July 31, 2025 • 42 mins
D'Arcy Waldegrave returned to wrap another day of sports news! Highlights for tonight include:
NRL 360 panellist David Riccio on the Warriors-Dolphins match.
Warriors talkback.
Rugby commentator Tony Johnson on the return of the NPC.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Waldegrave
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Evening. All Welcome into Sports Talk seven minutes up seven
on Thursday night, last day of July twenty twenty five.
Only one more month of the tyranny of the cold
and dark of winter be gone, foul season, counting down
the days? Hey, how are you? And Darcy Waltergrave still winginge?
(00:59):
Can't help myself saying that has been very pleasant this winter.
I spent three weeks of it in London. Anyway, enough already,
let's talk some sport on the program. Plenty going on
if you will. MPC starts tonight. Yeah, why actually cornered
Tony Johnson the staff that he said card TJ. Let's say,
(01:21):
boy yarn about the MPC Real rugby A. It didn't
take much to persuade him, so he'll be joining a
slater on on the piece to talk about it. Games
actually get underwagh Oh they did. They're already underway about
three minutes ago, and I'll keep you up to date
with that. The opening match Eden park Auckland hosting the
White Couple Bombay neighbors having a bash at each other.
(01:45):
We'll keep you up to date with that score. Joining
us first up on the program though David Ricchio, he
is a writer for the Daily Telegraph, a league writer
for the Daily Telegraph. You may have seen him hurt
him on NRL three sixty, that brother combative league television program.
If I've only there was a rugby chat sho like
(02:07):
NRL three sixty over here where the guests, I really
genuinely don't think they like each other a lot of
the time. We need more of that, right, So Day's
going to join us and we're going to talk about
the Warriors. I know we had Richie Barnett on at
the start of the week to talk about that. Would
you the chance to roll on? And they're playing tomorrow night,
(02:29):
They're coming toward the end of their season. There's a
handful of games to go. Is unraveling pretty quickly, pretty quickly.
I think you'll agree if your Warriors fan are reasons
for concern? Are they entirely the Warrior's faulk? No, they
are not. How are they going to progress? I don't
(02:50):
want to be cheeky about it. I can't help myself.
They're a mathematical chance to not be in the top
eight it's a pretty random bunch of mass to get
it done. But they are hanging on to the four.
They got a lot, They've got the Dolphins coming up
on Friday night, so much on this game. Dave Recchio
joins us next to talk about where the Warriors sit,
(03:11):
where they stand, where they lie down, how are they
going to go, what needs to be addressed in this side,
and then we'll take your calls on the same subject. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, that's our thought anyway,
looking forward to having you on board. But before we
(03:31):
talk about league and listen to Tony Johnson and rugby and
I keep you up to date with the mighty NPC.
Let's climb head first into this sort today. NPC's just
kicked off comp starting at Eden Park. Auckland are hosting
their neighbors the Couple Blues and Auckland prop Joshua has
(03:52):
sampled international football this year with an appearance for the
ANZAC side when they took on the Lions.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Tasted good going up against some players that have watched
growing up, knowing what the next level is like, and
kind of learned more about myself that I'm not too
far off from what the next level looks like, but
there is still a lot of work to be done.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Super nice bloke, that one, I tell you. Andrew Webster
has paired his team's swappy defensive efforts down to three
main points. These will be tested tomorrow night at home
as the WA's attempt to tornic ky the bleeding. If
you will, here's Andrew play.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
The ball could be too fast. It's always often one
and someone else hasn't gone their job. Spacing's too tight,
so they're crats and overlap. That's two things, and then
three we don't find a way to stop it on
the edge.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You need more on that Coming up next with David
ricci O, black Cap spearhead Matt Henry, fresh from another
five wicket bag, shares his master plan for the next
few days against Zimbabwe.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
We'll probably start again with their big boys coming in
early and get through that, put time in the legs,
I think, and you can look to really cash in
later on. But I think there's still gonna be a
lot of work to do early getting used to the
pace and the bounce is probably going to be a challenge.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And then golf lydia Co has released her demons of
expectation be gone foul demons. The celebrated golfer is defending
her Women's Open title in Wales. The showdown starts overnight tonight.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
At the end of the day, if you win, it's
not something that someone can take away from me. So
you know, I don't have to prove to anybody that
I can win the AAG Woman's Open. So in that sense,
I think it's you know, it lets me be.
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Free, and that's the sport.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Today they taught some rubby league, rugby league, rugby league.
Twelve minutes after seven of a Thursday. We go now
to n RL three to sixty panelist, a writer for
the Daily Telegraph and all things at rugby league, and
he seems to be the guy that's always breaking the
league stories as well. He knows somebody, he knows somebody
over here. Someone's feeding him some lines. We'll find out
(06:07):
more about what he knows. His name is David Ricky.
He joins us now, good evening.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
Yeah, good evening to ask good to be here, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Great to have you on board. The Warrior season is
getting interesting and there is an understatement it doesn't matter
how well you start in this competition. It's how you
end and now you look at this team and go, wow,
is the top four position? Yeah, it's within their range.
But can they slip? What have you made of the
(06:37):
last what six rounds? Five rounds?
Speaker 6 (06:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
Looks certainly been tough times, there's no denying it.
Speaker 7 (06:44):
And it's all about the roster, Darcy.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
It's all about staying healthy and that's just something that
has impacted the Warriors heavily over the past months of football.
And I suppose you can take it all the way
back to San Corpse Stadium where Luke Metcalf suffered that
almost innocuous torn acl when he was tackled off the ball.
Speaker 7 (07:06):
It's really just.
Speaker 8 (07:09):
Basically gone downhill ever since you've thrown Mitchell Barnett with
a torn acl, to the point of which we see
them running out this weekend with their entire front row unavailable,
including James Fisher, Harris with a calf injury and Wade
Egan out with a HIA. So look, it's tough times
(07:31):
for the Warriors as far as their health is concerned.
And my only my major concern is that all those
guys that I've mentioned, they're not coming back. Aside from Fisher, Harris,
within the next two to three weeks.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
Wade Egan back next week.
Speaker 8 (07:45):
But metcalf Barnet there's such significant he's so influential on
this Warrior's lineup that they just haven't adjusted just yet.
It's not over, yes, but the adjustment has been the
big thing for the Warriors that they're still finding their way.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, Harris Devitas are not there as well, and this
is causing a bit of case and the spine to it.
Agree in the back line as well. You don't throw
your hands up, though, do you in horror? Because this
is the NRL. You've got to have back up. You've
got to keep your players fit and if they're not,
next man step up. And that's something the team has
done reasonably well so far, isn't it. Do you see
(08:25):
it carrying on? Because they're run for the final right
the way through, it's reasonably good. I mean if they've
got the bulldogs. But short of that, I won't say
easy beats because we said that about the Times last week.
We live to regret that one. But how's their run
looking with what they've got left?
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Dave, Yeah, you touched on something there as far as
tapping into the club's depth.
Speaker 7 (08:46):
And you can't throw your hands up your spot on.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
And I think the Warriors have been cognizant of how
much talent they do have down below and when I
meant what I mean is beneath the one to seventeen
of the NRLs side.
Speaker 7 (08:58):
And it's come through their decision making as well.
Speaker 8 (09:01):
They were happy to let Dylan Walker go to Paramatter
halfway through this year. So too Zion Mayou, who was
a talented young forward coming through. And they did this
knowing that the likes of Jacob Laban, Tannastowers Smith and
as far as Lekahalesema is concerned, Demitric Valmonger, these young
(09:24):
talents were coming through.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
And I would argue that those.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Players I've just mentioned are being asked to play more
football due to the injuries than what would have been
planned by the Warriors. But from that opportunity comes experience.
And yes it's been there's been some harsh lessons for
these fellas, but in the long run it'll work out
because they're getting.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
The harsh lessons and the experience. You touched on it.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
Probably four weeks ago I looked at the Warriors run
home and I declared it one of the best run
homes in the competition. But yet here we are after
a couple of shaky losses that we're starting to think, hmm,
Only there's some hurdles in front of them, and then
this Dolphins match will give us a huge indication of
(10:13):
whether they can push forward and jump those incoming hurdles
as far as the Bulldogs are concerned in coming weeks.
So yeah, it's all in front of the Warriors, but
this one's huge against the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
What interest me with these younger players coming through, it's
all well and good. They're basically boys playing against men,
although they have been playing like men. But it is
fatigue because towards the point at the end of the competition,
in the last handful of rounds, the work they're expected
to do on a defensive nature, with an attitude basis,
(10:46):
a resource basis they might want to, but they may
well have run out of steamed. Do you think that's
an overestimation or an underestimation out what they face now?
Speaker 7 (10:56):
It ain't die.
Speaker 8 (10:57):
I think you're right, and I think I come back
to my point that this is all coming a lot
sooner than what I think the Warriors management.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
Would have preferred. But you don't in the NRAL.
Speaker 8 (11:06):
You don't get that timeline choice. You don't get the
pick and choose. You have to dance when you need
to dance, and they're doing that right now and it's unfortunate.
But we're going to learn a lot about both those
players as individuals and as the team.
Speaker 7 (11:19):
And I think your right experience counts.
Speaker 8 (11:21):
And you know, when we think about the Warriors and
the fact that they made that decision to let Adam
fanil Blake return to Sydney and how quick they were
to sign James Fisher Harris, and I would dare say
all of New Zealand were doing cartwheels when that news came.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Through because of everything that.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
You know what James Fisher Harris can bring as far
as experience on field and off field. And sure he yes,
he's out injured and he would be providing some off
field leadership at this point in time, but he's on
field leadership to be able to under the goalposts after
the Dolphins have scored, to grab Demitric, to grab Leka
(12:01):
Halisima tain to a picky Jacob Laban, These younger player
grab them by the scruff and the Nay boys follow
me it'll be all right, let's just go with me
for the next fifteen minutes. I'll lead the way that's
not that way be there, And that's just like experience
and leadership. When when when the heat is on, of
which it will be on in the next couple of
(12:21):
weeks for the Warriors, it's sorely missed at the moment.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
For the Wise, Yeah, that's going to have to be
carried by the likes of Kirk Capwell, the Skipper and
some of the more experienced guys like Darlan Martinez. A
Levsnak's not having the best time of it. I believe
we've taught for what six old minutes, Dave, and we
haven't mentioned the right edge issue that is the buzz
word around wire is fans. At the moment, we can
understand why it's happened as it is with various injuries
(12:47):
mid games that have a barrier that had a disastrous effect.
But is it too easy to point at all at
Dullin and go it's your fault, you're not playing well
or is that a little too simplistic.
Speaker 8 (12:59):
Well, look, I think every every player is under pressure.
I think every player plays under a spotlight and Dylan's
experienced enough enough to know when when he's not playing
to the best of his ability. I do sympathize because
I think it does come down to the combination changes.
And if you look at the top teams, and certainly
(13:20):
in my job talking to the to the majority of
the NFL coaches almost on a daily basis, it is
they rely heavily on combinations and what the warriors are
going through. It's forcing a lot of change in their
back line. And with that, the opposition know it. The
opposition they want to They see a scab and they
(13:42):
pick at it, and if they get a result, they
keep coming back there, and that's unfortunate. Confidence is a
big thing, and when confidence is down you can see
that with Dallan at the moment, they'll keep going at it.
The key for it is Minuds seeing he is Andrew
Webs has prepared to back Dallan on what he has
already done in the jumper and in the past. But
(14:04):
in saying that does look it does get to a
point morning time where you know, maybe it is time
for a change. Whether it's at that point, I don't
think so. Because of everything I've said before, I think
someone of Dallin's experience is key to the Warriors trying
to find the mojo At this point in time.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I'm interested Dave Ricky on who actually runs out on
Friday night Tomorrow night up against the Dolphins. They've got Chance,
Nicol Coxta coming in at fullback, Kurt cape Paul at
four in the centers. It's not covered himself from glory
in there. I can kind of see maybe Kurt running
out as a back roller and then maybe team to
(14:39):
a picky. He's done very well at fullback coming in
off the bench, and maybe Chance ends up playing a
sense role. Is that out of the question.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
I don't think it's out of the question at all.
Speaker 8 (14:49):
There is a small tip around and you have to
be confirmed, so don't hold me to it. That young
Eddie Ira Irama Tulvar has been named in Jumper eighteen
in the reserves. There's a little tip around that we
could see him make his debut. So again, if that
was to be the case, there was some concern over
(15:09):
a leg injury in relation to dimetric Valmonger, so we
could see another change there.
Speaker 7 (15:16):
Don't hold me to it.
Speaker 8 (15:16):
It's a little tip at this point in time, but
I think to your point. Look, Capble is Cable's key,
absolutely key to this Warrior's outfit and his origin series
for Queensland. Remembering dars that he got called in at
a point in time for Queensland that few thought that
(15:38):
he would be the answer, and it was. He was
exposed as far as headlines are concerned at that point
in time when Queensland and New South Wales are just
going back and forth.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
As far as the newspapers are concerned, was was.
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Caple's mistackle count Yet he did not when it mattered most,
He did not shirk his task.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
And when the pressure is on, and.
Speaker 8 (16:02):
It will be on against the Dolphins, this is the
guy that has to help lead the Warriors out of
this current form slub because on his day he's world
class and right now in the situation that the Cable
has to have a big one.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Forget the refs call, you make a call on Sports
Talk on your home of sports his talks.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Do Reccio there from the Daily Telegraph and NRL three
sixty looking at the wobble that the Warriors are currently suffering,
and it is a wobble. They haven't put a couple
of tires in the grass and have lost complete control
and sliding into the scenery. But they're having a wobble.
(16:50):
We skid if you will. And we were very confident
at the start of the season around what the Warriors
could do. Made enough of the first game, but later
in the piece we were suddenly it's starting to unravel.
Is this Why don't I say fatal? No one's going
to die, but terms of the competition, be nervous. Now,
(17:19):
I'll keep saying it. I won't stop saying it. It's
not how you begin, it's how you finish. Great start,
went off like a cutcat, had a great time of it,
suddenly found themselves sitting in top four with a decent
break on the fifth place. Wow, and then suddenly injury strike.
(17:43):
Suddenly their best players start going down. So this for
the slide, the slip, the skids, not their fault. And
based on what they haven't got and who they are
playing over the next five six rounds five round six rounds,
they got a lot of work on their plate. Can
(18:06):
can they play their way through this and end up
still in the fort which is very important or in
the eighth when you look at the teams that they
are playing up against, there are some so called easy beats,
which is what the Titans were supposed to be last week,
and the exploded and everyone's face, didn't it. And there's
(18:27):
some difficult teams to play Dolphins tomorrow night eighth, They
got the Bulldogs after that, who were second Dragons, twelve
Titans again, sixteen eels, fourteenth finish it off round twenty
seven on a Friday over there against the ninth place
(18:49):
Sea Eagles. You're nervous much, Oh, eight hundred eighty ten
eighty this news talk ZB And I tell you what,
I'm nervous. They've had it going all their way, things
have going particularly well, and suddenly injuries turned up, and
(19:10):
suddenly we've lost an entire front row. Suddenly the spine's
not looking so good. Now you think you had problems
with the right edge. I think there's problem upon problem. Now.
Where are your confidence levels as to what the warriors
can do and to how the coaching staff can manage
these young men because a lot of them are through
(19:32):
this very sticky patch to the competition. Your calls, oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, I'm nervous and I
should be. What about you? You?
Speaker 1 (19:57):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and men.
Have your say on eighty eighty sports tal on your
home of sports Org, Zippy.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
Don't you anybody?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I can do this all?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
You'll be down to.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Score a book on these dogs. B focused on the
Warriors playing there tomorrow night up against the Dolphins. You
don't say must win at this stage, but there's quite
a lot of import hanging on this match and to
rugby union. Auckland are leading whack at fourteen to five,
nineteen minutes gone on their first up NPC match for
(20:36):
twenty twenty five. The phones now around nerves. We know
it's not their fault to a degree, but can they
pull themselves out of this situation they find themselves in.
Can they chef there?
Speaker 9 (20:52):
Good evening? Just concerning the Warriors, I've always been a
nurser fan of the Warriors all over the years. There's
always going to be injuries, There's always going to be this,
and always going to be that. But you know, they
need the support of the New Zealand people and they
(21:14):
certainly don't want to hear a a whole lot of
criticism about them. You know, I know they go out
there and I know they make mistakes and they do
this and do that, but what rugby team doesn't.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
So no guarantee. But if you can't look at the
team and be critical of what you see because of
the situation, they find themselves and I don't think that
works as a fan that we will support them. We
all want to see them when we want to do
see well, but when things appeared that don't sit comfortably
most sports fans I know, the Warriors fans I know,
(21:46):
and they sit around and they'll discuss, Hey, what's happening
here because we care? Right, this is not a punch down.
Speaker 9 (21:53):
Okay. I'll go to the tavern here in Papama and
I watch every game and I will always clap them.
And the people in the tavern are here at Papama
very supportive to what it's the Warriors. They won't all
those well good.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
So that's what it asked. The question the fault to
their degree when they've lost all these players to injuries.
You cannot control that. That's no good. But where are
your nerves at, Jeff, as far as what happened, because
it's been a wonderful start, now it's starting to shake.
Are you freaking out? You're a little worried or where
do you sit?
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Yeah, well, I think you know. They go out there
to play the Dolphins tomorrow night. I'm sure they're probably
the Warriors are probably a little bit nervous, but I
believe they will put the best effort on right O.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Jeff support and we all support them. Are you me
wrong here? I'm not a punchdown kind of guy. I'm
really not. Like. We invest a lot of our joy
in the sports teams that we follow, right or wrong.
Maybe it's not the most intelligent thing to do, but
when you look at them, Okay, what's happening here? That's
an umbrage with accusations around Dullin Watnis Lesniak and what
(23:13):
he's been dealing with of recent times, because it's very
easy to point at an obvious error and then blame
the character for all of the woes of the team,
which is patently wrong. He's not covered himself in glory,
granted he hasn't, but a lot of the woes, the
(23:37):
issues that he has had have not been based entirely
on his decision making. Team game, okay, team game. If
he'd stood there and punched other guys in the face
and got sent off yet we've got a problem with
that kind of attitude. But he hasn't right. Yeah, there's
been a couple of judgmental errors, but they have steamed
(23:58):
from a wobbly right edge with wobbly selections due to injury.
It's been hard and I'm worth Andrew Webster to carry
on supporting that man, knowing that he will come right.
And you hear Dave Ricchio before talk about experience in
the site. They need guys like that now more than ever.
Speaker 7 (24:20):
And you're out there.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Nowlis and go nay these pants fine, give me a ring.
It's hard to criticize an individual and this team. What
I'm interested in it is what they do now and
how they react to the pressures of the skid. So
(24:43):
the last handful of weeks they beat up on the Sharks, okay,
then they had a bite. Then the Panthers gave them
a morling and I was at home and that was unfortunate.
And then the next weekend they got touched up by
(25:05):
the Broncos. It's not ideal. So they had a bye.
They had a couple of losses, then they had another
buy Shaky came back to smack the West Tigers. Then
they managed to roll the Knights did they were lost
again against the Titans. This has not been a great run.
(25:26):
Are you convinced that this team has got what it
takes to work through? And we've always talked about and
so did David Rickie talked about relying on the next
man up and that is so key in rugby league.
And the pressures on these young guys who are basically
kids playing against men. There was so much on them.
(25:49):
Can they cope with it? Can the coaching staff cope
with that?
Speaker 8 (25:52):
What do you did?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Your gut tell you about this?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Give us a ring?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Oh eight one hundred eighty ten eighty. I'm predictably nervous
because I've been following them for far too long. I's
being honest right nineteen nineteen ZBZ, but inflict through your
text and a text judge does apply. As Newstalk's EB
and Sports Talk, I'm Darcy hello. Please, Just like any
(26:24):
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Speaker 1 (27:42):
The right call is your call on oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty sports Talk Call on your home
of sports US Talk.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
ZIBB The Farmer, So can you come your.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Twenty minutes to eight Sports of Gerring new Stalk ZB
twenty seven minutes gone the first game of the NPC
twenty twenty five, hosting the Whackable Look and got out
to a bit of a squirt of a lee, but
whackable have dragged them back fourteen twelve now fourteen twelve
twelve go in that first half, Warriors have got a
(28:23):
difficult running into the finals. I say difficult because of
the weight of expectation can crush players, and it can
crush players of relative inexperience. And I think that the
fans should be not panicking, but they should be concerned
about what's happened of recent times and the way the
(28:46):
Warrior is, especially last week, failed to manage expectations. They
had a buy and a couple of rotten losses in
another buy, so not a lot of winning action over
the period. What a months beat the Tigers, beat the
Nights and stumbled to the Titans. So there is so
(29:11):
much on this fixed chat. And when we're talking to
Dave before about the youth in the side and the
ability for these guys to step up, I think we're
right to be not panicking but concerned about the ability
(29:33):
of these men to actually carry the weight of expectation
to Mighty Martin a fantastic player last year. I'm quite
surprised he didn't get a starting role on the halves
this time, but he didn't twna boyd still early doors
can't really judge what he's going to do. There's a
(29:53):
lot of pressure on those two. Dementric while among fantastic
player but again very young. It's got Sam Healy playing,
it's a different kind of player and Jackson Ford as
O pointed out an extraordinarily inexperienced front row compared to
(30:13):
what they've had previously, Manata near Cordo, Liqua Halasima. Again,
a lot of expectation on Liqua. Aaron Clark's proven to
be quite defined, but that's a lot Jacob Laban coming
off the bench, Tanner Stella's smith and maybe, as Dave said,
maybe Idie Yaima Toiava might end up getting a run.
(30:39):
How much can you hang on these guys to actually
get the job done against the team ranked eight in
the competition, desperate to stand up and get something done.
Fun Worth and w I, Fido Sako, Nico Rima is
back a Cartola special player planning all extraordinarily confident except
(31:06):
malcol Darcy. I'll be nervous for the last thirty years.
I feel like I'm being put through the ring of
most times I watched the Warriors up the war So
that's because you love them, that's why you go through
these amation. Hi, Darcy, how are you going right?
Speaker 7 (31:19):
Shane?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Warriors of my team, but I feel the Dolphins are
going to give us a real lesson. I hope I'm wrong,
Thank you, Shane. Pressure applied to young minds at appointed
part of the season. It's very difficult, man. If they
can get through this one, this is going to set
them up very well for the run. The run they
are facing bulldogs coming up ranked second. Then you've got
(31:44):
a whole lot of teams that should be not easy beats,
because that's for the Titans were but easily enough beaten
as tomorrow night from eight o'clock. Hey, coming up next
on the show, we're going to talk to Tody Johnson.
We're going to look at the MPC for the rest
of the round. Look forward to what is an amazing
competition this. BG william is sitting there in the crowd.
(32:05):
Auckland thought seventeen twelve, now after thirty one minutes, this
is news Talk ZB Tony Johnson up there.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
She said, Hi, nice to meet your night.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
BB.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
We dares get up a f she said, this life forever.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
One not a plenty of times. This is News Talk
ZB Sports Talk on Darcy Wadergrave coming out now we're
talking about the MPC because it is underway tonight, five
to go in the first half Awukland still leading like
I thought, seventeen to twelve. Of course, you want to
listen to any of these games, you can radio Gold
(32:53):
Sport as we will get these local calls. We go
to Tony Johnson now though long time at Rugby Broadcast,
a great friend of the programs, and now good eight Tony.
The MPC cometh. I returned to there's a heart of
rugby union in New Zealand, right.
Speaker 10 (33:09):
Well, yeah, there's a simplicity about it that I think
people like me I always summon up by saying it's
about who you are and where you're from, and that,
in a nutshell, is part of the appeal of it.
It's just a far more a simpler world than the
exacting demands of international rugby or the role of Super
rugby or whatever it is. It's about going back, particularly
(33:32):
to the provincial places around the country. But there's an
enticing mix as well because as well as some old
provincial rivalries that still mean a heck of a lot.
You've got that mix of a bunch of new players
coming in. There's quite a few graduates from the under
twenty program that are going to be making their mark.
(33:53):
You've got guys trying to find their way or force
their way back into the All Black team. You get
a few All Blacks released here and there. It always
ups the level of interest. But you also get a
few people coming back from overseas that we haven't seen
for a while and people fighting for super Arabi contracts.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
So there's a good backdrop to it.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
But to me that the beauty of it is when
it gets to the regional grounds, the smaller grounds, the
fans turn out and it's a lot of fun it.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Is, and the smaller grounds it's I think the word
I eat to use is intimate, because that's what it is.
If you feel like back in the Healthyon days when
you're younger, that you're actually there when you're watching it
on TV. It's got that that honest feel about it.
I believe this is something they should be going out
more like. I know. Big match tonight, the opening match,
Battle of the bomb Bays. It's an Eden Park, good
(34:43):
comp between Auckland and White huttle, but it still leads
me here. But cold, Is that being negative? Is it
being nasty?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
No?
Speaker 10 (34:51):
No, But what I would say is don't judge it
on the sways of empty seats at Eton Park, which
is after all New Zealand's biggest sports stadium, and there's
always a fearv of a room there. But it's more
about what people are doing. Like even this weekend you
look at the match between Southland that they Targo.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
Now that has.
Speaker 10 (35:07):
Become a thing. I think people are starting to realize
that to get people interested in New Zealand, it's got
to be some sort of event. People aren't just going
to truck up out a loyalty every single week or
not many people are going to do that. You've got
to create something around it. And so and then for
Cargo it's Stag day. Lock them up. You know it's
going to be as much action off the field as
(35:28):
there will be on it. I love what they've done
in Totrong or where they've created a genuine community feel
about the games there. Canterbury taking a game to Rangiura
which has been a terrific success. And then you go
to places like Nelson or Blenham or New Plymouth or
Napier or whatever, where the local fans who don't see
(35:49):
Super Rugby in the flesh they get to come out.
So to me, that's where it should be judged. Is
the success the connections I guess that they're making with
the community Northland is another one. That they have done
the most incredible things that probably people but don't even
know about within the Northland community for engagement but also
to serve their community. So that to me is a
(36:10):
really important part of it. And that's where I think
you judge the success. And I guess that the deep
meaning of this competition.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
And it is a deep meaning because it is very
much ass and what we stand for. And sometimes you
feel like a little disenfranchised with the Super Rugby franchises
because they're vastly big, they're professional, so it's got a
down home feeling about it, which of course there is
nothing wrong with that. The clamor to be professional, I
think is it's a horrible overarching feeling that can sometimes
(36:42):
reck stuff.
Speaker 10 (36:44):
Yeah, although I thought Super Rugby this year was really good,
I think because just because they responded to what they
think the fans want in terms of how the games
are managed, the refereeing, sort of bit, more engagement in
the stadium, that sort of thing. I thought Super Rugby
was really good, but there's just something there's still something
(37:05):
a little bit old fashioned about It'll probably when you
get to the business end of it, you'll get the
big crowds. It will probably never go back to the
days where you know, they get forty thousand at Eton
Park for a big match sometimes. But it was a
really important purpose and I know that there's a lot
of talk about the future of it and the famous
(37:27):
line from the CEO Mark Robinson about it not being
fit for purpose, Well, to me it is. It's just
they've got to find better ways of making it work.
And I think it lasts that the unions have actually
taken that on themselves to provide a bit of initiative
and not waiting around for someone else to do it
for them.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Brilliant and out of the competition leaders in the like
what are your expectations? Can Wellington do it again? In
the eight hundredth minute? Where's the favorite? Doesn't line this?
Speaker 6 (37:56):
Well?
Speaker 10 (37:56):
They've got a great game to start off this weekend
with a match against Canterbury, which has always been one
of the tasty arrival reason. I see Peter Luckeye's making
a comeback from his injury, Reuben Love's going to be
playing for Wellington and then Brady McAllister has been released
by the All Black, Sam Darry making his comeback, so
there's a bit of an extra element there. But of
(38:17):
course it's being played at Jerry Collins Park Jerry Collins
Stadium put her to it, and I think that's a
brilliant thing that they're doing there because there's no worse
sight than all those yellow seats at Skyum and Wellington.
So yeah, Wellington defending champions that were dramatic last year
the way they achieved it, I don't know. I think
(38:37):
we're going to have to wait and see just what
the early form is. There's some really impressive rosters, that's
for sure. I think Tarer Nucky looked really strong. They've
got a game against Northland this weekend and they've had
the advantage of a couple of shield games before the
season started. Some of the teams haven't had a lot
in terms of preseason preparation because of a clash with
Club Rugby. But Tarer Nucky you've had a couple of
(38:59):
outings in Shield games. Of course, the Shield always such
a great impetus for a team to do well in
their home games. And like you look at the lineup
they've got Northland and the Waycott or Bay of Planty
Hawks baying Wellington. That's a tasty lineup of Sheield challenges.
I think Tasman look really strong. Lesterfinger o'noku is not
playing this weekend, but Timothy Tabatava Naway is and then
(39:22):
you've got the likes of Finley Christi, David Harvelly Ethan
Blackadder who try to work their way force their way
back into the all black reckoning. How about Wycotter. I
know you had a chat with Lema Supperwanga, but how
well off are you when you start the game with
Aaron Cruden who's still an outstanding player even at thirty
(39:43):
six years of age, and then when he goes off
you can bring Lima Souperwanga on. You're not too badly
off there are you.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
There's going to be a lot to love about it,
bringing on very much, looking forward to it, to the coverage,
to your commentary, because you're going to get involved, aren't you.
Speaker 7 (39:57):
Tony Oh, I love it yeah, I always do.
Speaker 10 (40:00):
It's often a chance to go and you know, visit
places that mean a lot to you and just talk,
you know with local rugby fans, genuine rugby fans who
are there for the footy and there for their to
provide pride that they have in their province. And at
the end of it, I mean, if last year is
anything to go by, you know, last year it was
(40:21):
excellent and I don't see why it won't be the
same again this year.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
You don't need for the TMO. We've got the breakdown
on Sports Talk Cola.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Tony Johnson there a long time sports broadcast rugby commentator.
Of the thoughts on the NPC, I think a lot
of people think exactly the same thing. There's something warming,
there's something comforting about watching the MPC. The guys who
(40:55):
went to school with playing the game of rugby, the
guys that are representing their province. And some of them
they don't harbor any ambitions to go any further. A
lot of them do. Some of them are coming back
to help out the next layer of players coming through.
Early Supuwana seventeen to twelve. Incidentally, the Auckland team are
(41:15):
leading whitep in that first up game that is at halftime.
So look ahead and enjoy what you're seeing over the
next few weeks because you're going to see some astonishing players.
How many years, how many seasons where you look back
at the season and go, wow, that's when we first
saw this bloke. And I'm standing there at the ground
(41:38):
watching this guy, going he's going to be special because
you can be there. You can once they reach out
and touch him as they run past. But it comes
pretty close sometime, doesn't it. Remember nih Milner scudder back
and I can test my memory was eleven wasn't it
(41:59):
twenty ten when he turned up? Because they're right there.
There are so many of them, and keep an eye
out for has been this year? If that's the most
stacked back line in MPC history, well it's not. I'll say,
thanks very much for this, Thanks for listening. Coming up
(42:21):
Shorty Marcus slash the crickets on as well day two
of the tests of Babba Ldia COT's off overnight as well.
Lots of golf to keep me up far too late.
God on you ends Milicise, Thanks for your time. See everybody.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
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 zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Evening. All Welcome into Sports Talk seven minutes up seven
on Thursday night, last day of July twenty twenty five.
Only one more month of the tyranny of the cold
and dark of winter be gone, foul season, counting down
the days? Hey, how are you? And Darcy Waltergrave still winginge?
(00:59):
Can't help myself saying that has been very pleasant this winter.
I spent three weeks of it in London. Anyway, enough already,
let's talk some sport on the program. Plenty going on
if you will. MPC starts tonight. Yeah, why actually cornered
Tony Johnson the staff that he said card TJ. Let's say,
(01:21):
boy yarn about the MPC Real rugby A. It didn't
take much to persuade him, so he'll be joining a
slater on on the piece to talk about it. Games
actually get underwagh Oh they did. They're already underway about
three minutes ago, and I'll keep you up to date
with that. The opening match Eden park Auckland hosting the
White Couple Bombay neighbors having a bash at each other.
(01:45):
We'll keep you up to date with that score. Joining
us first up on the program though David Ricchio, he
is a writer for the Daily Telegraph, a league writer
for the Daily Telegraph. You may have seen him hurt
him on NRL three sixty, that brother combative league television program.
If I've only there was a rugby chat sho like
(02:07):
NRL three sixty over here where the guests, I really
genuinely don't think they like each other a lot of
the time. We need more of that, right, So Day's
going to join us and we're going to talk about
the Warriors. I know we had Richie Barnett on at
the start of the week to talk about that. Would
you the chance to roll on? And they're playing tomorrow night,
(02:29):
They're coming toward the end of their season. There's a
handful of games to go. Is unraveling pretty quickly, pretty quickly.
I think you'll agree if your Warriors fan are reasons
for concern? Are they entirely the Warrior's faulk? No, they
are not. How are they going to progress? I don't
(02:50):
want to be cheeky about it. I can't help myself.
They're a mathematical chance to not be in the top
eight it's a pretty random bunch of mass to get
it done. But they are hanging on to the four.
They got a lot, They've got the Dolphins coming up
on Friday night, so much on this game. Dave Recchio
joins us next to talk about where the Warriors sit,
(03:11):
where they stand, where they lie down, how are they
going to go, what needs to be addressed in this side,
and then we'll take your calls on the same subject. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, that's our thought anyway,
looking forward to having you on board. But before we
(03:31):
talk about league and listen to Tony Johnson and rugby and
I keep you up to date with the mighty NPC.
Let's climb head first into this sort today. NPC's just
kicked off comp starting at Eden Park. Auckland are hosting
their neighbors the Couple Blues and Auckland prop Joshua has
(03:52):
sampled international football this year with an appearance for the
ANZAC side when they took on the Lions.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
Tasted good going up against some players that have watched
growing up, knowing what the next level is like, and
kind of learned more about myself that I'm not too
far off from what the next level looks like, but
there is still a lot of work to be done.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
Super nice bloke, that one, I tell you. Andrew Webster
has paired his team's swappy defensive efforts down to three
main points. These will be tested tomorrow night at home
as the WA's attempt to tornic ky the bleeding. If
you will, here's Andrew play.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
The ball could be too fast. It's always often one
and someone else hasn't gone their job. Spacing's too tight,
so they're crats and overlap. That's two things, and then
three we don't find a way to stop it on
the edge.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
You need more on that Coming up next with David
ricci O, black Cap spearhead Matt Henry, fresh from another
five wicket bag, shares his master plan for the next
few days against Zimbabwe.
Speaker 5 (05:00):
We'll probably start again with their big boys coming in
early and get through that, put time in the legs,
I think, and you can look to really cash in
later on. But I think there's still gonna be a
lot of work to do early getting used to the
pace and the bounce is probably going to be a challenge.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
And then golf lydia Co has released her demons of
expectation be gone foul demons. The celebrated golfer is defending
her Women's Open title in Wales. The showdown starts overnight tonight.
Speaker 6 (05:29):
At the end of the day, if you win, it's
not something that someone can take away from me. So
you know, I don't have to prove to anybody that
I can win the AAG Woman's Open. So in that sense,
I think it's you know, it lets me be.
Speaker 7 (05:43):
Free, and that's the sport.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Today they taught some rubby league, rugby league, rugby league.
Twelve minutes after seven of a Thursday. We go now
to n RL three to sixty panelist, a writer for
the Daily Telegraph and all things at rugby league, and
he seems to be the guy that's always breaking the
league stories as well. He knows somebody, he knows somebody
over here. Someone's feeding him some lines. We'll find out
(06:07):
more about what he knows. His name is David Ricky.
He joins us now, good evening.
Speaker 7 (06:15):
Yeah, good evening to ask good to be here, mate.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Great to have you on board. The Warrior season is
getting interesting and there is an understatement it doesn't matter
how well you start in this competition. It's how you
end and now you look at this team and go, wow,
is the top four position? Yeah, it's within their range.
But can they slip? What have you made of the
(06:37):
last what six rounds? Five rounds?
Speaker 6 (06:41):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (06:41):
Looks certainly been tough times, there's no denying it.
Speaker 7 (06:44):
And it's all about the roster, Darcy.
Speaker 8 (06:46):
It's all about staying healthy and that's just something that
has impacted the Warriors heavily over the past months of football.
And I suppose you can take it all the way
back to San Corpse Stadium where Luke Metcalf suffered that
almost innocuous torn acl when he was tackled off the ball.
Speaker 7 (07:06):
It's really just.
Speaker 8 (07:09):
Basically gone downhill ever since you've thrown Mitchell Barnett with
a torn acl, to the point of which we see
them running out this weekend with their entire front row unavailable,
including James Fisher, Harris with a calf injury and Wade
Egan out with a HIA. So look, it's tough times
(07:31):
for the Warriors as far as their health is concerned.
And my only my major concern is that all those
guys that I've mentioned, they're not coming back. Aside from Fisher, Harris,
within the next two to three weeks.
Speaker 7 (07:43):
Wade Egan back next week.
Speaker 8 (07:45):
But metcalf Barnet there's such significant he's so influential on
this Warrior's lineup that they just haven't adjusted just yet.
It's not over, yes, but the adjustment has been the
big thing for the Warriors that they're still finding their way.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Yeah, Harris Devitas are not there as well, and this
is causing a bit of case and the spine to it.
Agree in the back line as well. You don't throw
your hands up, though, do you in horror? Because this
is the NRL. You've got to have back up. You've
got to keep your players fit and if they're not,
next man step up. And that's something the team has
done reasonably well so far, isn't it. Do you see
(08:25):
it carrying on? Because they're run for the final right
the way through, it's reasonably good. I mean if they've
got the bulldogs. But short of that, I won't say
easy beats because we said that about the Times last week.
We live to regret that one. But how's their run
looking with what they've got left?
Speaker 8 (08:41):
Dave, Yeah, you touched on something there as far as
tapping into the club's depth.
Speaker 7 (08:46):
And you can't throw your hands up your spot on.
Speaker 8 (08:49):
And I think the Warriors have been cognizant of how
much talent they do have down below and when I
meant what I mean is beneath the one to seventeen
of the NRLs side.
Speaker 7 (08:58):
And it's come through their decision making as well.
Speaker 8 (09:01):
They were happy to let Dylan Walker go to Paramatter
halfway through this year. So too Zion Mayou, who was
a talented young forward coming through. And they did this
knowing that the likes of Jacob Laban, Tannastowers Smith and
as far as Lekahalesema is concerned, Demitric Valmonger, these young
(09:24):
talents were coming through.
Speaker 7 (09:26):
And I would argue that those.
Speaker 8 (09:28):
Players I've just mentioned are being asked to play more
football due to the injuries than what would have been
planned by the Warriors. But from that opportunity comes experience.
And yes it's been there's been some harsh lessons for
these fellas, but in the long run it'll work out
because they're getting.
Speaker 7 (09:46):
The harsh lessons and the experience. You touched on it.
Speaker 8 (09:51):
Probably four weeks ago I looked at the Warriors run
home and I declared it one of the best run
homes in the competition. But yet here we are after
a couple of shaky losses that we're starting to think, hmm,
Only there's some hurdles in front of them, and then
this Dolphins match will give us a huge indication of
(10:13):
whether they can push forward and jump those incoming hurdles
as far as the Bulldogs are concerned in coming weeks.
So yeah, it's all in front of the Warriors, but
this one's huge against the Dolphins.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
What interest me with these younger players coming through, it's
all well and good. They're basically boys playing against men,
although they have been playing like men. But it is
fatigue because towards the point at the end of the competition,
in the last handful of rounds, the work they're expected
to do on a defensive nature, with an attitude basis,
(10:46):
a resource basis they might want to, but they may
well have run out of steamed. Do you think that's
an overestimation or an underestimation out what they face now?
Speaker 7 (10:56):
It ain't die.
Speaker 8 (10:57):
I think you're right, and I think I come back
to my point that this is all coming a lot
sooner than what I think the Warriors management.
Speaker 7 (11:03):
Would have preferred. But you don't in the NRAL.
Speaker 8 (11:06):
You don't get that timeline choice. You don't get the
pick and choose. You have to dance when you need
to dance, and they're doing that right now and it's unfortunate.
But we're going to learn a lot about both those
players as individuals and as the team.
Speaker 7 (11:19):
And I think your right experience counts.
Speaker 8 (11:21):
And you know, when we think about the Warriors and
the fact that they made that decision to let Adam
fanil Blake return to Sydney and how quick they were
to sign James Fisher Harris, and I would dare say
all of New Zealand were doing cartwheels when that news came.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
Through because of everything that.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
You know what James Fisher Harris can bring as far
as experience on field and off field. And sure he yes,
he's out injured and he would be providing some off
field leadership at this point in time, but he's on
field leadership to be able to under the goalposts after
the Dolphins have scored, to grab Demitric, to grab Leka
(12:01):
Halisima tain to a picky Jacob Laban, These younger player
grab them by the scruff and the Nay boys follow
me it'll be all right, let's just go with me
for the next fifteen minutes. I'll lead the way that's
not that way be there, And that's just like experience
and leadership. When when when the heat is on, of
which it will be on in the next couple of
(12:21):
weeks for the Warriors, it's sorely missed at the moment.
Speaker 2 (12:24):
For the Wise, Yeah, that's going to have to be
carried by the likes of Kirk Capwell, the Skipper and
some of the more experienced guys like Darlan Martinez. A
Levsnak's not having the best time of it. I believe
we've taught for what six old minutes, Dave, and we
haven't mentioned the right edge issue that is the buzz
word around wire is fans. At the moment, we can
understand why it's happened as it is with various injuries
(12:47):
mid games that have a barrier that had a disastrous effect.
But is it too easy to point at all at
Dullin and go it's your fault, you're not playing well
or is that a little too simplistic.
Speaker 8 (12:59):
Well, look, I think every every player is under pressure.
I think every player plays under a spotlight and Dylan's
experienced enough enough to know when when he's not playing
to the best of his ability. I do sympathize because
I think it does come down to the combination changes.
And if you look at the top teams, and certainly
(13:20):
in my job talking to the to the majority of
the NFL coaches almost on a daily basis, it is
they rely heavily on combinations and what the warriors are
going through. It's forcing a lot of change in their
back line. And with that, the opposition know it. The
opposition they want to They see a scab and they
(13:42):
pick at it, and if they get a result, they
keep coming back there, and that's unfortunate. Confidence is a
big thing, and when confidence is down you can see
that with Dallan at the moment, they'll keep going at it.
The key for it is Minuds seeing he is Andrew
Webs has prepared to back Dallan on what he has
already done in the jumper and in the past. But
(14:04):
in saying that does look it does get to a
point morning time where you know, maybe it is time
for a change. Whether it's at that point, I don't
think so. Because of everything I've said before, I think
someone of Dallin's experience is key to the Warriors trying
to find the mojo At this point in time.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
I'm interested Dave Ricky on who actually runs out on
Friday night Tomorrow night up against the Dolphins. They've got Chance,
Nicol Coxta coming in at fullback, Kurt cape Paul at
four in the centers. It's not covered himself from glory
in there. I can kind of see maybe Kurt running
out as a back roller and then maybe team to
(14:39):
a picky. He's done very well at fullback coming in
off the bench, and maybe Chance ends up playing a
sense role. Is that out of the question.
Speaker 7 (14:48):
I don't think it's out of the question at all.
Speaker 8 (14:49):
There is a small tip around and you have to
be confirmed, so don't hold me to it. That young
Eddie Ira Irama Tulvar has been named in Jumper eighteen
in the reserves. There's a little tip around that we
could see him make his debut. So again, if that
was to be the case, there was some concern over
(15:09):
a leg injury in relation to dimetric Valmonger, so we
could see another change there.
Speaker 7 (15:16):
Don't hold me to it.
Speaker 8 (15:16):
It's a little tip at this point in time, but
I think to your point. Look, Capble is Cable's key,
absolutely key to this Warrior's outfit and his origin series
for Queensland. Remembering dars that he got called in at
a point in time for Queensland that few thought that
(15:38):
he would be the answer, and it was. He was
exposed as far as headlines are concerned at that point
in time when Queensland and New South Wales are just
going back and forth.
Speaker 7 (15:51):
As far as the newspapers are concerned, was was.
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Caple's mistackle count Yet he did not when it mattered most,
He did not shirk his task.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
And when the pressure is on, and.
Speaker 8 (16:02):
It will be on against the Dolphins, this is the
guy that has to help lead the Warriors out of
this current form slub because on his day he's world
class and right now in the situation that the Cable
has to have a big one.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Forget the refs call, you make a call on Sports
Talk on your home of sports his talks.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Do Reccio there from the Daily Telegraph and NRL three
sixty looking at the wobble that the Warriors are currently suffering,
and it is a wobble. They haven't put a couple
of tires in the grass and have lost complete control
and sliding into the scenery. But they're having a wobble.
(16:50):
We skid if you will. And we were very confident
at the start of the season around what the Warriors
could do. Made enough of the first game, but later
in the piece we were suddenly it's starting to unravel.
Is this Why don't I say fatal? No one's going
to die, but terms of the competition, be nervous. Now,
(17:19):
I'll keep saying it. I won't stop saying it. It's
not how you begin, it's how you finish. Great start,
went off like a cutcat, had a great time of it,
suddenly found themselves sitting in top four with a decent
break on the fifth place. Wow, and then suddenly injury strike.
(17:43):
Suddenly their best players start going down. So this for
the slide, the slip, the skids, not their fault. And
based on what they haven't got and who they are
playing over the next five six rounds five round six rounds,
they got a lot of work on their plate. Can
(18:06):
can they play their way through this and end up
still in the fort which is very important or in
the eighth when you look at the teams that they
are playing up against, there are some so called easy beats,
which is what the Titans were supposed to be last week,
and the exploded and everyone's face, didn't it. And there's
(18:27):
some difficult teams to play Dolphins tomorrow night eighth, They
got the Bulldogs after that, who were second Dragons, twelve
Titans again, sixteen eels, fourteenth finish it off round twenty
seven on a Friday over there against the ninth place
(18:49):
Sea Eagles. You're nervous much, Oh, eight hundred eighty ten
eighty this news talk ZB And I tell you what,
I'm nervous. They've had it going all their way, things
have going particularly well, and suddenly injuries turned up, and
(19:10):
suddenly we've lost an entire front row. Suddenly the spine's
not looking so good. Now you think you had problems
with the right edge. I think there's problem upon problem. Now.
Where are your confidence levels as to what the warriors
can do and to how the coaching staff can manage
these young men because a lot of them are through
(19:32):
this very sticky patch to the competition. Your calls, oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, I'm nervous and I
should be. What about you? You?
Speaker 1 (19:57):
You hear it from the biggest names and sports and men.
Have your say on eighty eighty sports tal on your
home of sports Org, Zippy.
Speaker 8 (20:10):
Don't you anybody?
Speaker 2 (20:11):
I can do this all?
Speaker 1 (20:12):
You'll be down to.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Score a book on these dogs. B focused on the
Warriors playing there tomorrow night up against the Dolphins. You
don't say must win at this stage, but there's quite
a lot of import hanging on this match and to
rugby union. Auckland are leading whack at fourteen to five,
nineteen minutes gone on their first up NPC match for
(20:36):
twenty twenty five. The phones now around nerves. We know
it's not their fault to a degree, but can they
pull themselves out of this situation they find themselves in.
Can they chef there?
Speaker 9 (20:52):
Good evening? Just concerning the Warriors, I've always been a
nurser fan of the Warriors all over the years. There's
always going to be injuries, There's always going to be this,
and always going to be that. But you know, they
need the support of the New Zealand people and they
(21:14):
certainly don't want to hear a a whole lot of
criticism about them. You know, I know they go out
there and I know they make mistakes and they do
this and do that, but what rugby team doesn't.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
So no guarantee. But if you can't look at the
team and be critical of what you see because of
the situation, they find themselves and I don't think that
works as a fan that we will support them. We
all want to see them when we want to do
see well, but when things appeared that don't sit comfortably
most sports fans I know, the Warriors fans I know,
(21:46):
and they sit around and they'll discuss, Hey, what's happening
here because we care? Right, this is not a punch down.
Speaker 9 (21:53):
Okay. I'll go to the tavern here in Papama and
I watch every game and I will always clap them.
And the people in the tavern are here at Papama
very supportive to what it's the Warriors. They won't all
those well good.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
So that's what it asked. The question the fault to
their degree when they've lost all these players to injuries.
You cannot control that. That's no good. But where are
your nerves at, Jeff, as far as what happened, because
it's been a wonderful start, now it's starting to shake.
Are you freaking out? You're a little worried or where
do you sit?
Speaker 9 (22:31):
Yeah, well, I think you know. They go out there
to play the Dolphins tomorrow night. I'm sure they're probably
the Warriors are probably a little bit nervous, but I
believe they will put the best effort on right O.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Jeff support and we all support them. Are you me
wrong here? I'm not a punchdown kind of guy. I'm
really not. Like. We invest a lot of our joy
in the sports teams that we follow, right or wrong.
Maybe it's not the most intelligent thing to do, but
when you look at them, Okay, what's happening here? That's
an umbrage with accusations around Dullin Watnis Lesniak and what
(23:13):
he's been dealing with of recent times, because it's very
easy to point at an obvious error and then blame
the character for all of the woes of the team,
which is patently wrong. He's not covered himself in glory,
granted he hasn't, but a lot of the woes, the
(23:37):
issues that he has had have not been based entirely
on his decision making. Team game, okay, team game. If
he'd stood there and punched other guys in the face
and got sent off yet we've got a problem with
that kind of attitude. But he hasn't right. Yeah, there's
been a couple of judgmental errors, but they have steamed
(23:58):
from a wobbly right edge with wobbly selections due to injury.
It's been hard and I'm worth Andrew Webster to carry
on supporting that man, knowing that he will come right.
And you hear Dave Ricchio before talk about experience in
the site. They need guys like that now more than ever.
Speaker 7 (24:20):
And you're out there.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Nowlis and go nay these pants fine, give me a ring.
It's hard to criticize an individual and this team. What
I'm interested in it is what they do now and
how they react to the pressures of the skid. So
(24:43):
the last handful of weeks they beat up on the Sharks, okay,
then they had a bite. Then the Panthers gave them
a morling and I was at home and that was unfortunate.
And then the next weekend they got touched up by
(25:05):
the Broncos. It's not ideal. So they had a bye.
They had a couple of losses, then they had another
buy Shaky came back to smack the West Tigers. Then
they managed to roll the Knights did they were lost
again against the Titans. This has not been a great run.
(25:26):
Are you convinced that this team has got what it
takes to work through? And we've always talked about and
so did David Rickie talked about relying on the next
man up and that is so key in rugby league.
And the pressures on these young guys who are basically
kids playing against men. There was so much on them.
(25:49):
Can they cope with it? Can the coaching staff cope
with that?
Speaker 8 (25:52):
What do you did?
Speaker 2 (25:53):
Your gut tell you about this?
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Give us a ring?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Oh eight one hundred eighty ten eighty. I'm predictably nervous
because I've been following them for far too long. I's
being honest right nineteen nineteen ZBZ, but inflict through your
text and a text judge does apply. As Newstalk's EB
and Sports Talk, I'm Darcy hello. Please, Just like any
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Speaker 1 (27:42):
The right call is your call on oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty sports Talk Call on your home
of sports US Talk.
Speaker 8 (27:49):
ZIBB The Farmer, So can you come your.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Twenty minutes to eight Sports of Gerring new Stalk ZB
twenty seven minutes gone the first game of the NPC
twenty twenty five, hosting the Whackable Look and got out
to a bit of a squirt of a lee, but
whackable have dragged them back fourteen twelve now fourteen twelve
twelve go in that first half, Warriors have got a
(28:23):
difficult running into the finals. I say difficult because of
the weight of expectation can crush players, and it can
crush players of relative inexperience. And I think that the
fans should be not panicking, but they should be concerned
about what's happened of recent times and the way the
(28:46):
Warrior is, especially last week, failed to manage expectations. They
had a buy and a couple of rotten losses in
another buy, so not a lot of winning action over
the period. What a months beat the Tigers, beat the
Nights and stumbled to the Titans. So there is so
(29:11):
much on this fixed chat. And when we're talking to
Dave before about the youth in the side and the
ability for these guys to step up, I think we're
right to be not panicking but concerned about the ability
(29:33):
of these men to actually carry the weight of expectation
to Mighty Martin a fantastic player last year. I'm quite
surprised he didn't get a starting role on the halves
this time, but he didn't twna boyd still early doors
can't really judge what he's going to do. There's a
(29:53):
lot of pressure on those two. Dementric while among fantastic
player but again very young. It's got Sam Healy playing,
it's a different kind of player and Jackson Ford as
O pointed out an extraordinarily inexperienced front row compared to
(30:13):
what they've had previously, Manata near Cordo, Liqua Halasima. Again,
a lot of expectation on Liqua. Aaron Clark's proven to
be quite defined, but that's a lot Jacob Laban coming
off the bench, Tanner Stella's smith and maybe, as Dave said,
maybe Idie Yaima Toiava might end up getting a run.
(30:39):
How much can you hang on these guys to actually
get the job done against the team ranked eight in
the competition, desperate to stand up and get something done.
Fun Worth and w I, Fido Sako, Nico Rima is
back a Cartola special player planning all extraordinarily confident except
(31:06):
malcol Darcy. I'll be nervous for the last thirty years.
I feel like I'm being put through the ring of
most times I watched the Warriors up the war So
that's because you love them, that's why you go through
these amation. Hi, Darcy, how are you going right?
Speaker 7 (31:19):
Shane?
Speaker 2 (31:20):
Warriors of my team, but I feel the Dolphins are
going to give us a real lesson. I hope I'm wrong,
Thank you, Shane. Pressure applied to young minds at appointed
part of the season. It's very difficult, man. If they
can get through this one, this is going to set
them up very well for the run. The run they
are facing bulldogs coming up ranked second. Then you've got
(31:44):
a whole lot of teams that should be not easy beats,
because that's for the Titans were but easily enough beaten
as tomorrow night from eight o'clock. Hey, coming up next
on the show, we're going to talk to Tody Johnson.
We're going to look at the MPC for the rest
of the round. Look forward to what is an amazing
competition this. BG william is sitting there in the crowd.
(32:05):
Auckland thought seventeen twelve, now after thirty one minutes, this
is news Talk ZB Tony Johnson up there.
Speaker 7 (32:21):
She said, Hi, nice to meet your night.
Speaker 5 (32:25):
BB.
Speaker 1 (32:25):
We dares get up a f she said, this life forever.
Speaker 2 (32:32):
One not a plenty of times. This is News Talk
ZB Sports Talk on Darcy Wadergrave coming out now we're
talking about the MPC because it is underway tonight, five
to go in the first half Awukland still leading like
I thought, seventeen to twelve. Of course, you want to
listen to any of these games, you can radio Gold
(32:53):
Sport as we will get these local calls. We go
to Tony Johnson now though long time at Rugby Broadcast,
a great friend of the programs, and now good eight Tony.
The MPC cometh. I returned to there's a heart of
rugby union in New Zealand, right.
Speaker 10 (33:09):
Well, yeah, there's a simplicity about it that I think
people like me I always summon up by saying it's
about who you are and where you're from, and that,
in a nutshell, is part of the appeal of it.
It's just a far more a simpler world than the
exacting demands of international rugby or the role of Super
rugby or whatever it is. It's about going back, particularly
(33:32):
to the provincial places around the country. But there's an
enticing mix as well because as well as some old
provincial rivalries that still mean a heck of a lot.
You've got that mix of a bunch of new players
coming in. There's quite a few graduates from the under
twenty program that are going to be making their mark.
(33:53):
You've got guys trying to find their way or force
their way back into the All Black team. You get
a few All Blacks released here and there. It always
ups the level of interest. But you also get a
few people coming back from overseas that we haven't seen
for a while and people fighting for super Arabi contracts.
Speaker 7 (34:09):
So there's a good backdrop to it.
Speaker 10 (34:12):
But to me that the beauty of it is when
it gets to the regional grounds, the smaller grounds, the
fans turn out and it's a lot of fun it.
Speaker 2 (34:21):
Is, and the smaller grounds it's I think the word
I eat to use is intimate, because that's what it is.
If you feel like back in the Healthyon days when
you're younger, that you're actually there when you're watching it
on TV. It's got that that honest feel about it.
I believe this is something they should be going out
more like. I know. Big match tonight, the opening match,
Battle of the bomb Bays. It's an Eden Park, good
(34:43):
comp between Auckland and White huttle, but it still leads
me here. But cold, Is that being negative? Is it
being nasty?
Speaker 5 (34:50):
No?
Speaker 10 (34:51):
No, But what I would say is don't judge it
on the sways of empty seats at Eton Park, which
is after all New Zealand's biggest sports stadium, and there's
always a fearv of a room there. But it's more
about what people are doing. Like even this weekend you
look at the match between Southland that they Targo.
Speaker 7 (35:06):
Now that has.
Speaker 10 (35:07):
Become a thing. I think people are starting to realize
that to get people interested in New Zealand, it's got
to be some sort of event. People aren't just going
to truck up out a loyalty every single week or
not many people are going to do that. You've got
to create something around it. And so and then for
Cargo it's Stag day. Lock them up. You know it's
going to be as much action off the field as
(35:28):
there will be on it. I love what they've done
in Totrong or where they've created a genuine community feel
about the games there. Canterbury taking a game to Rangiura
which has been a terrific success. And then you go
to places like Nelson or Blenham or New Plymouth or
Napier or whatever, where the local fans who don't see
(35:49):
Super Rugby in the flesh they get to come out.
So to me, that's where it should be judged. Is
the success the connections I guess that they're making with
the community Northland is another one. That they have done
the most incredible things that probably people but don't even
know about within the Northland community for engagement but also
to serve their community. So that to me is a
(36:10):
really important part of it. And that's where I think
you judge the success. And I guess that the deep
meaning of this competition.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
And it is a deep meaning because it is very
much ass and what we stand for. And sometimes you
feel like a little disenfranchised with the Super Rugby franchises
because they're vastly big, they're professional, so it's got a
down home feeling about it, which of course there is
nothing wrong with that. The clamor to be professional, I
think is it's a horrible overarching feeling that can sometimes
(36:42):
reck stuff.
Speaker 10 (36:44):
Yeah, although I thought Super Rugby this year was really good,
I think because just because they responded to what they
think the fans want in terms of how the games
are managed, the refereeing, sort of bit, more engagement in
the stadium, that sort of thing. I thought Super Rugby
was really good, but there's just something there's still something
(37:05):
a little bit old fashioned about It'll probably when you
get to the business end of it, you'll get the
big crowds. It will probably never go back to the
days where you know, they get forty thousand at Eton
Park for a big match sometimes. But it was a
really important purpose and I know that there's a lot
of talk about the future of it and the famous
(37:27):
line from the CEO Mark Robinson about it not being
fit for purpose, Well, to me it is. It's just
they've got to find better ways of making it work.
And I think it lasts that the unions have actually
taken that on themselves to provide a bit of initiative
and not waiting around for someone else to do it
for them.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Brilliant and out of the competition leaders in the like
what are your expectations? Can Wellington do it again? In
the eight hundredth minute? Where's the favorite? Doesn't line this?
Speaker 6 (37:56):
Well?
Speaker 10 (37:56):
They've got a great game to start off this weekend
with a match against Canterbury, which has always been one
of the tasty arrival reason. I see Peter Luckeye's making
a comeback from his injury, Reuben Love's going to be
playing for Wellington and then Brady McAllister has been released
by the All Black, Sam Darry making his comeback, so
there's a bit of an extra element there. But of
(38:17):
course it's being played at Jerry Collins Park Jerry Collins
Stadium put her to it, and I think that's a
brilliant thing that they're doing there because there's no worse
sight than all those yellow seats at Skyum and Wellington.
So yeah, Wellington defending champions that were dramatic last year
the way they achieved it, I don't know. I think
(38:37):
we're going to have to wait and see just what
the early form is. There's some really impressive rosters, that's
for sure. I think Tarer Nucky looked really strong. They've
got a game against Northland this weekend and they've had
the advantage of a couple of shield games before the
season started. Some of the teams haven't had a lot
in terms of preseason preparation because of a clash with
Club Rugby. But Tarer Nucky you've had a couple of
(38:59):
outings in Shield games. Of course, the Shield always such
a great impetus for a team to do well in
their home games. And like you look at the lineup
they've got Northland and the Waycott or Bay of Planty
Hawks baying Wellington. That's a tasty lineup of Sheield challenges.
I think Tasman look really strong. Lesterfinger o'noku is not
playing this weekend, but Timothy Tabatava Naway is and then
(39:22):
you've got the likes of Finley Christi, David Harvelly Ethan
Blackadder who try to work their way force their way
back into the all black reckoning. How about Wycotter. I
know you had a chat with Lema Supperwanga, but how
well off are you when you start the game with
Aaron Cruden who's still an outstanding player even at thirty
(39:43):
six years of age, and then when he goes off
you can bring Lima Souperwanga on. You're not too badly
off there are you.
Speaker 2 (39:49):
There's going to be a lot to love about it,
bringing on very much, looking forward to it, to the coverage,
to your commentary, because you're going to get involved, aren't you.
Speaker 7 (39:57):
Tony Oh, I love it yeah, I always do.
Speaker 10 (40:00):
It's often a chance to go and you know, visit
places that mean a lot to you and just talk,
you know with local rugby fans, genuine rugby fans who
are there for the footy and there for their to
provide pride that they have in their province. And at
the end of it, I mean, if last year is
anything to go by, you know, last year it was
(40:21):
excellent and I don't see why it won't be the
same again this year.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
You don't need for the TMO. We've got the breakdown
on Sports Talk Cola.
Speaker 5 (40:31):
News Talk.
Speaker 2 (40:35):
Tony Johnson there a long time sports broadcast rugby commentator.
Of the thoughts on the NPC, I think a lot
of people think exactly the same thing. There's something warming,
there's something comforting about watching the MPC. The guys who
(40:55):
went to school with playing the game of rugby, the
guys that are representing their province. And some of them
they don't harbor any ambitions to go any further. A
lot of them do. Some of them are coming back
to help out the next layer of players coming through.
Early Supuwana seventeen to twelve. Incidentally, the Auckland team are
(41:15):
leading whitep in that first up game that is at halftime.
So look ahead and enjoy what you're seeing over the
next few weeks because you're going to see some astonishing players.
How many years, how many seasons where you look back
at the season and go, wow, that's when we first
saw this bloke. And I'm standing there at the ground
(41:38):
watching this guy, going he's going to be special because
you can be there. You can once they reach out
and touch him as they run past. But it comes
pretty close sometime, doesn't it. Remember nih Milner scudder back
and I can test my memory was eleven wasn't it
(41:59):
twenty ten when he turned up? Because they're right there.
There are so many of them, and keep an eye
out for has been this year? If that's the most
stacked back line in MPC history, well it's not. I'll say,
thanks very much for this, Thanks for listening. Coming up
(42:21):
Shorty Marcus slash the crickets on as well day two
of the tests of Babba Ldia COT's off overnight as well.
Lots of golf to keep me up far too late.
God on you ends Milicise, Thanks for your time. See everybody.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
For more from Sports Talk Listen Live to news talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
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