July 23, 2026 • 7 mins
It's almost NPC season, and you know what that means - the Ranfurly Shield is back!
Before the season proper, two Heartland Championship sides get a crack at seizing the Log'o'Wood.
Mid Canterbury is often one of those two sides, and coach Matt Winter spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
How we joined at now by Matt Winter's head coach
of a Meddck Canterbury Big day tomorrow, Matte. You guys
prepared and ready to roll?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Are you as as really as will ever be? Yeah? Listen,
ready to go?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well you should be because you had a very successful
season last year, didn't you. You didn't like stand around
and wait for build a roll over the top of you.
In fact, you've got it done yourself. You managed to
beat was that Tim's Velly in the in the final
of the Meats Cup?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Correct? Yeah, yeah, we went ten and oh last year,
so didn't drop a game. So you had a pretty
good run last year. So the right challenge for the
shield this season, which is pretty cool opportunity.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Dare I say it? The only way is down there
if you undefeated for an entire season.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yes, yeah, yeah, there's a valid point. There's another point
where you could look at the only ways up as
to go and win the shield.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well that's the positive. What have you been telling you men?
What have you been trying to enforce upon them in
the side? They probably don't need any encouragement.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Do they.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Now, it's not hard to get motivation, that's for sure.
It's an unbelievable opportunity. These fellas are earned. So yeah,
the big message from us has always been from the
get go, since we got the confirmation that I take
of accepted the challenges, that we've just got to be brave.
Got to be brave for eighty minutes. You know, we're
coming up against a quality side. I don't know if
you've seen what they've named, but it's not like they
at least too much on the sideline. So they've got
(01:27):
them all out for us, which is yeah, it makes
it the occasion even more spacial, I suppose. So you've
just got to go out there in heavy, really hot
correct Now, Look, I haven't seen the team.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I'm going to frantically look it up now, but I'll
let you tell me what do I Tiger putting down
for here.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
They've got a couple of either current well, they've got
the current will player of the year, breakthrough player of
the year coming back from a pretty serious injury, so
he's starting against us. They've got Leo Willie and a yeah,
that Lucas Casey on the flank. So yeah, they haven't
mucked around the forward pack, that's for sure. They're going
to give us, give us a pretty good run, I
would have thought. So, yeah, very excited.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
How do you go about tripping them up? What do
you do? What's your master plan as to how you
areach a game like this because you already honesty, most
people aren't picking you the windows except you, blokes. But
if you formulated some cunning plan to roll.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
In that, yeah, we've got we've got a few things
that we want to we want to do, but I
don't know, I can't executely remember her to attributed quote too,
But Mike Tyson, I think it was that everyone's got
a plan until they get smecked in the mouth. So
it's all well and good what we want to do
and what we've told the fellas to work on, but
it's on them to go out there and be brave
enough to do it, especially after being smecked in the
mouth by a pretty quality Otago side. So yeah, really
(02:37):
really full challenge.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was Mike Tyson the way expecting violence from Otago,
are you met? No?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
No, not a net seed that seed. So just then
I made a bit more of the metaphorical seeds.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I suppose, yeah, no, and you need to be braced
and ready to go because he mentioned some of the
weapons there in Fabi and Holland that guy is something
else and he's got a lot to play for after
being out what the bugg and shoulder for the best
part of a year, isn't it correct?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yep? So yeah, we're not really in the position to
be braced or was setting back and waiting for them
I suppose. I mean that you're going to be brutal
and they're going to be violent, so we're going to
have to be brutal and be violent too and go
after it otherwise. Yeah, it's going to be could be
a pretty long d down at the office if we
sit back and wait. It's just sure.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Any areas where you think you might have the upper hand,
I mean you don't. You don't really know much form,
But where do you back yourselves mid Canterbury? What's your
what's the key to victory? And what has been our
last season when you managed to pick up that cup?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
The key to our success and the key to the
region's success has always just been hard work. It's pretty
cliche and boring. I suppose, but the fact the fellows
just get up off the ground and keep going for
each other and working bloody hard. So yeah, it's not
your revolutionary or room venue the way or anything like that.
It's just we've got to get up fast and then
work harder than them and hit harder than them. But
(03:52):
then if that happens and about ball bounces our way,
then who knows what.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
The form and the style of play because we see
Dave Rennie's roll in and the All Blacks and suddenly
we've seen a very different style of rugby union, one
that I think the populace appreciated because not as much
kicking and a lot more running. Are you moving in
that direction or is that the way you've always presented me?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
At at the heart and level, there's not a huge
amount of kicking anyway, There's there's a lot of running rugby,
So yeah, we we're big on that idea has been
brave and having a crack from from everywhere, So that's
obviously been big message for this game coming up, but
it's also been a big message for us for the
last few years and we've been doing it, so yeah,
it just springs true and there's a better game to watch,
(04:34):
and it's a better game to play when when you're
having to go.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
So yeah, it's about fun, isn't it, and you need
it have fun that No one likes the ball being
kicked back and forth. It's another game for that and
the ball is round. Experience wise, who have you got
on your side that's had experience at the ram Philly
Shield if any, And who are your most experienced players
that you're putting a lot on to actually represent and
carry this team.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
We've got a few fellows that have represented at a
reasonably high level, number six much Kipson, he's played about
the NBC before, and then we've got another another couple
of fellas in around the four peg have been on
the fringe and development sides and ITM Cup squad BNBC
squads and all that sort of thing. So yeah, we're
really lucky with the Keller play we've had. And there's
obviously a few fellows in our squad that if things
(05:17):
that have been a little bit different, they you know,
might have kicked on too bigger and better things. So yeah,
we've got experience, we've got talent, and we've got fellows
that have played a lot of footing and know what
they do and know what they're good at. So yeah,
we've got a very strong squad.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And the drive for them playing are they a lot
of these guys thinking higher honors, they go up a
level with some of them just playing for the ship for.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
All of it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
What's their why?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
The majority of the fellows play because they love it.
We do have some young fellows in our squad there,
you know, if they stick at it and things you
know worth out that, you know, these higher honors definitely
in their cards. But yeah, the majority of our well
all of our fellows are here because they love it,
love what they do, love who they represent, and why
they do it. So now it's it's very cool to
be a part.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Of You're on the bus at the moment. I can
hear the ruckets in the background.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
It's good.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
This is good for team building, right, throwing every one
an old coach and letting them rip ship and bus
for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Right, correct. Yeah, the trip down this morning through the
Linda's was a bit you know, touch and go the time.
But yeah, sounds like there's going to be snow and
Alexander over night on Sunday and Friday night. Sorry, so
we might be stuck here for a bit longer. So
can't be all bad.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Tell you what, as someone who hails from the South
side of himself, the Linda's Pass is one of the
most fantastic roads. It's also one of the most frightening roads.
What was it looking like?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But sketchy, I fell asleep at the side of the
limbus and I woke up just as we got through it.
So I'm the wrong person to ask.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
That sounds like a deliberate ploy.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What are you man, I'm an old man who got
up early to get on the bus to get Alexandra,
so I need cool hey, and what.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Can you tell us about Momonue Park, Alexandria, You think
you can have a fair fame base there. It's going
to be split between you and the Tago kids or.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, there's not many people on ex and you're talking
to that either aren't coming down or know someone who's
coming down like you. We've always said good support group
where we go, and yeah, there's a big contingent making
the trip down, So it's going to be pretty awesome
having that sixteenth person there on the side by for
us tunas on.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So now to be really cool, get a monst, enjoy
yourself and try and stay awake. Matt Winter, thanks very
much for your time. You go well, he worries, Thank
you very much.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
How we joined at now by Matt Winter's head coach
of a Meddck Canterbury Big day tomorrow, Matte. You guys
prepared and ready to roll?
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Are you as as really as will ever be? Yeah? Listen,
ready to go?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Well you should be because you had a very successful
season last year, didn't you. You didn't like stand around
and wait for build a roll over the top of you.
In fact, you've got it done yourself. You managed to
beat was that Tim's Velly in the in the final
of the Meats Cup?
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Correct? Yeah, yeah, we went ten and oh last year,
so didn't drop a game. So you had a pretty
good run last year. So the right challenge for the
shield this season, which is pretty cool opportunity.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Dare I say it? The only way is down there
if you undefeated for an entire season.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Yes, yeah, yeah, there's a valid point. There's another point
where you could look at the only ways up as
to go and win the shield.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well that's the positive. What have you been telling you men?
What have you been trying to enforce upon them in
the side? They probably don't need any encouragement.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Do they.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Now, it's not hard to get motivation, that's for sure.
It's an unbelievable opportunity. These fellas are earned. So yeah,
the big message from us has always been from the
get go, since we got the confirmation that I take
of accepted the challenges, that we've just got to be brave.
Got to be brave for eighty minutes. You know, we're
coming up against a quality side. I don't know if
you've seen what they've named, but it's not like they
at least too much on the sideline. So they've got
(01:27):
them all out for us, which is yeah, it makes
it the occasion even more spacial, I suppose. So you've
just got to go out there in heavy, really hot
correct Now, Look, I haven't seen the team.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
I'm going to frantically look it up now, but I'll
let you tell me what do I Tiger putting down
for here.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
They've got a couple of either current well, they've got
the current will player of the year, breakthrough player of
the year coming back from a pretty serious injury, so
he's starting against us. They've got Leo Willie and a yeah,
that Lucas Casey on the flank. So yeah, they haven't
mucked around the forward pack, that's for sure. They're going
to give us, give us a pretty good run, I
would have thought. So, yeah, very excited.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
How do you go about tripping them up? What do
you do? What's your master plan as to how you
areach a game like this because you already honesty, most
people aren't picking you the windows except you, blokes. But
if you formulated some cunning plan to roll.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
In that, yeah, we've got we've got a few things
that we want to we want to do, but I
don't know, I can't executely remember her to attributed quote too,
But Mike Tyson, I think it was that everyone's got
a plan until they get smecked in the mouth. So
it's all well and good what we want to do
and what we've told the fellas to work on, but
it's on them to go out there and be brave
enough to do it, especially after being smecked in the
mouth by a pretty quality Otago side. So yeah, really
(02:37):
really full challenge.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It was Mike Tyson the way expecting violence from Otago,
are you met? No?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
No, not a net seed that seed. So just then
I made a bit more of the metaphorical seeds.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I suppose, yeah, no, and you need to be braced
and ready to go because he mentioned some of the
weapons there in Fabi and Holland that guy is something
else and he's got a lot to play for after
being out what the bugg and shoulder for the best
part of a year, isn't it correct?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yep? So yeah, we're not really in the position to
be braced or was setting back and waiting for them
I suppose. I mean that you're going to be brutal
and they're going to be violent, so we're going to
have to be brutal and be violent too and go
after it otherwise. Yeah, it's going to be could be
a pretty long d down at the office if we
sit back and wait. It's just sure.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Any areas where you think you might have the upper hand,
I mean you don't. You don't really know much form,
But where do you back yourselves mid Canterbury? What's your
what's the key to victory? And what has been our
last season when you managed to pick up that cup?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
The key to our success and the key to the
region's success has always just been hard work. It's pretty
cliche and boring. I suppose, but the fact the fellows
just get up off the ground and keep going for
each other and working bloody hard. So yeah, it's not
your revolutionary or room venue the way or anything like that.
It's just we've got to get up fast and then
work harder than them and hit harder than them. But
(03:52):
then if that happens and about ball bounces our way,
then who knows what.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
The form and the style of play because we see
Dave Rennie's roll in and the All Blacks and suddenly
we've seen a very different style of rugby union, one
that I think the populace appreciated because not as much
kicking and a lot more running. Are you moving in
that direction or is that the way you've always presented me?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
At at the heart and level, there's not a huge
amount of kicking anyway, There's there's a lot of running rugby,
So yeah, we we're big on that idea has been
brave and having a crack from from everywhere, So that's
obviously been big message for this game coming up, but
it's also been a big message for us for the
last few years and we've been doing it, so yeah,
it just springs true and there's a better game to watch,
(04:34):
and it's a better game to play when when you're
having to go.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
So yeah, it's about fun, isn't it, and you need
it have fun that No one likes the ball being
kicked back and forth. It's another game for that and
the ball is round. Experience wise, who have you got
on your side that's had experience at the ram Philly
Shield if any, And who are your most experienced players
that you're putting a lot on to actually represent and
carry this team.
Speaker 3 (04:57):
We've got a few fellows that have represented at a
reasonably high level, number six much Kipson, he's played about
the NBC before, and then we've got another another couple
of fellas in around the four peg have been on
the fringe and development sides and ITM Cup squad BNBC
squads and all that sort of thing. So yeah, we're
really lucky with the Keller play we've had. And there's
obviously a few fellows in our squad that if things
(05:17):
that have been a little bit different, they you know,
might have kicked on too bigger and better things. So yeah,
we've got experience, we've got talent, and we've got fellows
that have played a lot of footing and know what
they do and know what they're good at. So yeah,
we've got a very strong squad.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And the drive for them playing are they a lot
of these guys thinking higher honors, they go up a
level with some of them just playing for the ship for.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
All of it.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
What's their why?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
The majority of the fellows play because they love it.
We do have some young fellows in our squad there,
you know, if they stick at it and things you
know worth out that, you know, these higher honors definitely
in their cards. But yeah, the majority of our well
all of our fellows are here because they love it,
love what they do, love who they represent, and why
they do it. So now it's it's very cool to
be a part.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Of You're on the bus at the moment. I can
hear the ruckets in the background.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
It's good.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
This is good for team building, right, throwing every one
an old coach and letting them rip ship and bus
for a while.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Right, correct. Yeah, the trip down this morning through the
Linda's was a bit you know, touch and go the time.
But yeah, sounds like there's going to be snow and
Alexander over night on Sunday and Friday night. Sorry, so
we might be stuck here for a bit longer. So
can't be all bad.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Tell you what, as someone who hails from the South
side of himself, the Linda's Pass is one of the
most fantastic roads. It's also one of the most frightening roads.
What was it looking like?
Speaker 3 (06:27):
But sketchy, I fell asleep at the side of the
limbus and I woke up just as we got through it.
So I'm the wrong person to ask.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
That sounds like a deliberate ploy.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What are you man, I'm an old man who got
up early to get on the bus to get Alexandra,
so I need cool hey, and what.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Can you tell us about Momonue Park, Alexandria, You think
you can have a fair fame base there. It's going
to be split between you and the Tago kids or.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yeah, there's not many people on ex and you're talking
to that either aren't coming down or know someone who's
coming down like you. We've always said good support group
where we go, and yeah, there's a big contingent making
the trip down, So it's going to be pretty awesome
having that sixteenth person there on the side by for
us tunas on.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So now to be really cool, get a monst, enjoy
yourself and try and stay awake. Matt Winter, thanks very
much for your time. You go well, he worries, Thank
you very much.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Cheers.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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