Lisa Mather: Stars midcourter ahead of their ANZ Premiership clash against the Steel

The Stars are determined to fix their starts as they look to rectify consecutive thrashings in the ANZ Premiership. 

The South Auckland-based side host the Steel at Pullman Arena this afternoon. 

They're coming off 21 and 17-goal hidings at the hands of the Magic. 

Stars midcourter Lisa Mather says they have to come out hot. 

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:11):
And Thatt Ball is The focus now is in Premiership
This afternoon at four o'clock at Pullman, the Stars take
on this steal. It's going to mid court. We're joined
by Lisa Matha. Good morning, Good morning. You'd be pretty
keen to get running this afternoon to I suppose blot
out the disaster of last week. I mean, disaster is

(00:32):
a bit harsh. It's not like anyone died, but you'd
be looking back at that Exchange game. What on earth
happened up against the Magic?

Speaker 3 (00:39):
Yeah, I mean it definitely wasn't the way we intended
of that game to play out. I know we definitely
wanted to. We were actually quite keen for that rematch.
So really disappointing for us as a collective, and we're
really disappointed. I think at then a day, the start
probably sets the tone, and I think that's something we've

(01:00):
really highlighted. We can't be starting that far behind and
let that league in the first quarters. So we were
kind of on the chase from them, which is never
the greatest position to be in so early and in
the game. However, like we still yees fought and tried
to find answers throughout, but yeah, they unfortunately really did

(01:21):
dominate us. So we have all looked at the game
quite closely, obviously gone through our whole reflection process and deeply,
but we're still really determined to find answers of you know,
finding better results and getting wins going forward.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
It was a similar result in Hamilton the seventy two
fifty one last week, seventy one fifty four last week.
They got off to a good start as you said,
then you dragged up even Stevens in the second, then
they got away in the third, then even Stevens in
the fourth. So you had it, but you're lost at
what was I suppose the lack of concentration or focus

(02:03):
was that's what happened when things didn't quite work for you,
because plenty you had the talent to keep a breast
with them.

Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah. I think that's the hard thing, isn't it. It's
just that consistency and consistency is what every hype performance
team really strives for. We've definitely had discussions around our expectations.
It's really just the execution piece and probably our our
links that just have lapses, which is, you know, really disappointing.

(02:30):
We're really working hard at training trying to find those
answers as to why so we can fix them and
fixt them quickly with such a short season. I think
that's the thing we're quite realistic within our conversations about.
But yeah, just not enough consistency and execution and real
I think we've really highlighted like a lot of the

(02:52):
areas are actually our own doing, so they are things
that we can sex that we just need to fix
them really quickly and take a lot more ownership individually
to get the job done.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
Your ownership what you have to do better.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
Well, we always spoke about owning your job, and obviously
it can change within what role or position I'm in.
So obviously when defense has been highlighted, you know, we'd
love to be winning a lot more ball than what
we are. So my job is really making sure the
units connected and have real clarity and our structures and
what we're putting out on court, but also nailing my

(03:30):
own stuff, So I think not getting too caught up
in the unit stuff and you know, running running my
player really hard and looking for opportunities to gain ball,
so we get more opportunities to go to post.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
That's what you're after. What about the rest of the team.
What have the coaching staff been saying, you know what
you have to do? What about everybody else? And I'm
looking to the youth, and of course I'm looking to
the more experienced players. I shouldn't say veteran players, I
should say more experienced players, because there's a lot on them.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, hundred percent. I think one thing. You know, we've
had a few injury and stuff, but we have a
lot of confidence in anybody that's within our squads. We've
got a really amazing group and obviously there is a
mix of experience and you know, some more less experienced players,
but they still have so much ability to perform at

(04:23):
our high level, and we still demand a lot from
their standards. So I think there's been a lot of
individual conversations around really getting clarity on roles and then
on that if we're nailing our own jobs, that should
execute when it comes to collective stuff. So just a
little bit of more accountability, I guess of your own

(04:43):
execution first. But of course it's a team sport, which
is a good thing and a bad thing at times.
So communication is really key. So we're really big on
even though we're all disappointed and really gutted with the
results so far, we've got to stay connected, so I think, yeah,
despite we've still got really good vibes in training, and

(05:04):
I especially really enjoyed our training this morning yesterday sorry
going into field. So still a really connected unit, which
is really nice.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
You've had Kadi Johnson in the side. Leana de Bruin
didn't play last week, but she's been around, so having
that kind of experience, even just in practice, you'd be
just like taking whatever you can from those two, wouldn't you.

Speaker 3 (05:29):
Absolutely, Yeah, we're really lucky we've been able to call
Kaylor and we keep saying thank you for coming in. Yeah,
I think all of us would be really silly not
to lean on the experience and just so cut any
two things that they have to offer. I know. Yeah,
Leanna's defensive brain is super amazing and we all really

(05:51):
looked at her for a lot of guidance in that space.
But yeah, I think she also really her messaging is
backing out douds and backing what we know, and she
she kind of simplifies it and in days for defense,
but just to get the ball. She makes it sound
really easy, but it's definitely one of those things as
easier if you've been done so now ates are committed.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
Get amongst enjoy it is home. You can tell the
crowd from Pulman look, please come back. Last week wasn't
a true representative of us. They're center passes at four
o'clock at Pullman. It is the Stour Stars taking on
the Steal. It's also on Skysport delayed and free to
air TV and T Plus and TV two as well.

(06:37):
Lisa Matha, thanks very much for your time. You have
a tremendous weekend.

Speaker 3 (06:40):
Thank you so much. Whatks forward seeing you all the games.

Speaker 1 (06:44):
Thanks Lisa for more from the Your Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave. Listen live to News Talk said Be on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio