November 5, 2024 • 9 mins
Greg 'Brandy' Alexander joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the Kiwi's loss to Tonga at Mt Smart over the weekend.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
That's his news talker z B. A regular league corresponding
g Brandy Alexander, you have been called a regular correspondent before.
Made I feel like I'm insulting you. How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
No, that's good. I go with that, Darcy. I'm happy
with that. I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's good. Okay, Well let's consult gee. I don't think
anyone Well maybe we did see that coming. Well, pretty
high powered tong team, but they ran straight out of
the top of the Kiwi.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
What happened there?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Well, well, great start. You know, I'm at f NOA Blake.
I think the Sharks will be would have watched that
with interest. Jason tow Malolo was outstanding. So they had
a lot of possession and it was a power game
from Tonga. They've got the players to do it, and
they played that perfect half that barely and error. Kiwi's
(01:01):
made a couple of errors, but they just didn't get
the possession. It was just a great forty minutes by Tonga.
You know, I guess the key. We showed up a
lot of courage and fight to get back into the
game and possibly you know, should have wanted or should
have tied it up at some stage, maybe a little
bit earlier until that mad rush at the end, but
(01:22):
you know, it was it was. The win was set
up by that dominant performance in the opening forty.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
That opening forty was fantastic, but I'd go on to
say the second forty equivalent because they didn't cough it up,
they didn't saw the big cheets and they secured the woman.
How many times do you see teams after such a
dominant first half fold away. They didn't do it. They
stayed there. To me, that was very impressive.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Greg.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, and and the halves did the job that was
was that was needed from them, and that was Isactah
kicked very well. He didn't kick well in week one
against the Australians, but I thought his kicking game Toulola
here they controlled the match.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So you're right. They they got to that that handy
lead and Isaiah.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Poppel he scored right near the death to sort of
give the Kiwis a little bit of a kickstart going
into the second half. But Tonger played some good footy
and they needed to They need to improve on what
they showed against the Australians in week one.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
What this means in the shakedown is that Australia are
taking on Tonga and the final empse of the Nations
and it's a sold out crowd. So people are super
keen on international league or is it because of the
thirty thousand six stadium. It's because they want to see
the Australians play. Why is it sold out? Do you think, Greg?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, I was a little bit worried about having the
final in Sydney. I thought if there was anywhere that
might and people mightn't turn up, it was Sydney. But
it might be the fact that Tonga are in the final,
and of course we've got the Kiwis playing as well
after the final and they take on PG.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
So it is a big it's a big day of footy.
It's four games.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
And the fact that Tonga upset the Kiwee's, I think
that's that have garnered some interest and people are thinking, wow,
Tonga might be a chance to roll the Aussie So
there might be some Aussies going there that they're thinking, well,
Straka get beaten tonight.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Is there a chance? Do you think if you look
deep enough into your contents that they might actually get rolled.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
I'm going to say no, I don't think they will.
I just don't know. Look now, with Vanoa, Blake and
tow Malolo and Katoa and those are around them play
as well as they did against the Kiwis, they are
a chance. But just going off what they and how
they played in Week one where Australia were terrible. Australia
(03:46):
couldn't hold the ball, they were clunky and attack yet
they still won eight nil. And the Tongans had a
lot of ball inside Australia's half and inside their twenty,
but still couldn't crack them. Now, Isaiahatwa and the kicking
game from the Tongans in Game one.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Three weeks ago was ordinary.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I think there was four seven tackle sets given to
the Aussies which got them out of trouble, got them
out of their own end. But I just I don't
know how the Tongans score enough points to beat Australia.
I just think there's too much punch and too much
strike in that Australian side. Traboevic Tom who who were
(04:29):
all surprised, you know, put his hand up to play
for Australia after he you know, ended the season so
wounded and you know, looked so uncomfortable playing. He's been outstanding.
Tom's Tom's you know, he might have been Australia's best
player in the two games they've played so far. The
Hammer was pretty good in game one as well against
the Tongans. And I think even though he Camera Murray
(04:52):
is a bit of a blow losing Camera Murray Hudson
Young comes in, it's whether the it's whether they can
just get themselves up again. And I think that was
the problem last year in Australia New Zealand. The week
before the final, Australia win New Zealand turn the tables
(05:14):
big time on them. I just don't think they're able
to get themselves up for the game. It is the
middle of November now, So while I don't think Tonga
have a chance, if the Australians are a bit flat,
and if they were, who could blame them After a long, long,
(05:34):
long season.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Anything could happen. But that's how I'm reading it. Darts
at the.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Moment, Greg Alexander Joiner. So we're looking toward the Championship
finals and a great, big day has it moved the needle.
As far as the fans are concerned and the media concerned,
has has it got any traction? Do you think this competition?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
But I think it has, like I'm surprisingly yes it has.
And the football played the Pacific Championships needed the game
last week or the week before with Kiwi's and playing Australia.
The first week was a little bit flat. Fig weren't great,
you know at home Tonga weren't great against Australia. Australia
(06:18):
were worse but still won. So it needed a game
and it got it in that in the New Zealand
Australia clash.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
That was that was that was a good game.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And then you know it just stepped up another level
in that you know, that epic game last week at
Mount Smart Stadium sold you know again sold out.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
The game is flying in New Zealand. But the Tongans,
you know, if you played, if you had some mole
involved in this in this, you know, and there was
four to well, like it could be pretty special. And
if we want to do this and we should do
this like this, I think this is this is how
you build international football or rebuild it. You know, if
(07:00):
you if you don't do it every year, and you
can't keep playing twenty seven rounds or twenty four rounds
with buys, Origin and preseason Challenge Cup games and wanting
to play a World Club Challenge at some time and
can't keep doing it. If you're going to play test football,
if you're going to play test footy that matters. If
you're going to have the best teams playing in games
(07:21):
that matter, Test footy can make a revival. We've just
somehow got to find a space for it. And whether
that means playing less footy through the year, I don't
know how the broadcasters feel about that, but the Players
Association will be right behind it, and I think the
game would be because you're just spreading it around evenly.
(07:43):
Test footy, Origin Club footy. It all gets a good crack.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Is there a want at the highest levels? You mentioned money?
That's ridiculously important. We know how much they want for
another New Zealand team to endo the NRL sixty million bucks,
so it is hugely important to them. But is there
a want anywhere at that top levele thing? Actually this
might be good for the game. Is it blinded by
the dollar?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well? I don't know. I know Peter Landis is a
supporter of Test footy and.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
So if the Landis has his say whether you know
the bottom line of course, probably wins wins the race.
But you know, and Peter of Landys has made a
point out of you know, supporting mal and Test football
and getting behind the Kangaroos. And you know he's very
(08:35):
strong on Kangaroo reunions. He is very strong on Test footy.
So you know, you can't get any higher than Peter
of Landy. So Peter of the Landis thinks that we
need to make space for Test football even if we
lose you know a dollar here or there. I'm thinking
he might be behind it because you've got to say
(08:55):
if you had Samoa and like, yeah, it can be
good again. And I think, you know, the Tongue in
New Zealand game gave me hope that it could be.
And you know, we might get another surprise this weekend
with the Australia Tony game.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
So I've enjoyed it us.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news talks
that'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk zed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
That's his news talker z B. A regular league corresponding
g Brandy Alexander, you have been called a regular correspondent before.
Made I feel like I'm insulting you. How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
No, that's good. I go with that, Darcy. I'm happy
with that. I'm good.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
That's good. Okay, Well let's consult gee. I don't think
anyone Well maybe we did see that coming. Well, pretty
high powered tong team, but they ran straight out of
the top of the Kiwi.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
What happened there?
Speaker 4 (00:38):
Well, well, great start. You know, I'm at f NOA Blake.
I think the Sharks will be would have watched that
with interest. Jason tow Malolo was outstanding. So they had
a lot of possession and it was a power game
from Tonga. They've got the players to do it, and
they played that perfect half that barely and error. Kiwi's
(01:01):
made a couple of errors, but they just didn't get
the possession. It was just a great forty minutes by Tonga.
You know, I guess the key. We showed up a
lot of courage and fight to get back into the
game and possibly you know, should have wanted or should
have tied it up at some stage, maybe a little
bit earlier until that mad rush at the end, but
(01:22):
you know, it was it was. The win was set
up by that dominant performance in the opening forty.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
That opening forty was fantastic, but I'd go on to
say the second forty equivalent because they didn't cough it up,
they didn't saw the big cheets and they secured the woman.
How many times do you see teams after such a
dominant first half fold away. They didn't do it. They
stayed there. To me, that was very impressive.
Speaker 3 (01:45):
Greg.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, and and the halves did the job that was
was that was needed from them, and that was Isactah
kicked very well. He didn't kick well in week one
against the Australians, but I thought his kicking game Toulola
here they controlled the match.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
So you're right. They they got to that that handy
lead and Isaiah.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Poppel he scored right near the death to sort of
give the Kiwis a little bit of a kickstart going
into the second half. But Tonger played some good footy
and they needed to They need to improve on what
they showed against the Australians in week one.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
What this means in the shakedown is that Australia are
taking on Tonga and the final empse of the Nations
and it's a sold out crowd. So people are super
keen on international league or is it because of the
thirty thousand six stadium. It's because they want to see
the Australians play. Why is it sold out? Do you think, Greg?
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, I was a little bit worried about having the
final in Sydney. I thought if there was anywhere that
might and people mightn't turn up, it was Sydney. But
it might be the fact that Tonga are in the final,
and of course we've got the Kiwis playing as well
after the final and they take on PG.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
So it is a big it's a big day of footy.
It's four games.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
And the fact that Tonga upset the Kiwee's, I think
that's that have garnered some interest and people are thinking, wow,
Tonga might be a chance to roll the Aussie So
there might be some Aussies going there that they're thinking, well,
Straka get beaten tonight.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Is there a chance? Do you think if you look
deep enough into your contents that they might actually get rolled.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
I'm going to say no, I don't think they will.
I just don't know. Look now, with Vanoa, Blake and
tow Malolo and Katoa and those are around them play
as well as they did against the Kiwis, they are
a chance. But just going off what they and how
they played in Week one where Australia were terrible. Australia
(03:46):
couldn't hold the ball, they were clunky and attack yet
they still won eight nil. And the Tongans had a
lot of ball inside Australia's half and inside their twenty,
but still couldn't crack them. Now, Isaiahatwa and the kicking
game from the Tongans in Game one.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Three weeks ago was ordinary.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
I think there was four seven tackle sets given to
the Aussies which got them out of trouble, got them
out of their own end. But I just I don't
know how the Tongans score enough points to beat Australia.
I just think there's too much punch and too much
strike in that Australian side. Traboevic Tom who who were
(04:29):
all surprised, you know, put his hand up to play
for Australia after he you know, ended the season so
wounded and you know, looked so uncomfortable playing. He's been outstanding.
Tom's Tom's you know, he might have been Australia's best
player in the two games they've played so far. The
Hammer was pretty good in game one as well against
the Tongans. And I think even though he Camera Murray
(04:52):
is a bit of a blow losing Camera Murray Hudson
Young comes in, it's whether the it's whether they can
just get themselves up again. And I think that was
the problem last year in Australia New Zealand. The week
before the final, Australia win New Zealand turn the tables
(05:14):
big time on them. I just don't think they're able
to get themselves up for the game. It is the
middle of November now, So while I don't think Tonga
have a chance, if the Australians are a bit flat,
and if they were, who could blame them After a long, long,
(05:34):
long season.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
Anything could happen. But that's how I'm reading it. Darts
at the.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Moment, Greg Alexander Joiner. So we're looking toward the Championship
finals and a great, big day has it moved the needle.
As far as the fans are concerned and the media concerned,
has has it got any traction? Do you think this competition?
Speaker 4 (05:56):
But I think it has, like I'm surprisingly yes it has.
And the football played the Pacific Championships needed the game
last week or the week before with Kiwi's and playing Australia.
The first week was a little bit flat. Fig weren't great,
you know at home Tonga weren't great against Australia. Australia
(06:18):
were worse but still won. So it needed a game
and it got it in that in the New Zealand
Australia clash.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
That was that was that was a good game.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
And then you know it just stepped up another level
in that you know, that epic game last week at
Mount Smart Stadium sold you know again sold out.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
The game is flying in New Zealand. But the Tongans,
you know, if you played, if you had some mole
involved in this in this, you know, and there was
four to well, like it could be pretty special. And
if we want to do this and we should do
this like this, I think this is this is how
you build international football or rebuild it. You know, if
(07:00):
you if you don't do it every year, and you
can't keep playing twenty seven rounds or twenty four rounds
with buys, Origin and preseason Challenge Cup games and wanting
to play a World Club Challenge at some time and
can't keep doing it. If you're going to play test football,
if you're going to play test footy that matters. If
you're going to have the best teams playing in games
(07:21):
that matter, Test footy can make a revival. We've just
somehow got to find a space for it. And whether
that means playing less footy through the year, I don't
know how the broadcasters feel about that, but the Players
Association will be right behind it, and I think the
game would be because you're just spreading it around evenly.
(07:43):
Test footy, Origin Club footy. It all gets a good crack.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Is there a want at the highest levels? You mentioned money?
That's ridiculously important. We know how much they want for
another New Zealand team to endo the NRL sixty million bucks,
so it is hugely important to them. But is there
a want anywhere at that top levele thing? Actually this
might be good for the game. Is it blinded by
the dollar?
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Well? I don't know. I know Peter Landis is a
supporter of Test footy and.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
So if the Landis has his say whether you know
the bottom line of course, probably wins wins the race.
But you know, and Peter of Landys has made a
point out of you know, supporting mal and Test football
and getting behind the Kangaroos. And you know he's very
(08:35):
strong on Kangaroo reunions. He is very strong on Test footy.
So you know, you can't get any higher than Peter
of Landy. So Peter of the Landis thinks that we
need to make space for Test football even if we
lose you know a dollar here or there. I'm thinking
he might be behind it because you've got to say
(08:55):
if you had Samoa and like, yeah, it can be
good again. And I think, you know, the Tongue in
New Zealand game gave me hope that it could be.
And you know, we might get another surprise this weekend
with the Australia Tony game.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
So I've enjoyed it us.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to news talks
that'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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