Mia Anderson: Waikato Captain ahead of the Farah Palmer Cup final against Canterbury

The Farah Palmer Cup has reached its final week, with the Premiership final going down this afternoon between Waikato and Canterbury.  

Waikato bounced back after a round 1 loss to Auckland to beat them in the semifinal rematch, while Canterbury defeated a valiant Manawatu side.  

D'Arcy spoke with the captain of the Waikato side Mia Anderson to talk about the team and preview the huge clash going down this afternoon. 

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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 SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Burrow up Palmer Cup Final week Prime going down to
this afternoon's match between the White Cattle and Canterbury and
bounced back after a round one lost to Auckland of
the Wycasians. I beat them in the rematch. In the
semi finals, Canterbury beat up on Mona Wood two. So
why like I thaw the only side to defeat Canterbury
this year looking forward to completing that sweep. Mea Anderson

(00:39):
is the captain of the White Cuttle side. She joined
us now to talk about the team that have made
this point and to preview the match. Ama, Hi, wow,
what a day this is it. This is the culmination
of the of the end of the year. This is
the season decider. But yeah, you're not going to be
judged just on the result of this or are you
more holistic and look at what you've achieved as a

(01:02):
season as a team so far?

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah for sure. I mean we've had a start of
the season was a bit rocky, but the rest of
the season's been unreal. We've just gotten better each week
and girls have put in heaps of work each week,
so obviously we're focused on this weekend and getting a
good result. But now we're stoke with how the season's
gone so far.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
What do you mean a bit rocky? Well, your guy
that you got rolled by Auckland the first up game,
but you've been kind of unstoppable since then.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, I mean that game was close, but it was
actually our first game ever together. We hadn't had a preseason,
so I mean, not the best way to start, but
it was up from there, so it's all good.

Speaker 2 (01:40):
So how did a team with such a little experience
together become a team because it's not an individual game,
it's about your group together. What happened there? Great coaching?

Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, I mean we've got a great group of management
and coaches, but obviously we've got quite a few girls
from last year and just so many talented players, like
quite a few exciting girls coming through. So I don't know.
I just think every week we've had together, we've just
got a better and better Which is which has been?

Speaker 2 (02:06):
You managed to get some revenge, exact, some revenge on
Auckland because some seemi tital time you rolled them back again.
It would have been very satisfactory.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
One hundred percent, and that was you know why we
were so focused one in that see me, just to
get them back a little bit. But yeah, obviously, like
I said, like our team had grown so much from
the first time we played them, So yeah, we were
happy with last weekend, even though we made it a
little bit close.

Speaker 2 (02:30):
The influence of the black ferns obviously away at a
World cut, you didn't have that that influence that was
that did that affect too much?

Speaker 3 (02:37):
I don't think it necessarily affected us because I mean
they went here from the beginning of the season, so
I guess we wouldn't know any different.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
But that's what I mean.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
Across the whole season, you didn't have the experience that
those were hanging there because they were all off. So yeah,
it's a very new bunch of crew.

Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah there's like ten of them almost, But no, I
think that's what's so special about you, if you see, right,
is that so many girls come through and they've all
stepped up, which has been awesome. And no, I mean,
obviously we'd love to have them, would always help and
that's such great leaders. Now the girls stepped up, which
was very cool.

Speaker 2 (03:08):
See when you don't have that experience, though, the quality
starts to shine through, doesn't it. I expect you would
have seen some of the players really start to own
their positions knowing that they were the first cab off
the rank.

Speaker 3 (03:21):
Yeah. I think that's what's been pretty special this year
is that, you know, we've got a lot of youth,
but they're not afraid to challenge for that starting spot.
And that's I think why we've been so we've gone
so well because girls are just challenging each other every
training fighting for a spot, and we've got so much debt.
So yeah, I think that's definitely helped us this season too.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
You're trying to tell me you've got kids in your
team with swagger that know at all you're kidding me, right, No,
no way.

Speaker 3 (03:47):
They're not like that. They're the best people who go
to work and you know, challenge us or I don't
want to say I'm an older girl, don't been there
for a few years.

Speaker 2 (03:58):
But this is good though I'm saying about swagger, it's
about I've got the confidence I can do this and
I'm putting my as opposed to sitting and be going
I'm okay on my We love that about youth. They've
got that prevalence they want to stand up and be counted.
That is epic and I'm sure that the more mature
players a word there must enjoy that electricity from there.

Speaker 3 (04:19):
Oh one hundred. Yeah, it's been good this year and
i'd say every players like that, which is cool.

Speaker 2 (04:25):
When you look across the players, is there anyone that's
stood out particularly? I know you captains don't like to
isolate individuals, but is there anyone that you've gone I'll
tell you what. There's a bit about you.

Speaker 3 (04:35):
Oh man, there's a few. But in terms of the
girls who have debuted this year, probably a winger Shira.
She's amazing and she's just returning from her acl so
she's doing incredibly watch out for her on the wing.
Who else? And just a couple of girls who were
here last year but this year have really stepped up,
like Leata our Locke, Lucy, she's been amazing. Our front

(04:58):
row has been amazing. Oh, I'm just gonna listening round.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
You're happy with yourself though, me you're provided they're on
the flank.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, I mean yeah, I've been happy with how I've played.
I guess got a bit of a niggles, so missed
a couple of games, but yeah, I really love playing
if PC, so I'm just grateful to be in there.

Speaker 2 (05:17):
You'd be careful about revenge and saying it was all
about the first up loss that got you back in
the semi final, because the only team Canterbury have lost
to this year is you. Yes, got revenge on their mind?
How do you count?

Speaker 1 (05:33):
Yeah?

Speaker 3 (05:33):
No, I imagine they do, but man so do we.
I feel like that's just every year we just want
to beat them, so nothing changes, whether that's in a
round robin game.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
Or a finals.

Speaker 3 (05:43):
So yeah, I love playing them like I've met them
before so many time in finals. So I'm very, very.

Speaker 1 (05:49):
Excited for more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave.
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