would
appear to be against them. They call it home advantage
for a reason, and Cooper's Stadium in Adelaide is among
the most hostile environments for visiting teams in the A League,
particularly for some reason on a Friday night. The phrase
Friday Night Cooper's has been bandied around a lot and
(11:11):
has not necessarily struck fear into the hearts of opposition teams,
but has certainly given them plenty to think about when
they head across to South Australia for matches on Friday evenings.
That is exactly the equation facing Auckland FC. We can
really forget about Saturday night now and just treat Friday
night as an elimination final. If there's no separating these two,
(11:35):
and it's quite likely given their history, after ninety minutes
into extra time we go. If they can't be separated,
then then it is a penalty shootout. We know Auckland
FC have already safely negotiated one of those this season
against Melbourne City a week ago. Who knows they may
have to do exactly the same to reach the Grand
Final against Adelaide on Friday night. Regardless of what happens,
(12:00):
and intriguing prospect arewaits Friday night. At Cooper's can Auckland
f C negotiate it?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Is now in session on.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Sportsfax on the Sports Fix podcast Let's Pop Inside the
Chamber on Monday, joined in here by head of News
TALKS'DB Sport in Wellington, Adam Cooper. What a weekend in
the capital? Can we start with yesterday at Potty to
a Park the Wellington Phoenix women making history first New
Zealand side men or women to make it into an
(12:30):
A Leagues Grand Final. What an occasion.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Great occasion, wasn't it, Pinty And you know everyone that
got along to what was by the time kickoff rolled
round had sold out potty to a park in the
late afternoon early evening sun China and Wellington yesterday are
absolutely thrilling scenes and it was some fans have described
as a bit of a movie plot, you know, down
by one goal heading into the tie and needing to
(12:54):
really rely on that their fans, their home advantage, but
also the ability to kind of shut out what had
happened the week before and just focus on with tunnel
vision what the final result needed to be for that
team in that game. And then of course, you know,
going to extra time as it got darker and had
looked a bit gloomier outside, and obviously mccatig wod's picking
up that goal at the end, capitalizing on a Brisbane
(13:15):
era and yeah, setting that the stadium into just absolute jubilations.
So you'll, what a special moment for this team who
have had some genuinely high expectations on them this year,
and rightfully so with you know Bev Priessman his coach,
given her history obviously a lot of very experienced players
internationally you know, some great up and coming young Kiwi
(13:36):
footballers as well on the team. So thoroughly deserved effort.
And yeah, as you say, first time ever with a
New Zealand team in the A League being able to
play a Grand final pretty special when you look sort
of the well twenty years the Phoenix have been trying
to do this as a club and obviously far beyond
that with the two Auckland clubs and the men's competition
prior to that, So incredibly special. Big week for them
in Melbourne this week.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, absolutely, And given the fact that this Wellington Phoenix
women's side has never even made the playoffs, never been
in the top six, finished bottom in their first two seasons,
got to sort of within KOI without being able to
get there in the last two, but to not only
storm into the playoffs in second place, but to overturn
a deficit and to go into the Grand Final. I
(14:16):
guess now the question I've been asked a lot this
morning is can they win the Grand Final? Well, in
terms of a grand final, it feels to me as
though all bets are off. Yes, Melbourne City have been
very good this season, they finished top of the regular season.
They beat Wellington in both of the regular season fixtures,
albeit narrowly both home and away. But history is full
of underdogs winning big matches. So they're at the very
(14:37):
least a chance, aren't they.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Totally totally a chance? I mean, you can't say, with
a starting score line of nil all in ninety minutes
of football to be played, that they can't win this game,
can you totally? You know, with the ability to win
this I would say that certainly obviously won't be favorite.
It'd given Melbourne Citi's dominance this year and over several years,
and of course their home advantage over there. But you know,
I understand they're traveling over on Wednesday and mid week,
(15:01):
so that's going to give them great time to just
adapt to life over there.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
You know.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
I have some sort of really good time with each
other as a squad to build up to the this team,
and I think one of my highlights this year of
you know, covering this team has been just hearing how
BIV priestsmen has as sort of analyzed every scenario the
team's found themselves in, you know, such as when they
were battling their injuries, during the year, a couple of
other players coming and going for other reasons as well,
(15:25):
but the way Bev was always just able to articulate
what was going on and that was publicly. You can
only imagine just how she's able to motivate that team
with her words behind closed doors as well and getting
the absolute best out of them. And I think, you know,
they were certainly inspired by a lot of her mentorship
as they rally from behind yesterday to get that second leg.
So yeah, very exciting and this is huge for New
(15:45):
Zealand football and I think it really shows, you know
that the women's game in particular now in New Zealand.
There's no reason internationally say the football fans can't capitalize
on this success because as I said, yes, there are
a lot of imports in this team, but in terms
of the way this will inspire and and you know,
give opportunities to younger females in New Zealand, it's surely
great for the future.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh with that question, and they'll be they'll be, yeah,
young girls watching that team thinking you know, maybe that
could be me, not just hearing about what's possible, but
seeing live what is possible. And yeah, a whole generation
of young female footballers will be I'm sure inspired by
what the current crop is doing. Just quick word on
Super Rugby, about three rounds to go the Hurricanes. I
(16:27):
don't want to make this chamber all about Wellington, but
the Hurricanes are top after their win over more ONEA PACIFICA.
The Chiefs are second. They had to win over the
Reds and Brisbane Friday night, and the Blues and Crusaders
third and fourth respectively. I'm still trying to work out
who are favorites for Super Rugby. I'm not sure that
you can take a fifty point win over one PACIFICA
with anything other than a quite large grain of salt.
(16:48):
Some big games coming though for the Hurricanes. In fact,
they finish their season with three derbies away to the Blues,
home to the Highlanders and away to the Crusaders. If
they do finish top, they will have earned it.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Yeah, and I think you know, yes, they are five
points clear. That five points was actually crucial in context
of cam Royguard being out for at least another couple
of weeks. They needed those five points over one wider
Pacific Yess, most people probably expected them as the leaders
to get those points but they needed them, I think
with some you know, just to give them a little
bit of breathing space at that top end of the ladder.
I really enjoyed the Crusaders Blues game over the weekend
(17:21):
and the Crusaders, you know, I think last week where
we're here chatting about, you know, is the season on
the line or they certainly showed as they got Game
two at their new host home stadium that they are
ready to fight to stay in this competition. I think
the real question now is the top four teams going
to be KIWI teams. There's quite a probability that that's
going to happen if form stays this way. It's that
good for the competition where you've got four New Zealand
(17:42):
teams hosting playoffs. It's certainly a likelihood, as I sort
of had a look at the table this morning. But
you know, you can't discount the team, say like the
Reds and the Brumbies who have been there or thereabouts
this season two.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Yeah, it feels like you're exactly right. The top four
are going to be New Zealand teams. The Brumbies are
away to the war Retars, then at home to Mowana,
so two very winnable games for them, and there are
only three points behind the Crusaders who have a couple
of tough games, the Chiefs and the Humains both under
the roof. We're there two from two at the moment.
But yeah, I think we're we're in for quite an
intriguing and exciting final three weeks of the regular season
(18:16):
before we hit the playoffs. Always good at having you
in the chamber, Coops. We'll do it again next Monday.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
Sounds good.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Needing a fix, We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix,
how my News Talks IVB, and.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
That'll blow the final. We're still on Sports Fix for today.
Thanks for listening in, Thanks for downloading, Thank you for subscribing.
Sports Fix subscribers will find a fresh episode in their
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Monday through Friday. And for more from News Talks EBB Sport,
tune into Sports Talk weeknights seven to eight and on
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(18:51):
time again on Sunday on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
For more from News Talks EDB, 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 talkst B. Follow
this and our Wide Ranger podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Source Fax Howard By News Talks B.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Hello there and welcome into a new week and to
a fresh episode of the Sports Fixed podcast. I'm Jason Pine.
On Monday, the eleventh of May, at the back end
of a weekend where there was great success for the
Wellington Phoenix Women. They are into the A League's Grand
Final for the very first time, beating Brisbane on aggregate
(00:41):
three to two. They'll face Melbourne City this coming Saturday
evening a chance to win the club's first ever piece
of silverware. Adam Cooper pops into the chamber to discuss
that and the latest ground in Super rugby. The other
big news today is the proposed launch of the privately
backed n ZED twenty cricket competition is being pushed back
by a year. It will now start in the summer
(01:01):
of twenty twenty seven twenty eight. Chair of the NZ
twenty Establishment Committee, Don McKinnon is with us on Sports
Fix to unpack this and tell us why this is
the best decision. And I guess it's not really his
question to answer, but what will happen to the domestic
competition the Super Smash Now in the summer of twenty
six twenty seven. The latest in sports news coming too,
(01:22):
so let's get into it. In other news, let's get
you underway, where a look at some of the big
sports stories around today. Mikayla Woods is sealed in a
League Football final spot for the Wellington Phoenix away against
Melbourne City Saturday night. She scored twice to secure a
two nil win in the second League of the semi
against Brisbane, enabling the Knicks to win three to two
(01:44):
on aggregate. So what was going through Mikayla Wood's mind
as she chased a through ball in extra time?
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Black?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Absolutely not absolutely, I think I can't lie to you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
I was.
Speaker 4 (01:56):
I was proving myself.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
I think you know it's hard. They had mortal chances
to end it in ninety and my team.
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Do you just continue to put believe in me. Meantime,
another pivotal day in the Premier League competition. Leader's Arsenal
have been in west Ham one nil, extending their competition
lead to five points over Manchester City. Seid to do
have a game in hand. West Ham, though remain in
the relegation zone with two games to go. The result
included this controversy.
Speaker 2 (02:19):
You'll keep a.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Forward for it through the hands of his office in
under clean up the nine. But we t bo, we
did it, hit it art, it's gone.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
It's gone. In what a moment.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Yeah. The west Ham equalizer though denied by var due
to a foul, and the Tactics home winning streak has
been tested but remains after a fifty two to fifty
one over the Stars, and Netball's A and Z Premiership
coach John and Wilkins says Side responded to the crowd's energy.
It's all about getting bums on seats and we're really
really proud of our Cantab crowd and been able to
(02:51):
open up the top tier was testament to how these
Gills have been playing.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
Leading of its. We've got just the ticket. It's Sportsfix
Talks ivy.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. There will be
a postponement in the start of the new n Z
twenty privately backed domestic T twenty cricket competition. It will
now start in January twenty twenty eight, with the Super
Smash to continue in the interim. A key consideration appears
to have been the international calendar, with test series against
(03:23):
Australia and Sri Lanka in January and February, reducing the
window that was available for n ZED twenty to get
underway in its inaugural season. Welcoming into Sports Fix nd
ZED twenty Establishment Committee chair Don McKinnon, Don, when did
it become clear that the original January twenty twenty seven
launch date was no longer realistic?
Speaker 5 (03:45):
Probably only made the call in the last few days
with New Zealand Cricket Jason, But we've sort of been
becoming more and more inevitable, sort of as you dig
into the project, and in particular, once we realized through
endz See that the Shrilanking tour was very much locked
in and couldn't be pushed back, we just reached a
point where we were looking at a competition and typically
(04:08):
needs about thirty two to thirty three days to run,
and next year with the Aussie tests finishing on I
think the last test in Australia finishes on the eighth
of January. Test matches against Sri Lanka starting in the
beginning of February, the window was just too tight and
we kept looking at each other going. You know, we're
running around like man things trying to squeeze this in
(04:30):
and ultimately we'd be compromising our very first launch year.
Logical decision then became, actually, why are we trying to
do this. It's better to do it in the following
summer when we can make sure we do this as
well as we possibly can in a proper window. So
probably only recently, very recently got to this point because
we've really tried to do jan twenty seven, but it
(04:52):
was just too many compromises.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Yeah, that word again, compromises. I see you quoted us
saying that in the media release we're determined to ensure
n Z twenty launches without compromise. What specifically would have
been compromised if you'd tried to rush this.
Speaker 5 (05:09):
Well, firstly, we would have had to run a huge
number of double headers, so the quality of a competition.
Then you know you're compacting it that impacts on fandom,
it impacts on broadcasts, and get impacts on sponsorship. So
all of your commercials therefore were slightly compromised, and not
slightly significantly compromised. But even running a really good process
(05:31):
around finding our team owners, finding our league investor. We've
got really good interest in that regard, but we're going
to have to make a really quick, potentially knee jerk decision,
whereas you know, let's take the time, run a really
good process to find our owners, really good competitive process
to find our locations. You know, we could have we
could have made you know, sudden quick decisions on all
(05:53):
of those things, but it just didn't make sense to
do that when we actually have the ability. As we
said right from the start. You know, January twenty eight
was acceptable to New Zealand Cricket when they told us
that we had their own principal support, So just makes
sense to take that time.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
You mentioned there's strong investment investor interest. How significant are
the names and the financial backing that the competition is
likely to attract.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
Look, we remain really confident. I've said right from the start,
you know, this is a startup and you never know
till the money is in the till, and you know,
we have to be conscious of that. But nothing that
we've seen in the last two or three months changes
our view that there's huge interest in this competition from
all over the world and from Kiwis and you know,
(06:41):
we keep reiterating the fact we're not sort of reinventing
the wheel here. This has been done really successfully in
other cricketing nations. So yeah, we have a high confidence level.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
How confident are you that the revised timeline is now
firm that we won't see another delay that January twenty
twenty eight is when NZ twenty will definitely launch.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Yeah, extremely confident.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
What we would hope to be able to do is
actually start with our women's comp in December twenty seventh,
all going well, and then be straight into our men's
compon Jane twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
There's a really good window.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
At the moment for that, and NESN Cricket will have
made it clear to us they'll work really hard to
make sure that window stays open.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
So yeah, look.
Speaker 5 (07:26):
We're were doing our best to get as much of
this nailed this year so that most of next year
is actually more focused on promoting the competition and you know,
running a really good player auction and the like.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So very very, very very confident, is the answer.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
How advanced are discussions around franchise locations.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Well, as we've said from the start, the goal is
to put these teams in areas where our fans are
so in December and January. We've done quite a lot
of research on where people are at those times a year,
where the money is being spent and where the greatest interests.
At the end of the day, though, we've got a
(08:06):
paper prepared already that will form the basis for a
location selection. The part of our license agram with New
Zeland Cricket that will working through at the moment is
to nail that document. So we will want a competitive
process and we hope the cities and towns of New
Zealand really want to put their hand up and fight.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Hard for a team.
Speaker 5 (08:27):
But yeah, we'll have a really good professional process and
hopefully end up going where most of our people are.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
And one of the big planks of this obviously was
was having New Zealand's best players play an n Z twenty.
The postponement of this won't change that in any regard.
What sort of feedback of your head from players the
players association around the postpone.
Speaker 5 (08:46):
Yeah, we've had a chat with Cricket Plazers Association. You know,
they've made it clearly huge supporters of this, as you know,
they will do their best to ensure any players that
take on overseas contracts or take on other end Z
twenty sorry take on any other T twenty contracts. Look
to do that on the short term we could lose
(09:08):
some players as a result of the decision. We might
also pick some up that have a you know, one
more year of a commitment next year and therefore can
be available in.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Jane twenty eight.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
But I suppose all I can say is we've had
discussions with the CPA.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
They remain really supportive.
Speaker 5 (09:24):
They will do all they can to make sure we
have a huge number of our best players available.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Great to hear, Don, thanks for joining us on sports Fix.
So that is n Z twenty establishment committee chaired Don McKinnon.
N ZED twenty will now start in January of twenty
twenty eight.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
After the history created by the Wellington Phoenix women yesterday
making an A League Grand Final for the very first
time and becoming the first New Zealand club side men
or women to go through to an A League football
Grand final, Auckland FC have the chance to emulate them
when they had to Adelaide for the second League of
their men's semi final this coming Friday night in the
(10:06):
wet and the rain Go Media Stadium on Saturday evening.
Auckland FC and Adelaide United continued this extremely close rivalry
that they have, playing out a one to one drawer
in five matches between the two. Four of those have
now ended in the draws, the only other result a
narrow two to one win for Auckland FC earlier on
(10:28):
in this regular season. They are just so hard to separate.
It has become already a fierce rivalry, with passions overflowing
at times on Go Media Stadium on Saturday night. So
what now are the chances of Auckland FC going to
Adelaide and winning over there to take their place in
(10:48):
the A League Men's Grand Final. Well, the odds would
appear to be against them. They call it home advantage
for a reason, and Cooper's Stadium in Adelaide is among
the most hostile environments for visiting teams in the A League,
particularly for some reason on a Friday night. The phrase
Friday Night Cooper's has been bandied around a lot and
(11:11):
has not necessarily struck fear into the hearts of opposition teams,
but has certainly given them plenty to think about when
they head across to South Australia for matches on Friday evenings.
That is exactly the equation facing Auckland FC. We can
really forget about Saturday night now and just treat Friday
night as an elimination final. If there's no separating these two,
(11:35):
and it's quite likely given their history, after ninety minutes
into extra time we go. If they can't be separated,
then then it is a penalty shootout. We know Auckland
FC have already safely negotiated one of those this season
against Melbourne City a week ago. Who knows they may
have to do exactly the same to reach the Grand
Final against Adelaide on Friday night. Regardless of what happens,
(12:00):
and intriguing prospect arewaits Friday night. At Cooper's can Auckland
f C negotiate it?
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Is now in session on.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Sportsfax on the Sports Fix podcast Let's Pop Inside the
Chamber on Monday, joined in here by head of News
TALKS'DB Sport in Wellington, Adam Cooper. What a weekend in
the capital? Can we start with yesterday at Potty to
a Park the Wellington Phoenix women making history first New
Zealand side men or women to make it into an
(12:30):
A Leagues Grand Final. What an occasion.
Speaker 6 (12:33):
Great occasion, wasn't it, Pinty And you know everyone that
got along to what was by the time kickoff rolled
round had sold out potty to a park in the
late afternoon early evening sun China and Wellington yesterday are
absolutely thrilling scenes and it was some fans have described
as a bit of a movie plot, you know, down
by one goal heading into the tie and needing to
(12:54):
really rely on that their fans, their home advantage, but
also the ability to kind of shut out what had
happened the week before and just focus on with tunnel
vision what the final result needed to be for that
team in that game. And then of course, you know,
going to extra time as it got darker and had
looked a bit gloomier outside, and obviously mccatig wod's picking
up that goal at the end, capitalizing on a Brisbane
(13:15):
era and yeah, setting that the stadium into just absolute jubilations.
So you'll, what a special moment for this team who
have had some genuinely high expectations on them this year,
and rightfully so with you know Bev Priessman his coach,
given her history obviously a lot of very experienced players
internationally you know, some great up and coming young Kiwi
(13:36):
footballers as well on the team. So thoroughly deserved effort.
And yeah, as you say, first time ever with a
New Zealand team in the A League being able to
play a Grand final pretty special when you look sort
of the well twenty years the Phoenix have been trying
to do this as a club and obviously far beyond
that with the two Auckland clubs and the men's competition
prior to that, So incredibly special. Big week for them
in Melbourne this week.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, absolutely, And given the fact that this Wellington Phoenix
women's side has never even made the playoffs, never been
in the top six, finished bottom in their first two seasons,
got to sort of within KOI without being able to
get there in the last two, but to not only
storm into the playoffs in second place, but to overturn
a deficit and to go into the Grand Final. I
(14:16):
guess now the question I've been asked a lot this
morning is can they win the Grand Final? Well, in
terms of a grand final, it feels to me as
though all bets are off. Yes, Melbourne City have been
very good this season, they finished top of the regular season.
They beat Wellington in both of the regular season fixtures,
albeit narrowly both home and away. But history is full
of underdogs winning big matches. So they're at the very
(14:37):
least a chance, aren't they.
Speaker 6 (14:39):
Totally totally a chance? I mean, you can't say, with
a starting score line of nil all in ninety minutes
of football to be played, that they can't win this game,
can you totally? You know, with the ability to win
this I would say that certainly obviously won't be favorite.
It'd given Melbourne Citi's dominance this year and over several years,
and of course their home advantage over there. But you know,
I understand they're traveling over on Wednesday and mid week,
(15:01):
so that's going to give them great time to just
adapt to life over there.
Speaker 5 (15:04):
You know.
Speaker 6 (15:04):
I have some sort of really good time with each
other as a squad to build up to the this team,
and I think one of my highlights this year of
you know, covering this team has been just hearing how
BIV priestsmen has as sort of analyzed every scenario the
team's found themselves in, you know, such as when they
were battling their injuries, during the year, a couple of
other players coming and going for other reasons as well,
(15:25):
but the way Bev was always just able to articulate
what was going on and that was publicly. You can
only imagine just how she's able to motivate that team
with her words behind closed doors as well and getting
the absolute best out of them. And I think, you know,
they were certainly inspired by a lot of her mentorship
as they rally from behind yesterday to get that second leg.
So yeah, very exciting and this is huge for New
(15:45):
Zealand football and I think it really shows, you know
that the women's game in particular now in New Zealand.
There's no reason internationally say the football fans can't capitalize
on this success because as I said, yes, there are
a lot of imports in this team, but in terms
of the way this will inspire and and you know,
give opportunities to younger females in New Zealand, it's surely
great for the future.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Oh with that question, and they'll be they'll be, yeah,
young girls watching that team thinking you know, maybe that
could be me, not just hearing about what's possible, but
seeing live what is possible. And yeah, a whole generation
of young female footballers will be I'm sure inspired by
what the current crop is doing. Just quick word on
Super Rugby, about three rounds to go the Hurricanes. I
(16:27):
don't want to make this chamber all about Wellington, but
the Hurricanes are top after their win over more ONEA PACIFICA.
The Chiefs are second. They had to win over the
Reds and Brisbane Friday night, and the Blues and Crusaders
third and fourth respectively. I'm still trying to work out
who are favorites for Super Rugby. I'm not sure that
you can take a fifty point win over one PACIFICA
with anything other than a quite large grain of salt.
(16:48):
Some big games coming though for the Hurricanes. In fact,
they finish their season with three derbies away to the Blues,
home to the Highlanders and away to the Crusaders. If
they do finish top, they will have earned it.
Speaker 6 (17:00):
Yeah, and I think you know, yes, they are five
points clear. That five points was actually crucial in context
of cam Royguard being out for at least another couple
of weeks. They needed those five points over one wider
Pacific Yess, most people probably expected them as the leaders
to get those points but they needed them, I think
with some you know, just to give them a little
bit of breathing space at that top end of the ladder.
I really enjoyed the Crusaders Blues game over the weekend
(17:21):
and the Crusaders, you know, I think last week where
we're here chatting about, you know, is the season on
the line or they certainly showed as they got Game
two at their new host home stadium that they are
ready to fight to stay in this competition. I think
the real question now is the top four teams going
to be KIWI teams. There's quite a probability that that's
going to happen if form stays this way. It's that
good for the competition where you've got four New Zealand
(17:42):
teams hosting playoffs. It's certainly a likelihood, as I sort
of had a look at the table this morning. But
you know, you can't discount the team, say like the
Reds and the Brumbies who have been there or thereabouts
this season two.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
Yeah, it feels like you're exactly right. The top four
are going to be New Zealand teams. The Brumbies are
away to the war Retars, then at home to Mowana,
so two very winnable games for them, and there are
only three points behind the Crusaders who have a couple
of tough games, the Chiefs and the Humains both under
the roof. We're there two from two at the moment.
But yeah, I think we're we're in for quite an
intriguing and exciting final three weeks of the regular season
(18:16):
before we hit the playoffs. Always good at having you
in the chamber, Coops. We'll do it again next Monday.
Speaker 6 (18:21):
Sounds good.
Speaker 4 (18:22):
Needing a fix, We've got just the ticket. It's Sports Fix,
how my News Talks IVB, and.
Speaker 3 (18:30):
That'll blow the final. We're still on Sports Fix for today.
Thanks for listening in, Thanks for downloading, Thank you for subscribing.
Sports Fix subscribers will find a fresh episode in their
podcast feed same time tomorrow or thereabouts and every day
Monday through Friday. And for more from News Talks EBB Sport,
tune into Sports Talk weeknights seven to eight and on
the weekends Weekend Sport from midday to three Saturday, same
(18:51):
time again on Sunday on News Talks EDB.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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