September 29, 2025 • 20 mins
On Sports Fix with Jason Pine for 29 September 2025, former Silver Ferns coach Yvonne Willering joins the podcast and demands a quick resolution from Netball NZ on the Dame Noeline Taurua coaching saga. Following Grace Nweke's post-match plea last night for Dame Noeline Taurua to return to the team, Willering shares that Taurua wants the top job back!
Newstalk ZB sport journalist Elijah Fa'afiu joins to discuss All Blacks 33 - 24 win over the Wallabies to retain the Bledisloe Cup and the NRL preliminary finals leave the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos to face each other in the 2025 NRL Grand Final.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Be hello there, and welcome into a fresh episode of
the Sports Links podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
At the start of a.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
New working week, the first week of daylight saving time,
and the summer is fast approach, We've having got cricket
to look forward to this week in Mount Monganui. I'm
Jason Pine. We're here in association with GJ. Gardner Homes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder. We'll get to the
cricket later in the week. For today, though, I want
to look back at a really really interesting thing that
(00:47):
happened after the netball last night. Grace Weki on the
mic and basically pleading for Dame Nolen Todua to come
back and coach the Silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's not Dave.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Nolan's choice, of course, stood down at the moment for
this internal investigation which seems to be ongoing. So what
should we make if Grace Wiki's comments was she's speaking
on behalf of the team or just herself? And what
is in our future when it comes to the silver
firm's coaching position. Well, somebody who knows that role is
Evonne Willering these days an ePol commentator and analyst with
(01:21):
Gold Sports.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
She's going to join us for a chat. Also today,
we're in the chamber with a large up for.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
You are looking back at the All Blacks win over
the Wallabies and the two NRL preliminary finals. The latest
and sports news coming your way too, so let's get
into it. In other news, let's get things underway, as always,
with a look at some of the big sports stories
around today. Team Europe have won Golf's right A Cup
fifteen thirteen over Team USA at New York Best Page.
(01:47):
Black Corse Shane Lowry sank the six foot part on
the eighteenth to tie with Russell Henley and secure the silverware.
Is European captain Luke Donald.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Although I ever tried to do is just be the
best prepared. I can be so many different things. I
went into this dealing with the environment, you know, in
communication with the players.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But the Broncos have scored sixteen unanswered points to beat
the Panthers sixteen fourteen and reach the NRL Grand Final
Risbon Final.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Plannet a game whilst will Runners will run it on
the one back for the City to rub the lad
the Grand Tunnel and the extraordrant.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Circumstance the Broncos to face the Storm and Sunday Nights Final.
And in the Premier League Arsenal have come from one
nil down to beat Newcastle two to one and moved
to within two points.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Of leaders Liverpool at the top of the table. Quarter Garden.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Sixty minutes News an Opinion. It's Sports Fixed with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
What I'm about to tell you is nothing that you
don't already know, and that is that Cam roy Guard
is a welcome ddition into the black jersey or back
into the black chair after a prolonged absence. His performance
in the Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on Saturday
night caught the eye of absolutely everybody. I saw one
(03:19):
postmatch Player of the Day slash Man of the Match
slash MVP pole that had Cam roy Guard polling around
seventy percent of the entire vote as MVP of the game,
and then I thought to myself, well, who's got the
other thirty percent. Yes, there were other good performers for
both sides actually on Saturday night, but Cam Roygard's performance
(03:42):
was a standout, an absolute standout. What it also did
was gave us another indication, if we actually needed it,
of the gap between Cam Royguard and the chasing pack
as far as other All Blacks half back contenders are concerned.
If anything, that gap has got wider. Last year, I
(04:05):
remember thinking Cam Royguard and Courtez Latima were together a
really good one two punch and there might be occasions
where Artima would start the game and Royguard would come
off the bench. Now there is absolutely no doubt at
all that Cam roy Guard, when fit and available, starts
in the number nine jersey, and on top of that,
(04:27):
as we saw on Saturday night, might well play a
significant part in the game. So often with halfbacks you
see them taken off after an hour, sixty five minutes,
seventy minutes or whatever it is, for no real good reason.
It doesn't seem to me anyway then to give the
other bloke a go. On Saturday night, Cam Royguard was
still out there in the seventy fifth minute and that
(04:48):
was when he scored that decisive try which allowed the
All Blacks to ease away and win the match. If
he had been taken off after sixty five seventy minutes.
He wouldn't have been out there, wouldn't have been running
off Quintepie's shoulder, wouldn't have been scoring the match ceiling try.
There are some good halfbacks going around, Artima, Noah Hotham,
Finlay Christi, Kyle Preston, big as On, Dylan Pledger down
(05:10):
in Otago and soon to be in the Highlander set up.
But they are a chasing pack and as they look
ahead to try and get some traction in the race
for that number nine jersey, all they will see is
camroy Guard disappearing into the distance. He is such a
clear number one now that even Daylight is struggling to
keep up.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Beating a fix.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
We've gone just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It's SPORTSFX Power by News Talks Ivy.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
On the Sports Fix podcast.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Silver Fern Star Shootter Grace Wiki has pleaded for absent
coach Dame Nolen Todoa to return. Wiki made the plea
shortly after New Zealand's nail Binding went over South Africa
in the Cargo last night.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
I think it's remiss to celebrate the success without acknowledging
Nolan Todour and the work she's done for this team, Noles.
If you're listening, we love you, and we miss you
and we want you back here.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Former Silver Fern's coach Evon Willarding is with us on
Sports Fix. Yvon, what did you make Grace Wiki's postgame
comments last night?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Well? I think that it actually caught all of us
by surprise. I was doing the radio commentary and when
she took the microphone and going, oh, what's going to
happen here? And yeah, I guess a lot of that
was frustration. Probably people will say that, and I agree.
The timing was not ideal. I mean, South Africa was there.
They'd only just lost that last test, so you know,
(06:33):
at that stage it was really about the tiny Jameson Trophy.
But having said that, you know when, I mean you
could see Grace was frustrated and when does he then
get an opportunity to have us say And then I
look at, you know, the whole situation, and the Players
Association at some stage should have stepped into all of this,
you know, and they're not just there to represent the
(06:55):
players that have had a grievance since the January camp.
This is about all players involved. And so yeah, I
think that that was more frustration than any anything else.
And I do believe that her wording was we and
not just I, because some people have said, oh, it's
because of that, you know, just how she reacted. I mean,
obviously there is a great deal of respect between the
(07:16):
two parties, but I think it does go beyond that.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, and that was the interesting part for me as well, Yvonne,
that she said we miss you, we want you back.
Do you think Grace was speaking on behalf of the
team she was.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Speaking, I'd say on the majority. I think there might
still be grievances. Otherwise, why has this taken so long
to you know, to come to some understanding with this?
So yeah, and again, yeah, it's a situation. Yeah, she
was the acting captain. I think that she appreciated that,
and I guess she just sees the opportunity. And yeah,
(07:49):
it did catch us by surprise. But also now it's
in a situation. Unfortunately it's all being done out in
the open, but there's a lot of stuff that's happening
behind closed doors. And I just wish that, you know,
even if like the Players Association, Neplemusald whoever, if they
just come out and even if they said, look, we're
going through the process. There these are the issues, you know,
(08:12):
and hopefully we will resolve them very soon. But they've
been saying that between you know, even before the Tiny
Jamison and now we don't know whether we're going into
Constellation Cup with Dame Nolin Carru at the helm or
again we've got these interim coaching coaches going through and
you know, I'm with lots of people getting frustrated right
(08:34):
now and saying make some decisions, and you know, and
we most of us still don't know exactly what's happening.
And it's not about that we need to know the
ends and outs, that's not that's not a problem, but
somewhere along the line we need to know exactly, you know,
what is going on going into the future.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
And you're you're so Rightyvon, because what the Constellation Cup
is now less than three weeks away our biggest rivals
Australia Home and Away tests. You know, surely there must
be a quick resolution to this or can you not
see that happening? How were you at a point where actually,
if we couldn't resolve before the Tiny Jemison, if we
don't have time before the Consolation go either well.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, I think they have been put under a lot
more pressure now that Grayson Wecki has come out and spoken,
and maybe that's opened the door for other players to
state their case. I don't know whether contractually they have
to keep quiet, but it just seems to me that
day all the people that are actually concerning all this
are keeping quiet, and people like myself who sit on
(09:36):
the outside of all this, you know, and have a
lot of concern for what's happening. You know, we're basically
just voicing our opinions, but it needs to go deeper
than that. And to me, yeah, like they're saying we want,
like I know, Jenny Wiley has said we want an
early resolution to all this, and I'm going, yeah, but
this could have happened then before the tiny Jemison Trophy.
(09:58):
And yeah, it's interesting. The Silver Firms go back into
camp next week and there will be a team that'll
be selected and maybe a squad selected because to get
they've got a team of a squad of eighteen and
Warmsley will be back in that equation having come back
from the World Youth Cup in Gibralsa, so you know
that's got to be selected and who's going to select
(10:20):
that team, and they said it's going to be within
the next two days. While I like to know who
is doing that selection, and the person that knows all
these players the best of anyone else is Dame nol
In Taora, and she knows what the projection is, what
they're trying to achieve going forward. She is the one
that wanted this camp next week, and she was already
(10:41):
organized all this stuff. And I've spoken to her, and
you know, she is so keen still to take the
Silver Ferns and all the stuff that's happened, and yet
she is still wanting to be there. She, you know,
despite all the stress, she believes and what she stands for.
She believes in the Silver Ferns and that's why she
(11:01):
just needs to be addressed.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Is there any scenario, then, Yvonne, under which Dave Nolan
just gets set up with us. It's taking too long,
there's no resolution, she just walks away and takes her
services elsewhere. Or does she want to be silver Fern's
coach and silver Fern's coach only Look.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
She's hanging in there. She's hung in there all this time,
you know, And yeah, I'm with you. I'm going WHOA.
I'm not sure if I could have just carried on,
you know, but why take the easy option in her
case when she totally believes in what she's doing and
she still isn't I'm not sure, but you know, I
don't think that she quite understands exactly what went down
(11:39):
in that January camp that was so bad. And it's
interesting all the action and all the focus is on her.
But appreciate all three coaches have been stood down, and
that includes dead Buller as the assistant and also Bryoni Ackle,
the Swiss coach. You know, they've all been still down. Now,
this was just a grievance against Dame Nole in Tahua.
(12:01):
I go, well, why wasn't dead Fuller then put in
charge or did she elect not to be available? And
none of us really know the answers to that. So yeah,
it's just got to be resolved. And yeah, and she
wants to hang in there. Look, obviously there must be
lawyers involved as well. And I look at it and
(12:21):
I'm going this is a passionate coach. They're starting to
question her credibility as a high performance coach. Listen, the
head hunts her from the lightning initially. Has she changed
over time to suit today's players? Absolutely, she has. She
is not an old school coach. I know that because
I am you know, and I know that the players
(12:44):
of today they are They're not more demanding, but it's
very much about them and to have that involvement, and
we talk about players centered coaching. Don't have a problem
with that. And certainly you know Dame Noline. She look.
I've seen her in action with all these players and
with management, and it's normally very open communication. But somewhere
(13:05):
on the line, I question how honest that communication has been.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Well, let's hope a resolution is forthcoming and arrives quickly.
Von Willering joining us on the sports Fax podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
On the sports Fox podcast.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
My favorite time of the whole thing is a trip
inside the Chamber, and in particular on a Monday, when
it's the People's Chamber with joining us Elijah. A couple
of big sporting events over the weekend, one of them
at Eden Park.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Let's start there, shall we.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
The Fortress has been defended, the Bledisloe Cup has been retained.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Did you have any.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Nervous moments as an all Blacks fan against the Wallabies
on Saturday night.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
I think even before the contest, pioneerally, the way the
Wallabies have been playing this year under judgment has been outstanding.
That they've made improvements in each game that they've they've played,
and I mean that really bodes well for them. I
guess leading into the World Cup in twenty seven with
their host when they're hosting it, but this time up
against the All Blacks and there wasn't meant to be
(14:06):
I think for the All Blacks there are going to
be talking about those I guess lapses in concentration where
they allowed the Wallabies to come back from was it
seventeen points up in the first half to close the
gap to three, and then again the second half with
the Wallabies again closed the gap to two points before
cam Royguard scored that game ceiling try. So I guess
those moments there are going to be something that the
(14:28):
All Backs are going to be talking about and making
sure that they put together those eighty minute performances because
the Wallabies that show on the weekend that they can
punish you if you're not focus enough.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Oh look absolutely right, And when Tuzano crashed over for
that try and I kind of converted it. There were
ten minutes to go and looked up at the scoreboard
and I thought, is it really twenty six twenty four?
Is today going to be the day that the fortress falls,
that the Bledisloe Cup stays alive beyond the first Test?
It just seems so bizarre, didn't it, that they were
(14:59):
werein two? Then of course there was the yellow card
to Harry Potter and as you say, Roy guards try
at the end.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
But we didn't need the bounce of the.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Ball to go too many different ways for us almost
to have a very different outcome.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
No, And I think, I mean, I always knew if
the swallowby side, as I mentioned before, the way they
have been playing this season, I think it's I think
it's kind of funny that this year we talked about
how the spring Box the best team in the world,
We're going to come to Eden Park and be the
biggest threat. But the Wallabies I thought, just as Dangel says,
the spring Box to potentially end that Eden Park streak.
And I think the physicality of their forwards I think
(15:33):
was very beneficial for them of the weekend and I
think they get some big bodies back this week for
the second letters Low and Rob Valentini and scouting as well,
so we'll see what impact they sort of have. But
I think the all backs are well to sort of
repel the physicality and they did enough in the end
to get that win just.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
On the second Test and Perth Saturday night. The Bleederslow
Cup isn't on the line, but surely all backs want
to win the game for a couple of reasons. Consistency
would be one, but also to stay alive in the
Rugby Championship. No boat in Barrett straight swappers Damien mcken's
are going to play there or would they pull a
wild card perhaps and I don't know, throw Ruben love
and there, or is more likely they'll go with d Mac.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
I think it's more likely they'll go d Mac. Yeah,
I think all eyes are going to be on on
McKenzie and I think mckenzy did well at the weekend, particularly
off the boots off the tea rather Bo did had
a couple boat and did have a couple of misses
during that test, and Damian McKenzie did well to slot
a couple of those important kicksovers. So but it's going
to be all eyes on him when he gets the start.
(16:31):
I did like Will Jordan back at fullback. I thought
that worked really well and I think the wingers as
well were impressive, Leroy Carteron and Caleb Clark. So if
Caleb Clark especially is healthy, I would keep that back
three and then yeah, you bring Damien McKenzie straight back
into ten.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
All right, we'll look forward to second Test ten forty
five Saturday night, New Zealan time over in Perth.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Let's start in Australia because we have.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Our Grand finalists for the NRL Grand Final, which is
on Sunday night for the first time since what twenty nineteen.
The Panthers aren't there, beaten by the Broncos. This Broncos
side Elijah, I don't know. Is this written in the stars?
They were fourteen kneeled down against the Panthers and one
sixteen fourteen a couple of weeks ago, though we're what
(17:11):
twenty eight to twelve down against the Raiders with fifteen
minutes to go. They managed to win that and that
utterly dramatic golden point extra time scenario.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Is this the Broncos year?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
I think it might well be. Piney I think a
big reason for that is coach Michael McGuire. I think
the last few years for Michael McGuire have been I
guess if you want to talk about players who are
coaches who deserve that, I guess Hall of Fame statue,
it's someone like Michael McGuire. He coaches the Kiwis was
a thirty zero win over the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championship.
The next year he wins a State of Origin series
(17:45):
with New South Wales and now he's guided the Broncos
to an NRAL Grand Final. So I think that Michael
McGuire DNA is all over the side, particularly the way
they played against the Panthers and a couple of weeks
ago against the Raiders. I think Broncos sides in the
past would have crumbled losing a big lead like that,
but for them to come back and show that resilience,
(18:06):
I give them a huge chance against the Melbourne Storm
in the final.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Melbourne Storm, it's almost like they haven't just cruised into
the final. But I'm trying to remember anything about their
win over the Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago, and
they're win over the Sharks on Friday night.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Nothing really stands out.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
I just look at the score and see that the
Storm have won and here they are in another Grand Final.
It's almost been a contrast to the thrilling way that
the Broncos have made their way to the final.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
Yeah, I mean, I'm glad you brought up the Storm
beating the Bulldogs. I was trying to forget about that,
par I guess think about it again.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
No, you're right.
Speaker 7 (18:41):
I think the Storm they haven't been They haven't shown
those flashes of brilliance that we've seen in the past
with I guess the big three of Smith, Slater and Kronk.
But they still have some key players and there Jerome
Hughes returning was huge, was massive for the Storm and
it's going to be even bigger if he appears in
the Grand Final, and as well as Ryan Papenhow's and
at fullback there speed that he brings. So they're always
(19:04):
a class outfit, the Storm under Craig Bellamy. So yeah,
we'll see how they go against the Broncos. But yeah,
it should be an exciting contest either way. Two sides
from outside of Sydney playing instantly for the Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
That should be good. It should be good.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And Jerome ws he's probably done a disservice to medical
staff all around the NRL and that now now players
will say, well, no, I've broke him my wrist, but
I can come back in three weeks not twelve.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Incredible recovery from Jerome Hughes.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Yeah, I feel like I think that he scored a trial,
may have set up a try and he fended off
of the fender. It might have been with that yeah, that
arm that he did so yeah, not grateful of the
medical stuff. A bit of a frightening moment there, but
hopefully he's all good to go so that we see
two top sides at their best though going at it
the sider.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah, it should be a cracking Grand Final Anddean and
as I say, for the first time in a long time,
no Penrith Panthers involved. Always love chatting in the chamber
with you, Elijah. Let's do it again next Monday.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
We'll do Thank you, Bony dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's Sports Sticks with Jason Vine and.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
That's app on the Sports Fix podcast for today. Thank
you so much for listening in, for downloading, and for subscribing.
If you are a Sports Fix subscriber, a fresh episode
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(20:28):
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Speaker 1 (20:32):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
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Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Howard by News Talk said.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Be hello there, and welcome into a fresh episode of
the Sports Links podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
At the start of a.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
New working week, the first week of daylight saving time,
and the summer is fast approach, We've having got cricket
to look forward to this week in Mount Monganui. I'm
Jason Pine. We're here in association with GJ. Gardner Homes,
New Zealand's most trusted home builder. We'll get to the
cricket later in the week. For today, though, I want
to look back at a really really interesting thing that
(00:47):
happened after the netball last night. Grace Weki on the
mic and basically pleading for Dame Nolen Todua to come
back and coach the Silver Ferns.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It's not Dave.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Nolan's choice, of course, stood down at the moment for
this internal investigation which seems to be ongoing. So what
should we make if Grace Wiki's comments was she's speaking
on behalf of the team or just herself? And what
is in our future when it comes to the silver
firm's coaching position. Well, somebody who knows that role is
Evonne Willering these days an ePol commentator and analyst with
(01:21):
Gold Sports.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
She's going to join us for a chat. Also today,
we're in the chamber with a large up for.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
You are looking back at the All Blacks win over
the Wallabies and the two NRL preliminary finals. The latest
and sports news coming your way too, so let's get
into it. In other news, let's get things underway, as always,
with a look at some of the big sports stories
around today. Team Europe have won Golf's right A Cup
fifteen thirteen over Team USA at New York Best Page.
(01:47):
Black Corse Shane Lowry sank the six foot part on
the eighteenth to tie with Russell Henley and secure the silverware.
Is European captain Luke Donald.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
Although I ever tried to do is just be the
best prepared. I can be so many different things. I
went into this dealing with the environment, you know, in
communication with the players.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
But the Broncos have scored sixteen unanswered points to beat
the Panthers sixteen fourteen and reach the NRL Grand Final
Risbon Final.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Plannet a game whilst will Runners will run it on
the one back for the City to rub the lad
the Grand Tunnel and the extraordrant.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Circumstance the Broncos to face the Storm and Sunday Nights Final.
And in the Premier League Arsenal have come from one
nil down to beat Newcastle two to one and moved
to within two points.
Speaker 3 (02:38):
Of leaders Liverpool at the top of the table. Quarter Garden.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
Sixty minutes News an Opinion. It's Sports Fixed with Jason Lyne.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
What I'm about to tell you is nothing that you
don't already know, and that is that Cam roy Guard
is a welcome ddition into the black jersey or back
into the black chair after a prolonged absence. His performance
in the Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on Saturday
night caught the eye of absolutely everybody. I saw one
(03:19):
postmatch Player of the Day slash Man of the Match
slash MVP pole that had Cam roy Guard polling around
seventy percent of the entire vote as MVP of the game,
and then I thought to myself, well, who's got the
other thirty percent. Yes, there were other good performers for
both sides actually on Saturday night, but Cam Roygard's performance
(03:42):
was a standout, an absolute standout. What it also did
was gave us another indication, if we actually needed it,
of the gap between Cam Royguard and the chasing pack
as far as other All Blacks half back contenders are concerned.
If anything, that gap has got wider. Last year, I
(04:05):
remember thinking Cam Royguard and Courtez Latima were together a
really good one two punch and there might be occasions
where Artima would start the game and Royguard would come
off the bench. Now there is absolutely no doubt at
all that Cam roy Guard, when fit and available, starts
in the number nine jersey, and on top of that,
(04:27):
as we saw on Saturday night, might well play a
significant part in the game. So often with halfbacks you
see them taken off after an hour, sixty five minutes,
seventy minutes or whatever it is, for no real good reason.
It doesn't seem to me anyway then to give the
other bloke a go. On Saturday night, Cam Royguard was
still out there in the seventy fifth minute and that
(04:48):
was when he scored that decisive try which allowed the
All Blacks to ease away and win the match. If
he had been taken off after sixty five seventy minutes.
He wouldn't have been out there, wouldn't have been running
off Quintepie's shoulder, wouldn't have been scoring the match ceiling try.
There are some good halfbacks going around, Artima, Noah Hotham,
Finlay Christi, Kyle Preston, big as On, Dylan Pledger down
(05:10):
in Otago and soon to be in the Highlander set up.
But they are a chasing pack and as they look
ahead to try and get some traction in the race
for that number nine jersey, all they will see is
camroy Guard disappearing into the distance. He is such a
clear number one now that even Daylight is struggling to
keep up.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Beating a fix.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
We've gone just the ticket.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
It's SPORTSFX Power by News Talks Ivy.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
On the Sports Fix podcast.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
Silver Fern Star Shootter Grace Wiki has pleaded for absent
coach Dame Nolen Todoa to return. Wiki made the plea
shortly after New Zealand's nail Binding went over South Africa
in the Cargo last night.
Speaker 6 (05:49):
I think it's remiss to celebrate the success without acknowledging
Nolan Todour and the work she's done for this team, Noles.
If you're listening, we love you, and we miss you
and we want you back here.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Former Silver Fern's coach Evon Willarding is with us on
Sports Fix. Yvon, what did you make Grace Wiki's postgame
comments last night?
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Well? I think that it actually caught all of us
by surprise. I was doing the radio commentary and when
she took the microphone and going, oh, what's going to
happen here? And yeah, I guess a lot of that
was frustration. Probably people will say that, and I agree.
The timing was not ideal. I mean, South Africa was there.
They'd only just lost that last test, so you know,
(06:33):
at that stage it was really about the tiny Jameson Trophy.
But having said that, you know when, I mean you
could see Grace was frustrated and when does he then
get an opportunity to have us say And then I
look at, you know, the whole situation, and the Players
Association at some stage should have stepped into all of this,
you know, and they're not just there to represent the
(06:55):
players that have had a grievance since the January camp.
This is about all players involved. And so yeah, I
think that that was more frustration than any anything else.
And I do believe that her wording was we and
not just I, because some people have said, oh, it's
because of that, you know, just how she reacted. I mean,
obviously there is a great deal of respect between the
(07:16):
two parties, but I think it does go beyond that.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
Yeah, and that was the interesting part for me as well, Yvonne,
that she said we miss you, we want you back.
Do you think Grace was speaking on behalf of the
team she was.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Speaking, I'd say on the majority. I think there might
still be grievances. Otherwise, why has this taken so long
to you know, to come to some understanding with this?
So yeah, and again, yeah, it's a situation. Yeah, she
was the acting captain. I think that she appreciated that,
and I guess she just sees the opportunity. And yeah,
(07:49):
it did catch us by surprise. But also now it's
in a situation. Unfortunately it's all being done out in
the open, but there's a lot of stuff that's happening
behind closed doors. And I just wish that, you know,
even if like the Players Association, Neplemusald whoever, if they
just come out and even if they said, look, we're
going through the process. There these are the issues, you know,
(08:12):
and hopefully we will resolve them very soon. But they've
been saying that between you know, even before the Tiny
Jamison and now we don't know whether we're going into
Constellation Cup with Dame Nolin Carru at the helm or
again we've got these interim coaching coaches going through and
you know, I'm with lots of people getting frustrated right
(08:34):
now and saying make some decisions, and you know, and
we most of us still don't know exactly what's happening.
And it's not about that we need to know the
ends and outs, that's not that's not a problem, but
somewhere along the line we need to know exactly, you know,
what is going on going into the future.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
And you're you're so Rightyvon, because what the Constellation Cup
is now less than three weeks away our biggest rivals
Australia Home and Away tests. You know, surely there must
be a quick resolution to this or can you not
see that happening? How were you at a point where actually,
if we couldn't resolve before the Tiny Jemison, if we
don't have time before the Consolation go either well.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah, I think they have been put under a lot
more pressure now that Grayson Wecki has come out and spoken,
and maybe that's opened the door for other players to
state their case. I don't know whether contractually they have
to keep quiet, but it just seems to me that
day all the people that are actually concerning all this
are keeping quiet, and people like myself who sit on
(09:36):
the outside of all this, you know, and have a
lot of concern for what's happening. You know, we're basically
just voicing our opinions, but it needs to go deeper
than that. And to me, yeah, like they're saying we want,
like I know, Jenny Wiley has said we want an
early resolution to all this, and I'm going, yeah, but
this could have happened then before the tiny Jemison Trophy.
(09:58):
And yeah, it's interesting. The Silver Firms go back into
camp next week and there will be a team that'll
be selected and maybe a squad selected because to get
they've got a team of a squad of eighteen and
Warmsley will be back in that equation having come back
from the World Youth Cup in Gibralsa, so you know
that's got to be selected and who's going to select
(10:20):
that team, and they said it's going to be within
the next two days. While I like to know who
is doing that selection, and the person that knows all
these players the best of anyone else is Dame nol
In Taora, and she knows what the projection is, what
they're trying to achieve going forward. She is the one
that wanted this camp next week, and she was already
(10:41):
organized all this stuff. And I've spoken to her, and
you know, she is so keen still to take the
Silver Ferns and all the stuff that's happened, and yet
she is still wanting to be there. She, you know,
despite all the stress, she believes and what she stands for.
She believes in the Silver Ferns and that's why she
(11:01):
just needs to be addressed.
Speaker 4 (11:03):
Is there any scenario, then, Yvonne, under which Dave Nolan
just gets set up with us. It's taking too long,
there's no resolution, she just walks away and takes her
services elsewhere. Or does she want to be silver Fern's
coach and silver Fern's coach only Look.
Speaker 2 (11:18):
She's hanging in there. She's hung in there all this time,
you know, And yeah, I'm with you. I'm going WHOA.
I'm not sure if I could have just carried on,
you know, but why take the easy option in her
case when she totally believes in what she's doing and
she still isn't I'm not sure, but you know, I
don't think that she quite understands exactly what went down
(11:39):
in that January camp that was so bad. And it's
interesting all the action and all the focus is on her.
But appreciate all three coaches have been stood down, and
that includes dead Buller as the assistant and also Bryoni Ackle,
the Swiss coach. You know, they've all been still down. Now,
this was just a grievance against Dame Nole in Tahua.
(12:01):
I go, well, why wasn't dead Fuller then put in
charge or did she elect not to be available? And
none of us really know the answers to that. So yeah,
it's just got to be resolved. And yeah, and she
wants to hang in there. Look, obviously there must be
lawyers involved as well. And I look at it and
(12:21):
I'm going this is a passionate coach. They're starting to
question her credibility as a high performance coach. Listen, the
head hunts her from the lightning initially. Has she changed
over time to suit today's players? Absolutely, she has. She
is not an old school coach. I know that because
I am you know, and I know that the players
(12:44):
of today they are They're not more demanding, but it's
very much about them and to have that involvement, and
we talk about players centered coaching. Don't have a problem
with that. And certainly you know Dame Noline. She look.
I've seen her in action with all these players and
with management, and it's normally very open communication. But somewhere
(13:05):
on the line, I question how honest that communication has been.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Well, let's hope a resolution is forthcoming and arrives quickly.
Von Willering joining us on the sports Fax podcast.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
The Chamber is now in session on sports Fix.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
On the sports Fox podcast.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
My favorite time of the whole thing is a trip
inside the Chamber, and in particular on a Monday, when
it's the People's Chamber with joining us Elijah. A couple
of big sporting events over the weekend, one of them
at Eden Park.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Let's start there, shall we.
Speaker 4 (13:36):
The Fortress has been defended, the Bledisloe Cup has been retained.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
Did you have any.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
Nervous moments as an all Blacks fan against the Wallabies
on Saturday night.
Speaker 7 (13:45):
I think even before the contest, pioneerally, the way the
Wallabies have been playing this year under judgment has been outstanding.
That they've made improvements in each game that they've they've played,
and I mean that really bodes well for them. I
guess leading into the World Cup in twenty seven with
their host when they're hosting it, but this time up
against the All Blacks and there wasn't meant to be
(14:06):
I think for the All Blacks there are going to
be talking about those I guess lapses in concentration where
they allowed the Wallabies to come back from was it
seventeen points up in the first half to close the
gap to three, and then again the second half with
the Wallabies again closed the gap to two points before
cam Royguard scored that game ceiling try. So I guess
those moments there are going to be something that the
(14:28):
All Backs are going to be talking about and making
sure that they put together those eighty minute performances because
the Wallabies that show on the weekend that they can
punish you if you're not focus enough.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Oh look absolutely right, And when Tuzano crashed over for
that try and I kind of converted it. There were
ten minutes to go and looked up at the scoreboard
and I thought, is it really twenty six twenty four?
Is today going to be the day that the fortress falls,
that the Bledisloe Cup stays alive beyond the first Test?
It just seems so bizarre, didn't it, that they were
(14:59):
werein two? Then of course there was the yellow card
to Harry Potter and as you say, Roy guards try
at the end.
Speaker 3 (15:04):
But we didn't need the bounce of the.
Speaker 4 (15:06):
Ball to go too many different ways for us almost
to have a very different outcome.
Speaker 7 (15:11):
No, And I think, I mean, I always knew if
the swallowby side, as I mentioned before, the way they
have been playing this season, I think it's I think
it's kind of funny that this year we talked about
how the spring Box the best team in the world,
We're going to come to Eden Park and be the
biggest threat. But the Wallabies I thought, just as Dangel says,
the spring Box to potentially end that Eden Park streak.
And I think the physicality of their forwards I think
(15:33):
was very beneficial for them of the weekend and I
think they get some big bodies back this week for
the second letters Low and Rob Valentini and scouting as well,
so we'll see what impact they sort of have. But
I think the all backs are well to sort of
repel the physicality and they did enough in the end
to get that win just.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
On the second Test and Perth Saturday night. The Bleederslow
Cup isn't on the line, but surely all backs want
to win the game for a couple of reasons. Consistency
would be one, but also to stay alive in the
Rugby Championship. No boat in Barrett straight swappers Damien mcken's
are going to play there or would they pull a
wild card perhaps and I don't know, throw Ruben love
and there, or is more likely they'll go with d Mac.
Speaker 7 (16:09):
I think it's more likely they'll go d Mac. Yeah,
I think all eyes are going to be on on
McKenzie and I think mckenzy did well at the weekend, particularly
off the boots off the tea rather Bo did had
a couple boat and did have a couple of misses
during that test, and Damian McKenzie did well to slot
a couple of those important kicksovers. So but it's going
to be all eyes on him when he gets the start.
(16:31):
I did like Will Jordan back at fullback. I thought
that worked really well and I think the wingers as
well were impressive, Leroy Carteron and Caleb Clark. So if
Caleb Clark especially is healthy, I would keep that back
three and then yeah, you bring Damien McKenzie straight back
into ten.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
All right, we'll look forward to second Test ten forty
five Saturday night, New Zealan time over in Perth.
Speaker 3 (16:50):
Let's start in Australia because we have.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
Our Grand finalists for the NRL Grand Final, which is
on Sunday night for the first time since what twenty nineteen.
The Panthers aren't there, beaten by the Broncos. This Broncos
side Elijah, I don't know. Is this written in the stars?
They were fourteen kneeled down against the Panthers and one
sixteen fourteen a couple of weeks ago, though we're what
(17:11):
twenty eight to twelve down against the Raiders with fifteen
minutes to go. They managed to win that and that
utterly dramatic golden point extra time scenario.
Speaker 3 (17:22):
Is this the Broncos year?
Speaker 7 (17:24):
I think it might well be. Piney I think a
big reason for that is coach Michael McGuire. I think
the last few years for Michael McGuire have been I
guess if you want to talk about players who are
coaches who deserve that, I guess Hall of Fame statue,
it's someone like Michael McGuire. He coaches the Kiwis was
a thirty zero win over the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championship.
The next year he wins a State of Origin series
(17:45):
with New South Wales and now he's guided the Broncos
to an NRAL Grand Final. So I think that Michael
McGuire DNA is all over the side, particularly the way
they played against the Panthers and a couple of weeks
ago against the Raiders. I think Broncos sides in the
past would have crumbled losing a big lead like that,
but for them to come back and show that resilience,
(18:06):
I give them a huge chance against the Melbourne Storm
in the final.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Melbourne Storm, it's almost like they haven't just cruised into
the final. But I'm trying to remember anything about their
win over the Bulldogs a couple of weeks ago, and
they're win over the Sharks on Friday night.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
Nothing really stands out.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
I just look at the score and see that the
Storm have won and here they are in another Grand Final.
It's almost been a contrast to the thrilling way that
the Broncos have made their way to the final.
Speaker 7 (18:33):
Yeah, I mean, I'm glad you brought up the Storm
beating the Bulldogs. I was trying to forget about that,
par I guess think about it again.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
No, you're right.
Speaker 7 (18:41):
I think the Storm they haven't been They haven't shown
those flashes of brilliance that we've seen in the past
with I guess the big three of Smith, Slater and Kronk.
But they still have some key players and there Jerome
Hughes returning was huge, was massive for the Storm and
it's going to be even bigger if he appears in
the Grand Final, and as well as Ryan Papenhow's and
at fullback there speed that he brings. So they're always
(19:04):
a class outfit, the Storm under Craig Bellamy. So yeah,
we'll see how they go against the Broncos. But yeah,
it should be an exciting contest either way. Two sides
from outside of Sydney playing instantly for the Grand Final.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
That should be good. It should be good.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
And Jerome ws he's probably done a disservice to medical
staff all around the NRL and that now now players
will say, well, no, I've broke him my wrist, but
I can come back in three weeks not twelve.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Incredible recovery from Jerome Hughes.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Yeah, I feel like I think that he scored a trial,
may have set up a try and he fended off
of the fender. It might have been with that yeah, that
arm that he did so yeah, not grateful of the
medical stuff. A bit of a frightening moment there, but
hopefully he's all good to go so that we see
two top sides at their best though going at it
the sider.
Speaker 4 (19:50):
Yeah, it should be a cracking Grand Final Anddean and
as I say, for the first time in a long time,
no Penrith Panthers involved. Always love chatting in the chamber
with you, Elijah. Let's do it again next Monday.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
We'll do Thank you, Bony dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 1 (20:04):
It's Sports Sticks with Jason Vine and.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
That's app on the Sports Fix podcast for today. Thank
you so much for listening in, for downloading, and for subscribing.
If you are a Sports Fix subscriber, a fresh episode
of the podcast will drop in derfeed it around about
the same time tomorrow and every weekday and for more
from News Talks AB sport of course, check out Sports
Talk weeknights between seven and eight and on the weekend's
(20:28):
Weekend Sports Saturday and Sunday between midday and three.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
For more from News Talks EDB listen live on air
or online and keep our shows with you wherever you
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