December 11, 2024 • 39 mins
D’Arcy Waldegrave returned to wrap this week's sporting news. Highlights for tonight include:
Warren Lees on the future of Gary Stead in the top role
Sam Mennenga on the Breakers looking to bounce back against Tasmania.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Greetings, Welcome, it says news Talks it B. It is
a Wednesday. It's seven minutes up to seven seven sixonds,
be precise, deliver into December twenty twenty four. My name
is Darcy Walter Grave. We talk sport from now through
until eight o'clock tonight. Towards the end of the program
catch up with Sam Meninga New Zealand Breakers Big. What
(00:53):
is a scene to the Huge? You're a game coming
up against the Tasmanian jack Jumpers tomorrow night. They're on
a four game losing streak. Well, it's a game that
runs and at the moment it's a series of as
well can they get up? Can they stand up? Sam
Minninger talks about that toward the end of the show.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Up.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
First, Warren Lees Wally Lees is he more commonly known
former New Zealand Black Hats test coach. Last Test match
this weekend for Gary Stead. We have an unusually and
cruelly short test season here in his own well, at
least we've got a couple right the last test match
(01:36):
for Gary Stead and then sometime next year, he's got
to renegotiate for his role again. So this is the
last chance to impress right, So has he done enough
to stay in this top role? What has to happen?
What occurs? How does this process go on from now?
Does this weekend have anything to do with it? We'll
talk to Warren about that and then we'll take your
(01:59):
calls on oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty does
he remain the coach after his contract is up? Has
he done enough? Does the steed to be thrown out
to the masses and competed for. We'll talk to you
about that later on in the peace on oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty context nineteen nine two. That is
(02:21):
z B z B. Before we wail on under this though,
let's do this sport today? And is sport today? James
O'Connor the first five eighth riding in on a white
steed to save the crusaders. Well, I is, but has
passed still Hauntsome.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I haven't thought about it, sort of his pressure.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
It's more than exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Like I've played.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Against Dan and against Richie, two of the goats.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Honestly, I've never been scored as much that was a
ten on tenners when Richie did us at Suncorp, when
I was with the Roads.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's gott to let it go. But you're on our
side now. The Football Ferns have a canning plan to
start next year which involves Costa Rica. Doesn't involve a
coach though, but the interim gaffer, Michael Maine, he worries not.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
My sense in this role at the moment is to
make sure that we can start really well. We're at
the start of this new cycle. We want to move
this plan forward, so my drive and motivation is always
the same as head coach.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Asb Classic director Nico Lampren has spoken of Kiwi front
runners to qualify for the Classic at a wild card scrap.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
In between kp Ajied and Jack Lelted, it's probably one
of the three who should have a chance are going
all the way in that playoff and getting that world.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
N and ins at our CEO Mark Robinson is confident
Dunedin's forsythe Bar will at least try and get a
test ahead of christ Jach's new Monster Stadium to Kaha.
That's when, of course it opens.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I'm sure they'll be continuing to put their best foot
forward around all major events they can. They're a massive,
you know, rugby community. They're hugely passionate, they have great
history in the game and they have a vibrant events
scene as well.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So no, but they'll give Wellington a couple right, what
could possibly go off? And that's sport today, Warren Lee,
you said, joins us now former and he's selling black
Caps Test coacher looking toward the future of Gary Stead's
last Test match is coming up this weekend in Hamilton
(04:21):
after some huge success, after some underwhelming efforts as well?
What will it take for him to be reappointed? If
indeed he wants to be reappointed? Does he deserve to
get that role again? Does it need to be thrown
out to the wider public? They shouldn't just give him
the job. It should be a Nollane totoas situation, right,
you want it your reapply? What has he done? Has
(04:44):
he done enough to maintain this role? I know there's
a pretty high targets if I'm saying he's he done
enough because he's done an extraordinary amount. But does he
carry on with this role? Does he continue? Warren, Welcome
to the show, Scarice, did deserve to continue? In this
top role.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I definitely think he deserves to have the opportunity to
reapp If he's interested, he should put his name forward.
You don't open up the field for other people until
you find whether the incumbent is interested or not. And
I actually think that over the time Gary has been involved,
he's developed a confidence that he possibly didn't have at
(05:23):
the start. His team has served him well. We haven't
had the ructions within the playing members as much as
has happened in the past, and I think his record
really stands up. I think we knock back. He's possibly
still a rather conservative coach, which is fine, and even
a more conservative selector. But that's the that's the character
(05:47):
that Gary is. He played crick It the same way,
so I certainly know you put the name in the
hat if if he's interested.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
So the idea of giving him the job, if he
wants it or not doesn't sit comfortably with you, and
nor should it. Quite frankly, no.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I think I think it goes on the open market,
not making it a decisions if I can't guarantee anywhere
else in the given criminals and will see it my way.
But I think it's good to have competition for these things.
When the job comes up for grabs, however, there will
be people with more knowledge than me, who will have
more of a background of exactly what's going on within
(06:24):
the dressing room and at the practice sessions, and over
the selection and over the non selection in particular of
certain players who had one hundred percent supportive every other
sports watcher in the country at times. So Gary hasn't
always done what was expected. But I think over the
(06:44):
time he's possibly found it harder to drop players than
to select new players. And if that's a criticism, well,
I'm sorry. That's the way it is.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Isn't that worked? To a degree though Warren and to
his favor, very difficult to get into the black Caps,
also very difficult to be dropped. So you have a
sense of trust from people around you, and you're not
batting from innings to innings thinking this could be my
last turn back. Surely that that generates confidence. But in
this case has gone too far?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Are you saying, well, I know, I just said. Well,
what I mean is I think loyalty is a fantastic
word in team sport, and I think that just goes
it goes past the players into the support crew as well.
So you've got selectors, you've got coaches, you've got other
people around the team who are helping out, and it's
good to have loyalty within that group, but you've also
(07:37):
got to be prepared to say, well, hold on winner
is long enough, too long, and it also doesn't give
an equal opportunity for younger players coming through at all times.
I'm not saying you just change the team holds bollow
as every time some of our three failures are over
there out, because you've got to look more deeply than that,
(07:58):
and I think Gary's been quite good at that, except
there have been times where you think, gee, we've used
an awful lot of medium paste bowlers over a three
year period, but literally some have got injured. But some
of these players have gone away on some of these tours,
probably four or five tours and only had two or
three games in total, So you sort of wonder about
that at times. But of course Gary is not the
(08:20):
only selectors.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Not military medium pace. That was the term way back
in your day, wasn't it, Warren. It's not unusual, No.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's certainly not, certainly not unusual, But I think we
didn't have a choice we really only had military medium pace,
and I think that was one of the problems. Mind you,
we obviously prepared pictures to suit, which is something we've
complained about in different countries and we seem to ignore
when it comes to our own country. But now I
(08:48):
think overall, I think if Gary is interested, he must
put his name forward only to open up the field,
to actually let people compare, and to have the committee
who choose the next New Zealand Credit coach let them
actually sit down all those people who candidate, who put
their name forward, and look at the history of each player,
(09:11):
of each person.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You obviously aren't making the decision. Are you rather be
in Queenstown? I completely understand that. But when you do
peck or retain a coach, what predominantly do the selectors
or the board rely on. Do they look at results?
Do they look at team culture? Do they look at turnover?
Do they look at ruckus within their camp? How do
(09:33):
they weigh this up in general? Do you think Warren
leaves from your experience?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Oh? I think it's improved. I think it's hugely improved
over the last eighteen fifteen years. And our players have
sought their careers elsewhere where there's possibly more money, more
financial return, and therefore I think things have changed quite
a bit. I also think that it's pretty important for
(09:58):
all of those aspects that you talk about to be
considered very very carefully, and a coach himself when he
comes into the child. You'll find that most coaches are
completely different people after their first tour out of the country,
after the first season, after their first major problems with selection,
be it through injury or that reform, and how they
(10:20):
how they feel, how they deal with the public, how
they deal with the media, goes into pretty important now
which possibly weren't taken into account in the past. And
I think your round person who spells loyal with our
capital l I think it is someone who's pretty important.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Growth is an interesting concept Warren and suggesting that they've
seen that in a coaching staff, and they've moved with
the times and they've been at the forefront of change.
That's quite important. Even though he's a very as you said,
he's a very safe and sensible coach with the selections
as well as he's shown enough that he is actually
(11:01):
at the front of the game and the way it's developing.
Because that's really important. Why it moves so fast in
the stain.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Yeah, I think he does. I've seen recently at different
times at different grounds, and we've had a couple of
chats about certain things. I think, if anything, he's very controlled.
He seems calm. I think he seems a lot more
confident than he was, perhaps even as a player. I
(11:27):
mentioned that before, and I think he seems to have
his fingertips that perhaps he doesn't always let on. But
I think he seems pretty in control of the situation,
and that sort of speaks of someone who's got a
good support crew around him. He's not looking sideways or
looking for reasons to go behind what you say. I
(11:48):
think he takes things as you put it. He don't
have to agree with Gary. He's not that sort of person.
He'll accept it if you have a different opinion, and
he'll be polite about it. But I think you'll go
away and think about things and consider any ideas that
are given to him. It's a real strength that he has.
I don't think he even enjoys the media sometimes, but
(12:10):
that's okay because the media will get to understand that.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But who does I mean, you've dealt with them long
enough as if he said on a cricket Coaching how
it rolls?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Well, No, there was a very brief time, right who
loved the media. I saw the media when we were willing,
and I hid from them under a blanket, a black
blanket in the back of the at the back of
the bus when we were losing. But I think that's
quite typical of life with it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Is there a shelf life for a coach at this level?
Do you think can they grow stale?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Perhaps can if they are allowing the senior players, the
boys who used to years ago sit in the back
of the bus. If they let no senior players start
to dominate the dressing room too much, yeah, I think
you lose the weepers of your of your confidence from
the players. And I think that I don't know, I'm
not saying that set of Garrett, but you have to
(13:00):
keep from that. And I do think that there are
times where the senior players I think you're older, as
they don't have the success they used to have on
the field, they start looking for shortcuts and that's the
very time that an experienced coach needs to stampers mark,
pull the boys back into order and make sure there
(13:21):
aren't any splits it within the team, and I'm not
saying there are, but I think Gary is very good
at that sort.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Of thing, which leads us nicely to how key is
success in the final Test match, the final home Test
match of the season and Tim Salvey there's a senior
player and been bowling at his best. I kind of
feel they have to is that part of what you're
talking about, that he should acquiesce to the wants of
everyone to give him a farewell or do they wagner
(13:48):
him well.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I do actually believe that the word success in the
last Test, which shouldn't be discussing too much. I doubt
that it's going to happen. Seriously. I think we're playing
against a very very confident, a very aggressive English team
who knows they've got the New Zealand team on the rope,
so they'll be determined under McCollum to keep them there. However,
I also think with the SAUVII situation, well I have
(14:12):
given him this quite a lot of thoughts. It's fine
to say to someone well played, you've had a wonderful
career and you can have the last Test match at
home that was a month ago. They decided what about
that young fella who's done really well in first class
cricket and is due to have his first giver test
and the excitement in his family and his grandmother, of
people down the street and people who support the young
(14:34):
fellow no matter who he plays for, and he misses
out because an old player is given an extra game,
and I know, I don't know that that's exactly the
way it is. That it just doesn't sit well with me.
I think Tess cricket is very, very important, and Tess
cricket is the final nail that everyone wants on. They
(14:55):
want to play kiss cricket. And to take a game
away from someone who's young and on their way up
to give it to someone because he's given good service
does not sit well with many people.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
And finally, Warren Lee's forman his own cricket coach, would
you pick Salthy for this last test?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
No, I'm sorry, I probably wouldn't. I probably wouldn't, And
I know the Royal Teams is home all those things,
but I don't know if you actually sat down blindly
with all these with all these fingers in front of you,
and all these players who could play, and you picked
the very best eleven players to go on the path
given them, will we players spin or not? Those things
(15:32):
come into it. I don't think he'd make the team, no.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Need for the DMO.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
We've got the breakdown on sports Talk.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But he will make the team. That is Warren Wally,
Lee's former coach of the black Caps, talking Test cricket
and whether Gary Stead or not will reapply or should
indeed be given the job. Remember, after this Test, after
the whole three three days, after hopefully five days of
intense action, that's it. It's just pajama cricket from there
(16:08):
on in plenty of T twenties, plenty of One day Internationals,
but no Tests, not that we're involved in anyway. I
think the first one's in July, and his contract expires
in June. So question to do is very very simple,
and I know it's a long time out, but I'm
presuming that you will base this selection in this thought
(16:29):
on what Gary Steed brings to the Test side, Because
for cricket, tragic's out there. The tests are the most
important things. No remember see the T twenty I champion
did they really? Yeah? One day it's Nashville. Yeah maybe,
I mean, we'll never forget by the bearst of margins,
will we But it's about test cricket, so take that
into account what we've seen from Gary Steed. Should the
(16:50):
black Caps? Should New Zealand Cricket re sign Gary Stead
in June when his contract is up for mine they
open it up, they do an old en toe to it,
and let's hope that Gary wants the job because he's
been great. He's done some fantastic things. He's overseen some
shocking times in his selling cricket. But the nature of
(17:13):
cricket is exactly that good times, bad times. You can't
You won't be consistently at the top of the world
across all formats unless you're Australia back in the day.
It's a very hard thing to maintain. I think for
the buy and large he's done a stunning job and
he should be commended. But I'm keen on fresh ideas
(17:38):
and new input from new minds and new people. So
if he wants the job, absolutely I have no problem
in taking the job again. But if they just hand
it to him on a plate that's not good enough.
I would like to see him reapply, but I'd like
to see some competition Dame Noline to do it. Sure,
apply for it, but we're opening the gates for anyone
(18:00):
who wants to have a crack. That's my opinion on
this and need to open it up. But I'd expect
that he'd be in with a good chance because of
what he's done. But I'm interchange and sack the guy.
Just give him another chance to reapply and see what
new ideas a new constitut get out of it. Twenty
five minutes after seven. Shouldn't say on cricket re sign
(18:22):
Gary Stead when it was contract up in June talking
test cricket and what he's achieved so far, not the
pajama vision. So that cool, Thank you very much. I
thought it was oh, one hundred and eighty ten eighty
lines are open. You can text nineteen nine two that
is z B z B quit text before we go.
I think too much has been made of Southey's selection.
(18:44):
He has done so much, and this has been planned
for a long time and there's no guarantee the other
fresh guys that automatically do great. South himself may do well.
Let's just salute him and let him perform rather than
make him feel guilty. Thanks for your input, But what
about Stead gus his News Talk zed B. You're on
Sports Thought.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Where you.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Never come.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Forget the riffs call.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You make the call on.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Sports Talk, on your home of Sports Talks, dream.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
This news CB Sports Talk Oh eighte hundred eighty ten
eighty lines are open. You can text nineteen nineteen b
z B Standard text charge does apply. Please don't think
this is a witch hunt and I'm after Gary Stead's jobs.
I'm not. I think he's been great, awesome human and
(19:56):
what he's contributed to New Zealand cricket has been phenomenal.
But this is the end of the Test season. In
three to five days, it's all over and his contract
expires in June. So between den or between then, when
the Test finishes and June, it's just a series of
T twenties and One Day International. The champions trophies lobved
(20:20):
in there somewhere in Pakistan. Whether that goes ahead or not,
it's another question. It's all bickering over there, aren't they.
But is this a decent audition for him to take
the job on. They're expending months and months and months
and months playing Monday cricket and T twenty cricket. I
think that the test is it isn't it isn't this
(20:44):
what we base our love of cricket on.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
On.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Talking to the casual fans that just like cricket fans
out there, that understand and delight in the vagaries of
this beautiful game. I think that they should open the
doors and say, who's key, who's interested, who wants to
take a look. Gary can reapply for his job if
(21:10):
he wants it, and he's been doing it for a while,
and I get that he's not paid zillions of dollars
and traveling globally must be a right pain in the backside.
It seems very glamorous initially, and suddenly you realize that
standing in cues getting a passport checked is miserable. That's
all he does, right, So if he wants to reapply, awesome,
(21:32):
because he has done amazing things. And as Warren Lees
is pointing out, it's crowded this culture. He's been very conservative,
conservatives with his selections and his unwillingness to drop people
who haven't performed quite some time. But that loyalty and
that consistency in general has worked well. I don't think
(21:55):
he can pick too many holes and what Gary Stead
has done, he will forever go down in history as
the bloker coach the team to beat India in their
own backyard on their prepared pictures. Three pictures pictures. That's
that's three zip. That doesn't happen. That's historic. Hen retired
before this Test match starts, and people will still say
(22:15):
you're the man for the health of New Zealand's cricket
and to the future and beyond. You need a regeneration
of talent, of ideas and injection of freshness. But only
if the person engaged to do this shows themselves to
(22:37):
be the future, as opposed to just change for change sake.
Well that's nuts, So open up the doors, see who's
out there. But suppose the big question. We've got a
few of these off texts as well on nineteen ninety two,
that is z b ZB. Who would do it? We're
(22:58):
not loaded, we haven't got potloads of cash. I don't
think Brandon McCallum would roll over here. What would's he on? Andy?
Like two million pounds for four years? So what that's
a million bucks a year. It's not bad coin if
you can make it. Someone like Stephen Fleming, Danny Vittori.
(23:19):
I mean, these guys are much in demand, but they'll
make the kind of money that the coaching staff a
get paid in ten weeks when they're playing cricket in India,
So why would they? So the question is should the
(23:40):
black Caps re sign Gary Stead? What process do they
go through? And they should start thinking about it now.
I can't just think about it in May and go
June or there's no one around. Got to start thinking
about it now in order to get the best available candidate.
Let's run through the text. If macallum applied, would you
(24:02):
pick us coach Stead or McCallum. Well, based on the
energy that McCallum brings to the show and the difference,
I would go McCullum. They've got an incredibly interesting way
of looking at the game of cricket, which is fraught
but also really entertaining. No disrespect to Gary. Would love
(24:25):
to see McCullum in their role, Jordan said, would Bears
even apply if the dollars were right? Maybe he wouldn't.
Maybe he's done. He wants to live over in England.
He's happy as a clam. Case is getting stuck instead?
Is the faster of New Zealand cricket providing there is
someone better out there. Unfortunately we can't afford McCallum or
(24:48):
flaming All a Tory. If we could, I wouldn't renew
his contract. But mean, isn't it Casey, It's jump to
the phones eight hundred and eighty ten eighty high Allen.
Speaker 9 (24:59):
You got an evening. I agree with you. Actually, you
know the question has to come up. You have to
question Gary Stead. I mean, I mean they won the
Inaugurall Test Championship, but they've sort of you know. The
disappointing thing for me Darcy is Will Young. It was
(25:22):
it was a star player in that whole series and
he was the best player on the team and he
should have played in the first Test in christ HEAs
it was a very bad decision. They were all sort
of resting on like you know, you know the guys
(25:43):
that won the World Devon Conway. I heard someone try
to roll up his stats. He has underperformed for a
long time. He he made his break as a one
day player, correct Darcy And there was a what do
you think?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I'm sorry saying Gan.
Speaker 9 (26:04):
All I'm saying Darcy is a Gary Stead and Tom
Latham made a huge mistake in not selecting Will Young.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I think that one of the strengths of Gary Stead's
tenure has been hard to get in, hard to get out.
And as a player, when you have that confidence and
you're not looking over your shoulder all the time, that
contributes to what you contribute to the team. It's trying
to work out, Allen, where the line is, where the
(26:37):
boundary is, where you go. Actually, enough's enough. You've got
to go now we've given you ample chances, no more.
And that is tricky.
Speaker 9 (26:47):
Yeah, but the whole point, Darcy, is that putter are
rolled in under three days. I mean, it's actually the
Saudi debate is my goodness. If you give a look
at an analogy in rugby and Buckshelf it was tossed
out after seventeen straight wins. Is captain for Zinzan Brook.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I've had an argument around alan that maybe players should
be gassed, sacked, kicked out. I know this sounds a
bit harsh, but as soon as they reach their peak,
when they start tipping and going down, God next in hardcore,
(27:30):
don't let them trail away into nothing. How about that?
I'll be a mean coach. Yeah, now you're looking like
your best is probably done out next in Please, this
is hard for a coach that's developed great relationships and
friendships with these players that's encouraged them to bring their
best to the park. Coaches do not just about throwdowns,
(27:55):
So those relationships that man management is massive, and as
I said before, you are going to have periods where
things don't go well. That's the nature of cricket. Very
few teams sit at the top of the table and
stay there for a very very very long time. And
what New Zealand Crickets has achieved Understead, considering the base
(28:20):
they've got to work from, is astonishing. I understand why
he's been what he hasn't wielded the acts on players
that haven't performed of recent times as quickly as some
people would like. I get why he's doing that. It's
(28:40):
that line. When does that define whether he gets the
job again in June? So that's another question for you. Wait,
the champions trophy in all these TA tween ties, is
that really going to be the trigger for whether it
getst the job or not?
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Gee?
Speaker 2 (28:56):
That'd be a shame, wouldn't it terrible? Eoh? Anyway, seven
thirty eight lines raping o one hundred and more tech
still to come and later on the peace we'll hear
from Sam Meninger is the center, the big from the
Breakers who are on a bit of a lean shot
right now. Four contictive losses. Can they turn it around
(29:20):
against the jack Jumpers tomorrow? And Sam joins.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Us soon.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Here is Paul going right, Oliver Colexi's own rebound and
dumps it down.
Speaker 7 (29:37):
What Let's take a man whose dinner reservation is at
eight o'clock, So.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Big win for the Sydney Kings. They come to Wellington
and take the chocolates. They probably took their cherry ripes
and the Turkish de lights. Well I say that the chocolates,
(30:01):
I really enjoy it. That's a learned habit. By the way,
no one wanted them when I was a kid, so
I'd eat them all. Breakers are on a tear right now,
pouring everything to pieces four and oh over the last
four matches. This is brutal. Can they turn it around?
Can they pick it up? What has to change?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
You?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Very different from the start of the season, isn't it
to talk about that man? I'm sure he can feel
it as well. Breakers center Sam Menninger joins us welcome
to the show mates.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
How you doing.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
I'm doing very well, more's the point. How are you
guys doing? It's been a bit of a shocking old
time for the Breakers over recent times. You're really really
looking for that elusive w What are you going to
put down up against the jack jumpers to I suppose
secure that, Sam?
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Yeah, No, it's been rough. I mean, first of all,
we're finally home for at least two or three days
and being able to sleep in our own bed and
you know, regroup and have some couple of practices to
figure things out. But it'll be an interesting game tomorrow
if we just come with the energy and really effort.
It's that little effort players and everything like that that'll
set us up nice. And like we've been successful with
(31:16):
our starts and those wins we've had, we've started off well,
so we can focus on that and let everything else happen.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
It seems to be an old time Breaker's habit. There's
a quarter and things just fall apart a third quarter
more often than not, have you ring fence that to
work out what's actually me going on?
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Sam?
Speaker 5 (31:35):
Yeah, I think it's a discipline thing. As far as
discipline to be you know, locked in and present for
all four quarters. We've been doing it really good in
the first half. We've done it for three quarters at
a time. It's like really peace and four quarters together
and staying locked in and staying present. You know, you
can drift away from the game if you're up by
twenty or if you're down by twenty. So it's how
can you just you know, put everything into each play
and let those players build up for the forty minute
(31:56):
period and then leave with the result being what it is.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
How about the meter side of things, how are you
guys all coping with all these losses in a row?
Is that discussed much at the gym or in the sheds?
Speaker 5 (32:07):
I mean, honestly, no, Like, guys have been good. We
enjoy each other's company. We understand that it's a long season.
We understand that, you know, things happen, so the spirits
are good. This frustration obviously that guys don't like losing
and that it should be frustrating. So I think guys
are eager to get back on track and get some
wins on the board. We're staying positive and we're staying together.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
It's a game of runs and very much a season
of runs too, So you've got to ride these ups
and downs and you can't get too emotional around that.
Is that what coach Kopp is talking about as well?
And what exactly has he changed as far as your
ex's and o's for one of a better word.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's he's definitely preached that and
we're definitely aware of that as pros. As far as
the ex's and o's is a couple of little tweaks,
but it's honestly getting back to what we were successful
at at the start of the season and making sure
we're fine tuning that and making sure we're disciplined with that.
He's just made sure everyone's staying positive and everyone's staying
with each other on this. You know, if a team
breaks apart, everything can you know, become a lot worse.
(33:02):
So we've done a good job with that. He's done
a good job with that, and we should be pretty
well equipped tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Can you tell us exactly what it is that you're
looking to, what the good stuff is, what you're trying
to lift, what these points are, Sam, I mean.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Did a great job of stobbing teams and transition and
being good at making sure they don't get out and
run us and score early quick points. So it's being
able to get back to that, being aggressive on ball
screens and handoffs, being able to do that, making sure
the rotation is right, making sure we're closing out to
the right personnel, and knowing the scout.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Well, you talk about the personnel, and you haven't mentioned
this at all so far. You've got to be commended
for this. You've hardly had the best of time as
far as bodies on the boards have you. There's been
a lot of players they simply couldn't front up. How's
the sick bay looking looking like? Having a full complment
or a fullish quiver of players up against the jack jumpers.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
Yeah, this might be the first time in a little
while we've had, you know, close to a full ross
or close to the roster we have healthy and ready
to go. So I know there's a lot of guys
excited for that, and I know bet it'll be a
refreshing thing to have, especially on the court, and especially
with how we've been playing lately.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, it must be teamed in to lean into that,
but you haven't that's a philosophy. I'm presuming sits through
the whole team. You work with what you've got and
don't look for excuses yet.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Yeah, I mean we did a good job with that,
and you know, and guys definitely stepped up. You have
to understand, we we had injuries early on in the
season when we had guys out, when we were winning,
we had you know, when it was six and two,
we had a few guys out, and few guys stepped
up and played their role to perfection. And so now
that guys are filtering back in, it's figuring out who
sits where and what each person needs to.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
Well, what about your own form, Sam, where do you
need to tweak, where do you need to lift? Do
you think what do you need to leave in the sheds?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean there's always everything you can do right, like
make more shots or physical I think, leading a charge
from that area in the big man's department, being physical,
being aggressive, helping league guys, helping guys, you know, stay
calm during the game with those ups and downs, and
just being that presence on the floor and.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Talking about big men. Taco fall has been the story
of recent times as he finally slipped into position he
knows what he's doing now he feels comfortable as part
of the unit because it has been a long time story,
isn't it, Sam? And maybe even a distraction. Is he
going to come? Is he going to not? But he's
there now. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
I mean he's been good. I mean especially last game
was probably his best game. And he's a monster group
and enjoying himself and we're enjoying his company. So it
just takes time with repetition of getting used to his
style of play and for us being used to being
around someone like him. So the more we play together
and the more we train together and get games under
our belt, the better we'll look with him.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Jack Jumpers. What do they bring to the floor.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Oh, they're an aggressive team. They bring a lot of physicality.
They don't lets you get into sets. They really like
to muck things up, and they're a discipline team on offense.
They run a lot of players. They're a well coached team.
They're a veteran team, I mean, the reigning champions. So
you can't you can't let that slip by you. We've
gotta be ready for a.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Dog fight, you say, sleeping in your own beds again,
you have had home games, but they've not been at home,
which must be a source of frustration. It's great to
get the game in and around New Zealand, but I
suppose that takes away to a degree. Are you happy
enough with the way the schedule works, Sam.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
I mean, I mean, if you want an ideal schedule,
you would write it up yourself. But it's life. You'd
have every home game you can. But it is what
it is. I don't think you read too much into it.
I think there's nothing you can do to change it.
Once that schedule comes out in preseason, you got to
understand that's what you got, is what you got to
work with. Yeah, it's exciting to be back in your
own bed.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
That's going to help.
Speaker 5 (36:44):
But I think just in general, if you think about
the season and the schedule too much, you can get
caught up and distracted and the wrong things.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Make stops score baskets. It's a simple old game if
you put it down to that, isn't it. Sam and Inger,
Thanks very much for your time. You go well tomorrow.
That game tips off against the jack Jumpers seven thirty
at Spark on Thursday evening. Thanks big man, Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Hear it from the biggest names and Sport.
Speaker 8 (37:06):
What men have your say on always under eighty eighty
sports Talk or on your home of sports and news
talks at me.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Sam Meninga there one of the center is one of
the bigs for the Breakers tomorrow night, seven thirty. I
keep on wanting to say it's a spark, but I've
got a sneaking suspicion it's not as it. It's at
the north shore of Vents Center. It's at the insect
homecoming of types classical gym.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That one.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
I really enjoy talking with Sam Meninger. This is how
athletes should speak. I love the way he didn't, Oh,
we're injured, Oh we've lost all these key players, didn't
mention it until I brought it up. And then he's like, well,
you know, start of the season we were injured, didn't matter.
We're still going, not excuse driven. It's fantastic, very well spoken,
(38:01):
up front, very honest, tremendous individual. Of course that the
other big that people are very interested in, Taco Fall,
will be there tomorrow night as well, and it sounds
like Taco is wocking through the growing pains he's having
being involved in the Breakers franchise, the Breakers club. We
start seeing some better numbers out of Taco. That's the
(38:24):
jack Jumpers and the Breakers tomorrow night and norths for
Events Center seven point thirty tip off on that. You
can watch it for free on the Telly or you
can get along to the venue. Geez, there been a
hard washed the last four games though, I tell you,
and yeah I do, Okay, you can't help myself, especially
(38:45):
through those dreaded third and fourth quarters when the whole
backside of that unit falls out. Was that third were
they scored what was it four points? Three points? I
think it was seven points in a quarter last time around? Wow,
things have got to turn. It's open tomorrow night, yere.
(39:06):
It's eight and a half away from eight o'clock. Coming
up next, I're on through more texts from you nineteen
nine two z B z B get amongst This is
Sports Talk me and you know how we go where
it supper.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
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 Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Greetings, Welcome, it says news Talks it B. It is
a Wednesday. It's seven minutes up to seven seven sixonds,
be precise, deliver into December twenty twenty four. My name
is Darcy Walter Grave. We talk sport from now through
until eight o'clock tonight. Towards the end of the program
catch up with Sam Meninga New Zealand Breakers Big. What
(00:53):
is a scene to the Huge? You're a game coming
up against the Tasmanian jack Jumpers tomorrow night. They're on
a four game losing streak. Well, it's a game that
runs and at the moment it's a series of as
well can they get up? Can they stand up? Sam
Minninger talks about that toward the end of the show.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Up.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
First, Warren Lees Wally Lees is he more commonly known
former New Zealand Black Hats test coach. Last Test match
this weekend for Gary Stead. We have an unusually and
cruelly short test season here in his own well, at
least we've got a couple right the last test match
(01:36):
for Gary Stead and then sometime next year, he's got
to renegotiate for his role again. So this is the
last chance to impress right, So has he done enough
to stay in this top role? What has to happen?
What occurs? How does this process go on from now?
Does this weekend have anything to do with it? We'll
talk to Warren about that and then we'll take your
(01:59):
calls on oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty does
he remain the coach after his contract is up? Has
he done enough? Does the steed to be thrown out
to the masses and competed for. We'll talk to you
about that later on in the peace on oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty context nineteen nine two. That is
(02:21):
z B z B. Before we wail on under this though,
let's do this sport today? And is sport today? James
O'Connor the first five eighth riding in on a white
steed to save the crusaders. Well, I is, but has
passed still Hauntsome.
Speaker 4 (02:36):
I haven't thought about it, sort of his pressure.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
It's more than exciting.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
Like I've played.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Against Dan and against Richie, two of the goats.
Speaker 6 (02:42):
Honestly, I've never been scored as much that was a
ten on tenners when Richie did us at Suncorp, when
I was with the Roads.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's gott to let it go. But you're on our
side now. The Football Ferns have a canning plan to
start next year which involves Costa Rica. Doesn't involve a
coach though, but the interim gaffer, Michael Maine, he worries not.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
My sense in this role at the moment is to
make sure that we can start really well. We're at
the start of this new cycle. We want to move
this plan forward, so my drive and motivation is always
the same as head coach.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Asb Classic director Nico Lampren has spoken of Kiwi front
runners to qualify for the Classic at a wild card scrap.
Speaker 7 (03:24):
In between kp Ajied and Jack Lelted, it's probably one
of the three who should have a chance are going
all the way in that playoff and getting that world.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
N and ins at our CEO Mark Robinson is confident
Dunedin's forsythe Bar will at least try and get a
test ahead of christ Jach's new Monster Stadium to Kaha.
That's when, of course it opens.
Speaker 6 (03:47):
I'm sure they'll be continuing to put their best foot
forward around all major events they can. They're a massive,
you know, rugby community. They're hugely passionate, they have great
history in the game and they have a vibrant events
scene as well.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So no, but they'll give Wellington a couple right, what
could possibly go off? And that's sport today, Warren Lee,
you said, joins us now former and he's selling black
Caps Test coacher looking toward the future of Gary Stead's
last Test match is coming up this weekend in Hamilton
(04:21):
after some huge success, after some underwhelming efforts as well?
What will it take for him to be reappointed? If
indeed he wants to be reappointed? Does he deserve to
get that role again? Does it need to be thrown
out to the wider public? They shouldn't just give him
the job. It should be a Nollane totoas situation, right,
you want it your reapply? What has he done? Has
(04:44):
he done enough to maintain this role? I know there's
a pretty high targets if I'm saying he's he done
enough because he's done an extraordinary amount. But does he
carry on with this role? Does he continue? Warren, Welcome
to the show, Scarice, did deserve to continue? In this
top role.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
I definitely think he deserves to have the opportunity to
reapp If he's interested, he should put his name forward.
You don't open up the field for other people until
you find whether the incumbent is interested or not. And
I actually think that over the time Gary has been involved,
he's developed a confidence that he possibly didn't have at
(05:23):
the start. His team has served him well. We haven't
had the ructions within the playing members as much as
has happened in the past, and I think his record
really stands up. I think we knock back. He's possibly
still a rather conservative coach, which is fine, and even
a more conservative selector. But that's the that's the character
(05:47):
that Gary is. He played crick It the same way,
so I certainly know you put the name in the
hat if if he's interested.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
So the idea of giving him the job, if he
wants it or not doesn't sit comfortably with you, and
nor should it. Quite frankly, no.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I think I think it goes on the open market,
not making it a decisions if I can't guarantee anywhere
else in the given criminals and will see it my way.
But I think it's good to have competition for these things.
When the job comes up for grabs, however, there will
be people with more knowledge than me, who will have
more of a background of exactly what's going on within
(06:24):
the dressing room and at the practice sessions, and over
the selection and over the non selection in particular of
certain players who had one hundred percent supportive every other
sports watcher in the country at times. So Gary hasn't
always done what was expected. But I think over the
(06:44):
time he's possibly found it harder to drop players than
to select new players. And if that's a criticism, well,
I'm sorry. That's the way it is.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Isn't that worked? To a degree though Warren and to
his favor, very difficult to get into the black Caps,
also very difficult to be dropped. So you have a
sense of trust from people around you, and you're not
batting from innings to innings thinking this could be my
last turn back. Surely that that generates confidence. But in
this case has gone too far?
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Are you saying, well, I know, I just said. Well,
what I mean is I think loyalty is a fantastic
word in team sport, and I think that just goes
it goes past the players into the support crew as well.
So you've got selectors, you've got coaches, you've got other
people around the team who are helping out, and it's
good to have loyalty within that group, but you've also
(07:37):
got to be prepared to say, well, hold on winner
is long enough, too long, and it also doesn't give
an equal opportunity for younger players coming through at all times.
I'm not saying you just change the team holds bollow
as every time some of our three failures are over
there out, because you've got to look more deeply than that,
(07:58):
and I think Gary's been quite good at that, except
there have been times where you think, gee, we've used
an awful lot of medium paste bowlers over a three
year period, but literally some have got injured. But some
of these players have gone away on some of these tours,
probably four or five tours and only had two or
three games in total, So you sort of wonder about
that at times. But of course Gary is not the
(08:20):
only selectors.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Not military medium pace. That was the term way back
in your day, wasn't it, Warren. It's not unusual, No.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's certainly not, certainly not unusual, But I think we
didn't have a choice we really only had military medium pace,
and I think that was one of the problems. Mind you,
we obviously prepared pictures to suit, which is something we've
complained about in different countries and we seem to ignore
when it comes to our own country. But now I
(08:48):
think overall, I think if Gary is interested, he must
put his name forward only to open up the field,
to actually let people compare, and to have the committee
who choose the next New Zealand Credit coach let them
actually sit down all those people who candidate, who put
their name forward, and look at the history of each player,
(09:11):
of each person.
Speaker 2 (09:13):
You obviously aren't making the decision. Are you rather be
in Queenstown? I completely understand that. But when you do
peck or retain a coach, what predominantly do the selectors
or the board rely on. Do they look at results?
Do they look at team culture? Do they look at turnover?
Do they look at ruckus within their camp? How do
(09:33):
they weigh this up in general? Do you think Warren
leaves from your experience?
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Oh? I think it's improved. I think it's hugely improved
over the last eighteen fifteen years. And our players have
sought their careers elsewhere where there's possibly more money, more
financial return, and therefore I think things have changed quite
a bit. I also think that it's pretty important for
(09:58):
all of those aspects that you talk about to be
considered very very carefully, and a coach himself when he
comes into the child. You'll find that most coaches are
completely different people after their first tour out of the country,
after the first season, after their first major problems with selection,
be it through injury or that reform, and how they
(10:20):
how they feel, how they deal with the public, how
they deal with the media, goes into pretty important now
which possibly weren't taken into account in the past. And
I think your round person who spells loyal with our
capital l I think it is someone who's pretty important.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
Growth is an interesting concept Warren and suggesting that they've
seen that in a coaching staff, and they've moved with
the times and they've been at the forefront of change.
That's quite important. Even though he's a very as you said,
he's a very safe and sensible coach with the selections
as well as he's shown enough that he is actually
(11:01):
at the front of the game and the way it's developing.
Because that's really important. Why it moves so fast in
the stain.
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Yeah, I think he does. I've seen recently at different
times at different grounds, and we've had a couple of
chats about certain things. I think, if anything, he's very controlled.
He seems calm. I think he seems a lot more
confident than he was, perhaps even as a player. I
(11:27):
mentioned that before, and I think he seems to have
his fingertips that perhaps he doesn't always let on. But
I think he seems pretty in control of the situation,
and that sort of speaks of someone who's got a
good support crew around him. He's not looking sideways or
looking for reasons to go behind what you say. I
(11:48):
think he takes things as you put it. He don't
have to agree with Gary. He's not that sort of person.
He'll accept it if you have a different opinion, and
he'll be polite about it. But I think you'll go
away and think about things and consider any ideas that
are given to him. It's a real strength that he has.
I don't think he even enjoys the media sometimes, but
(12:10):
that's okay because the media will get to understand that.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But who does I mean, you've dealt with them long
enough as if he said on a cricket Coaching how
it rolls?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
Well, No, there was a very brief time, right who
loved the media. I saw the media when we were willing,
and I hid from them under a blanket, a black
blanket in the back of the at the back of
the bus when we were losing. But I think that's
quite typical of life with it.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Is there a shelf life for a coach at this level?
Do you think can they grow stale?
Speaker 4 (12:38):
So?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
Perhaps can if they are allowing the senior players, the
boys who used to years ago sit in the back
of the bus. If they let no senior players start
to dominate the dressing room too much, yeah, I think
you lose the weepers of your of your confidence from
the players. And I think that I don't know, I'm
not saying that set of Garrett, but you have to
(13:00):
keep from that. And I do think that there are
times where the senior players I think you're older, as
they don't have the success they used to have on
the field, they start looking for shortcuts and that's the
very time that an experienced coach needs to stampers mark,
pull the boys back into order and make sure there
(13:21):
aren't any splits it within the team, and I'm not
saying there are, but I think Gary is very good
at that sort.
Speaker 2 (13:27):
Of thing, which leads us nicely to how key is
success in the final Test match, the final home Test
match of the season and Tim Salvey there's a senior
player and been bowling at his best. I kind of
feel they have to is that part of what you're
talking about, that he should acquiesce to the wants of
everyone to give him a farewell or do they wagner
(13:48):
him well.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I do actually believe that the word success in the
last Test, which shouldn't be discussing too much. I doubt
that it's going to happen. Seriously. I think we're playing
against a very very confident, a very aggressive English team
who knows they've got the New Zealand team on the rope,
so they'll be determined under McCollum to keep them there. However,
I also think with the SAUVII situation, well I have
(14:12):
given him this quite a lot of thoughts. It's fine
to say to someone well played, you've had a wonderful
career and you can have the last Test match at
home that was a month ago. They decided what about
that young fella who's done really well in first class
cricket and is due to have his first giver test
and the excitement in his family and his grandmother, of
people down the street and people who support the young
(14:34):
fellow no matter who he plays for, and he misses
out because an old player is given an extra game,
and I know, I don't know that that's exactly the
way it is. That it just doesn't sit well with me.
I think Tess cricket is very, very important, and Tess
cricket is the final nail that everyone wants on. They
(14:55):
want to play kiss cricket. And to take a game
away from someone who's young and on their way up
to give it to someone because he's given good service
does not sit well with many people.
Speaker 2 (15:07):
And finally, Warren Lee's forman his own cricket coach, would
you pick Salthy for this last test?
Speaker 3 (15:12):
No, I'm sorry, I probably wouldn't. I probably wouldn't, And
I know the Royal Teams is home all those things,
but I don't know if you actually sat down blindly
with all these with all these fingers in front of you,
and all these players who could play, and you picked
the very best eleven players to go on the path
given them, will we players spin or not? Those things
(15:32):
come into it. I don't think he'd make the team, no.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Need for the DMO.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
We've got the breakdown on sports Talk.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
But he will make the team. That is Warren Wally,
Lee's former coach of the black Caps, talking Test cricket
and whether Gary Stead or not will reapply or should
indeed be given the job. Remember, after this Test, after
the whole three three days, after hopefully five days of
intense action, that's it. It's just pajama cricket from there
(16:08):
on in plenty of T twenties, plenty of One day Internationals,
but no Tests, not that we're involved in anyway. I
think the first one's in July, and his contract expires
in June. So question to do is very very simple,
and I know it's a long time out, but I'm
presuming that you will base this selection in this thought
(16:29):
on what Gary Steed brings to the Test side, Because
for cricket, tragic's out there. The tests are the most
important things. No remember see the T twenty I champion
did they really? Yeah? One day it's Nashville. Yeah maybe,
I mean, we'll never forget by the bearst of margins,
will we But it's about test cricket, so take that
into account what we've seen from Gary Steed. Should the
(16:50):
black Caps? Should New Zealand Cricket re sign Gary Stead
in June when his contract is up for mine they
open it up, they do an old en toe to it,
and let's hope that Gary wants the job because he's
been great. He's done some fantastic things. He's overseen some
shocking times in his selling cricket. But the nature of
(17:13):
cricket is exactly that good times, bad times. You can't
You won't be consistently at the top of the world
across all formats unless you're Australia back in the day.
It's a very hard thing to maintain. I think for
the buy and large he's done a stunning job and
he should be commended. But I'm keen on fresh ideas
(17:38):
and new input from new minds and new people. So
if he wants the job, absolutely I have no problem
in taking the job again. But if they just hand
it to him on a plate that's not good enough.
I would like to see him reapply, but I'd like
to see some competition Dame Noline to do it. Sure,
apply for it, but we're opening the gates for anyone
(18:00):
who wants to have a crack. That's my opinion on
this and need to open it up. But I'd expect
that he'd be in with a good chance because of
what he's done. But I'm interchange and sack the guy.
Just give him another chance to reapply and see what
new ideas a new constitut get out of it. Twenty
five minutes after seven. Shouldn't say on cricket re sign
(18:22):
Gary Stead when it was contract up in June talking
test cricket and what he's achieved so far, not the
pajama vision. So that cool, Thank you very much. I
thought it was oh, one hundred and eighty ten eighty
lines are open. You can text nineteen nine two that
is z B z B quit text before we go.
I think too much has been made of Southey's selection.
(18:44):
He has done so much, and this has been planned
for a long time and there's no guarantee the other
fresh guys that automatically do great. South himself may do well.
Let's just salute him and let him perform rather than
make him feel guilty. Thanks for your input, But what
about Stead gus his News Talk zed B. You're on
Sports Thought.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Where you.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Never come.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
Forget the riffs call.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
You make the call on.
Speaker 8 (19:15):
Sports Talk, on your home of Sports Talks, dream.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
This news CB Sports Talk Oh eighte hundred eighty ten
eighty lines are open. You can text nineteen nineteen b
z B Standard text charge does apply. Please don't think
this is a witch hunt and I'm after Gary Stead's jobs.
I'm not. I think he's been great, awesome human and
(19:56):
what he's contributed to New Zealand cricket has been phenomenal.
But this is the end of the Test season. In
three to five days, it's all over and his contract
expires in June. So between den or between then, when
the Test finishes and June, it's just a series of
T twenties and One Day International. The champions trophies lobved
(20:20):
in there somewhere in Pakistan. Whether that goes ahead or not,
it's another question. It's all bickering over there, aren't they.
But is this a decent audition for him to take
the job on. They're expending months and months and months
and months playing Monday cricket and T twenty cricket. I
think that the test is it isn't it isn't this
(20:44):
what we base our love of cricket on.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
On.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
Talking to the casual fans that just like cricket fans
out there, that understand and delight in the vagaries of
this beautiful game. I think that they should open the
doors and say, who's key, who's interested, who wants to
take a look. Gary can reapply for his job if
(21:10):
he wants it, and he's been doing it for a while,
and I get that he's not paid zillions of dollars
and traveling globally must be a right pain in the backside.
It seems very glamorous initially, and suddenly you realize that
standing in cues getting a passport checked is miserable. That's
all he does, right, So if he wants to reapply, awesome,
(21:32):
because he has done amazing things. And as Warren Lees
is pointing out, it's crowded this culture. He's been very conservative,
conservatives with his selections and his unwillingness to drop people
who haven't performed quite some time. But that loyalty and
that consistency in general has worked well. I don't think
(21:55):
he can pick too many holes and what Gary Stead
has done, he will forever go down in history as
the bloker coach the team to beat India in their
own backyard on their prepared pictures. Three pictures pictures. That's
that's three zip. That doesn't happen. That's historic. Hen retired
before this Test match starts, and people will still say
(22:15):
you're the man for the health of New Zealand's cricket
and to the future and beyond. You need a regeneration
of talent, of ideas and injection of freshness. But only
if the person engaged to do this shows themselves to
(22:37):
be the future, as opposed to just change for change sake.
Well that's nuts, So open up the doors, see who's
out there. But suppose the big question. We've got a
few of these off texts as well on nineteen ninety two,
that is z b ZB. Who would do it? We're
(22:58):
not loaded, we haven't got potloads of cash. I don't
think Brandon McCallum would roll over here. What would's he on? Andy?
Like two million pounds for four years? So what that's
a million bucks a year. It's not bad coin if
you can make it. Someone like Stephen Fleming, Danny Vittori.
(23:19):
I mean, these guys are much in demand, but they'll
make the kind of money that the coaching staff a
get paid in ten weeks when they're playing cricket in India,
So why would they? So the question is should the
(23:40):
black Caps re sign Gary Stead? What process do they
go through? And they should start thinking about it now.
I can't just think about it in May and go
June or there's no one around. Got to start thinking
about it now in order to get the best available candidate.
Let's run through the text. If macallum applied, would you
(24:02):
pick us coach Stead or McCallum. Well, based on the
energy that McCallum brings to the show and the difference,
I would go McCullum. They've got an incredibly interesting way
of looking at the game of cricket, which is fraught
but also really entertaining. No disrespect to Gary. Would love
(24:25):
to see McCullum in their role, Jordan said, would Bears
even apply if the dollars were right? Maybe he wouldn't.
Maybe he's done. He wants to live over in England.
He's happy as a clam. Case is getting stuck instead?
Is the faster of New Zealand cricket providing there is
someone better out there. Unfortunately we can't afford McCallum or
(24:48):
flaming All a Tory. If we could, I wouldn't renew
his contract. But mean, isn't it Casey, It's jump to
the phones eight hundred and eighty ten eighty high Allen.
Speaker 9 (24:59):
You got an evening. I agree with you. Actually, you
know the question has to come up. You have to
question Gary Stead. I mean, I mean they won the
Inaugurall Test Championship, but they've sort of you know. The
disappointing thing for me Darcy is Will Young. It was
(25:22):
it was a star player in that whole series and
he was the best player on the team and he
should have played in the first Test in christ HEAs
it was a very bad decision. They were all sort
of resting on like you know, you know the guys
(25:43):
that won the World Devon Conway. I heard someone try
to roll up his stats. He has underperformed for a
long time. He he made his break as a one
day player, correct Darcy And there was a what do
you think?
Speaker 2 (26:01):
I'm sorry saying Gan.
Speaker 9 (26:04):
All I'm saying Darcy is a Gary Stead and Tom
Latham made a huge mistake in not selecting Will Young.
Speaker 2 (26:15):
I think that one of the strengths of Gary Stead's
tenure has been hard to get in, hard to get out.
And as a player, when you have that confidence and
you're not looking over your shoulder all the time, that
contributes to what you contribute to the team. It's trying
to work out, Allen, where the line is, where the
(26:37):
boundary is, where you go. Actually, enough's enough. You've got
to go now we've given you ample chances, no more.
And that is tricky.
Speaker 9 (26:47):
Yeah, but the whole point, Darcy, is that putter are
rolled in under three days. I mean, it's actually the
Saudi debate is my goodness. If you give a look
at an analogy in rugby and Buckshelf it was tossed
out after seventeen straight wins. Is captain for Zinzan Brook.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
I've had an argument around alan that maybe players should
be gassed, sacked, kicked out. I know this sounds a
bit harsh, but as soon as they reach their peak,
when they start tipping and going down, God next in hardcore,
(27:30):
don't let them trail away into nothing. How about that?
I'll be a mean coach. Yeah, now you're looking like
your best is probably done out next in Please, this
is hard for a coach that's developed great relationships and
friendships with these players that's encouraged them to bring their
best to the park. Coaches do not just about throwdowns,
(27:55):
So those relationships that man management is massive, and as
I said before, you are going to have periods where
things don't go well. That's the nature of cricket. Very
few teams sit at the top of the table and
stay there for a very very very long time. And
what New Zealand Crickets has achieved Understead, considering the base
(28:20):
they've got to work from, is astonishing. I understand why
he's been what he hasn't wielded the acts on players
that haven't performed of recent times as quickly as some
people would like. I get why he's doing that. It's
(28:40):
that line. When does that define whether he gets the
job again in June? So that's another question for you. Wait,
the champions trophy in all these TA tween ties, is
that really going to be the trigger for whether it
getst the job or not?
Speaker 3 (28:56):
Gee?
Speaker 2 (28:56):
That'd be a shame, wouldn't it terrible? Eoh? Anyway, seven
thirty eight lines raping o one hundred and more tech
still to come and later on the peace we'll hear
from Sam Meninger is the center, the big from the
Breakers who are on a bit of a lean shot
right now. Four contictive losses. Can they turn it around
(29:20):
against the jack Jumpers tomorrow? And Sam joins.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Us soon.
Speaker 1 (29:31):
Here is Paul going right, Oliver Colexi's own rebound and
dumps it down.
Speaker 7 (29:37):
What Let's take a man whose dinner reservation is at
eight o'clock, So.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Big win for the Sydney Kings. They come to Wellington
and take the chocolates. They probably took their cherry ripes
and the Turkish de lights. Well I say that the chocolates,
(30:01):
I really enjoy it. That's a learned habit. By the way,
no one wanted them when I was a kid, so
I'd eat them all. Breakers are on a tear right now,
pouring everything to pieces four and oh over the last
four matches. This is brutal. Can they turn it around?
Can they pick it up? What has to change?
Speaker 3 (30:25):
You?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Very different from the start of the season, isn't it
to talk about that man? I'm sure he can feel
it as well. Breakers center Sam Menninger joins us welcome
to the show mates.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
How you doing.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
I'm doing very well, more's the point. How are you
guys doing? It's been a bit of a shocking old
time for the Breakers over recent times. You're really really
looking for that elusive w What are you going to
put down up against the jack jumpers to I suppose
secure that, Sam?
Speaker 5 (30:56):
Yeah, No, it's been rough. I mean, first of all,
we're finally home for at least two or three days
and being able to sleep in our own bed and
you know, regroup and have some couple of practices to
figure things out. But it'll be an interesting game tomorrow
if we just come with the energy and really effort.
It's that little effort players and everything like that that'll
set us up nice. And like we've been successful with
(31:16):
our starts and those wins we've had, we've started off well,
so we can focus on that and let everything else happen.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
It seems to be an old time Breaker's habit. There's
a quarter and things just fall apart a third quarter
more often than not, have you ring fence that to
work out what's actually me going on?
Speaker 3 (31:34):
Sam?
Speaker 5 (31:35):
Yeah, I think it's a discipline thing. As far as
discipline to be you know, locked in and present for
all four quarters. We've been doing it really good in
the first half. We've done it for three quarters at
a time. It's like really peace and four quarters together
and staying locked in and staying present. You know, you
can drift away from the game if you're up by
twenty or if you're down by twenty. So it's how
can you just you know, put everything into each play
and let those players build up for the forty minute
(31:56):
period and then leave with the result being what it is.
Speaker 2 (31:59):
How about the meter side of things, how are you
guys all coping with all these losses in a row?
Is that discussed much at the gym or in the sheds?
Speaker 5 (32:07):
I mean, honestly, no, Like, guys have been good. We
enjoy each other's company. We understand that it's a long season.
We understand that, you know, things happen, so the spirits
are good. This frustration obviously that guys don't like losing
and that it should be frustrating. So I think guys
are eager to get back on track and get some
wins on the board. We're staying positive and we're staying together.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
It's a game of runs and very much a season
of runs too, So you've got to ride these ups
and downs and you can't get too emotional around that.
Is that what coach Kopp is talking about as well?
And what exactly has he changed as far as your
ex's and o's for one of a better word.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
Yeah, one hundred percent. That's he's definitely preached that and
we're definitely aware of that as pros. As far as
the ex's and o's is a couple of little tweaks,
but it's honestly getting back to what we were successful
at at the start of the season and making sure
we're fine tuning that and making sure we're disciplined with that.
He's just made sure everyone's staying positive and everyone's staying
with each other on this. You know, if a team
breaks apart, everything can you know, become a lot worse.
(33:02):
So we've done a good job with that. He's done
a good job with that, and we should be pretty
well equipped tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Can you tell us exactly what it is that you're
looking to, what the good stuff is, what you're trying
to lift, what these points are, Sam, I mean.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
Did a great job of stobbing teams and transition and
being good at making sure they don't get out and
run us and score early quick points. So it's being
able to get back to that, being aggressive on ball
screens and handoffs, being able to do that, making sure
the rotation is right, making sure we're closing out to
the right personnel, and knowing the scout.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
Well, you talk about the personnel, and you haven't mentioned
this at all so far. You've got to be commended
for this. You've hardly had the best of time as
far as bodies on the boards have you. There's been
a lot of players they simply couldn't front up. How's
the sick bay looking looking like? Having a full complment
or a fullish quiver of players up against the jack jumpers.
Speaker 5 (33:52):
Yeah, this might be the first time in a little
while we've had, you know, close to a full ross
or close to the roster we have healthy and ready
to go. So I know there's a lot of guys
excited for that, and I know bet it'll be a
refreshing thing to have, especially on the court, and especially
with how we've been playing lately.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, it must be teamed in to lean into that,
but you haven't that's a philosophy. I'm presuming sits through
the whole team. You work with what you've got and
don't look for excuses yet.
Speaker 5 (34:19):
Yeah, I mean we did a good job with that,
and you know, and guys definitely stepped up. You have
to understand, we we had injuries early on in the
season when we had guys out, when we were winning,
we had you know, when it was six and two,
we had a few guys out, and few guys stepped
up and played their role to perfection. And so now
that guys are filtering back in, it's figuring out who
sits where and what each person needs to.
Speaker 2 (34:41):
Well, what about your own form, Sam, where do you
need to tweak, where do you need to lift? Do
you think what do you need to leave in the sheds?
Speaker 5 (34:48):
I mean there's always everything you can do right, like
make more shots or physical I think, leading a charge
from that area in the big man's department, being physical,
being aggressive, helping league guys, helping guys, you know, stay
calm during the game with those ups and downs, and
just being that presence on the floor and.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Talking about big men. Taco fall has been the story
of recent times as he finally slipped into position he
knows what he's doing now he feels comfortable as part
of the unit because it has been a long time story,
isn't it, Sam? And maybe even a distraction. Is he
going to come? Is he going to not? But he's
there now. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (35:21):
I mean he's been good. I mean especially last game
was probably his best game. And he's a monster group
and enjoying himself and we're enjoying his company. So it
just takes time with repetition of getting used to his
style of play and for us being used to being
around someone like him. So the more we play together
and the more we train together and get games under
our belt, the better we'll look with him.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
Jack Jumpers. What do they bring to the floor.
Speaker 5 (35:46):
Oh, they're an aggressive team. They bring a lot of physicality.
They don't lets you get into sets. They really like
to muck things up, and they're a discipline team on offense.
They run a lot of players. They're a well coached team.
They're a veteran team, I mean, the reigning champions. So
you can't you can't let that slip by you. We've
gotta be ready for a.
Speaker 2 (36:07):
Dog fight, you say, sleeping in your own beds again,
you have had home games, but they've not been at home,
which must be a source of frustration. It's great to
get the game in and around New Zealand, but I
suppose that takes away to a degree. Are you happy
enough with the way the schedule works, Sam.
Speaker 5 (36:25):
I mean, I mean, if you want an ideal schedule,
you would write it up yourself. But it's life. You'd
have every home game you can. But it is what
it is. I don't think you read too much into it.
I think there's nothing you can do to change it.
Once that schedule comes out in preseason, you got to
understand that's what you got, is what you got to
work with. Yeah, it's exciting to be back in your
own bed.
Speaker 3 (36:43):
That's going to help.
Speaker 5 (36:44):
But I think just in general, if you think about
the season and the schedule too much, you can get
caught up and distracted and the wrong things.
Speaker 2 (36:50):
Make stops score baskets. It's a simple old game if
you put it down to that, isn't it. Sam and Inger,
Thanks very much for your time. You go well tomorrow.
That game tips off against the jack Jumpers seven thirty
at Spark on Thursday evening. Thanks big man, Thanks appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (37:04):
Hear it from the biggest names and Sport.
Speaker 8 (37:06):
What men have your say on always under eighty eighty
sports Talk or on your home of sports and news
talks at me.
Speaker 2 (37:13):
Sam Meninga there one of the center is one of
the bigs for the Breakers tomorrow night, seven thirty. I
keep on wanting to say it's a spark, but I've
got a sneaking suspicion it's not as it. It's at
the north shore of Vents Center. It's at the insect
homecoming of types classical gym.
Speaker 3 (37:34):
That one.
Speaker 2 (37:35):
I really enjoy talking with Sam Meninger. This is how
athletes should speak. I love the way he didn't, Oh,
we're injured, Oh we've lost all these key players, didn't
mention it until I brought it up. And then he's like, well,
you know, start of the season we were injured, didn't matter.
We're still going, not excuse driven. It's fantastic, very well spoken,
(38:01):
up front, very honest, tremendous individual. Of course that the
other big that people are very interested in, Taco Fall,
will be there tomorrow night as well, and it sounds
like Taco is wocking through the growing pains he's having
being involved in the Breakers franchise, the Breakers club. We
start seeing some better numbers out of Taco. That's the
(38:24):
jack Jumpers and the Breakers tomorrow night and norths for
Events Center seven point thirty tip off on that. You
can watch it for free on the Telly or you
can get along to the venue. Geez, there been a
hard washed the last four games though, I tell you,
and yeah I do, Okay, you can't help myself, especially
(38:45):
through those dreaded third and fourth quarters when the whole
backside of that unit falls out. Was that third were
they scored what was it four points? Three points? I
think it was seven points in a quarter last time around? Wow,
things have got to turn. It's open tomorrow night, yere.
(39:06):
It's eight and a half away from eight o'clock. Coming
up next, I're on through more texts from you nineteen
nine two z B z B get amongst This is
Sports Talk me and you know how we go where
it supper.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
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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