March 22, 2026 • 19 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 23rd March 2026, NZC have announced today that they will pursue NZ20 as their preferred option for the New Zealand domestic T20 competition. This has come after months of debate as to whether that or expansion into Australia's Big Bash would be better for the game in New Zealand. Head of NZ20 steering committee, Don MacKinnon, joins the podcast to discuss what this means going forward.
Piney is ready to say it - It's the Warriors' year.
Plus, Adam Cooper is in the Chamber recapping a big win for the Hurricanes.
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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.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a new week and a
fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast, brought to you
an association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder.
It is Monday, March twenty third. I'm Jason Pine. Great
to have you listening in. We finally have a decision
around the future of the domestic T twenty game here
(00:42):
in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket will pursue the proposed
n Z twenty Franchise League as their preferred option. The
governing body has decided to support the establishment of the
new competition, which is already backed by the major associations
and the Players Association. So where to from here? What
are the big landmarks that have to be hit before
(01:03):
they can stand this thing up? Were joined on the
Sports Fix podcast today by Don McCay, a chair of
the NZED twenty establishment Committee, to tell us more. Adam
Cooper pops inside the chamber to discuss the weekend's super
Rugby action and other bits and pieces and the latest
and sports news coming your way too, So let's get
into it. In other news, let's kick things off with
(01:26):
a look at some of the big sports stories around today.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Can we shop put a?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Tom Walsh has won his fourth World Athletics Indoor Championship title,
the most by any man, a best throw of twenty
one point eight two meters and Poland's.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Round six for to walh is gonna be even further.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
If he seated a circlear.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
What a guy? What's an appy?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
This guy is infectious.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Manchester City have won the first major trophy of the
English football season. Rightchester City on child nine, the names time.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
They have laid hands on the Football.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
League Cup and a local boy it's the hero.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Nik right Manchester City betting Arsenal two nil in the
League Cup final at Wembley. And the black Caps have
lost by nineteen runs to South Africa in Wellington in
the fourth T twenty of their five match series. The
visitors scored one sixty four for five before bowling the
black Caps out for one forty five and squaring the
series at two games apiece. Stand In New Zealand, captain
(02:31):
Jimmy Neisham says they failed to meet their own expectations.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
You certainly had a chance going in to the I
was the second half of the game, and yeah, a
few average options and yeah, poor execution and you come
out on the wrong side of it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. New Zealand domestic
cricket could be on the verge of its biggest shake
up in a generation. The proposed en ZED twenty franchise
league has been identified by New Zealand Cricket as the
preferred option for the future of the domestic T twenty game.
Don McKinnon is chair of the n ZED twenty Establishment Committee.
(03:11):
He joins us now, Don, congratulations on this significant milestone.
How significant is this moment for the n ZED twenty
group to be named the preferred option for New Zealand's
domestic T twenty future.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, jeez, Jason, it's significant. It's special. We're absolutely delighted.
We're delighted because we've put in an awful lot of
hard work to get to this point, but just as much,
we're just so excited about about what this can do.
For cricket in our country and what it can do
for fans. So a lot of work still to go.
But first reaction is just complete the light.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I bet well, work still to do, as you say,
So what are the major milestones and the hurdles I
guess the clear before n Z twenty becomes a reality.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Well, first and foremost, we need to move this from
support and principle from the zeand Cricket to an actual
license right and the license will set out the full
rules of how we'll run this competition, and it will
also will also include finalizing the whole structure of the competition.
And we've worked really hard with New Zealand Criklund the
(04:18):
last few months of behind the scenes to talk to
them about what they needed for a win win from
their perspective, and I think we've made some really good
progress in that regard. So I'm really confident we can
nail the license, but that's a key part of us.
And then obviously at the same time, we now need
to make sure we can bring investors into this competition,
(04:39):
both that league level and that team level. That's a
truckload of work required and we hadn't really about to
push got until now, so that we've now got the
green light to at least now start to engage at
a much more definitive level.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Do you have private investment, a league investor, team investors
ready to talk with.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, but you know, the devil's never sorry. It's never
done until it's done, and we haven't been able to
take that terribly far until we knew we had New
Zone Cricket support and principle. You know that means timing
is tight, certainly if you want to be ready for
January twenty seven. But we have just continually been blown
(05:25):
away by the level of interest from around the world
and from New Zealanders in this competition. So our confidence
level remains really high, Jason, But you know there is
just a limp as if again awful Opton outdo.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
So you do have time to stand it up in
time for January twenty twenty seven. All going well.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, all going well. So that's one hundred percent the
intent is in the twenty and it's one hundred percent
of the intents of New Zealand Cricket. But we have
January twenty eight, or potentially even December twenty seven, depending
on when we start our Woman's competition as a backup if,
for example, the license proves more complicated or obviously there
(06:05):
is a number of things happening in the world at
the moment that could have a bearing, you know, in
terms of the sale process. So we're confident we can
do it in January twenty seven, and that is absolutely
our number word goal, But we have to be realistic.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
There's a lot to do, and you'll be able to
work around existing cricketing schedules, international schedules in particular to
make that happen. I know, obviously the Black Apps gone
to Australia the fourth Test early in January twenty twenty seven.
You can work around that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, we can absolutely work around that. The tricky thing
and the thing that will be part of our discussions
in the next little while is where the SriLankan torfits
into that. I mean, in our ideal window, you'd had
this lovely summer of cricket where you had an amazing
test series in Australia and then that could roll into
t twenty four a month and Died twenty four a
month and then you know, an amazing tour from Sri Lanka. Now,
(06:59):
whether that can be made to work in tweak. I mean,
to me, that sounds like an extraordinary summer of cricket,
but we're very aware that it was on. Cricket have
incredibly important international obligations and while every country with a
franchise league typically tweaks the calendar to provide a window,
you know, we just need to see whether we can
(07:19):
do that in January twenty seven and that's one of
the challenges around timing.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
New Zealand Cricket have also emphasized the need to protect
regional identity. How will you balance a franchise model with
traditional cricket regions.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
In terms of regions, well, the key is to make
sure we have a good spread of teams around the country.
So that's the first thing, because we want fans engaged
throughout New Zealand and we thought that was in truth
one of our big advantages over the other option of
the BBL. The next thing is as our model is
(07:53):
designed to make sure that some of that team sale
process actually go straight into grassroots cricket, and that's we
think an extraordinarily positive aspect of the sale. I think
some people sort of see it as rich people owning
cricket teams. The reality is the proceeds goes straight into
the community gain from most team sales and we think
(08:15):
that's that's incredibly positive for the cricket and community in
our country.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
What does inded twity look like for the women's game, Don.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, well, we're going to be working through that in
the in the short while. With New Zealand Cricket. The
reality is we are We've made it clear to every
league and team investor that we've spoken to that we
are absolutely committed to a women's franchise competition. Initially that
may be a slightly shorter version than the men's competition
(08:48):
in December, and that lines up well with the VBL
in Australia, but we want to move that to a
full competition as quickly as we can. And you know,
one option to even look at is whether we can
do that from day one. So I suppose to the
best answer the question, Jason, as total commit to having
(09:09):
a woman's franchise league competition in New Zealand as quickly
as we can. We want that to be on the
same footing as the men were.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
You always confident that you would get this outcome from
the Board of New Zealand Cricket.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Great question. I think we were always confident that this
was the best model for the game and certainly for fans.
We know that there's some very good people in New
Zealand cricket and where we sort of trusted the process. You,
I'll be honest, you get very nervous when you get
quite long delays and obviously a number of reports being
(09:45):
done by various parties and an awful lot of commentary
in the media that has nothing to do with us,
but it makes you, It makes you nervous. But we
were always confident that, you know, what we were looking
at is being done around the world and we just
had the great opportunity to come along and the right time,
at the plate, right place make it work in New Zealand.
(10:08):
So I wouldn't say supremely confident, but quietly confident. Perhaps.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
All right, well you got the outcome year after, I
think the outcome that's going to be universally or close
to universally popular. Don, thanks indeed for joining us. Don McKinnon,
chair of the n Z twenty Establishment Committee, joining us
on sports Fix Sports. Yes, I know it's early, and
yes I know it's easy to get carried away, but
after three games of the NRL season. Are we willing
(10:36):
to at least entertain the possibility that this could be
might be the Warriors year, could be our year? After
the first up win over the Roosters, followed up by
the win over the Raiders at home, the trip to
Newcastle to take on the also unbeaten Nights were seen.
I guess there's a bit of a litmus test to
(10:57):
see where this team was at, particularly given the fact
that a couple of key players were missing no chance
Nicol Kluksta with Taine Tuulpikey slotting in at fullback, no
Chanelle Harrison Vita a first grade debut for Luke Hanson,
and other players also not available for various reasons. Adam
Pompey didn't make the trip, for example, with the arrival
(11:20):
of a new member of their family in the offing,
so he wasn't there either, Lekahalosima having to go into
the centers to cover there in Morgan Gannon with a
club debut as well. But in amongst all of that,
and Gannon actually only lasting five minutes before he was
forced off with a head knock, it was an entirely
(11:40):
impressive performance from the Warriors wasn't it great to see
Mitch Barnett back as well, a long long time on
the sidelines rehabbing from the injury that ruled him out
of the second half of last season. He was back
out there and looking like he had never been away.
On the occasion of his one hundredth NRL match. Jackson
(12:00):
Ford just absolutely terrific. And Tanner Boyd, who I think
there were question marks about after his MIX twenty twenty
five and his ability to run the cutter for the
Warriors in the absence of Luke Metcalf until about round
seven or eight, he was again man of the match.
In fact, across the first three games, I think he's
been the Warrior's best player. So now there is a
(12:23):
selection headache for Andrew Webster when Luke Metcalf comes back,
and I think Metcalf probably either has to bite his
time or slot into the six jumper, and that in
itself is an appealing proposition. Luke Metcalf and Tanner Boyd
in the halves, it's all looking very good, albeit early,
for the Warriors. Say it quietly or say it loudly
(12:45):
if you like our year.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
The Chamber is now in session. On Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
On the Sports Fix podcast Let's Pop Inside the Chamber
on a Monday, joined by the head of News Talk
ZEDB Sports Wellington Bureau, Adam Cooper Coops. What about those Hurricanes?
Is it time to say, you know, with you know,
with barely disguised barochialism, that the Hurricanes are super rugby favorite.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Based on right now they are? Yeah, definitely. I mean
it's still a long way to go, particularly a pretty
tough schedule they've got with a majority schedule of Kiwi
Darby's to wrap up the season. So I think promising,
that's probably the word I'll use. You know, Clark Lador
on his first year in charge, a couple of seasons ago,
got to them, got them to a point like we're
seeing now, and then playing a very great start of rugby,
(13:34):
top end of the table, and then it got to
i think the semi finals that year and they were
pit by the Chief. So I mean, yeah, I'm not
ready to say that they are in two months time
going to be lifting the trophy. But I think what
we saw from them on Friday night the first time properly,
I think we're seeing them with a full strength team
with Ruben love able to start at ten with Cam
Royguard at half back and Jordy Barrett at twelve. Goodness me,
(13:55):
what a trio that set up some incredible back line
play right through that game. Individual brilliance from all three
of them, but then team brilliants as well as the
back line worked. Fiji fin Young and off for you
just continuing to score or more tries and other three
to his name for the season. It's quite remarkable. So
you know, seeing them sort of find some form now
(14:15):
after a strange fit of month to start the competition.
This was seen as a big test in the first
KIW derby up against the Hardlanders. At the end of
the day, yes, they might have some tough assignments ahead,
but we can only assess them on who they've played
so far, and based on that round six opener on
Friday night, I think we can say that they are
playing some great rugby in and with to be a
real competitive force this season. But the Reds at home
(14:38):
this week, I think they're going to be a tough
one as well. That they're doing pretty well in that
top four at the moment and the Hurricanes will be
wanting to keep that momentum going.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
I think it's been a clamor. I was going to
say justin Wellington, but probably around the country as well
to see Rubin Love at first five. And I see
on the Breakdown last night on Sky they had a
bit of a poll going as to who should be
starting at first five for the All Blacks, and Rubin
Love is now in that conversation. I think it's probably
a bit early to say off the evidence of one
(15:06):
game against and admittedly very or Highland's side, that he's
ready to run the cutter at All Blacks level. But
it was great to talk to him on the radio
on Saturday and hear him say I don't have to
dance around this anymore. I don't have to say anything.
I want to play first five. This is the position
I played growing up. He was excellent there at school.
He has had limited opportunities with the lines and the
(15:27):
Hurricanes because of injury, largely now his opportunity has come
to run the cutter.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Look, I mean, I'm.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Just really curious to see how he goes and on
the evidence of the other night, he looks very much
at home in that position.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, I mean, he would have done everything the coach
has asked of him. You'd say from a viewer's perspective,
and more probably the way he was able to pass
the ball around different directions of the back line individually
creating some great space and great chances. We know he's
a guy that works incredibly hard. He sets some very
high aims for himself and it's prepared to put in
the hard work to get there and contribute so highly
(16:00):
to his team. So yeah, I think from a New
Zealand perspective as well, it's lucky to have someone like
him come into this conversation. I mean, still, as you say,
a long way to go, but a great start, and
certainly with the Hurricanes, this is different to what their
plans were for this year. Obviously, Britt Cameron was due
to be the guy at ten, Rubin Love was going
to I guess in some respects player supporting role to
that be more of a utility. But now we're seeing
(16:21):
him as a specialist ten. I don't think you can
have any scenario now this year where if he's fully
fit and ready for minutes, that he can't start in
that number ten Jersey, You've got to play him there.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yep, I agree. So after Round six of Super Regular,
the Hurricanes are top level on points with the Blues
but ahead on points stiff. Then the Brumbies, the Reds,
the Crusaders and the Chiefs rounding out the top six.
We had cricket in the Capital yesterday with Game four
and the double head of the T twenty double header
between the black Caps and the White Ferns and their
South African counterparts. I want to focus in on the
(16:52):
women's game because well there's a T twenty World Cup
coming up in the middle of the year and I
think that was a pretty it was a pretty solid performance,
wasn't it yesterday to close the series out three to
one with a game to go?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I think so. Yeah, it was very impressed. Actually, I
mean these are high totals for cricket, particularly in these
Kiwi conditions, and you know, when you're talking one fifty
one sixty, I think it was what one fifty nine
yesterday for the South Africans posted for the New Zealand.
It's a chase down, you know, that's a that's a
tough ask and you know we saw a pretty high
total achieved by the White fans chasing at Eden Park
(17:26):
on Friday nights, you know where we saw a couple
of the more experienced players contribute there, and then yesterday
we saw on their home grounds Sophie Divine, Merely Kerr,
Maddy Medica and Georgia Plimmer, I should say, all contribute
pretty strongly with the bat and they just got the
momentum going and they, you know, just just kept the
chase going and by the end of it, it was
(17:46):
a simple chase once they got to those final few overs.
There was no real pressure in those last few overs
because they'd sort of kept the run rate up and
kept themselves in there. So I think it's a great
confidence boost for the White Ferns. They are a few
months out from their World Cup title defense. They're going
to have to play a few one days against South Africa,
which is a little bit strange to finish the summer
when they're so close to this tournament. But the team
(18:07):
just just you have to be on the field yesterday
interviewing a few of them after the game, and there
just seems to be a real buzz around that team
and they are. That really meant a lot to them.
Solidifying that series with the game despair.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Yeah, it was good stuff from them, I guess. So
you look at the black Caps and they had to
play those one days against India, didn't they before the
T twenty World Cup over there. I know they didn't
have exactly the same team, but it didn't seem to
affect them. In fact, the fact that they won that
series may have given them a bit of a boost
going into their T twenty World Cup. So Games five
are for the men. Tied up at two all now,
so the decider in christ Church for the women. They'll
(18:37):
try and make it a four one score line. Always
good chatting in the chamber with her coops. Thanks for
stopping and as always all good punty.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news,
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Speaker 2 (18:49):
Evy and that'll blow the final. We're still on the
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(19:11):
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Speaker 1 (19:18):
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Hi there and welcome into a new week and a
fresh episode of the Sports Fix podcast, brought to you
an association with GJ. Gardner Holmes, New Zealand's most trusted homebuilder.
It is Monday, March twenty third. I'm Jason Pine. Great
to have you listening in. We finally have a decision
around the future of the domestic T twenty game here
(00:42):
in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket will pursue the proposed
n Z twenty Franchise League as their preferred option. The
governing body has decided to support the establishment of the
new competition, which is already backed by the major associations
and the Players Association. So where to from here? What
are the big landmarks that have to be hit before
(01:03):
they can stand this thing up? Were joined on the
Sports Fix podcast today by Don McCay, a chair of
the NZED twenty establishment Committee, to tell us more. Adam
Cooper pops inside the chamber to discuss the weekend's super
Rugby action and other bits and pieces and the latest
and sports news coming your way too, So let's get
into it. In other news, let's kick things off with
(01:26):
a look at some of the big sports stories around today.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Can we shop put a?
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Tom Walsh has won his fourth World Athletics Indoor Championship title,
the most by any man, a best throw of twenty
one point eight two meters and Poland's.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Round six for to walh is gonna be even further.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
If he seated a circlear.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
What a guy? What's an appy?
Speaker 1 (01:50):
This guy is infectious.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Manchester City have won the first major trophy of the
English football season. Rightchester City on child nine, the names time.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
They have laid hands on the Football.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
League Cup and a local boy it's the hero.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Nik right Manchester City betting Arsenal two nil in the
League Cup final at Wembley. And the black Caps have
lost by nineteen runs to South Africa in Wellington in
the fourth T twenty of their five match series. The
visitors scored one sixty four for five before bowling the
black Caps out for one forty five and squaring the
series at two games apiece. Stand In New Zealand, captain
(02:31):
Jimmy Neisham says they failed to meet their own expectations.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
You certainly had a chance going in to the I
was the second half of the game, and yeah, a
few average options and yeah, poor execution and you come
out on the wrong side of it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Dissecting the sporting agenda, it's Sportsfix with Jason Vine.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You're listening to the Sports Fix podcast. New Zealand domestic
cricket could be on the verge of its biggest shake
up in a generation. The proposed en ZED twenty franchise
league has been identified by New Zealand Cricket as the
preferred option for the future of the domestic T twenty game.
Don McKinnon is chair of the n ZED twenty Establishment Committee.
(03:11):
He joins us now, Don, congratulations on this significant milestone.
How significant is this moment for the n ZED twenty
group to be named the preferred option for New Zealand's
domestic T twenty future.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Yeah, jeez, Jason, it's significant. It's special. We're absolutely delighted.
We're delighted because we've put in an awful lot of
hard work to get to this point, but just as much,
we're just so excited about about what this can do.
For cricket in our country and what it can do
for fans. So a lot of work still to go.
But first reaction is just complete the light.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I bet well, work still to do, as you say,
So what are the major milestones and the hurdles I
guess the clear before n Z twenty becomes a reality.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
Well, first and foremost, we need to move this from
support and principle from the zeand Cricket to an actual
license right and the license will set out the full
rules of how we'll run this competition, and it will
also will also include finalizing the whole structure of the competition.
And we've worked really hard with New Zealand Criklund the
(04:18):
last few months of behind the scenes to talk to
them about what they needed for a win win from
their perspective, and I think we've made some really good
progress in that regard. So I'm really confident we can
nail the license, but that's a key part of us.
And then obviously at the same time, we now need
to make sure we can bring investors into this competition,
(04:39):
both that league level and that team level. That's a
truckload of work required and we hadn't really about to
push got until now, so that we've now got the
green light to at least now start to engage at
a much more definitive level.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Do you have private investment, a league investor, team investors
ready to talk with.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, but you know, the devil's never sorry. It's never
done until it's done, and we haven't been able to
take that terribly far until we knew we had New
Zone Cricket support and principle. You know that means timing
is tight, certainly if you want to be ready for
January twenty seven. But we have just continually been blown
(05:25):
away by the level of interest from around the world
and from New Zealanders in this competition. So our confidence
level remains really high, Jason, But you know there is
just a limp as if again awful Opton outdo.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
So you do have time to stand it up in
time for January twenty twenty seven. All going well.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
Yeah, all going well. So that's one hundred percent the
intent is in the twenty and it's one hundred percent
of the intents of New Zealand Cricket. But we have
January twenty eight, or potentially even December twenty seven, depending
on when we start our Woman's competition as a backup if,
for example, the license proves more complicated or obviously there
(06:05):
is a number of things happening in the world at
the moment that could have a bearing, you know, in
terms of the sale process. So we're confident we can
do it in January twenty seven, and that is absolutely
our number word goal, But we have to be realistic.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
There's a lot to do, and you'll be able to
work around existing cricketing schedules, international schedules in particular to
make that happen. I know, obviously the Black Apps gone
to Australia the fourth Test early in January twenty twenty seven.
You can work around that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
Yeah, we can absolutely work around that. The tricky thing
and the thing that will be part of our discussions
in the next little while is where the SriLankan torfits
into that. I mean, in our ideal window, you'd had
this lovely summer of cricket where you had an amazing
test series in Australia and then that could roll into
t twenty four a month and Died twenty four a
month and then you know, an amazing tour from Sri Lanka. Now,
(06:59):
whether that can be made to work in tweak. I mean,
to me, that sounds like an extraordinary summer of cricket,
but we're very aware that it was on. Cricket have
incredibly important international obligations and while every country with a
franchise league typically tweaks the calendar to provide a window,
you know, we just need to see whether we can
(07:19):
do that in January twenty seven and that's one of
the challenges around timing.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
New Zealand Cricket have also emphasized the need to protect
regional identity. How will you balance a franchise model with
traditional cricket regions.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
In terms of regions, well, the key is to make
sure we have a good spread of teams around the country.
So that's the first thing, because we want fans engaged
throughout New Zealand and we thought that was in truth
one of our big advantages over the other option of
the BBL. The next thing is as our model is
(07:53):
designed to make sure that some of that team sale
process actually go straight into grassroots cricket, and that's we
think an extraordinarily positive aspect of the sale. I think
some people sort of see it as rich people owning
cricket teams. The reality is the proceeds goes straight into
the community gain from most team sales and we think
(08:15):
that's that's incredibly positive for the cricket and community in
our country.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
What does inded twity look like for the women's game, Don.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
Yeah, well, we're going to be working through that in
the in the short while. With New Zealand Cricket. The
reality is we are We've made it clear to every
league and team investor that we've spoken to that we
are absolutely committed to a women's franchise competition. Initially that
may be a slightly shorter version than the men's competition
(08:48):
in December, and that lines up well with the VBL
in Australia, but we want to move that to a
full competition as quickly as we can. And you know,
one option to even look at is whether we can
do that from day one. So I suppose to the
best answer the question, Jason, as total commit to having
(09:09):
a woman's franchise league competition in New Zealand as quickly
as we can. We want that to be on the
same footing as the men were.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
You always confident that you would get this outcome from
the Board of New Zealand Cricket.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Great question. I think we were always confident that this
was the best model for the game and certainly for fans.
We know that there's some very good people in New
Zealand cricket and where we sort of trusted the process. You,
I'll be honest, you get very nervous when you get
quite long delays and obviously a number of reports being
(09:45):
done by various parties and an awful lot of commentary
in the media that has nothing to do with us,
but it makes you, It makes you nervous. But we
were always confident that, you know, what we were looking
at is being done around the world and we just
had the great opportunity to come along and the right time,
at the plate, right place make it work in New Zealand.
(10:08):
So I wouldn't say supremely confident, but quietly confident. Perhaps.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
All right, well you got the outcome year after, I
think the outcome that's going to be universally or close
to universally popular. Don, thanks indeed for joining us. Don McKinnon,
chair of the n Z twenty Establishment Committee, joining us
on sports Fix Sports. Yes, I know it's early, and
yes I know it's easy to get carried away, but
after three games of the NRL season. Are we willing
(10:36):
to at least entertain the possibility that this could be
might be the Warriors year, could be our year? After
the first up win over the Roosters, followed up by
the win over the Raiders at home, the trip to
Newcastle to take on the also unbeaten Nights were seen.
I guess there's a bit of a litmus test to
(10:57):
see where this team was at, particularly given the fact
that a couple of key players were missing no chance
Nicol Kluksta with Taine Tuulpikey slotting in at fullback, no
Chanelle Harrison Vita a first grade debut for Luke Hanson,
and other players also not available for various reasons. Adam
Pompey didn't make the trip, for example, with the arrival
(11:20):
of a new member of their family in the offing,
so he wasn't there either, Lekahalosima having to go into
the centers to cover there in Morgan Gannon with a
club debut as well. But in amongst all of that,
and Gannon actually only lasting five minutes before he was
forced off with a head knock, it was an entirely
(11:40):
impressive performance from the Warriors wasn't it great to see
Mitch Barnett back as well, a long long time on
the sidelines rehabbing from the injury that ruled him out
of the second half of last season. He was back
out there and looking like he had never been away.
On the occasion of his one hundredth NRL match. Jackson
(12:00):
Ford just absolutely terrific. And Tanner Boyd, who I think
there were question marks about after his MIX twenty twenty
five and his ability to run the cutter for the
Warriors in the absence of Luke Metcalf until about round
seven or eight, he was again man of the match.
In fact, across the first three games, I think he's
been the Warrior's best player. So now there is a
(12:23):
selection headache for Andrew Webster when Luke Metcalf comes back,
and I think Metcalf probably either has to bite his
time or slot into the six jumper, and that in
itself is an appealing proposition. Luke Metcalf and Tanner Boyd
in the halves, it's all looking very good, albeit early,
for the Warriors. Say it quietly or say it loudly
(12:45):
if you like our year.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
The Chamber is now in session. On Sportsfix.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
On the Sports Fix podcast Let's Pop Inside the Chamber
on a Monday, joined by the head of News Talk
ZEDB Sports Wellington Bureau, Adam Cooper Coops. What about those Hurricanes?
Is it time to say, you know, with you know,
with barely disguised barochialism, that the Hurricanes are super rugby favorite.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Based on right now they are? Yeah, definitely. I mean
it's still a long way to go, particularly a pretty
tough schedule they've got with a majority schedule of Kiwi
Darby's to wrap up the season. So I think promising,
that's probably the word I'll use. You know, Clark Lador
on his first year in charge, a couple of seasons ago,
got to them, got them to a point like we're
seeing now, and then playing a very great start of rugby,
(13:34):
top end of the table, and then it got to
i think the semi finals that year and they were
pit by the Chief. So I mean, yeah, I'm not
ready to say that they are in two months time
going to be lifting the trophy. But I think what
we saw from them on Friday night the first time properly,
I think we're seeing them with a full strength team
with Ruben love able to start at ten with Cam
Royguard at half back and Jordy Barrett at twelve. Goodness me,
(13:55):
what a trio that set up some incredible back line
play right through that game. Individual brilliance from all three
of them, but then team brilliants as well as the
back line worked. Fiji fin Young and off for you
just continuing to score or more tries and other three
to his name for the season. It's quite remarkable. So
you know, seeing them sort of find some form now
(14:15):
after a strange fit of month to start the competition.
This was seen as a big test in the first
KIW derby up against the Hardlanders. At the end of
the day, yes, they might have some tough assignments ahead,
but we can only assess them on who they've played
so far, and based on that round six opener on
Friday night, I think we can say that they are
playing some great rugby in and with to be a
real competitive force this season. But the Reds at home
(14:38):
this week, I think they're going to be a tough
one as well. That they're doing pretty well in that
top four at the moment and the Hurricanes will be
wanting to keep that momentum going.
Speaker 2 (14:46):
I think it's been a clamor. I was going to
say justin Wellington, but probably around the country as well
to see Rubin Love at first five. And I see
on the Breakdown last night on Sky they had a
bit of a poll going as to who should be
starting at first five for the All Blacks, and Rubin
Love is now in that conversation. I think it's probably
a bit early to say off the evidence of one
(15:06):
game against and admittedly very or Highland's side, that he's
ready to run the cutter at All Blacks level. But
it was great to talk to him on the radio
on Saturday and hear him say I don't have to
dance around this anymore. I don't have to say anything.
I want to play first five. This is the position
I played growing up. He was excellent there at school.
He has had limited opportunities with the lines and the
(15:27):
Hurricanes because of injury, largely now his opportunity has come
to run the cutter.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
Look, I mean, I'm.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Just really curious to see how he goes and on
the evidence of the other night, he looks very much
at home in that position.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, I mean, he would have done everything the coach
has asked of him. You'd say from a viewer's perspective,
and more probably the way he was able to pass
the ball around different directions of the back line individually
creating some great space and great chances. We know he's
a guy that works incredibly hard. He sets some very
high aims for himself and it's prepared to put in
the hard work to get there and contribute so highly
(16:00):
to his team. So yeah, I think from a New
Zealand perspective as well, it's lucky to have someone like
him come into this conversation. I mean, still, as you say,
a long way to go, but a great start, and
certainly with the Hurricanes, this is different to what their
plans were for this year. Obviously, Britt Cameron was due
to be the guy at ten, Rubin Love was going
to I guess in some respects player supporting role to
that be more of a utility. But now we're seeing
(16:21):
him as a specialist ten. I don't think you can
have any scenario now this year where if he's fully
fit and ready for minutes, that he can't start in
that number ten Jersey, You've got to play him there.
Speaker 2 (16:30):
Yep, I agree. So after Round six of Super Regular,
the Hurricanes are top level on points with the Blues
but ahead on points stiff. Then the Brumbies, the Reds,
the Crusaders and the Chiefs rounding out the top six.
We had cricket in the Capital yesterday with Game four
and the double head of the T twenty double header
between the black Caps and the White Ferns and their
South African counterparts. I want to focus in on the
(16:52):
women's game because well there's a T twenty World Cup
coming up in the middle of the year and I
think that was a pretty it was a pretty solid performance,
wasn't it yesterday to close the series out three to
one with a game to go?
Speaker 3 (17:04):
I think so. Yeah, it was very impressed. Actually, I
mean these are high totals for cricket, particularly in these
Kiwi conditions, and you know, when you're talking one fifty
one sixty, I think it was what one fifty nine
yesterday for the South Africans posted for the New Zealand.
It's a chase down, you know, that's a that's a
tough ask and you know we saw a pretty high
total achieved by the White fans chasing at Eden Park
(17:26):
on Friday nights, you know where we saw a couple
of the more experienced players contribute there, and then yesterday
we saw on their home grounds Sophie Divine, Merely Kerr,
Maddy Medica and Georgia Plimmer, I should say, all contribute
pretty strongly with the bat and they just got the
momentum going and they, you know, just just kept the
chase going and by the end of it, it was
(17:46):
a simple chase once they got to those final few overs.
There was no real pressure in those last few overs
because they'd sort of kept the run rate up and
kept themselves in there. So I think it's a great
confidence boost for the White Ferns. They are a few
months out from their World Cup title defense. They're going
to have to play a few one days against South Africa,
which is a little bit strange to finish the summer
when they're so close to this tournament. But the team
(18:07):
just just you have to be on the field yesterday
interviewing a few of them after the game, and there
just seems to be a real buzz around that team
and they are. That really meant a lot to them.
Solidifying that series with the game despair.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Yeah, it was good stuff from them, I guess. So
you look at the black Caps and they had to
play those one days against India, didn't they before the
T twenty World Cup over there. I know they didn't
have exactly the same team, but it didn't seem to
affect them. In fact, the fact that they won that
series may have given them a bit of a boost
going into their T twenty World Cup. So Games five
are for the men. Tied up at two all now,
so the decider in christ Church for the women. They'll
(18:37):
try and make it a four one score line. Always
good chatting in the chamber with her coops. Thanks for
stopping and as always all good punty.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
This is Sports Fix, your daily dose of sports news,
how and by news talks.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
Evy and that'll blow the final. We're still on the
Sports Fix podcast for today. Thank you so much for subscribing,
for downloading, for listening. Subscribers to Sports Fix, we'll find,
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when it comes to sport, check out Sports Talk weeknights
(19:11):
between seven and eight and on the weekends weekend Sport
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Speaker 1 (19:18):
For more from News Talk st B, listen live on
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