March 16, 2026 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 16 March 2026, after a huge win over the Raiders on Friday, the Warriors CEO was spotted relishing his team's performance in the crowd. He joins the podcast to chat about what he loves about the Warriors and how he balances being a fan and being the boss of the club.
Piney is adamant Auckland FC's momentum will take them back to the top of the table after their win over Newcastle Jets.
Plus, Clay Wilson is in the Chamber full of praise for Liam Lawson after taking points in China.
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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 Scefix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into the sports Fix podcast. At
the start of another working week. At the end of
another very busy and intriguing sporting weekend, I'm Jason Pine.
On March the sixteenth, sports Flex brought to you an
association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
What about the Warriors on Friday night? And almost as
(00:42):
good as the performance on the field was the performance
off the field of their CEO, Cameron George at the end.
Did you see that the cameras panned to him on
the final whistle and he was giving it to the Raiders,
taunting them, giving it to Joseph Tuppeny, who of course
had given the Warriors the cry baby taunts last year.
(01:02):
Cameron George gave it back along with a couple of
monter waves and it got me thinking, he is so authentic,
so real. He's not like a normal CEO, is he?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
So?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
How does this happen? And is it? Perhaps the way forward?
With so many of our sporting organizations actually looking for
a CEO at the moment, Cameron George going to join us.
We'll kick around a few sporting topics in the chamber
with Klay Wilson and the largest in sports news coming
up too, So let's get into it. In other news,
Let's kick you off with a look at some of
(01:34):
the big sports stories around today. A maiden Formula One
victory at the Chinese Grand Prix Father Italia Chimmy Antonelli
for the first time in Formula one.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
When's the Grand Prix?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It is victory in Shanghai. A silver medal for alpine
skier Adam Hall and the slalom standing on the last
day of the Paralympics in Milan, Cortina.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Yeah, I'm in shock, but yeah, congratulations to the whole team,
everyone that's helped.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Me get here.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Everybody that is at home there has been on this
journey as well.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's been incredible.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
As an emotional Adam Hall, it's his sixth medal at
his sixth Paralympic Games. And a second Australian Squash Open
title for Paul Cole and Brisbane, beating world number six
Joel Macon in the final God Good in circle.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
Well, that is a title.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Stir of acceleration us drawn absolute by.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Server March dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Bene.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
You're listening to the sports podcast after the Warrior is
very impressive when over the Raiders on Friday night. It
wasn't just the performance on the field getting attention. Also
the reaction of CEO Cameron George. His raw, emotional celebration
and very human response, including a cheeky reference to the
previous actions of Raiders forward Joseph Tappany, have been widely
(03:00):
praised as the kind of passion you don't always see
from a modern sports executive. Cam George is with us, camus,
I say, there's been a lot of pasz a reaction
to the way you reacted after the win. Do you
just consciously let yourself become a fan in those moments?
Speaker 5 (03:16):
It means so much to me this footy club, and
we put so much work into winning every week, and
that's on and off the.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Field, and I know I know what's coming when we
get beat.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
That's a that's a flogging by the press and everyone.
But yeah, I just it just means a lot to
me to win.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
And yeah, I got caught out on.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Camera the other night, probably not doing my best dance moves.
But at the end of the day, you know, it
meant a lot to me, and I have a long memory.
So he got the better of me, but we won
and we move on. So that's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I guess, also the fact that you were out there
just and you know outside, where do you normally watch
games from.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
I'm quite versatile, subject to the way in which the
game is going, be found to be anywhere around the stadium.
I remember last year we're playing Paramatta at the end
of the year, and about fifteen minutes ago I was
on the western side, and then I found myself on
the eastern side in the tunnel towards the last ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
So I try and find places.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Where I can get a good view and feel good
about the game. But sometimes you want to find a
place where you can hide as well.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
That wasn't a case the other night. It was a
bit wet. I couldn't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I guess there's an assumption that the CEO of the
sporting organization spends it in the corporate areas, you know,
sort of shaking hands and you know, making sure the
sponsors are looked after. But you're happy enough to do
some of that, but also to watch you like a
normal fan would.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Yeah, I do do that, and we do that obviously
to support our sponsors and so on, the support our
footage club. However, Yeah, you know I love watching the
game behind the goal post as well because I feel
like you can.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I can read it a lot better there as to
what's going.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
On, and you know, you just do what you got
to do, and you know where my heart my sleep.
But the most important thing is our fans had a
great time with a good win, and you know we've
got to refocus now and try and get the result
again this week.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Your crowds are the envy of most other New Zealand
sporting teams. How have you done it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Well?
Speaker 5 (05:37):
You can do it when you've got a great fan base,
and we've done it on I feel like in two
different real key ways.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
One is we have.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Retained our pricing structure to that of twenty twenty three.
We haven't just gone up and up and up across
the whole board.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
We've had to go up in certain.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Areas due to cost, but we're really proud of the
fact that we've retained generic cost structure across our game
day experience at a level that's been consistent for a
couple of years. So just because we're getting more people,
we didn't want to then just go and start charging
more and more. And by doing that we're able to
(06:22):
have some fun and do promotions and the likes which
we currently do. And secondly, the game day experience is
second to none. What we offer here is something you
don't see in too many other places, and we want
to be the best in New Zealand. A couple of
years ago we were focused on trying to be the
(06:43):
best in the NRL. We reset our focus to be
the best in New Zealand and that's all that matters
to us. And we put a lot of work. We've
got a great team of people and they put a
lot of work in the game day experience and people
come not just for the footy but for the experience,
which is something we're really proud of.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And you should be just on your commercial partners, cam,
how do you ensure that your commercial partners understand the
club's values and your culture rather than just seeing the
relationship as transactional.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Well, their partnerships to start with, you know, we engage
a lot, we speak a lot, we see each other
a lot. I talk to a lot of them, the CEOs,
the staff all the time.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
We have a lot of fun that's really important to us.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And in doing so, we do the best we can
with their brand who get them business, and we set
really good KPIs to do that. And I feel across
the board they get the exposure, they get the engagement
with our fan base that they hope for, and that's
something that takes a lot of work from our good
team of staff here.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
But they're not sponsors, they're.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Partners in our club, and you know, they're really just
a part of our family, which is a fantastic environment to.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Have from a business perspectives. Does you being authentic and
real actually help build stronger relationships with those partners?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Yeah, I think we and Jace Paris are probably the
same now. We he did the tweet a few years
ago and I'd done something that you know the other
night that we're talking about. But yeah, you just connect
with them so much because they have the same passion
as us. I want to see us on the field
(08:32):
go to great lengths and win a premiership and they
want to see us off the field b you know,
the biggest vehicle for their brands to be associated with
to generate business. And we share the same values, we
share the same dreams, and we share the same passion.
And when you do that, it's much easier to sit
down and have a viewer with each other. And and
you know, we're not looking at the contracts as to
what we signed up for. We're looking at the contracts
(08:55):
to renew them because you know, we're just so invested
in each other's business. And that takes time, it takes effort,
but it's it's really important for that personal engagement.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
I've used the word authentic and the word real a
lot in this chat, you know, and people describe you
in that fashion when they say those words. What do
you hope they mean by that?
Speaker 5 (09:17):
I hope, well, well, I hope you know they mean that.
I feel what they feel. I feel the passion, I
feel the commitment. I feel the desire to win this competition.
I feel the desire to win this week against Newcastle.
And when we win, I'm elated like they are. When
we win.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I sleep much better when we lose it recks.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
My weekend, you know, and I'm cranky and it does
have an impact on my life just like every fan,
and I just have to come in front up and
deal with it on the Monday. And that's the real
difference between me and the fan base.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
But the real reason why I'm here is because I
absolutely love this club.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I absolutely want to win everything and I'm just like
every other family have that wear our colors and that's
I feel really proud about that because I'm not a
corporate CEO, but I just I want to be the
Warriors CEO and lead our fan base.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, pretty cool place to be at the moment, and
they are in very good hands. Cam, Thanks for your time, mate,
really appreciated. Cameron George, CEO of the New Zealand Warriors,
joining us on sports Fix. Sportsfix compelling football viewing on
Saturday night from McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales,
as Auckland f C went to town looking to challenge
(10:37):
the league leaders. This was the quintessential top of the
table clash. Auckland FC went into the game four points
behind Newcastle at the top of the table and after
this game with just five matches remaining. Had Newcastle won
the game, they would have gone seven points clear five
games left. It's unlikely at best that you make up
(10:58):
that ground in the final month of the season. Instead,
a win for Auckland FC has seen them draw to
within one point of the Newcastle Jets, and it feels
now as though they've flex their muscles and they are
back in the running, if not favorite, to retain the
Premier's Plate that they won last season. Of course, Newcastle
(11:19):
still have the lead so effectively, mathematically, theoretically they still
are in the driver's seat. If they were to win
their five remaining games, they will be premiers. Auckland FC
can't do anything about that. They can't affect Newcastle's results.
They just have to wait for them to slip up
and do as well as they can themselves. The second
(11:39):
part of that, though, is what gives me faith that
Auckland f C are about to go back to back
as Premier's Plate winners. After a very challenging January in
which they won just one of their six matches. It
feels like the old Auckland FC are back. The swagger
is there, the ability to win football matches with skill
and expertise, at both ends of the pitch was on
(12:01):
display on Saturday night and they have got a number
of players right at the top of their game. See
Randall is absolutely tearing up the A League. He provided
another assist on Saturday night in the middle of another
excellent performance. Two goals for Sam Costgrove ten for the season.
Now he is the A League's Golden Boot leader at present.
(12:22):
And then at the back, the center back pairing of
Dan Hall, who was again exceptional and Jake Goodwood Reich
repelled everything Newcastle through at Auckland late in the game
to try and find themselves a point. They are functioning
superbly at the moment Auckland FC, and the best time
to be doing that is running down the home straight.
(12:43):
Newcastle are about to be run down, mowned down by
Auckland FC. They're going to lift silverware again in a
month or so, I'm almost certain of it.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
This is the Sports Fix podcast and into the Chamber
we go. A big sporting weekend is coming gone with
lots of talking points. Clay Wilson News Talks be Sports
Editor is in the chamber with me, Liam Lawson and
China can we start there, Clay, would he consider that
to be his best ever Formula One weekend?
Speaker 6 (13:17):
Do you think, well, if he doesn't, have you hardPressed
to find another one. I think, you know, a double
points finished those sprint weekends and notoriously difficult to handle.
And you know, all the comment coming out of racing
Balls and Lawson himself was that, you know, the car
wasn't going to be as quick and didn't feel as
quick as it was in Australia, so they weren't really
have they wouldn't They didn't really have big expectations and
(13:39):
maybe that was kind of the key because they obviously
took a couple of risks strategy wise, and it paid off,
especially in the sprint race, but then also in the
in the main Grand Prix. You know, the pit stop
didn't work for them, but they clearly had enough in
the car and Liam did a superb job. I think,
what did you do forty six laps on those hard
tires in his second stint. It's a it's a pretty
(14:02):
amazing effort. And you know, once again we saw his
defensive capabilities come out at the end of that race
on on shot tires, where he has that ability to
keep drivers behind him, you know, and a seventh place
finish given how hard this start to the season and
these new regulations has been for a lot of these drivers.
You know what, he's leveled with Max for Steppen and points.
(14:23):
I think, so, you know, do we stop the count now?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Hey, if we offer him that at the start of
the season after two rounder level with Max Verstappan, he
bites your hand off for that, doesn't he. I know,
there have been extenuating circumstances, speaking of which, how would
you go being in a McLaren car at the moment
Pstre and norris oscar. Pstre hasn't even completed a lap
yet in two Grand Prix Clay. I mean, there's millions
(14:46):
and millions and millions of dollars pumped into these cars
and they can't even go, isn't it?
Speaker 6 (14:51):
It just seems amazing, like you say, with how much
money and time has invested in these teams, And I mean,
I guess, is it McLaren or do you want to
be Eston Martin? I mean, Fernando Alonzo had to withdraw
this morning because he was you know, the car was
shaking so much that he felt like he was getting
nerve damage in his hands and his lower arms. I
mean astonishing, But I guess it's a big change in
terms of what they've done with these regulations and it
(15:13):
goes to show how technical and how complicated these machines are.
That the best in the world, these mechanics, These teams
are still struggling to figure them out and even get
them onto the grid. So I guess that's the other
side of Formula One, isn't It's like, you know, we
get the racing on track, but then it's the technology
race off the track in terms of how fast can
you make your car and how reliable can you make
(15:34):
it as well, especially with these new machines and what's
gone into them.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Well, two Grand Prix into the calendar year, two rounds
into the NRL season as well. The Warriors doing a
job on Canberra, certainly in the second half on Friday
night at a very wet and greasy go Media Stadium.
One of four teams with two wins to start their season,
Clay the first on the Warriors have done that since
(15:58):
twenty eighteen. Have you seen enough to declare it our year?
Or you did a bigger body of work?
Speaker 6 (16:05):
Ah as much as I love the Warriors, and as
much I would love to make that declaration right here
on the Sports Fixed podcast, Pioney, I'm not quite ready
just yet. I mean, they have been hugely impressive. I mean,
who saw either of those results coming, especially in the
wet there at Mount Smart on Friday. To come out
and put what thirty four points on in the second
(16:26):
half in those conditions, I think it goes to show
that there are the foundations of a very good team here,
a team that was without already without Mitch Barney and
Luke Mtcalf and then lost Kirk Capewell in the in
the warm ups. Man, it's it's really really promising signs.
The NRL, though, is such a brutal close. Just it's
(16:50):
just so hard to be consistently good in this competition
that I think you do want to see a slightly
bigger sample size before you get you get too excited
about about where it might lead. But certainly you've got
to say that they're in the early conversation and they're
doing doing everything right to show that they're going to
(17:10):
be one of the teams in the mix come the end.
But yeah, just really just I think most people are
just stunned at the start and against two good teams
or supposedly good teams that they've come out and been
able to put forty points on both of them.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
As you say, you don't want to get too carried away,
do you? But I feel like I want to get
carried away about Legal Hellison, about Leaka Hella Seema. I
want to get carried away about Legu Hello Seema. Yeah,
because go for it, because the kid just looks like
the real deal to me. Clay. You know, he's obviously
been used mainly off the inenterchange bench, and I think
Andrew Webster even said pre this season that is where
we still see his best value. But when when Capewell
(17:47):
was a late withdrawal, it was lek A Hello Sima
who came into the starting side, got a couple of tries.
I know that's only one part of it, but every
time I see him play, I just think he could
be anything he wants to be.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
This kid.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
I heard a great phrase, a great commentary phrase used
over the weekend to describe Legual hell of Seemen as
that he must have spiders on him because that's how
the defenders treat And you know he's just that kind
of bloke who's so hard to tackle, and you know,
it almost seems like defenders are avoiding the need to
tackle him at some points because he's just all, you know,
he's just all you know, bones and elbows and knees
(18:21):
and shoulders and you know, it's just such a powerful
body that you imagine trying to tackle him just is
just an absolute nightmare. So I think, you know, the
really promising sign from the weekend was that he got
called in so late, the ability to be called on
late so thrust into a starting position produce that performance
and produce it over the course of eighty minutes. I think,
(18:42):
you know, we heard Andrew ReBs To speak about it
in the press conference, So yeah, I think, you know,
let's not get too carried away about the team just shit,
But I think it's very clear, even based on last season,
Lick Halasima an immense talent, and you know, the ceiling
for him where is it? Who knows, But let's just
hope he stays fit and he's able to continue to
continue that progression is shown.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
I'll tell you what, Clay. The next four games they
play the nights away, and they're two from two to
start the season. Then they play the Tigers at home
they're fifth at the moment, then the Sharks away, and
then the Melbourne Storm on Saturday the eleventh of April.
So after those six games, if they're still traveling in
the same fashion, then we might have to have a
different conversation or an upgraded conversation. Indeed, indeed, yeah, can't
(19:25):
wait to see what happens. Always a pleasure having you
in the chamber. Clay, thanks for stopping in.
Speaker 6 (19:29):
No Prob's pruning.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news how
and by News Talks AB.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
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(19:59):
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Scefix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into the sports Fix podcast. At
the start of another working week. At the end of
another very busy and intriguing sporting weekend, I'm Jason Pine.
On March the sixteenth, sports Flex brought to you an
association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
What about the Warriors on Friday night? And almost as
(00:42):
good as the performance on the field was the performance
off the field of their CEO, Cameron George at the end.
Did you see that the cameras panned to him on
the final whistle and he was giving it to the Raiders,
taunting them, giving it to Joseph Tuppeny, who of course
had given the Warriors the cry baby taunts last year.
(01:02):
Cameron George gave it back along with a couple of
monter waves and it got me thinking, he is so authentic,
so real. He's not like a normal CEO, is he?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
So?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
How does this happen? And is it? Perhaps the way forward?
With so many of our sporting organizations actually looking for
a CEO at the moment, Cameron George going to join us.
We'll kick around a few sporting topics in the chamber
with Klay Wilson and the largest in sports news coming
up too, So let's get into it. In other news,
Let's kick you off with a look at some of
(01:34):
the big sports stories around today. A maiden Formula One
victory at the Chinese Grand Prix Father Italia Chimmy Antonelli
for the first time in Formula one.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
When's the Grand Prix?
Speaker 3 (01:46):
It is victory in Shanghai. A silver medal for alpine
skier Adam Hall and the slalom standing on the last
day of the Paralympics in Milan, Cortina.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Yeah, I'm in shock, but yeah, congratulations to the whole team,
everyone that's helped.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Me get here.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
Everybody that is at home there has been on this
journey as well.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
It's been incredible.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
As an emotional Adam Hall, it's his sixth medal at
his sixth Paralympic Games. And a second Australian Squash Open
title for Paul Cole and Brisbane, beating world number six
Joel Macon in the final God Good in circle.
Speaker 5 (02:26):
Well, that is a title.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Stir of acceleration us drawn absolute by.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Server March dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
It's Sportsfix with Jason Bene.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
You're listening to the sports podcast after the Warrior is
very impressive when over the Raiders on Friday night. It
wasn't just the performance on the field getting attention. Also
the reaction of CEO Cameron George. His raw, emotional celebration
and very human response, including a cheeky reference to the
previous actions of Raiders forward Joseph Tappany, have been widely
(03:00):
praised as the kind of passion you don't always see
from a modern sports executive. Cam George is with us, camus,
I say, there's been a lot of pasz a reaction
to the way you reacted after the win. Do you
just consciously let yourself become a fan in those moments?
Speaker 5 (03:16):
It means so much to me this footy club, and
we put so much work into winning every week, and
that's on and off the.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Field, and I know I know what's coming when we
get beat.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
That's a that's a flogging by the press and everyone.
But yeah, I just it just means a lot to
me to win.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
And yeah, I got caught out on.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
Camera the other night, probably not doing my best dance moves.
But at the end of the day, you know, it
meant a lot to me, and I have a long memory.
So he got the better of me, but we won
and we move on. So that's the most important thing.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
I guess, also the fact that you were out there
just and you know outside, where do you normally watch
games from.
Speaker 5 (04:02):
I'm quite versatile, subject to the way in which the
game is going, be found to be anywhere around the stadium.
I remember last year we're playing Paramatta at the end
of the year, and about fifteen minutes ago I was
on the western side, and then I found myself on
the eastern side in the tunnel towards the last ten minutes.
Speaker 4 (04:25):
So I try and find places.
Speaker 5 (04:27):
Where I can get a good view and feel good
about the game. But sometimes you want to find a
place where you can hide as well.
Speaker 4 (04:34):
That wasn't a case the other night. It was a
bit wet. I couldn't go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I guess there's an assumption that the CEO of the
sporting organization spends it in the corporate areas, you know,
sort of shaking hands and you know, making sure the
sponsors are looked after. But you're happy enough to do
some of that, but also to watch you like a
normal fan would.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
Yeah, I do do that, and we do that obviously
to support our sponsors and so on, the support our
footage club. However, Yeah, you know I love watching the
game behind the goal post as well because I feel
like you can.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
I can read it a lot better there as to
what's going.
Speaker 5 (05:14):
On, and you know, you just do what you got
to do, and you know where my heart my sleep.
But the most important thing is our fans had a
great time with a good win, and you know we've
got to refocus now and try and get the result
again this week.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Your crowds are the envy of most other New Zealand
sporting teams. How have you done it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
Well?
Speaker 5 (05:37):
You can do it when you've got a great fan base,
and we've done it on I feel like in two
different real key ways.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
One is we have.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Retained our pricing structure to that of twenty twenty three.
We haven't just gone up and up and up across
the whole board.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
We've had to go up in certain.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
Areas due to cost, but we're really proud of the
fact that we've retained generic cost structure across our game
day experience at a level that's been consistent for a
couple of years. So just because we're getting more people,
we didn't want to then just go and start charging
more and more. And by doing that we're able to
(06:22):
have some fun and do promotions and the likes which
we currently do. And secondly, the game day experience is
second to none. What we offer here is something you
don't see in too many other places, and we want
to be the best in New Zealand. A couple of
years ago we were focused on trying to be the
(06:43):
best in the NRL. We reset our focus to be
the best in New Zealand and that's all that matters
to us. And we put a lot of work. We've
got a great team of people and they put a
lot of work in the game day experience and people
come not just for the footy but for the experience,
which is something we're really proud of.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And you should be just on your commercial partners, cam,
how do you ensure that your commercial partners understand the
club's values and your culture rather than just seeing the
relationship as transactional.
Speaker 5 (07:13):
Well, their partnerships to start with, you know, we engage
a lot, we speak a lot, we see each other
a lot. I talk to a lot of them, the CEOs,
the staff all the time.
Speaker 4 (07:29):
We have a lot of fun that's really important to us.
Speaker 5 (07:33):
And in doing so, we do the best we can
with their brand who get them business, and we set
really good KPIs to do that. And I feel across
the board they get the exposure, they get the engagement
with our fan base that they hope for, and that's
something that takes a lot of work from our good
team of staff here.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
But they're not sponsors, they're.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
Partners in our club, and you know, they're really just
a part of our family, which is a fantastic environment to.
Speaker 3 (08:03):
Have from a business perspectives. Does you being authentic and
real actually help build stronger relationships with those partners?
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Yeah, I think we and Jace Paris are probably the
same now. We he did the tweet a few years
ago and I'd done something that you know the other
night that we're talking about. But yeah, you just connect
with them so much because they have the same passion
as us. I want to see us on the field
(08:32):
go to great lengths and win a premiership and they
want to see us off the field b you know,
the biggest vehicle for their brands to be associated with
to generate business. And we share the same values, we
share the same dreams, and we share the same passion.
And when you do that, it's much easier to sit
down and have a viewer with each other. And and
you know, we're not looking at the contracts as to
what we signed up for. We're looking at the contracts
(08:55):
to renew them because you know, we're just so invested
in each other's business. And that takes time, it takes effort,
but it's it's really important for that personal engagement.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
I've used the word authentic and the word real a
lot in this chat, you know, and people describe you
in that fashion when they say those words. What do
you hope they mean by that?
Speaker 5 (09:17):
I hope, well, well, I hope you know they mean that.
I feel what they feel. I feel the passion, I
feel the commitment. I feel the desire to win this competition.
I feel the desire to win this week against Newcastle.
And when we win, I'm elated like they are. When
we win.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
I sleep much better when we lose it recks.
Speaker 5 (09:38):
My weekend, you know, and I'm cranky and it does
have an impact on my life just like every fan,
and I just have to come in front up and
deal with it on the Monday. And that's the real
difference between me and the fan base.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
But the real reason why I'm here is because I
absolutely love this club.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
I absolutely want to win everything and I'm just like
every other family have that wear our colors and that's
I feel really proud about that because I'm not a
corporate CEO, but I just I want to be the
Warriors CEO and lead our fan base.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Well, pretty cool place to be at the moment, and
they are in very good hands. Cam, Thanks for your time, mate,
really appreciated. Cameron George, CEO of the New Zealand Warriors,
joining us on sports Fix. Sportsfix compelling football viewing on
Saturday night from McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, New South Wales,
as Auckland f C went to town looking to challenge
(10:37):
the league leaders. This was the quintessential top of the
table clash. Auckland FC went into the game four points
behind Newcastle at the top of the table and after
this game with just five matches remaining. Had Newcastle won
the game, they would have gone seven points clear five
games left. It's unlikely at best that you make up
(10:58):
that ground in the final month of the season. Instead,
a win for Auckland FC has seen them draw to
within one point of the Newcastle Jets, and it feels
now as though they've flex their muscles and they are
back in the running, if not favorite, to retain the
Premier's Plate that they won last season. Of course, Newcastle
(11:19):
still have the lead so effectively, mathematically, theoretically they still
are in the driver's seat. If they were to win
their five remaining games, they will be premiers. Auckland FC
can't do anything about that. They can't affect Newcastle's results.
They just have to wait for them to slip up
and do as well as they can themselves. The second
(11:39):
part of that, though, is what gives me faith that
Auckland f C are about to go back to back
as Premier's Plate winners. After a very challenging January in
which they won just one of their six matches. It
feels like the old Auckland FC are back. The swagger
is there, the ability to win football matches with skill
and expertise, at both ends of the pitch was on
(12:01):
display on Saturday night and they have got a number
of players right at the top of their game. See
Randall is absolutely tearing up the A League. He provided
another assist on Saturday night in the middle of another
excellent performance. Two goals for Sam Costgrove ten for the season.
Now he is the A League's Golden Boot leader at present.
(12:22):
And then at the back, the center back pairing of
Dan Hall, who was again exceptional and Jake Goodwood Reich
repelled everything Newcastle through at Auckland late in the game
to try and find themselves a point. They are functioning
superbly at the moment Auckland FC, and the best time
to be doing that is running down the home straight.
(12:43):
Newcastle are about to be run down, mowned down by
Auckland FC. They're going to lift silverware again in a
month or so, I'm almost certain of it.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (12:59):
This is the Sports Fix podcast and into the Chamber
we go. A big sporting weekend is coming gone with
lots of talking points. Clay Wilson News Talks be Sports
Editor is in the chamber with me, Liam Lawson and
China can we start there, Clay, would he consider that
to be his best ever Formula One weekend?
Speaker 6 (13:17):
Do you think, well, if he doesn't, have you hardPressed
to find another one. I think, you know, a double
points finished those sprint weekends and notoriously difficult to handle.
And you know, all the comment coming out of racing
Balls and Lawson himself was that, you know, the car
wasn't going to be as quick and didn't feel as
quick as it was in Australia, so they weren't really
have they wouldn't They didn't really have big expectations and
(13:39):
maybe that was kind of the key because they obviously
took a couple of risks strategy wise, and it paid off,
especially in the sprint race, but then also in the
in the main Grand Prix. You know, the pit stop
didn't work for them, but they clearly had enough in
the car and Liam did a superb job. I think,
what did you do forty six laps on those hard
tires in his second stint. It's a it's a pretty
(14:02):
amazing effort. And you know, once again we saw his
defensive capabilities come out at the end of that race
on on shot tires, where he has that ability to
keep drivers behind him, you know, and a seventh place
finish given how hard this start to the season and
these new regulations has been for a lot of these drivers.
You know what, he's leveled with Max for Steppen and points.
(14:23):
I think, so, you know, do we stop the count now?
Speaker 4 (14:26):
Maybe?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Hey, if we offer him that at the start of
the season after two rounder level with Max Verstappan, he
bites your hand off for that, doesn't he. I know,
there have been extenuating circumstances, speaking of which, how would
you go being in a McLaren car at the moment
Pstre and norris oscar. Pstre hasn't even completed a lap
yet in two Grand Prix Clay. I mean, there's millions
(14:46):
and millions and millions of dollars pumped into these cars
and they can't even go, isn't it?
Speaker 6 (14:51):
It just seems amazing, like you say, with how much
money and time has invested in these teams, And I mean,
I guess, is it McLaren or do you want to
be Eston Martin? I mean, Fernando Alonzo had to withdraw
this morning because he was you know, the car was
shaking so much that he felt like he was getting
nerve damage in his hands and his lower arms. I
mean astonishing, But I guess it's a big change in
terms of what they've done with these regulations and it
(15:13):
goes to show how technical and how complicated these machines are.
That the best in the world, these mechanics, These teams
are still struggling to figure them out and even get
them onto the grid. So I guess that's the other
side of Formula One, isn't It's like, you know, we
get the racing on track, but then it's the technology
race off the track in terms of how fast can
you make your car and how reliable can you make
(15:34):
it as well, especially with these new machines and what's
gone into them.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Well, two Grand Prix into the calendar year, two rounds
into the NRL season as well. The Warriors doing a
job on Canberra, certainly in the second half on Friday
night at a very wet and greasy go Media Stadium.
One of four teams with two wins to start their season,
Clay the first on the Warriors have done that since
(15:58):
twenty eighteen. Have you seen enough to declare it our year?
Or you did a bigger body of work?
Speaker 6 (16:05):
Ah as much as I love the Warriors, and as
much I would love to make that declaration right here
on the Sports Fixed podcast, Pioney, I'm not quite ready
just yet. I mean, they have been hugely impressive. I mean,
who saw either of those results coming, especially in the
wet there at Mount Smart on Friday. To come out
and put what thirty four points on in the second
(16:26):
half in those conditions, I think it goes to show
that there are the foundations of a very good team here,
a team that was without already without Mitch Barney and
Luke Mtcalf and then lost Kirk Capewell in the in
the warm ups. Man, it's it's really really promising signs.
The NRL, though, is such a brutal close. Just it's
(16:50):
just so hard to be consistently good in this competition
that I think you do want to see a slightly
bigger sample size before you get you get too excited
about about where it might lead. But certainly you've got
to say that they're in the early conversation and they're
doing doing everything right to show that they're going to
(17:10):
be one of the teams in the mix come the end.
But yeah, just really just I think most people are
just stunned at the start and against two good teams
or supposedly good teams that they've come out and been
able to put forty points on both of them.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
As you say, you don't want to get too carried away,
do you? But I feel like I want to get
carried away about Legal Hellison, about Leaka Hella Seema. I
want to get carried away about Legu Hello Seema. Yeah,
because go for it, because the kid just looks like
the real deal to me. Clay. You know, he's obviously
been used mainly off the inenterchange bench, and I think
Andrew Webster even said pre this season that is where
we still see his best value. But when when Capewell
(17:47):
was a late withdrawal, it was lek A Hello Sima
who came into the starting side, got a couple of tries.
I know that's only one part of it, but every
time I see him play, I just think he could
be anything he wants to be.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
This kid.
Speaker 6 (17:59):
I heard a great phrase, a great commentary phrase used
over the weekend to describe Legual hell of Seemen as
that he must have spiders on him because that's how
the defenders treat And you know he's just that kind
of bloke who's so hard to tackle, and you know,
it almost seems like defenders are avoiding the need to
tackle him at some points because he's just all, you know,
he's just all you know, bones and elbows and knees
(18:21):
and shoulders and you know, it's just such a powerful
body that you imagine trying to tackle him just is
just an absolute nightmare. So I think, you know, the
really promising sign from the weekend was that he got
called in so late, the ability to be called on
late so thrust into a starting position produce that performance
and produce it over the course of eighty minutes. I think,
(18:42):
you know, we heard Andrew ReBs To speak about it
in the press conference, So yeah, I think, you know,
let's not get too carried away about the team just shit,
But I think it's very clear, even based on last season,
Lick Halasima an immense talent, and you know, the ceiling
for him where is it? Who knows, But let's just
hope he stays fit and he's able to continue to
continue that progression is shown.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
I'll tell you what, Clay. The next four games they
play the nights away, and they're two from two to
start the season. Then they play the Tigers at home
they're fifth at the moment, then the Sharks away, and
then the Melbourne Storm on Saturday the eleventh of April.
So after those six games, if they're still traveling in
the same fashion, then we might have to have a
different conversation or an upgraded conversation. Indeed, indeed, yeah, can't
(19:25):
wait to see what happens. Always a pleasure having you
in the chamber. Clay, thanks for stopping in.
Speaker 6 (19:29):
No Prob's pruning.
Speaker 1 (19:31):
This is Sportsfix, your daily dose of sports news how
and by News Talks AB.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
And that'll do us on the Sports Fix podcast for today.
We greatly appreciate you downloading and listening in and a
particular to Sports Fix subscribers, a fresh episode will drop
into your podcast feed and around about the same time
tomorrow afternoon and every day Monday through Friday. And for
more from News Talks AIRB Sport check out Sports Talk
weeknights between seven and eight and on the weekend's Weekend
(19:59):
Sport Midday until three Saturday and the same time on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
For more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air
or online and keep It shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio,
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