June 26, 2026 • 8 mins
The Warriors got back on track over the weekend as they ran out 38-20 winners over the Cowboys at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch, but they face a massive test this weekend.
They are set to take on the high-flying Dolphins in a 2nd v 3rd clash that could prove pivotal as they head into the back end of the NRL season.
Richard Agar is an assistant coach of the Warriors, he joined Adam to discuss.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
So Yes, as we mentioned with Jim Dolan just a
moment ago, Yes, it is crunch time for the Warriors
and the NRL. Definitely the biggest game. It feels over
from the last couple of months. Obviously fresh injuries. Jackson
fought out for the foreseeable future, but they have the
fourth place Dolphins, the Warriors and second sun Corps Stadium
(00:32):
tonight at five. So let's find out how the team's
preparing for this one with a fresh injury as well.
They're assistant coaches Richard Aig Morning to your Richard first,
So let's look at that one over the Cowboys last weekend.
You know, you'd be pretty happy with another match down
country that you're able to come away with a pretty
decent result with.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, look, I think you know what the pitches that
will have come through postgame on news and social media,
it were just like that. You know, we are just
such an amazing experience. We've always had a good time
down in christ Hret But you know some of the
talk for us guys is, you know, the club keeps
(01:11):
putting on these amazing occasions for us, whether it be
at Mount Smart or in.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Different places around New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I guess the love and support that we've got throughout
the country, it's been amazing, and yeah, I'm pleased we
managed to get a win and for the best part
of pretty good performance, you know, to reward, to reward
the people that turned out supported us and came to
see us, and obviously the people within our club that
(01:39):
have had the I guess foresight and bravery to do
this with us as a team. So yeah, we're a
real special and memorable occasion, and I think everybody's remarked.
You know, the stadium, not only the proximity to build,
the stadium itself being covered gave us perfect conditions.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Really it was a great weekend and.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Results wise on the field, a top result to Chance
Nickel Kluk starts showcasing is versa of course start for
him on the win. Couldn't have asked for more from
him With four tries.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Richard Well, I think I think the only thing we
had tried this allowed that we felt well close. You know,
it were very very close and would have been one
of our tries of the season.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
So probably a bit disappointed he.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Didn't get five, but look, Chance is one of those guys,
is just a wonderful team guy. He came off the
bench the week before and played wing and came on
and had a really strong impact. It's not his position,
but I thought he did a magnificent job for us
there on the whole, for a guy that's had very
very little reps playing in that position this year. Look,
(02:43):
we've had to make a few changes obviously at the
moment with with a number of troops down, a number
of guys that just aren't quite ready to come back
in the team yet. So you know every team's gonna
encounter that. It's our turn at the moment, and you
know we'll have that again a little bit this week.
But yeah, there's some some troops on the horizon as well.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
So yeah, goodwin.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Some really strong individual performances have felt throughout it as well.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, just on the injuries, Jackson Ford probably the most
significant one by a mile, A tough one for the
team to digest. I'm sure that news coming off the
back of the win last week in given the dream
season he's head so far, how do you prepare the
team just to make sure you sit to go for
what could be is as long as three months without him.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I think we jack always looked at the positives that
you know, he's going to be back around playoff time
and hopefully before, so we need to show our place
in the playoffs and then he'll give us a timely boost.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Then We've had some cruel injuries this year.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
You know, Jackson, given his standings in the dally Ms
and the comp and his form. For him on a
personal level, you know, if he stays fit and holds
his form, he could be a memorable season in terms
of you know what it'll looked like at the end
of the year for him if he maintains that. I
(04:03):
think you look at Roger again, who's form being his
last season. Again, we're traveling really well. Tanner Boyd got
his place in the team and now standing form and
they've missed. So we've had some pretty sizable cruel injuries,
but we've very much got faith and believe in our
belief in our squad. We feel depth is one of
(04:27):
our strong points. We've got very much an next man
up mentality and as I said, every every club is
gonna face some of this during the year.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It's happened. We've got to get on with it. We're
in a good position.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
And we feel you know, we feel confident in the
guys that are going to get an opportunity as as
we did which hands as a great example last week,
as we did with tomorrow Martin, you know, three or
four weeks ago. So that that is, you know, that's
the challenge in front of us. We get to obviously
get a buy next week, which I think will help
us just regroup and give those guys on the cusp.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
We're coming back an extra week.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So yeah, fingers cross, Let's fingers cross that we don't
get too many more between now at the end of
the year.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Indeed, and what a match before the buye to take
on the Dolphins. It was a thriller last time you
played them in April and Wellington. That was also the
last game they were beating it, so they've been piling
on the points of late as well. Richard. How do
you prepare for it?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I like we always do. Look, I think we can
draw on that last game.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think I think, you know, we really acknowledged the
toughness of that game and the quality of the team
we played.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
We came off probably a little bit disappointed about.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Some of the things we've done in the game, but
nonetheless we kept some scoreless and under pressure, ye scoreless
under pressure as well in the second half and for
big chunks of that game. They've been on a very
rare run of form since. Again, they've sort of had
during the origin weeks, they've misplayers and they've had to
rest players on the back of that.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
So I think they've done.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Really well themselves, a bit like ourselves, having guys step
up and not miss a beat really and the points
that they've been posting been super impressive.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
So yeah, it's it's a big.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Challenge and having already played them this year, there'll be
no surprises for us. You know, we know what's coming
and we know there are you know, very physical, fit,
tough team with some real class and speeding there as well.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I mean, you take a look back and compare it
to where you were this time last year, also in
a strong position before things to start to fade slightly.
What gives you confidence that you are going to be
maintaining the top two spot and wins like we saw
in christ Church last week will carry on.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Oh yeah, good question. I think, first of all, as
a coaching staff. You know, we we've talked about that,
We've you know, we want to make any adaptations that
we need and be brave with, whether that be change
in our schedule, whether it be around rest and recovery,
whether it be tinkering with styles of play.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You know, we want to be brave at this.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Part of the year and make decisions that we know
will pay us back down the track. The second thing is,
I feel we've major strides as a team, both in
experienced depth of our squad and you know where we've
got to with our style of play, both attack and defense.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I think if you look last.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Year, we had a really good you know, probably first
st half or first two thirds of the year. We
won a lot of games by close margins, and sort
of towards the end we lost games by close margins.
I guess you could say, but I feel, you know,
the improvements in our team have been there to see.
(07:51):
You know, last week is a great example. We say
this every week every time we get interview guys. The
n RL is a really hard competition. You only need
to look at the ladder to see the tightness the
quality of the teams that are in the eight you
look down your remaining fixed your list, and you know
some games that you maybe thought at the start of
(08:13):
the year, yeah, that'll be a good running. All of
a sudden now now it's it looks a bit more difficult.
So that's that's the beauty of this competition, and that's
that's a challenge in front of us.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But you know, I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Feel feel we're in a good said space and it's
one that we're looking forward to and looking forward to,
I guess with the right level of confidence.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Brilliant. Well, watching you all the best. Over it to
not Richard. Thanks for your time here on the Old
Sport Breakfast as always.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
You know, worries guys, thanks for thanks for having me on.
As always.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks it'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
So Yes, as we mentioned with Jim Dolan just a
moment ago, Yes, it is crunch time for the Warriors
and the NRL. Definitely the biggest game. It feels over
from the last couple of months. Obviously fresh injuries. Jackson
fought out for the foreseeable future, but they have the
fourth place Dolphins, the Warriors and second sun Corps Stadium
(00:32):
tonight at five. So let's find out how the team's
preparing for this one with a fresh injury as well.
They're assistant coaches Richard Aig Morning to your Richard first,
So let's look at that one over the Cowboys last weekend.
You know, you'd be pretty happy with another match down
country that you're able to come away with a pretty
decent result with.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
Yeah, look, I think you know what the pitches that
will have come through postgame on news and social media,
it were just like that. You know, we are just
such an amazing experience. We've always had a good time
down in christ Hret But you know some of the
talk for us guys is, you know, the club keeps
(01:11):
putting on these amazing occasions for us, whether it be
at Mount Smart or in.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
Different places around New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
I guess the love and support that we've got throughout
the country, it's been amazing, and yeah, I'm pleased we
managed to get a win and for the best part
of pretty good performance, you know, to reward, to reward
the people that turned out supported us and came to
see us, and obviously the people within our club that
(01:39):
have had the I guess foresight and bravery to do
this with us as a team. So yeah, we're a
real special and memorable occasion, and I think everybody's remarked.
You know, the stadium, not only the proximity to build,
the stadium itself being covered gave us perfect conditions.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
Really it was a great weekend and.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Results wise on the field, a top result to Chance
Nickel Kluk starts showcasing is versa of course start for
him on the win. Couldn't have asked for more from
him With four tries.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Richard Well, I think I think the only thing we
had tried this allowed that we felt well close. You know,
it were very very close and would have been one
of our tries of the season.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
So probably a bit disappointed he.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Didn't get five, but look, Chance is one of those guys,
is just a wonderful team guy. He came off the
bench the week before and played wing and came on
and had a really strong impact. It's not his position,
but I thought he did a magnificent job for us
there on the whole, for a guy that's had very
very little reps playing in that position this year. Look,
(02:43):
we've had to make a few changes obviously at the
moment with with a number of troops down, a number
of guys that just aren't quite ready to come back
in the team yet. So you know every team's gonna
encounter that. It's our turn at the moment, and you
know we'll have that again a little bit this week.
But yeah, there's some some troops on the horizon as well.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
So yeah, goodwin.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Some really strong individual performances have felt throughout it as well.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Yeah, just on the injuries, Jackson Ford probably the most
significant one by a mile, A tough one for the
team to digest. I'm sure that news coming off the
back of the win last week in given the dream
season he's head so far, how do you prepare the
team just to make sure you sit to go for
what could be is as long as three months without him.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
I think we jack always looked at the positives that
you know, he's going to be back around playoff time
and hopefully before, so we need to show our place
in the playoffs and then he'll give us a timely boost.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
Then We've had some cruel injuries this year.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
You know, Jackson, given his standings in the dally Ms
and the comp and his form. For him on a
personal level, you know, if he stays fit and holds
his form, he could be a memorable season in terms
of you know what it'll looked like at the end
of the year for him if he maintains that. I
(04:03):
think you look at Roger again, who's form being his
last season. Again, we're traveling really well. Tanner Boyd got
his place in the team and now standing form and
they've missed. So we've had some pretty sizable cruel injuries,
but we've very much got faith and believe in our
belief in our squad. We feel depth is one of
(04:27):
our strong points. We've got very much an next man
up mentality and as I said, every every club is
gonna face some of this during the year.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It's happened. We've got to get on with it. We're
in a good position.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
And we feel you know, we feel confident in the
guys that are going to get an opportunity as as
we did which hands as a great example last week,
as we did with tomorrow Martin, you know, three or
four weeks ago. So that that is, you know, that's
the challenge in front of us. We get to obviously
get a buy next week, which I think will help
us just regroup and give those guys on the cusp.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
We're coming back an extra week.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So yeah, fingers cross, Let's fingers cross that we don't
get too many more between now at the end of
the year.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Indeed, and what a match before the buye to take
on the Dolphins. It was a thriller last time you
played them in April and Wellington. That was also the
last game they were beating it, so they've been piling
on the points of late as well. Richard. How do
you prepare for it?
Speaker 4 (05:27):
I like we always do. Look, I think we can
draw on that last game.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
I think I think, you know, we really acknowledged the
toughness of that game and the quality of the team
we played.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
We came off probably a little bit disappointed about.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Some of the things we've done in the game, but
nonetheless we kept some scoreless and under pressure, ye scoreless
under pressure as well in the second half and for
big chunks of that game. They've been on a very
rare run of form since. Again, they've sort of had
during the origin weeks, they've misplayers and they've had to
rest players on the back of that.
Speaker 4 (06:03):
So I think they've done.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Really well themselves, a bit like ourselves, having guys step
up and not miss a beat really and the points
that they've been posting been super impressive.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
So yeah, it's it's a big.
Speaker 3 (06:19):
Challenge and having already played them this year, there'll be
no surprises for us. You know, we know what's coming
and we know there are you know, very physical, fit,
tough team with some real class and speeding there as well.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
I mean, you take a look back and compare it
to where you were this time last year, also in
a strong position before things to start to fade slightly.
What gives you confidence that you are going to be
maintaining the top two spot and wins like we saw
in christ Church last week will carry on.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Oh yeah, good question. I think, first of all, as
a coaching staff. You know, we we've talked about that,
We've you know, we want to make any adaptations that
we need and be brave with, whether that be change
in our schedule, whether it be around rest and recovery,
whether it be tinkering with styles of play.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
You know, we want to be brave at this.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Part of the year and make decisions that we know
will pay us back down the track. The second thing is,
I feel we've major strides as a team, both in
experienced depth of our squad and you know where we've
got to with our style of play, both attack and defense.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
I think if you look last.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Year, we had a really good you know, probably first
st half or first two thirds of the year. We
won a lot of games by close margins, and sort
of towards the end we lost games by close margins.
I guess you could say, but I feel, you know,
the improvements in our team have been there to see.
(07:51):
You know, last week is a great example. We say
this every week every time we get interview guys. The
n RL is a really hard competition. You only need
to look at the ladder to see the tightness the
quality of the teams that are in the eight you
look down your remaining fixed your list, and you know
some games that you maybe thought at the start of
(08:13):
the year, yeah, that'll be a good running. All of
a sudden now now it's it looks a bit more difficult.
So that's that's the beauty of this competition, and that's
that's a challenge in front of us.
Speaker 4 (08:25):
But you know, I.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
Feel feel we're in a good said space and it's
one that we're looking forward to and looking forward to,
I guess with the right level of confidence.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Brilliant. Well, watching you all the best. Over it to
not Richard. Thanks for your time here on the Old
Sport Breakfast as always.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
You know, worries guys, thanks for thanks for having me on.
As always.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to news talks it'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com