April 10, 2025 • 12 mins
New Zealand Rugby head of women's high performance Hannah Porter has outlined why a measured approach is needed for expanding Super Rugby Aupiki.
The Blues host Matatu in Saturday's final at Eden Park on Saturday - the winner to face the champion of Australia's Super W next Thursday.
It comes after Black Ferns winger Katelyn Vaha'akolo's plea for the competition to be better promoted.
Porter says the current competition is not the final product.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from news Talk zed Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And it's warm. Welcome to CEO of the Blues. His
name is Andrew hoare big weekend ahead? Goody Andrew?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
How are you, Darcy?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Right?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, very well looking forward to the weekend's sport is
of course you are as well. Big weekend for the
Blues franchise, not only for the men, more so for
the women. In opicky you get a final coming up, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, back to back which has been an outstanding achievement.
And when I think about that first season where we
started from, I just take my head off to Willie
and the management team on how they've built the culture
and the environment and they're thriving. So yeah, look, they're
(00:54):
very close competitions. This whole season has been I mean,
we're just able to put by the Chiefs here at
home and the team scored a fantastic late try. It's
been tip for Tats, so it'll be another classic or
picky game and I think for those that have watched it,
they love the movement and the space on the field
(01:16):
and it's great rugby to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
You're being very generous around what Hurricanes Pool didn't offer
this yere. I mean it was close to the other sides.
But it's going to happen, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, I think, Look, every franchise has its challenges. I
think if you go back though the first week, they
really did give our team a real run for the money,
particularly in that first half, and let's say they would
have got up there. Sort of momentum and confidence means
a lot in this comp so they're probably just having
(01:49):
their period of time. But it's all swings and roundabouts.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
And the beauty of the I find of all picky
too is you don't get a lot of player movement.
So if your the developmental arm is really working well,
you will you know, you'll get the benefits, whereas in
the men's game it doesn't quite work like that. People
(02:14):
move much more on a much more transient nature, so
who knows what power over the next next few years.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It's a very settled lineup that you've got up against
a Mutta two. It's a great traditional ivory blue white,
red blake and how our roles. Even though Mutter two
is the whole of Pinami, it's not carried away around
that one. The game is set to go at five
past seven on a Saturday night. This is prime rugby
viewing time. Do you think that in z Are, I
(02:43):
don't know actually who makes this decision yourself? Super Rugby
in z Are should have given this final, this Opiki
final a clear prime time spot because there is rugby
competition from the super rugby from Highlanders. Do you think
it deserves to be elevated above that and give its
own space.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I think there's an argument definitely for that moving forward.
I think in this instance it fell well for us.
I mean, it could have very well not been here,
but we had a you know, we're delighted that a
men's team, for example, we've got an afternoon fixture and
that's that's great, And that left a window open which
(03:26):
now elevates this final being a Saturday night. But I
think you're right. I think having a clear window enables
you to market and fit it in where it best
fits the market. That said, I think Saturday night is
befitting of a final final tonight, and I think they'll
get the broadcast ratings for all. Piggy has actually continue
(03:49):
to climb even this year beyond sort of fifteen percent growth,
So I think it's in a really good space and
I hope people take the opportunity to if they haven't
watched it before, dial in and get exposure to it,
because I think you'll find you're you're likely to follow it.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I believe you, because it is fantastic to watch, very different,
but still fantastic to watch. Who makes the final call
on that? Is that inst r or is that Super Rugby?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
No, that's an ensi O and all pick comes under
the management of Super Rugby is the commission now in
that respect, but ultimately it's broadcaster and national body.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Sarah want do you think to maybe have a standalone
planner you can see the benefits of it and see
what would be a good idea, But community wise, rugby wise,
do you think it would actually.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Fat After being in working in Australia where they put
a lot of the female games after male games, we
actually found that work quite well because it does take
a while for people to appreciate both sexes in the
game and things, and so by making it convenient it
(05:02):
can actually work in my experience from what I've seen.
And the other part about it is it actually ended
up working really really well because we we have the
pacific A Festival. But beforehand we then got what is
now turned into, you know, an intense fixture, and then
off the back of that we roll into the the
(05:27):
Orpicki Finals. So actually, from our perspective, it's made a
day of entertainment and added to what was already existing.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Kind of falling sorry is it falling? Is it falling
in your lap? Though, Andrew I, it was all settled
to go anyway, and it just that's just how it happened.
You didn't have to adjust anything. This was how it
was presented and you just ran with it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, it was. We had an afternoon fixture, we had
the one, we had the pacific A Festival coming off
the Hall of Fame, which we're partners in, and on
Thursday on tonight, and and it just flowed. And then
then ibviously this game came up. And if it wasn't
going to be played here, it would have been played
(06:11):
probably seven o'clock at Martha two, I think was the
other options. So by having it here, it's actually become
part of a far broader festival and something that I
think is extremely positive.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Expectations around attendance. Now you would hope that there'd be
some people who turn up to watch the men's fixture,
and that'd be a great game, considering where the Blues
are coming from and what Mowana had been up to
a recent times. What kind of the word leak through
is probably not ideal. But how many are you expecting
to stick around for the final? And conversely, how many
(06:47):
people are you expecting to turn up solely for that final?
Where are your numbers? Where does it sit?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, that's what can be challenge. What we do know
is looking at those numbers last year, we are looking
at the growth we've had and attendance in the women's game.
I think, you know, if you look at Fong Ray,
(07:13):
there's now on eighteen hundred people, which for an all
picky game is good. I think as a country we've
got to understand too that the woman's professional game is
starting at a different base to where the men started.
The men's had, you know, years of provincialism. In nineteen
(07:35):
ninety six, they turned the dial, flicked it to this thing,
got an injection of you know, millions of dollars of
broadcast cash and it was and there was very little
other sports even competing in the men's environment. There in
the professional game. Now we've got a competition that's turned
the dial to professionalism, can't turn it fully because it
(07:58):
hasn't had the same level of investment and as entering
a sports market which is so much more competitive for
men and women. So I think it has to be
a touch of realism in all of this, and that
it is going to be a build as opposed to
an overnight sort of flicking of a switch.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I think everyone's well aware of that. The next question
would be from your point of view see the Blues,
and again from inst r Super Rugby's point of view,
how much grace, how much rope is given to this competition,
around your expectations and how it grows. If you've got
a sat amount of time you running it year by year,
(08:39):
what metrics are you looking? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
No, I think this is where being license holders to
a degree, there's there's got to be probably some consideration
to what we can and can't invest into what level
at the moment. I feel sometimes for the inside you
it's like whack a mole, where you know, where, where
(09:05):
does money go next? Who's barking the loudest, et cetera.
I think from our perspective, we would like to see
a clear prioritization of activity and then the level of
investment befitting or to raise the bar on these kind
of things. We still have a lot of work to
(09:28):
do and around high performance facilities for athletes. I think
if you talk to League it will be the same argument,
although they get a lot of state government support in Australia,
but what we can't do everything? So what actually is important?
And that's the question we need answer from our perspective.
(09:50):
And if it is important, then what creates the best
high performance environment from the black Ferns off that's a
priority to you. So those are key questions that need
to be asked and answered, and I think over the
next few months as a view that we've got to
get that sorted and find out because at the moment
(10:11):
we slightly there's a lot of passion around it and
a lot of people want to see it be successful.
It's actually just that little bit of how that we
need to that we need to resolve.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
What's happening in a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Well, I think there's a lot of discussions to be had.
You've got a new collective bargaining agreement to be agreed,
You've got pathways to be agreed and proposals that have
been put forward, and I think it will be an
interesting time for everyone to sit down and talk throw
those from all the different stakeholders. But I think we're
(10:46):
at a point where we feel, we feel there needs
to be some stakes in the ground about what programs
are actually important and what aren't. I mean, they've all
got some level of importance, but it's we just can't,
just can't do everything can.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Be a massive night and on Saturday night the first
game is the Blues versus the Mowana have Gonaby tight
and then of course some Blues much or two up
after that festival of rugby at Eden Park and Andrew Haw.
While I've got you here, you haven't had a call
from Joey Man, who have you?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
No? No, it would be quite fitting, wouldn't it on
a Pacific a week for the Blues to you know,
take on and bring through another player of his quality,
But not as yet. No, I'm sure he's looking for
a number.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
So he's born in Toko, I think, so it's probably
more Likelyhod knock on the door of the Chiefs. But
I mean, I don't know, you don't know anything you
know he's got out of the It's quite fascinating because
I expect that he's decided he's quite good at rugby,
probably doesn't need to go and play over France. He
(11:58):
can go back here, play a bit of NPC and
then maybe work his way towards super rugby. That's that's
a that's an understandable route, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yeah, welcome with open arps. You'll enjoy it, you will
love Akland.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And on that uplifting note, Andrew Hall were thinking very
much for your time, Hay and Joyce said that is
going to be a big game. Let's open, so well
attended and success for your blues both.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Thank you very much. Good, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from news Talk zed Be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And it's warm. Welcome to CEO of the Blues. His
name is Andrew hoare big weekend ahead? Goody Andrew?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
How are you, Darcy?
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Right?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, very well looking forward to the weekend's sport is
of course you are as well. Big weekend for the
Blues franchise, not only for the men, more so for
the women. In opicky you get a final coming up, Andrew.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Yeah, back to back which has been an outstanding achievement.
And when I think about that first season where we
started from, I just take my head off to Willie
and the management team on how they've built the culture
and the environment and they're thriving. So yeah, look, they're
(00:54):
very close competitions. This whole season has been I mean,
we're just able to put by the Chiefs here at
home and the team scored a fantastic late try. It's
been tip for Tats, so it'll be another classic or
picky game and I think for those that have watched it,
they love the movement and the space on the field
(01:16):
and it's great rugby to watch.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
You're being very generous around what Hurricanes Pool didn't offer
this yere. I mean it was close to the other sides.
But it's going to happen, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, I think, Look, every franchise has its challenges. I
think if you go back though the first week, they
really did give our team a real run for the money,
particularly in that first half, and let's say they would
have got up there. Sort of momentum and confidence means
a lot in this comp so they're probably just having
(01:49):
their period of time. But it's all swings and roundabouts.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
And the beauty of the I find of all picky
too is you don't get a lot of player movement.
So if your the developmental arm is really working well,
you will you know, you'll get the benefits, whereas in
the men's game it doesn't quite work like that. People
(02:14):
move much more on a much more transient nature, so
who knows what power over the next next few years.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It's a very settled lineup that you've got up against
a Mutta two. It's a great traditional ivory blue white,
red blake and how our roles. Even though Mutter two
is the whole of Pinami, it's not carried away around
that one. The game is set to go at five
past seven on a Saturday night. This is prime rugby
viewing time. Do you think that in z Are, I
(02:43):
don't know actually who makes this decision yourself? Super Rugby
in z Are should have given this final, this Opiki
final a clear prime time spot because there is rugby
competition from the super rugby from Highlanders. Do you think
it deserves to be elevated above that and give its
own space.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I think there's an argument definitely for that moving forward.
I think in this instance it fell well for us.
I mean, it could have very well not been here,
but we had a you know, we're delighted that a
men's team, for example, we've got an afternoon fixture and
that's that's great, And that left a window open which
(03:26):
now elevates this final being a Saturday night. But I
think you're right. I think having a clear window enables
you to market and fit it in where it best
fits the market. That said, I think Saturday night is
befitting of a final final tonight, and I think they'll
get the broadcast ratings for all. Piggy has actually continue
(03:49):
to climb even this year beyond sort of fifteen percent growth,
So I think it's in a really good space and
I hope people take the opportunity to if they haven't
watched it before, dial in and get exposure to it,
because I think you'll find you're you're likely to follow it.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
I believe you, because it is fantastic to watch, very different,
but still fantastic to watch. Who makes the final call
on that? Is that inst r or is that Super Rugby?
Speaker 3 (04:17):
No, that's an ensi O and all pick comes under
the management of Super Rugby is the commission now in
that respect, but ultimately it's broadcaster and national body.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Sarah want do you think to maybe have a standalone
planner you can see the benefits of it and see
what would be a good idea, But community wise, rugby wise,
do you think it would actually.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Fat After being in working in Australia where they put
a lot of the female games after male games, we
actually found that work quite well because it does take
a while for people to appreciate both sexes in the
game and things, and so by making it convenient it
(05:02):
can actually work in my experience from what I've seen.
And the other part about it is it actually ended
up working really really well because we we have the
pacific A Festival. But beforehand we then got what is
now turned into, you know, an intense fixture, and then
off the back of that we roll into the the
(05:27):
Orpicki Finals. So actually, from our perspective, it's made a
day of entertainment and added to what was already existing.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Kind of falling sorry is it falling? Is it falling
in your lap? Though, Andrew I, it was all settled
to go anyway, and it just that's just how it happened.
You didn't have to adjust anything. This was how it
was presented and you just ran with it.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Yeah, it was. We had an afternoon fixture, we had
the one, we had the pacific A Festival coming off
the Hall of Fame, which we're partners in, and on
Thursday on tonight, and and it just flowed. And then
then ibviously this game came up. And if it wasn't
going to be played here, it would have been played
(06:11):
probably seven o'clock at Martha two, I think was the
other options. So by having it here, it's actually become
part of a far broader festival and something that I
think is extremely positive.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Expectations around attendance. Now you would hope that there'd be
some people who turn up to watch the men's fixture,
and that'd be a great game, considering where the Blues
are coming from and what Mowana had been up to
a recent times. What kind of the word leak through
is probably not ideal. But how many are you expecting
to stick around for the final? And conversely, how many
(06:47):
people are you expecting to turn up solely for that final?
Where are your numbers? Where does it sit?
Speaker 3 (06:53):
Yeah, that's what can be challenge. What we do know
is looking at those numbers last year, we are looking
at the growth we've had and attendance in the women's game.
I think, you know, if you look at Fong Ray,
(07:13):
there's now on eighteen hundred people, which for an all
picky game is good. I think as a country we've
got to understand too that the woman's professional game is
starting at a different base to where the men started.
The men's had, you know, years of provincialism. In nineteen
(07:35):
ninety six, they turned the dial, flicked it to this thing,
got an injection of you know, millions of dollars of
broadcast cash and it was and there was very little
other sports even competing in the men's environment. There in
the professional game. Now we've got a competition that's turned
the dial to professionalism, can't turn it fully because it
(07:58):
hasn't had the same level of investment and as entering
a sports market which is so much more competitive for
men and women. So I think it has to be
a touch of realism in all of this, and that
it is going to be a build as opposed to
an overnight sort of flicking of a switch.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I think everyone's well aware of that. The next question
would be from your point of view see the Blues,
and again from inst r Super Rugby's point of view,
how much grace, how much rope is given to this competition,
around your expectations and how it grows. If you've got
a sat amount of time you running it year by year,
(08:39):
what metrics are you looking? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (08:41):
No, I think this is where being license holders to
a degree, there's there's got to be probably some consideration
to what we can and can't invest into what level
at the moment. I feel sometimes for the inside you
it's like whack a mole, where you know, where, where
(09:05):
does money go next? Who's barking the loudest, et cetera.
I think from our perspective, we would like to see
a clear prioritization of activity and then the level of
investment befitting or to raise the bar on these kind
of things. We still have a lot of work to
(09:28):
do and around high performance facilities for athletes. I think
if you talk to League it will be the same argument,
although they get a lot of state government support in Australia,
but what we can't do everything? So what actually is important?
And that's the question we need answer from our perspective.
(09:50):
And if it is important, then what creates the best
high performance environment from the black Ferns off that's a
priority to you. So those are key questions that need
to be asked and answered, and I think over the
next few months as a view that we've got to
get that sorted and find out because at the moment
(10:11):
we slightly there's a lot of passion around it and
a lot of people want to see it be successful.
It's actually just that little bit of how that we
need to that we need to resolve.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
What's happening in a couple of months.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Well, I think there's a lot of discussions to be had.
You've got a new collective bargaining agreement to be agreed,
You've got pathways to be agreed and proposals that have
been put forward, and I think it will be an
interesting time for everyone to sit down and talk throw
those from all the different stakeholders. But I think we're
(10:46):
at a point where we feel, we feel there needs
to be some stakes in the ground about what programs
are actually important and what aren't. I mean, they've all
got some level of importance, but it's we just can't,
just can't do everything can.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
Be a massive night and on Saturday night the first
game is the Blues versus the Mowana have Gonaby tight
and then of course some Blues much or two up
after that festival of rugby at Eden Park and Andrew Haw.
While I've got you here, you haven't had a call
from Joey Man, who have you?
Speaker 3 (11:22):
No? No, it would be quite fitting, wouldn't it on
a Pacific a week for the Blues to you know,
take on and bring through another player of his quality,
But not as yet. No, I'm sure he's looking for
a number.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
So he's born in Toko, I think, so it's probably
more Likelyhod knock on the door of the Chiefs. But
I mean, I don't know, you don't know anything you
know he's got out of the It's quite fascinating because
I expect that he's decided he's quite good at rugby,
probably doesn't need to go and play over France. He
(11:58):
can go back here, play a bit of NPC and
then maybe work his way towards super rugby. That's that's
a that's an understandable route, isn't it.
Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yeah, welcome with open arps. You'll enjoy it, you will
love Akland.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
And on that uplifting note, Andrew Hall were thinking very
much for your time, Hay and Joyce said that is
going to be a big game. Let's open, so well
attended and success for your blues both.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Thank you very much. Good, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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