D'Arcy Waldegrave: Dreaming of more Kiwi derbies

More derbies.   

The energy around today’s Phoenix v Auckland FC derby points to one thing: the A-League has got it right with the introduction of a second NZ team to their competition.   

Which begs the question, why aren’t there more in other Australian competitions where New Zealand has a stake?

The answer, I presume, would be something like “it’s an Aussie comp, you’re lucky to have one team there, sit down and shut up”. Which is understandable, because it’s true – what’s in it for Australia? Eyeballs? Jersey sales? Broadcast rights? More sponsorship dollars? Stiffer competition? 

Basketball and rugby league are plainly the targets here, as both sports already have a Kiwi presence in Aussie leagues – the NBL and the NRL.   

The Breakers were the gold standard for a while and with the accelerated growth of the game here and the undeniable global reach of the game, this should lean into another franchise in NZ. 

The NRL is screaming for another New Zealand team. The powers that be over the ditch appear to have zero interest in further expansion though. To say the NRL have little or no respect for NZ league is an understatement. They’d rather set up camp in Papua New Guinea. The federal cash sweetener is the only obvious reason as to why they would, nothing else makes sense. Also, the NRL hate us, and have shown time and time again that lip service is all they are capable of.   

So it’ll never happen, in either league. Big Bash? Netball? Unlikely, but it won’t stop me dreaming of a day where the excitement around today’s A-League derby is replicated in other sports. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildgrave from News Talk S'B.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
On that subject. More Derby's not not the little hats
or the chocolate covered ice creams, that the games, the
local games between teams like the Wellington versus Auckland clash,
that their energy around this particular game points to one
thing right. The A League has got it right with
the introduction of a second New Zealand team to their competition.

(00:34):
Beg's a question, why aren't there more New Zealand teams
and Australian competitions. The answer, I presume would be something
like it's an Aussie calm. Yeah, like you have one
team there, sit down and shut up, which is understandable
right because it's true. I mean, what's in it for
Australia are eyeballs? Maybe all Jersey sales, broadcast rights are

(00:56):
more sponsorship dollars, stiffer competition, a better league. What's in
it for them? All of that? See? Basketball and rugby
league are plainly the targets. He Both sports already have
a presence in Australian legs, the NBL and the NRL,
and we're there right with the breakers and the Warriors.
So the Breakers gold standard for a while, and with

(01:18):
the accelerated growth of basketball here and the undeniable global
reach of the game, this should lean into another franchise
here in New Zealand. Really should I'm sure they better
pick one up down a Nautalahi christ Church, but hey,
it's another story. Love to see it. Imagine that a

(01:38):
derby between two New Zealand basketball teams because they have
a high standard over here. Right the sales, NBL, the NBL,
the NRL, excuse me wrong, letter, the NRL's screaming for
another New Zealand team. The powers that be over the
ditch appear to have zero interest in further expansion, though
right to say the NRL had little or no respect

(01:59):
for New Zealand leagues an understatement. I'd rather set up
Camp and Pop PU and New Guinea, and I still
think that's going to fall over. The federal cash sweetener
is the only obvious reason as to why they would
do that, and nothing else makes any sense. I suppose
the NRL haatus and I've shown time and time again
that lip services all they are capable of, so it'll

(02:20):
probably never happen in either league. Big bass. I know,
maybe possibly net bling unlikely, but look, it's not going
to stop me dreaming of a day where the excitement
around today's A League derby is replicated in other sports.
Set seven point thirty. That'll do.

Speaker 1 (02:40):
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