May 9, 2025 • 6 mins
Depth is being tested early on in the Central Pulse camp ahead of the start of the ANZ Premiership.
Midcourters Maddy Gordon and Whitney Souness and shooter Khiarna Williams have all battled pre-season niggles.
Coach Anna Andrews-Tasola hopes the problems will be short lived.
The Pulse open their season against the Magic in Palmerston North this afternoon.
Centre pass is at 4pm.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
B seven nineteen All Sport Breakfast here on News Talk
zed B bit an apple for you now and ZED
Premiership under way this weekend. It is Round one. First up,
it's the Pulse taking on the Magic from Palmerston North.
We go to the coach now Ana Andrews to Sola.
Good morning morning. You'll be looking for a great blazing
(00:32):
start to the A and Z Premiership this time around
after I hate to bring it up again, but after
having such a shocking year last year with injury and
then getting pipped at the last have you carried that
right the way through the summer.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah. Absolutely. We're still a little bit heartbroken about that,
to be honest, and it's really fueled us for this season.
So we're really looking to finish what we started last year.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that entirely healthy to carry that or is that
something you actually deliberately do to keep the girls, keep
the athletes up and pulsed.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah. I think it's really important that we face into it.
Otherwise we don't address why we lost. We're here to
win and the team is really competitive and they want
to be the best they can possibly be, So it
was really important, even though it is difficult, that we
looked into it and ripped it apart and found the
reason why we didn't win, and how do we make
improvements for this year?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Well, you started it, so you can finish it. What
were those reasons?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, So I think the injury toll took its bit
with everyone trying to bring as much energy to get
healthy and just not having a time with combinations as well,
and during the season you can really work on being
able to compete under pressure together and we just didn't
have that time. So that's something that we've made sure
that we've covered in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Is it a positive even though you did lose at
the last that you had a whole lot of younger
players and experienced players filling the bibs throughout the year.
That's got us strength and your depth for the future.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah. Just really proud of the organization. Also all of
the athletes, even the injured ones. They did such a
great job bringing in new people into the group and
guiding them to make sure that they could be the
best they could possibly be. This was a new experience
for those ones that come through for us, So it
was all around team effort to be able to get.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
There in the end, Who are you looking to to
lead this team? Not only in actual the captaincy because
we know Amelia Anna is in there, but other players.
Where's the strength of leadership coming from.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, and so we've got great leadership with Kelly Jackson
at the back down in our defensive end, so she's
working really well with the defensive unit. And then we've
got power throughout in the mid court with both Maddie
and Witch and also Tiana and the shooting end as well,
and Amelia is growing every time she's out on court.
So all across the board, we've got great leadership self leadership,
(03:02):
especially with MoU and wing defense as well.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
In Paris at Golder, What do you mean soft leadership?
How does that operate?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No? Self leadership?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I thought you said it soft. That's a new one
to me and one not at all, not at all.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So that's just around leading by example for themselves and
doing their own jobs. So that's the first thing how
they can contribute to the team.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
When you look at the competition, there is one elephant
in the room, and that is a new way of
scoring it's the what three and a half meters outside
you do that? You pick up two? How does that work?
But we know this has been done in the fast five.
We got that, but transferring this to this how different?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Is that it's a very different game, to be honest,
and Australia Competition has been doing it for it for
a number of years, so we've been keeping a close
close eye on that. It is a different mindset as well,
especially for our defensive end having to turn your back
on the court because usually the goal sheilter tries to
kick it out to the goal attack. So lots of
(04:07):
strategizing going on over the preseason and just really understanding
who's going to go for the two points and who's
just going to be happy just getting that scoring pressure
with the ones. So it's going to be really interesting
each game.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Is that getting rid of habitual behavior when players are
so used to doing one thing, but they've got to
rid themselves of that to change what they're doing out there?
Is that a difficult proposition.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I think it's been a really great challenge for both
the attackers and the defenders because it's a totally different mindset.
But everyone's up for the challenge in wanting to be
able to grow as well. So everyone's looking.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Forward to it, and I think the fans are all
looking forward to it as well, because it's a year
now where I've spoken with Dame Noline Totu and she said,
we're starting from scratch. There is no one penciled in.
You perform, will pack you and that's got to be good.
You talk much to Dame about what she wants from
(05:05):
your players. Is that part of what you do there?
Are it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Absolutely, we're aligned with what the Silver Ferns are wanting
to achieve over the next couple of years and we're
supportive of that as well. So it's really important that
we showcase our athletes and put them in the best
light possible and ensuring that they're in an environment to
excel and whatever happens from their you know, they deserve
and they earn so but we're very mindful of that
(05:30):
as an organization to support them in that space.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
And you're in Parmeston North Home and my Forefathers it's
sold out opening round. Is it strange that you're starting
off your campaign in Palmy, not in Welly.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
No. We usually start our home games off in Parmerson
North and we love going up there and we also
it's a bit of a community weekend as well, so
we get out to the regions, the wider regions as
well from Parmerston North to be able to connect to
our community. And it will sold out a couple of
weeks ago as well, so we're looking forward to the
game this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
And the strength of your side. You're picking from a
full quiver, all right, So we.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Do have a couple of injuries. We honestly we thought
we left twenty twenty four there last year, but we
do have a couple of injuries. Meddi had a bit
of a slip a couple of weeks ago, so we're
taking care of her. And also we have a Whitney
who had ankle surgery after a Silver Furn's game and
she's on a return to play, but we are on
the app which is fantastic, so over the next couple
(06:29):
of weeks we'll see both of them on Caught Together.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Brilliant stuff for you and your team. Hey, wishing you
all the best, not only for this afternoons game but
for the entire competition. Ana Andrews Tassola, thank you very
much for joining us from the Tijuana Urokawa Pulse. The
pleasure has been ours.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
No ma he.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said V on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk zed.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
B seven nineteen All Sport Breakfast here on News Talk
zed B bit an apple for you now and ZED
Premiership under way this weekend. It is Round one. First up,
it's the Pulse taking on the Magic from Palmerston North.
We go to the coach now Ana Andrews to Sola.
Good morning morning. You'll be looking for a great blazing
(00:32):
start to the A and Z Premiership this time around
after I hate to bring it up again, but after
having such a shocking year last year with injury and
then getting pipped at the last have you carried that
right the way through the summer.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
Yeah. Absolutely. We're still a little bit heartbroken about that,
to be honest, and it's really fueled us for this season.
So we're really looking to finish what we started last year.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Is that entirely healthy to carry that or is that
something you actually deliberately do to keep the girls, keep
the athletes up and pulsed.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Yeah. I think it's really important that we face into it.
Otherwise we don't address why we lost. We're here to
win and the team is really competitive and they want
to be the best they can possibly be, So it
was really important, even though it is difficult, that we
looked into it and ripped it apart and found the
reason why we didn't win, and how do we make
improvements for this year?
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Well, you started it, so you can finish it. What
were those reasons?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, So I think the injury toll took its bit
with everyone trying to bring as much energy to get
healthy and just not having a time with combinations as well,
and during the season you can really work on being
able to compete under pressure together and we just didn't
have that time. So that's something that we've made sure
that we've covered in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Is it a positive even though you did lose at
the last that you had a whole lot of younger
players and experienced players filling the bibs throughout the year.
That's got us strength and your depth for the future.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah. Just really proud of the organization. Also all of
the athletes, even the injured ones. They did such a
great job bringing in new people into the group and
guiding them to make sure that they could be the
best they could possibly be. This was a new experience
for those ones that come through for us, So it
was all around team effort to be able to get.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
There in the end, Who are you looking to to
lead this team? Not only in actual the captaincy because
we know Amelia Anna is in there, but other players.
Where's the strength of leadership coming from.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Yeah, and so we've got great leadership with Kelly Jackson
at the back down in our defensive end, so she's
working really well with the defensive unit. And then we've
got power throughout in the mid court with both Maddie
and Witch and also Tiana and the shooting end as well,
and Amelia is growing every time she's out on court.
So all across the board, we've got great leadership self leadership,
(03:02):
especially with MoU and wing defense as well.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
In Paris at Golder, What do you mean soft leadership?
How does that operate?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
No? Self leadership?
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I thought you said it soft. That's a new one
to me and one not at all, not at all.
Speaker 3 (03:16):
So that's just around leading by example for themselves and
doing their own jobs. So that's the first thing how
they can contribute to the team.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
When you look at the competition, there is one elephant
in the room, and that is a new way of
scoring it's the what three and a half meters outside
you do that? You pick up two? How does that work?
But we know this has been done in the fast five.
We got that, but transferring this to this how different?
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Is that it's a very different game, to be honest,
and Australia Competition has been doing it for it for
a number of years, so we've been keeping a close
close eye on that. It is a different mindset as well,
especially for our defensive end having to turn your back
on the court because usually the goal sheilter tries to
kick it out to the goal attack. So lots of
(04:07):
strategizing going on over the preseason and just really understanding
who's going to go for the two points and who's
just going to be happy just getting that scoring pressure
with the ones. So it's going to be really interesting
each game.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Is that getting rid of habitual behavior when players are
so used to doing one thing, but they've got to
rid themselves of that to change what they're doing out there?
Is that a difficult proposition.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
I think it's been a really great challenge for both
the attackers and the defenders because it's a totally different mindset.
But everyone's up for the challenge in wanting to be
able to grow as well. So everyone's looking.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Forward to it, and I think the fans are all
looking forward to it as well, because it's a year
now where I've spoken with Dame Noline Totu and she said,
we're starting from scratch. There is no one penciled in.
You perform, will pack you and that's got to be good.
You talk much to Dame about what she wants from
(05:05):
your players. Is that part of what you do there?
Are it? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Absolutely, we're aligned with what the Silver Ferns are wanting
to achieve over the next couple of years and we're
supportive of that as well. So it's really important that
we showcase our athletes and put them in the best
light possible and ensuring that they're in an environment to
excel and whatever happens from their you know, they deserve
and they earn so but we're very mindful of that
(05:30):
as an organization to support them in that space.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
And you're in Parmeston North Home and my Forefathers it's
sold out opening round. Is it strange that you're starting
off your campaign in Palmy, not in Welly.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
No. We usually start our home games off in Parmerson
North and we love going up there and we also
it's a bit of a community weekend as well, so
we get out to the regions, the wider regions as
well from Parmerston North to be able to connect to
our community. And it will sold out a couple of
weeks ago as well, so we're looking forward to the
game this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
And the strength of your side. You're picking from a
full quiver, all right, So we.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
Do have a couple of injuries. We honestly we thought
we left twenty twenty four there last year, but we
do have a couple of injuries. Meddi had a bit
of a slip a couple of weeks ago, so we're
taking care of her. And also we have a Whitney
who had ankle surgery after a Silver Furn's game and
she's on a return to play, but we are on
the app which is fantastic, so over the next couple
(06:29):
of weeks we'll see both of them on Caught Together.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Brilliant stuff for you and your team. Hey, wishing you
all the best, not only for this afternoons game but
for the entire competition. Ana Andrews Tassola, thank you very
much for joining us from the Tijuana Urokawa Pulse. The
pleasure has been ours.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
No ma he.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk said V on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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