Full Show Podcast: 03 May 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks dB. The only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.
It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vine on your
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Speaker 2 (00:30):
Hello Kioti, good afternoon. Welcome into Weekend Sport on News
Talks dB for Saturday May three, Happy birthday to brooks Keepka.
I'm Jason Pine and McDonald's show producer. We are here
with you until three talking sport, Rugby League Royalty. On
the show today, Jonathan Thurston after two on whether the

(00:51):
excellent start by the Warriors in twenty twenty five is
turning heads in Australia and weather. This might be the
long promised our year. The Warrior is an action this
evening actually against Jonathan Thurston's former side, the Cowboys, as
part of Magic Round. If they were to win tonight
the Warriors, they'd go six and two in twenty twenty five,

(01:13):
which would make it the best ever eight game start
to an NRL season in Warriors history. Jonathan Thurston on
that after two today, putting here Rayvy on the show
as well, The Wallabies have appointed their new coach, but
he won't take over the job until next year. Les
Kiss is the new man. He'll see out his commitments
with the Reds, which will take him past the end

(01:35):
of next year's Super Rugby season. Joe Schmidt will remain
in charge until then. When les Kiss takes over, he'll
have fourteen months until the next Rugby World Cup, hosted
in Australia. Of course, will that be long enough? And
how has this appointment gone down? Across the Tasman former
Wallaby Drew Mitchell on this after one? The Blues meantime

(01:55):
are back on.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
Track and the Blues get the bonus point and they're
in the top six playoff spots for maybe only twenty
four hours. They win at forty nine.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, well done to the Blues at Eden Park last night.
Huge game in the Capitol tonight, Hurricanes Chiefs sky Stadium,
five past seven, commentary on Goldsport and iHeartRadio. Hurricanes assistant
coach Corey Jane along ahead of that one. First up today, though,
the shambles that is the Indian Panthers basketball franchise suspended

(02:29):
and definitely from the New Zealand National Basketball League. This
week reports of players not being paid and having to
visit food banks in order to eat. What on earth
has gone on here and where does the responsibility lie?
Longtime coach Jeff Green is standing by to talk with us.
We'll get a legal viewpoint this hour as well on

(02:50):
the responsibilities of the national body and all of this,
and your thoughts are welcome to if you've been an
interested bystander as this has all played out across the week.
Live sport this afternoon, speaking of basketball, Round one of
the NBA Playoffs continues Game six Rockets Warriors in San Francisco,
one o'clock tip off. The Warriors are three to ahead

(03:11):
and that best of seven series and super Ragby from Suva,
Fiji and Drewer and the Reds from five past two
will keep eyes on that for you as well. Please
feel free to join the show if you would like
to at any time eight hundred and eighty ten eighty.
We'll get you through on the phone nine two ninety
two for your text messages and emails them to me
Jason at NEWSTALKSEDB dot co dot Nz. Just gone ten past.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
Twelve, analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world.
Weekends for it with Jason pie they call oh eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty news talks edb so.

Speaker 2 (03:45):
As mentioned, the National Basketball League have handed the Indian
Panthers an immediate and indefinite suspension for the rest of
the twenty twenty five basketball season, and investigation into serious
allegations is ongoing amid claims of lack of payment and
poor treatment of players During the week A source close

(04:05):
to the Panthers old News talks 'd be that the
team's overseas players were leaning on food banks because they
were short of money. The Panthers, though, say all players
have been paid, while staff and creditors will be fully
paid by the middle of May. Let's bring in long
time basketball coach Jeff Green, who's seen a lot in

(04:27):
his life and this is just the latest chapter. Jeff,
thanks for taking the time to chat to us in
general terms. First of all, what have you made of
this whole Indian Panthers situation.

Speaker 4 (04:38):
Well, it was always going to be a disaster right
from the word go. And to have a team come
in at a late stage as the Indian Panthers did
and no real ties to New Zealand, et cetera. So
it was always going to be something that had to

(05:00):
be really planned well and carried out, et cetera. But
obviously it was rushed and it's starting to show and
the people behind the scenes haven't stumped up as they promised,
and so you know, it's it's been an exercise that

(05:22):
hopefully we never go through again. But to be fair,
you know, the Panthers had a long term game and
it wasn't the New Zealand NBL, but that sort of
shot their long term plans as well. If they don't
party up there, act.

Speaker 2 (05:42):
What is their long term plan?

Speaker 4 (05:46):
I suspect the long term plan because all their owners
are based in Australia, so you can assume that they
were doing similar things to what the Tasmanian Huskies did
early on a few years ago when they entered the

(06:06):
news on MBL and then they left and became the
Tasmania Jeck Jumpers in the Australian NBL. So I think
that's what the Panthers were sort of perhaps looking at
longer term to be in the Australian League. But the
fact that they were getting all their players out of
India and they had to be exceptions made you know,

(06:31):
it was just missy and it was too rushed.

Speaker 2 (06:36):
Do you think the New Zealand basketball community were aware
of the problems around the franchise from fairly early on
because they got through what nine games to Panthers. Do
you think there was an awareness about the issues facing
the franchise quite early on in the piece?

Speaker 4 (06:54):
Yeah, absolutely, And you know, right from conception and that's
my point, from conception to actually having something more solid,
every step along the way was always me met with
a delay of some sort. And you know, it was

(07:17):
a good example of that was they didn't attend Free Season,
the pre season tournament held in Gray Mountain, Westport, so
they didn't attend that, and their excuse was, oh, we
don't have enough, we can't get any visas to get
into the country. Well, you've known about this for a
long long time. Then all of a sudden, there's no

(07:40):
visas for your players to get into the country. And
that could be a valid excuse, absolutely, but they had
known about it.

Speaker 5 (07:49):
The problems.

Speaker 4 (07:50):
Then there was a national camp held by the Indian
national team and that's where all lales are met to
be coming from from the national team, So they couldn't
attend for the first three games, so you know, they
they only had a skeleton. So then they asked whether
they could use some Kiwis for the first three games,

(08:13):
and so the league said, okay, well let's do that.

Speaker 6 (08:16):
And then.

Speaker 7 (08:19):
Then there was more.

Speaker 4 (08:19):
Problems with visas and players weren't wanting to come out,
et cetera, et cetera. So it was just everything that
I thought would go wrong went wrong, and the excuses
kept coming and piling up, and then all of a sudden,
the players out eight or nine games decided that enough

(08:39):
was enough. And I'm talking about the Kiwi players that
they had hired on and one of the imports, and
you know, then some of the Indian players that were
out here also had problems. You know, a depth into
the lifestyle and not accommodation wasn't up there, and there

(09:00):
wasn't they didn't have any practice facilities, so you know,
it was just to shambles. So yeah, you wouldn't expect
the news on the NDBL to do anything other than
throw a suspension on them for now and see where
they they surface.

Speaker 2 (09:20):
I think every sporting organization is keen to innovate, aren't they, Jeff?
You know, innovation is key if you want to develop
your sports. So this was an attempt at innovation. Was
it just a just a poor attempt at innovation?

Speaker 4 (09:34):
Yeah, it was.

Speaker 6 (09:34):
It was a.

Speaker 4 (09:36):
Lot of well sought out plan and like you know,
and the guide responsible for it was, you know, he's
done some innovations within the news on the NBL in
the last couple of years. But it's all of those
sort of innovations. You know, some are good, some are bad,

(09:59):
some are terrible, and you know, but as you say,
you've got to try them, but you would think that
you would try them in an area that doesn't actually
affect the NBL teams, or you know, fully discuss the
proposal with everyone concerned. As I understand, these things aren't

(10:21):
fully discussed, and so it's just someone would innovative ideas
and said, well, this will be good, let's put this in.
So I think that's that's where it's wrong. And I
think the NVBL board has to commission they call themselves,
has to take responsibility for them because they're the ones
that are pushing it through.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
Do you feel like there's been a degree of accountability
around what's happened.

Speaker 4 (10:45):
Here, No, I don't think. I don't think anyone's been
accountable for it other than I thought part of the
general manager for the Panthers. I thought he fronted up
really well. I thought there was nothing that was untrue
with what he said, and he admitted some of the mistakes,

(11:09):
et cetera, et cetera. But I think the underlying factor was,
you know, what about the authorities, what have they done
to help the situation, rather than just hey, let's let's
do this is a good idea, and those ideas just
never work. And even though the Huskies were in as

(11:30):
part of the league a few years ago, it sort
of worked. But their long term goal was as soon
as they got a license, they're always going to go
into the Australian League, and so you know, they went
around for too long. But it's just people just don't
plan for these things properly, and like you know, to

(11:51):
have people come from another country, at least Australia is
a hot skip and the jump away from us, you know,
but we can't say that about India. That's a long
long way away.

Speaker 2 (12:05):
Do you think you've this will cause any reputational damage
to the league for overseas players or coaches who are
considering coming down here.

Speaker 4 (12:14):
Yeah, I think so it was like, you know, one
of the things that we do rely on.

Speaker 8 (12:20):
You know, the the NBL isn't like the Australian VL's.
It's a very poor cousin to the Australian NBL. There's
not as much money, there's not as much sponsorship, et cetera.
So like you know, but it is a it is
a good destination, particularly for impwards that some that are
struggling in their careers and they come down here to.

Speaker 4 (12:43):
Rejuvenate their careers. Some are are injured. I know a
few years ago we had a player from the NBA
that was reheaby and so he wanted to come down
here and play, and so he spent a season down
here and he was just rehabbed. He wasn't one hundred
percent fit, but being a player of caliber, he was

(13:07):
able to play really good basketball, but it wasn't up
to NBA standard. But yeah, so we do have a
reputation of blooding some Americans and giving imports and opportunity
to further their career because and it's like that in
the coaching ranks Australians that have come here to coach

(13:32):
is enormous and because it's another line on their CV
that they can promote. So you know, the New Zealand
League definitely has a good reputation from overseas, but it's
it's how we handle it as a league is the problem.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
Let's hope that this doesn't do any any major damage
as far as the league's concerned. Now, I guess with
the Panthers suspended, it goes to eleven teams. Do you
think there's a time where there will be twelve teams again?
But a twelfth New Zealand team? Is there anybody else
who can come in?

Speaker 4 (14:08):
There? Probably is, but it's my concern would be the
current teams. You know, how they're going, like you know,
and you always hear things around the traps, but not
everyone is successful and so like you know, there's a
lot of shoe string budgets out there and that's not

(14:30):
the fault of the franchises. They can do as much
as they can. But like you know, and we already
know that the Otago owners, the Australian owners have pulled
out from the end of this year. Taranaki the same thing.
The Australian owners are thinking of plotting plague on their

(14:53):
commitment to Taranaki. So you know, that's that's two franchises
that everyone knows about that that has been signaled. So,
you know, can we get those franchises up and running
and have someone reinvest in them? So and Otago has
been a great example over the years. In some years

(15:17):
out the next and and that sort of thing. So
they're in and out. So you know, and all franchises struggle,
like you know, even the most successful ones. It's still
it's still a grind. And the Saints is one of
our premiere franchises, you know. And I've known Nick Mills

(15:38):
for many many years of my days in the Heart Valley,
and you know, I know that everyone struggles and it's
a it's an everyday event. But you know, it's not
just to the teams that are successful. It's it's also
the bottom teams that find it really.

Speaker 2 (15:57):
Hard interesting times, I mean, because the other things you have.
It's a good camp and it's introducing young pliers. You
look at a girl like Jackson ball and hawks by
what the good only sixteen seventeen years old. He's getting
minutes and lighting up. So it's actually for what it is,
still a pretty good league, isn't it.

Speaker 6 (16:14):
Oh yeah, without doubt.

Speaker 4 (16:16):
And like you know, I remember when they bought in
the Rapid League. You know, I thought, oh my gosh,
this is this is one of those innovations that I
thought it was absolutely crazy and it added extra financial
weight on the franchises. But the concept has really worked

(16:37):
out and people like Jackson Ball would never have got
that opportunity to play in the Big League if they
didn't play Rapid League first. And you know what a
talent and exactly right, Hayden Jones is another one from
Nelson that wouldn't have got those opportunities. But that two
kids that will be part of the toll Blacks in

(17:00):
years to come for a long long time, and they
got that sort of stance through the Rapid League. So
that read that innovation. I think that innovation has been great.
You know, it could be tidied up, but you know,
our league is a good league for some of our
key with and like you look.

Speaker 6 (17:17):
At all our tour blecks.

Speaker 4 (17:20):
They've all played in the New zeal NBA at some
stage in their career and they've gone on and someone
like Shay Eely coming back from Melbourne, you know, he's
been such a stalwart in the Australian League, and you know,
one of the top point guards, one of the top
defensive guards in the in the Australian League, and he's
now back home playing in the Saints. So like you know,

(17:44):
that's the sort of thing. So the league is very good.
The league is very good, without doubt.

Speaker 6 (17:49):
Jeff.

Speaker 2 (17:49):
Great to get your insight. Thank you so much for
joining us today. I really appreciate it. And let's hope
that things go on and upward trajectory from here.

Speaker 4 (17:57):
Not a proble anytime.

Speaker 2 (17:58):
No, thanks for chanting to u, Jeff. Jeff Green. There
a highly experienced basketball personality in news zelean around for
a while. He's seen it all. Some very sensible thoughts there,
I thought from Jeff Green, your chance to give us
your view if you've been watching this all play out,
listening to the different sites, oh, eight hundred and eighty

(18:18):
ten eighty nine two ninety two on text first and foremost,
this is hugely disappointing from the player's point of view.
In fact, the way the players have been treated in particular,
it is unacceptable. Really. Anybody who signs up to play
for a professional sporting franchise signs a contract which says

(18:39):
in exchange for playing for this team, I'll receive money,
and clearly that hasn't happened. It just seems as though
any due diligence that was done on the Indian Panthers
organization and those behind it by those here in New
Zealand just wasn't deep enough, wasn't extensive enough. And while
they've said we did do our due diligence on this,

(19:01):
we check them out. Clearly not enough was done. Now,
everybody wants to play professional sport, and these Indian Panthers
players and some of the New Zealand based ones who
were pulled into the team probably thought, hey, here's our
chance to play professional basketball. I mean, that's all very well,

(19:23):
but you can't be in a position where you play
a game on the Sunday and then have to go
to the food bank on Monday in order to eat
at it's very base level. It's unprofessional, and at worst,
it is blatant exploitation of these players. Now, the idea
itself and the wider concept of innovation, I've often said

(19:44):
on the show over the months and years i've been
doing it that nothing should be off the table when
it comes to innovation. I'm a huge fan of trying
different things when it comes to looking for new ways
to promote your sport, to invigorate it, because as we

(20:05):
all know, it is a off sporting market when you're
looking for sponsors, for viewers, for TV numbers, all of
that stuff. For cut through. Rapid League great concept. Even
Jeff Green said there he wasn't sure about it. I
know that was the That was the case across a
large number of these New Zealand franchises. What Rapid League

(20:25):
is is it's a shortened game four four minute quarters
which is played as a as a curtain raiser if
you like, to the main game. So there are twelve
players named by each team for a game, and anybody
who's not in the starting five the other seven they
take part in the Rapid League game. So it's it's

(20:47):
basically a mini game for those who ordinarily wouldn't get
too many minutes, and they go out there, they're on TV,
they're getting they're getting minutes, and it has proved to
be a great success. Fans are turning up earlier to watch.
It's a good TV product. But most importantly, players are
getting game time that you know, you look at a

(21:09):
normal game of NBL and players nineteen eleven twelve often
don't get on at all. Rapidly means at least they're
turning up and getting a game and getting experience, and
many of them have graduated up into the top side
because of it. Innovation, that was a good one, but
you're not always going to get it right. And I

(21:31):
haven't got this one right because they simply clearly didn't
do enough due diligence on it. It doesn't mean they
can't innovate again in the future, but what they need
to quickly do is draw a line under the panthers,
say we gave it a crack, it didn't work, and
while it's still fresh in their minds, write down all

(21:52):
of the lessons they've learned from this, because this will
go down as a very very unfortunate chapter in New
Zealand basketball. Your thoughts welcome, OH eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty nine, two nine to two on text twelve
to twenty nine. Here at Weekend Sport. We're back after
this with some of your course.

Speaker 1 (22:12):
The big issues on and after fields call OH eight
hundred eighty ten eighty Weekends Toward with Jason Pain and GJ.
Gunner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (22:23):
News Talks, AB, News Talks, A B and A Weekend
Sport twelve thirty two. We're talking to the Indian Panthers and
sort of wrapping up this rather unfortunate saga, unfortunate chapter
in New Zealand basketball. They've been suspended from the league indefinitely.
I can't see a way back for them this season.
They've played nine games and lost them all, which is

(22:43):
hardly surprising given what's been happening off the court. So
I get the feeling now what they'll do is just
for the remaining fixtures, they'll just give the opposition the
two points and it'll all equal itself out and we'll
have an eleven team competition. That's the way it's going
to play out on the court, and I guess they
now look to see whether they can can find a

(23:06):
a twelfth license holder for next year or go back
to an eleven team league. As you heard Jeff Green mention,
there are question marks over a couple of the other franchises.
Everybody's doing it tough, even in Nelson at the moment.
I'm not sure if you've read this story during the
week about what's happening down in Nelson with the caterers
and those who provide food and beverage at the Trafalga Center,

(23:27):
which is where the Nelson Giants play their home games.
That's been outsourced now. That used to be a huge
part of the revenue generated by the Giants organization themselves,
and if they're not able to access that revenue, they
are in very real danger. The Nelson Giants, this pillar
of domestic basketball in our country. One of the oldest

(23:50):
and longest standing franchises. In fact, I think the only
franchise that's been there from day one and are still
there today. They run the very real risk of going
out of business. So you know, there's discussions to be
had everywhere. As I say, you can innovate it. It's
okay to innovate. In fact, it should be encouraged, and

(24:11):
you're not always going to win. This one has gone
down a path and I'm sure no one expected when
they came up with the idea. But you do have
to take some lessons from it, and I'm pretty sure
those lessons are being taken on board. Let's get a
legal perspective on this and assess, among other things, the
potential reputational damage to New Zealand Basketball and to the

(24:35):
National Basketball League from this. Henry Moore heads up the
sports law practice at leading New Zealand law firm Taverndale
and Partners. He joins us now. Henry first of all,
in terms of liability for what's played out here, does
the New Zealand Basketball League run by New Zealand Basketball
have any liability in this situation?

Speaker 9 (24:57):
From a legal standpoint, the league itself, obviously run under
the umbrella of being zed generally, wouldn't be automatically liable
for these types of things just.

Speaker 6 (25:08):
Because a team that's admitted to the competition.

Speaker 5 (25:12):
Has failed.

Speaker 9 (25:14):
However, if it can be shown that the league acted
negligently and allowing the Panthers to come in to the competition,
for example, if they if they fail to do reasonable
due diligence and there were red flags but they weren't
they weren't picked up at the time, then theory.

Speaker 6 (25:35):
There's probably a risk of liability.

Speaker 9 (25:39):
The key question is is where they own a duty
of care to their stakeholders, players, sponsors, fans, others. They've
breached that duty. But I think more realistically the consequence
is probably more reputational on governance based, not legal the
legal aspect of it. The league's credibility is obviously now

(26:00):
under question. That's one of the biggest challenges for the sport.

Speaker 2 (26:04):
I think how much reputational damage could this do? Has
this already done to the New Zealand National Basketball League
and the atractedness of the competition for overseas players, for example,
I think.

Speaker 9 (26:19):
The NBL's swift response has really helped. It is usually
how you respond in situations like this that will actually
enhance the reputation of the sport domestically and globally.

Speaker 6 (26:35):
There's always going to be some reputational risk.

Speaker 10 (26:38):
I understand that there.

Speaker 9 (26:40):
Can be up to three overseas players for each franchise,
twelve teams up.

Speaker 11 (26:48):
To thirty six overseas players. That's a big number in
the scheme of things and domestic competitions in New Zealand.
I understand there's ten or so agents that work in
this space that send overseas players into our competitions.

Speaker 9 (27:06):
Obviously, eleven of the franchises are really strong. It's a
it's a good competition, so I think depending on how
things play out from here. The fact that the NBA
has responded so swiftly.

Speaker 5 (27:20):
There there is.

Speaker 9 (27:23):
That that that reputation as a good competition I think
will be will be retained, and as long as things
are handled appropriately from here on in, I don't think
there'll be too much of a risk is obviously the
commercial the commercial risk domestically too, not just the overseas players,

(27:45):
but for the competition itself. But again, in my view
of the n BL continues to respond on the way
it is doing now and and responds appropriately, then they
can do all they can to enhance or to at
least retain their reputation.

Speaker 2 (28:03):
The phrase that you used before is one we've heard
a lot, and that diligence. Whenever you invite somebody new
into your competition and you said they are reasonable due diligence,
what does reasonable due diligence look like?

Speaker 9 (28:22):
Reasonable due diligence would be looking at, you know, the financials,
the ownership structures.

Speaker 5 (28:31):
The ability to comply with the league.

Speaker 9 (28:33):
Rules, the operational capabilities, those types of things.

Speaker 12 (28:37):
Uh, And.

Speaker 9 (28:40):
When an overseas team is coming into a domestic competition,
you'd expect the due diligence would be a lot more
comprehensive that it might otherwise be you know, and there
also might be you know, financial guarantees and things like
that that that that might be conditions placed on on

(29:02):
on those that are that are provided a license. So
it's not necessarily just checking all the paperwork and those
types of things. It's actually really understanding who's behind the
team and whether they can deliver what they need to
sustainably and in a way that will and will won't
compromise the reputation of the of the competition. So I

(29:28):
imagine the NBL here would have done a lot of
due diligence. This is quite an innovative moved from the
MBL to get exposure for their competition and for basketball
around the world, and so it was an exciting opportunity
for the sport. So I imagine it would have required

(29:49):
significant due diligence to ensure it worked.

Speaker 2 (29:52):
Is it possible, And I guess it's probably a silly
question because it's happened in this case. Is it possible
that even if you do a substantial more than reasonable
amount of due diligence that things can still go wrong?

Speaker 9 (30:05):
Good Christion, Absolutely, you can check everything in advance, you
and do as much as possible bank accounts, you know,
check business plans, do all the background checks.

Speaker 5 (30:22):
But all it takes.

Speaker 9 (30:23):
You see this not only in sport, but in the
commercial wild generally. I mean all it takes is disputes
between the owners of businesses, cashtrow problems, internal dysfunction, you know,
all those types of things can put a business at risk.
So doing as much due diligence upfront is really important.

(30:46):
But really due diligence is just trying to mitigate that risk.
You're never ever going to be able to eliminate it.
And that's always the problem. And that would have been
the risk that the NBL would have balanced and on
balance made the decision that this is the right thing
for the competition, and everyone assumed it would be.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
Yeah, I think you're right, and there's absolutely no issue
with the innovation here. And I think, you know, he's
on basketball and the NBL should be applauded for innovation.
But you're right. They've they've quickly come in and said, hey,
we haven't got this one right, and here's the steps
we're taking. As far as the players are concerned, Henry,
they'll presumably have signed contracts with the Panthers. What recourse

(31:29):
do they have of those contracts aren't on it?

Speaker 6 (31:34):
Yes, I'm not sure.

Speaker 9 (31:35):
If they're they're employment agreements or contracts, I'd probably I'd assume,
I'd assume their contracts. But if they are employment agreements,
then like any other employee, that have the right the
employment rights that we would have.

Speaker 6 (31:52):
Which is.

Speaker 9 (31:54):
Being able to bring a personal agreements, those types of things,
the fact that their employer hasn't acted in good faith,
they'll be remedies.

Speaker 5 (32:03):
Remedies for that.

Speaker 9 (32:06):
In terms of contract it would be standard things like
of breach of contract, misrepresentation, those types of things. But
I think the problem here is enforcement right. It depends
on the panther's financial position and legal structure. Are they

(32:30):
even in a position to be able to pay these
players or even meet these remedies laid down the track
if these breaches continue, And that's always one of the
one of the challenges. I'm not sure whether the NBL,
I'm not across it, but whether the NBL is a

(32:50):
party to any of those employment agreements or contracts, whether
there are any indemnities there from the NBA to cover
those costs. The NBA might choose to do that anyway,
but from an from an employment law perspective, there are
some protections and hopefully those will be available for the

(33:13):
players if they do remain out of pocket.

Speaker 2 (33:16):
Would it be common for a governing body like New
Zealand Basketball to cover costs like those? Would that be
a common thing to happen, No.

Speaker 6 (33:28):
It wouldn't be.

Speaker 9 (33:28):
I mean in environments where there are collective agreements, then
use the governing body would be party to those agreements.

Speaker 6 (33:38):
But it would.

Speaker 9 (33:40):
It would be uncommon in this type of structure for
the NBL to be responsible for any of those payments.
They they provide the license, the twelve licenses to each franchise,
so the relationship with that the NBO has is primarily

(34:05):
with that franchise. It's the franchise that the contracts the
players and takes on those liabilities. So it would be uncommon.
But the NBL, for a reputational perspective, might take certain
steps to minimize the impact that this incident could have

(34:29):
on its competition and therefore do what's what's reasonably expected
of them to remedy at as best they can.

Speaker 2 (34:39):
And they often say in sport, you win or you learn. Clearly,
there are some lessons to be learned here. Do you
think that the National Basketball League will be overly cautious
now about future innovation of this type? It would be
a shame if they didn't continue to innovate. But do
you think this will will make them a lot more
reticent in the future to do a similar sort of thing.

Speaker 9 (35:04):
I think yeah, I think you're right that they've The
steps that I've taken to add this type of innovation
into the competition is really impressive, and you know, New
Zealand's sport needs to do more of it because of
where we are in the world and time zones, et cetera,
to get that international exposure. So I do applaud them

(35:27):
for taking the steps they have to try something different.
I hope it doesn't put them or any other domestic
competition off from doing something like this again. I think
there was always going to be or any business decision
like this is always going to be some risk. I
think everyone involved in this situation would I hope that

(35:50):
this was never going to be a possibility. The fact
that we are where we are will everyone involved will
do what it can to remedy as quickly as possible.

Speaker 5 (36:02):
But I hope it doesn't put.

Speaker 9 (36:05):
The likes of MBL from doing it again. It might
be just some some further questions asked and more comprehensive
due diligence potentially for the next time around. But if
it's not the Panthers playing in next year's NBL, I

(36:27):
presume there will still be a license available. And you'd
hope that, whether it's a New Zealand team or an
overseas team, that the competition continues to liver like it
is and continues to grow and you know, and retains
its fan base, which I'm sure it will indeed one.

Speaker 2 (36:45):
You've provided this really interesting available insight. Henry, thanks so
much for your.

Speaker 5 (36:48):
Time, mate, pleasure anytime.

Speaker 2 (36:50):
No, thanks for joining us. Henry more there he heads
up the sports law practice at leading New Zealand law
firm Taverndale and Partners, fourteen away from one Towns for
you to jump on if you'd like to pass comments
on what's happened here. I guess it's it's easy for
us to hindsight say what a terrible idea this was.

(37:11):
You know, how do they ever expect that this would work?
But as I've said a number of times, you've got
to give things a crack as long as you take
your lessons from the things that don't work. Then you know,
I was going to say, you know, you don't lose anything. Yes,
I've lost a bit here Reputationally. This hasn't been a

(37:34):
good look and it hasn't been a good week for
the National Basketball League. Justin Nelson is the man behind,
in large part, behind the Panthers introduction to the National
Basketball League. And you'll know Justin from the way that
he took over the competition during COVID and basically, in
many regards, saved the competition during that very challenging time.

(38:00):
Hugely innovative bloke. We've had him on the radio before
talking about how innovation is important two sporting organizations. And
even during the week, Justin Nelson on social media said
I'm gutted and disappointed, especially for the players, and I

(38:21):
take full accountability for bringing the initiative to the New
Zealand National Basketball League. But he goes on to say,
I won't stop innovating. While we get some right, others
can be difficult. We'll get through this. See, that is
a brilliant attitude to bring to this. That is exactly

(38:42):
the attitude that we should be bringing to this. While
some work, some don't. As I said before, Rapid League
has been terrifically successful. This was perhaps as you looked
at it and listening to Jeff Green's words, they kind
of rung true. This one seemed like it was a
lot more problematic from the start. It wasn't bringing in

(39:06):
another New Zealand based franchise as they did with the
with the Thigh a couple of years ago. They're the
latest one to come in. It wasn't like they were
standing up a new franchise in New Zealand, or even
bringing in one from Australia as they did with the Huskies,
as they were a few years ago. It's just a
short hop it when I first heard it, when I

(39:28):
first heard the idea, and I'll try to keep an
open mind about these things. When someone said, okay, they're
going to bring an Indian side into the New Zealand
National Basketball League, it didn't seem initially to me anyway,
like a natural fit. It didn't. It didn't seem like,
oh wow, okay, that's that. That sounds like it's, you know,

(39:49):
a natural thing to do to bring an Indian side
into a New Zealand competition. But I thought, okay, well
let's give it. Let's see, because it could be tremendous.
Justin Nelson talked about the big market for basketball up
in India, which is true, massive popular up there. He
talked about how it could further forge relationships, not just

(40:10):
in a sporting sense, but in a broadcast sense, even
in a trade sense between the two countries. We know
that sport is an extremely valuable connector between countries from
a wider point of view. Goodness me, Christopher Luxon took
an entire delegation over to India, including Ross Taylor recently
to try and further solidify relationships between India and New Zealand.

(40:36):
So I don't think you can. You certainly can't be
scornful of the intent. Like I say, you just got
to take some lessons. I would love for the New
Zealand National Basketball League to be successful. It is successful.
You go along to games. I'm Wellington based. You go
along to a Saints game here in Wellington and it

(40:57):
is a terrific occasion. The quality of the sport is good,
the game day entertainment that gets wrapped around it, the excitement,
the fact that after the game they've made it a
thing that fans can go down onto the court and
get autographs and things like that and selfies with their
favorite players. That there's a real deep connection between this

(41:19):
league and its fans, and we all know that basketball
is on an upward trajectory and has been for quite
some time. Here, this will have some reputational damage attached
to it. It'll make headlines around the place. And as
soon as you start mentioning players needing to go to
food banks in order to eat, then that is the

(41:42):
kind of thing that makes headlines around the place and
a player might go, well, jeepus, I'm not going down
to a league where that's happened, But I think any
further research will bring to the fore the fact that
this is a good league and a lot of high
quality American players and from other nationalities as well have
come here and done very well and enhanced our league

(42:04):
and helped our young players to develop. Not away from
one News Talk set B back in a moment.

Speaker 1 (42:09):
One Crunch Hold Engage Weekend Sports with Jason him and GJ. Gunnerholmes,
New Zealand's first trusted home builder, News Talk to Be,
News Talks.

Speaker 2 (42:20):
To B and Weekend Sport couple of texts through on
the on the basketball. Gilly says, bless you party. You
didn't say learnings. No, if I ever say the word learnings,
feel free to to get in touch and to chastise me.
It's a word we're trying to eliminate from the sporting vernacular.

(42:42):
It seems to have crept in. I don't, I don't.
I don't know how this word learnings has crept in.
But there are a couple of sports broadcasters me included
another one of my good friends, Mark Stafford, who have
decided that this word is a is a blight on
our vocabulary. So we're doing everything we can to eliminate

(43:05):
its use. So if you ever hear me say learnings,
please get in touch and let me know, and I
will know. Maybe should have a swear jar, a learning's
jar whenever I say that word. Gareth says, external risk.
I think can be managed. Imports will blame franchise than
agents if they have a bad experience with a team.

(43:25):
The damage is more between the NBL and the remaining franchises.
Good point, Gareth, good point. Yeah, I think you know.
And look, I don't suggest for a second that the
New Zealand National basketballing franchises want anything other than what
is best for the league and for themselves as part
of it. And I don't think they will look at
the National Basketball again and say, hey, you've stuffed this

(43:47):
one up. They might, they'll remind them. I'm sure when
future innovation is mooted that this one was a miss.
They have had hits. But yeah, it's a very good
point that you make. Eareth Josh says, we still get
to realize how good Jackson Ball is. This is a
guy he's blankfable Hawks Bay. I think he's still year thirteen.

(44:08):
He might even be year twelve. He's only seventeen years
old playing for Hawks Bay. Josh says, we're still to
realize how good he is. I watched them score forty
five points two years ago as a fourteen year old
at the National Champs. Kids are going to go places.
Couldn't agree more, Josh, I've sent a bit of Jackson Ball.
Seems like a guy with a very high ceiling. After
one o'clock, the Wallabies have a new coach. How they

(44:29):
feeling about that? Across the ditch?

Speaker 1 (44:37):
Should you be the TMO have your say on eight
hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Hin
and GJ. Guvnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder, News Talks.

Speaker 2 (44:48):
EDB one nine on News Talks EDB talking to Wallabies
and their increased threat to taking away one of the
most prized pieces of silverware in New Zealand sport. Text
here nobody wins the bledders Low Cup twenty three times
in a row. Yes, good point, very good point. I

(45:08):
was actually thinking, did Drew Mitchell ever win the Bledislow Cup?
I don't think he did. I think his I'm glad
I didn't ask him actually, because I don't think Drew
Mitchell ever got his hands on the Bledisloe Cup. He
came into the team after the Australian team last had
it two thousand and three, and obviously they haven't had
it since. What was that, sorry, Andy? He joined in

(45:32):
two thousand and six. So no, yes, he's never had
the Bledisloe Cup, one of a number of Australian players
who have never had the pleasure. But who knows, Who
knows what might happen this year? How worried are you
feel that we might be saying goodbye even for a
year or so to the Bledisloe Cup.

Speaker 5 (45:50):
Well, what was that point? You said, Piney that the
text had just brought and you said, good point. Just
now I just misthought it was.

Speaker 2 (45:59):
Oh no, I just I just the text I just
read out was about the Bledislow Cup having been won
twenty three years in a row.

Speaker 6 (46:06):
Are so?

Speaker 2 (46:07):
But no, no, no, there are some good points being
made on text about the increased strength of the Australian teams,
and I guess that is probably what you've run to
talk about as well.

Speaker 5 (46:19):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you asked how worried I am. I'm
not overly worry. But I can see it. I can
see it. There's a definite possibility with the strength of
the Aussie teams that, like you say, in this competition
at the moment, and you know some of the players
and that, and like I was just saying to Andy,

(46:40):
I watched the Blues game last night and with the Force,
and because I said to Andy, I sort of wanted
to have a wee bit of a talk about that
as well. And the Force could quite have easily been
in that first ten or fifteen minutes they blew two
or three opportunities and could have easily been like fifteen
points up on top of the Blues, but the Blues

(47:02):
hung in there and then in the second half is
where they really kicked into gear. But boy, that Harry
Potter player for the Force, man, is he something. He
cut through the Blues a number of times and like
a guy, you know, that's just one example of a
guy like him. I mean, he's going to be a
Wallabye for sure, and he's going to cause all sorts

(47:22):
of problems with his ability and talent. And you know,
then you've got the old, the old wiley veteran like
Andy said with the fellow right that come on. And
then you've got Kurtly Beal, who showed his class last
night after such a long break, even with that long
injury break, he come on and got a Troy and
had some great touches that. And you just go through

(47:43):
these Aussie teams at the moment and they got great
players all over the place. So I think, yeah, I
think that the Wallabies are going to be a real
They're going to be a real force and a real
possibility of taking it off us. And I also think
I like, I like, as they say, the cut of
the guy's jib, I really like this guy, les Kiss,

(48:03):
you know, when I've listened to him on the after
the game in that, when he's been interviewed in that
and I dislike what he says and you just get
that feeling he's got something about him a bit like
a Smith, you know, like Joe Smith there and under
and hanging around Joe Smith and learning from him and
how good he is and that. Yeah, I think he's

(48:25):
going to elevate the Wallabies right up there, like I
think Smith has already partly done that.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
Yeah, I look forward to seeing what they do in
terms of integrating him in phil because clearly so they've
appointed him coach. But he said, look, I'm not going
to take on the role full time until my Reds
commitments are done, which is after the twenty twenty six
Super Rugby season. But when this Super Rugby season finishes,

(48:51):
which will be in a month or so, and depending
after that how deep they go into the finals, then
there's no reason why Leskis can't just spend the rest
of the year in and around the Wallabies.

Speaker 6 (49:02):
Is there.

Speaker 2 (49:02):
I know it might be a little bit confusing and
perhaps slightly dis's acting if there are two voices in
that environment. But if I'm Rugby Australia, exactly what you
just said, there can't be any harm at all and
only good to come from Leska spending time with Joe Schmitt.

Speaker 4 (49:20):
Yeah, well, I.

Speaker 5 (49:21):
Think if I was, because I don't think I don't
think the Felacus has the kind of ego too that
he would want to step in and put his all
in it at the moment. You know. So if I
was him, I would just sit back, hang around the environment,
like you said, and just soak up and watch and

(49:43):
listen and ask Joe Smith stuff and that sort of thing,
and pick his brain and sort of be almost like
the apprentice learning off the master, you know, which I mean,
he already obviously has great knowledge himself, but you know,
you just again, like I say, the apprentice sort of
learning off the master, and then when he gets in

(50:04):
that position, all that knowledge that he's gained, plus his
own ideas and things, you know, he can he can
implement and start to take on board. But you know,
it's like a grand chess master, you know, like you
sit there and you're a great you know, you're a
great play yourself, but you actually just sit there and
watch the grand master you know sort of thing and
that can only give you strength and your own when

(50:31):
you go forward, you know, rather than thinking you you know,
you get a situation where someone might think, oh, I
don't need to really learn war much. I know it
all in there. Got some arrogance, you know, and that's
but I don't think Liz Kiss is like that. I
think he's a sort of character that sits back and says, well,
I can learn something from this. Even though I know
a lot, I can still learn from someone else who's

(50:53):
you know, maybe there is also a great coach.

Speaker 2 (50:58):
And we also have to remember. Yeah, I think what
we always have to remember, Phill is that actually Liz
Kis has been around for quite some time. He's worked
with Joe Schmidt obviously previously, but he's been around. His
first coaching experience was all the way back in two
thousand and one he helped out South Africa as defense coach.

(51:18):
He's been involved in a number of Super rugby sides.
He's been Australia Under twenty one assistant, Waratar's assistant Australia,
a assistant Irish assistant as I say, then director of
Rugby at Ulster, then London Irish and then onto the
Red So that is quite the cv for Les Kiss

(51:39):
And I think he's so right. He just seems I mean,
he's just seems so different from Eddie Jones, doesn't he.
And I think Australia learned some pretty harsh lessons, not learnings,
lessons from Eddie Jones's ill fated tenure which took them
through the twenty twenty three Rugby World Cup. I think
just by probably just by circumstance, they have found themselves

(52:02):
Rugby Australia in a very fortunate position in that they've
some managed to keep on extending Joe Shma's out because
he said when he took the job on this is
not going to be a long term thing. I'm not
taking it to the Lions tour. He even said, well
they found a way to encourage him to do that.

(52:22):
I'm not taking it to the next Rugby World Cup.
He said. Well, I just wonder whether in the backgrounds
they might be saying to Joe Shmitt, you know what, Joe,
just hang around for a bit, you know, just come
and go as you please, be a bit of an
advisor to lez stay involved. In other words, I would
not be at all surprised, particularly given the fact that

(52:43):
the World Cup is in Australia, that Joe Shmitt doesn't
have some kind of role to play beyond the middle
of next year. I don't know what you call it.
You probably don't even have to call it anything, but
having Joe in and around a rugby team is clearly
something that is beneficial to that rugby team. So why

(53:05):
wouldn't you feel good to chat mate? Thanks for calling in.
Just on the Force. I think the Force's major problem
is points concession. They've now conceded more tries than anybody else,
even the Fijian drewer in the competition, fifty seven tries
they have conceded, albeit having played one more match than

(53:25):
a number of the other sides. And as far as
scoring tries is concerned, they're very good at that as well.
More tries than a number of the teams above them,
more than the Blues, more than the Hurricanes, more than
the Reds. They're a good team. The Western Force. Andy

(53:46):
was trying to tell me during the week how they
are the best team to watch in Super Rugby. I've
got the messages to prove it, He's been telling me
all week. Andy has about the strength of the Force. Look,
I still think they'll probably miss the six I think
last night, you know, would have been a good opportunity

(54:06):
for them to perhaps show that they are the real deal.
The Force, the Blues were clearly desperate last night, have
to win their remaining games pretty much to stay in
the fight. The Force welcome the Brumbies to Western Australia
next weekend. Then they're off to Laotoka to take on
the Drewer. Now, the Drewer basically never lose in L'autoka,

(54:30):
so that'd be tough. And then they welcome the Warriors.
The Warriors the Waratars back to Perth, so three of
their remaining or two of their remaining three games are
at home, but they've got to go to Lautoka. I
just feel like the Force are just going to miss out.
That's just my gut on it. I just don't think
they're going to be there. I think the Waratars are

(54:51):
more likely to be in the sixth than the Western
Force are. Ian any thoughts on tonight's game.

Speaker 13 (54:59):
Listen, mate, I had to bring you. It's been a
great sort of a week and it's been building up
and the money's at the moment I'll be flowing. I've
been down the tab yesterday. Put the money on the
chief See. I think I did tell you once I
was a chief Is fan.

Speaker 2 (55:16):
You put the money on the chief Sin have you
for tonight? Look, I think they're probably favorite. But you
know you're talking to a Hurricanes fan here. I know that.

Speaker 13 (55:26):
Yeah, yeah, definitely mate. I'm not trying to upset you. Listen,
you've got a good show here. You know you have
a good show. I tell you every week. There's only
one show I listen to now on a Saturday, and
that's yours. But no, I don't know how it will
go really, jas but the Hurricanes. A lot of Tarannicky
guys probably follow the Hurricanes. But I just followed the

(55:48):
Chiefs from about three years ago and when they missed
out last year, and I've sort of followed them just
in that one way. But it's not just for money, Jase,
I do all right. I make a few bob here
and there, but no, it's going to be a tough one.
But you know the boys are up for it.

Speaker 2 (56:06):
Well, you got your man Josh Jacob in there. Haven't
you any good Taranaki boy running the cutter there? At
first five in the absence of Damien Mackenzie. I like
Josh Jacob, look, I clearly hope the Hurricanes win tonight,
but for your sake and the sake of your tab balance,
I hope you get some joy as well. Maybe you
could hedge your bets. I don't know being a good
Chiefs fan. What's it called emotional insurance? When you bet

(56:30):
against your team, so that you know, regardless of what happens,
there's at least a degree of happiness. I've never been
able to bring myself to do it, and Ian, you
don't strike me as the kind of guy who would
do it either Either way, I hope it's a big
game tonight, A good game too. Good to chat to you.

Speaker 6 (56:44):
Ian.

Speaker 2 (56:45):
Another Phil.

Speaker 10 (56:45):
Hello Phil By Jason Hawley. I'm ringing just to thank you.
I spoke to you three weeks ago about the fact
that we have the arm wrestle Wellington Hurricanes to get
the ball out the first side, and they picked them
away the whole game, and even that as your commentators
were saying, why don't they just pass the ball? And
in the last two games we've done that, we would

(57:06):
have beaten the Chiefs. We would have beaten Canterbury. We
would have beaten Auckland if we had done that. So
if you got that message through to them, thank.

Speaker 6 (57:14):
You very much.

Speaker 2 (57:15):
I feel like I couldn't possibly pretend to have been
any influence at all. But you know what, do you
know who I think has been an influence in any
of the ball white is Billy Proctor. The return of
Billy Proctor has been terrific, without a doubt.

Speaker 10 (57:29):
And that boy from BETTONI wats his name? The second
five he's a structured player.

Speaker 2 (57:35):
Ron Higgins, Yeah, yeah, Higgins and Proctor there they are
a good combo, a good combo film.

Speaker 10 (57:41):
Yeah, I mean I coached. Have you spoken to the
all black who's what's his name? He was going to
talk to you today?

Speaker 14 (57:51):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (57:51):
Yeah, have you spoken to him today?

Speaker 6 (57:52):
No?

Speaker 2 (57:53):
He's on the radio with us after two.

Speaker 10 (57:56):
Okay, if you get the message through to him. Corey
just passed the ball. I refereed him when he was
a perhaped college and I refereed for twenty six years,
so I know how it works, and I've refereed and
UK it's a dumb drad style of rugby And you're
not wrong. Really worried about is Schmidt and the other guy.
How many games have we won in Australia this year?

Speaker 2 (58:18):
So I think the Hurricane. I think the Hurricanes went
over the Brumbies last week was the first one. Phil.

Speaker 10 (58:25):
Yeah. And now for the Rugby World Cup, I've got
Schmidt coaching over there and that's going to change the
face of Australian rugby. And he's always said Schmidt. I've
met him. He said, they've just got to move the
ball away from the big boys. So the days of
Joan Ohlong who under and down what they've gone, they

(58:46):
just moved the ball. And so if you're talking to
Cory Jane actually refereed bread shields too when I was
at Tile College. So that's how old I am.

Speaker 2 (58:54):
But you know what, well looks, I'll pass. I'll pass
the Messa John, I'll say that, Corey Jane. Phil says,
just get up wide and I'm sure Bellieve Proctica will
be a big part of that. Got to go, Phil,
got to get a that's the Tasman again. But good
to chat to you.

Speaker 6 (59:07):
Thanks.

Speaker 2 (59:08):
Indeed, seventeen away from two news talks, he'd.

Speaker 6 (59:10):
Be it's more than just a game.

Speaker 1 (59:13):
Weekends for it with Jason Vine and TJ. Gunnhomes New
Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (59:19):
News Talks B fourteen to two OSI correspondent Adam P. Cockers,
whethers Adam, when we're talking about Liz Curse as your
new Wallabies coach in general terms, how has the wider
sporting public received this particular appointment.

Speaker 7 (59:32):
Yeah, everyone, it's pretty okay with it because he looked
like the best candidates. So then how are you going
to get Josemitt out of the way or let jose
Mit do what he wants because he's been so good
for the Wallabies and then have let's takeover. And I
think this is probably one of the smartest ways. They
don't look like guys who are going to agitate and

(59:55):
you know, try and have table control and buger the
other bloke's. It looks like it's very mutual, so and
they work well together. And it's good to have someone
like Josh med A round as long as you can
keep them in a place like Australian rugby to help
people up. There's kiss transition from what he has been
a very good coach at provincial and state level for

(01:00:15):
a very long time into international rugby, which obviously has
its unique challenges, So yeah, I think it's a good idea.
The only thing I'd say is that what role does
josemid play in the twenty twenty seven World Cup And
if there's some kind of consultancy roles or whatever. That
remains to be seen. But that was the rumor doing
the rounds in the lead up to this announcement.

Speaker 2 (01:00:35):
Yeah, I think that would be a tremendously smart move.
It seems as Rugby Australia have kind of managed to
extend Joe Smitt. First of all, he didn't want to
do this year, then he did some of it. Now
he's going through to the middle of next year. I
reckon somebody there's got pretty good negotiation powers at Rugby Australia.
You just say, hey, we're almost at the Rugby World Cup,
now mates to stay on in some sort of capacity.

Speaker 7 (01:00:56):
Yeah, it just just stretched out for as long as
possible before he realizes that we're at the World Carlo,
I think that's it up that it's by. It's a
beautiful place Australia, so it's hard to say no to.

Speaker 2 (01:01:08):
The joint, isn't it absolutely right? Obviously Joe Shutt's finding
that speaking of nice parts of your country. Brisbane NRL
Magic Round. Eight games across three days at sun Corp
wins last night for the Sharks and the Roosters, three
games today, three tomorrow. Is this a popular concept Magic Round?

Speaker 6 (01:01:23):
Yeah?

Speaker 4 (01:01:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 7 (01:01:24):
They pack it out over three days and they put
Women's Origin on on Thursday night, which which gets a
good crowd and got damn good ratings as well, So yeah,
it's a it's a it's a great idea. The only
thing I'd say is a couple of weeks ago there's
no games in Sydney and again this weekend there's no
games in Sydney, so it's a bit it's a bit
odd that, yeah, that the scheduling has taken away from

(01:01:45):
footy in the biggest market in rugby league. But still
it's a it's a great concept and it's here to
stay and people go up and enjoy the extra curricular
activities that you can in a place like Brisbane on
a Friday and a Saturday night, So yeah, they come
home worse for wear, but yeah, real festival of rugby league.
Everyone loves it. And despite the fact that it's federal

(01:02:05):
election day over here, I'm led to believe that They've
even set up polling boots inside some Corp stadium or
just around some Corp stadium so people can just do
it all. They'll worry about copping the fine for not dating.
They can do it there.

Speaker 2 (01:02:19):
Brilliant stuff. Well, according to my Instagram feed, most of
the key wes have gone over there have spent time
pretty much invading Caxton Street. That's the one, isn't it.

Speaker 6 (01:02:27):
Kingston Street there?

Speaker 7 (01:02:28):
Yeah, so Caxton Street where some Corp Stadium is not
far from the Sea Theater, but it's a bit of
a hike if you're going to walk or stagger as
it were. But Caxton Street is the street that runs
down from one of the main arterials down and it
takes you to some court stadium. So there's there's four
or five pubs along Caxton Street and that's the famous

(01:02:48):
place where historically New South Wales team bus has gone
past in the lead up to state of origin and
you can imagine what kind of reception they get from
said coinslanders outside said pubs. So yeah, it's a lively giant,
especially when the foot design.

Speaker 2 (01:03:03):
I can imagine just before we move on, have they
relayed that ground because it looks like a carpet compared
to when the next played Brisbane Roar there last weekend.

Speaker 7 (01:03:11):
Yeah yeah, they I think from ten meter line to
ten meda line they basically did. They didn't do the
whole lot. I don't know why. Maybe they didn't have
enough class, but there was always the plan because when
they saw the schedule, because that that game the Reds played,
I mean, rugby is the one, especially if there's a
bit of weather around. Rugby union is the one which
really choose up the turf. And there was a rugby

(01:03:31):
league game there last Thursday between the Dogs and Bulldogs,
so it looked a horror show by Sundays. But it
was always their plan. They're always their intention to do that,
to have it looking not sotimes looking great, but having
it safe to play professional sport on because it was
getting to diverge where it wasn't.

Speaker 2 (01:03:49):
Yep, it's good to see that it's been looked after.
Just on football. Actually, the Western United Football Club one
of the newer additions to the A League in recent years,
based out on Wistern, Melbourne. They've got new owners. What
do we know about them?

Speaker 7 (01:04:02):
Not a lot and a bit of research from some
journals uncovers a bit of worry in that they have
gone to take over this real estate mob out of
out of America. They have gone to take over the
European side or two. They've been underbidders on Everton, I
think as well. But they went over to take a

(01:04:23):
club over in Belgium and when it was time to pay,
they didn't. So yeah, they even over there. They even
did a press conference and the full release and everything
like that. But yeah, I'm hoping they've done their due
diligence both sides, especially the side of Western United and
the APL because for it to turn into a disaster

(01:04:46):
on that front would be extremely bad.

Speaker 2 (01:04:49):
All right, we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope for
the best in that regard. So you've exercised your democratic
right and avoided to find today.

Speaker 7 (01:04:56):
Have you just about to just about to say yes,
I'm a big believer in voting, because yeah, as you said,
democratic right, not every right in the world, as a
democratic right to vote. So I actually like the fact
that we are able to without anything else going on
in the world. And I'm sure you guys are pretty
much the same over there that you can truly walk

(01:05:17):
into a polling verse and without any kind of fere
of repercussions of anything else out there in society. You
can vote and walk out and do what you want
with that voting paper. You can draw things on it
or take who you want to vote for.

Speaker 2 (01:05:28):
But as long as you vote, absolutely no, I could
not agree more. We'll enjoy that. Enjoy but to golf
this afternoon and will chat again about the same time
next Saturday.

Speaker 6 (01:05:37):
Sound good, Piney, have a good week.

Speaker 2 (01:05:38):
You have a good week to Adam. Adam Peacock, our
Australian correspondent on Saturdays seven to two News Talks EB.

Speaker 1 (01:05:44):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
On eight ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason Hyne News
TALKSB so I'm.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
A flying four to two after two. One of the
greatest rugby league players in the history of the game,
Jonathan Thurston, is on the show. His former team, or
one of them, the North Queensland Cowboys up against the
Warriors tonight as part of Madde Round seven point thirty.
That game kicks off at sun Corpse Stadium. Are they
taking notice of the warriors good start to the season

(01:06:14):
on that side of the Tasman Jonathan Thurston after two
o'clock and Corey Jane out of the Hurricanes as they
look to face the Chiefs tonight at seven.

Speaker 1 (01:06:27):
The Tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sport with Jason
Hine and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News.

Speaker 2 (01:06:35):
Talk coming up twenty six to three. Super Rugby Round
twelve continues tonight five past seven Sky Stadium. The Hurricanes
structure rupture the hearken.

Speaker 12 (01:06:44):
They draw all the Brumbies defence across.

Speaker 2 (01:06:47):
To the right.

Speaker 5 (01:06:48):
Wing side and he comes the hollow shut the gate.

Speaker 2 (01:06:52):
The big boys bolted try against the Chiefs.

Speaker 3 (01:06:55):
Har Boy gets the head going he's taken centimeters short
of the line. Not a wa fancies himself at a
half backs of teeny other back Tacum Daniel run under.

Speaker 2 (01:07:04):
The sixth Hurricanes and coach Corey Jane is with us CJ.
Thanks for your time, nice and fine today in Wellington.
But the week's been pretty wild weather wise. Did that
affect your prep week at all?

Speaker 15 (01:07:17):
Well, we have the green room at.

Speaker 6 (01:07:20):
Our training facility which is as a luxury. We did get.

Speaker 15 (01:07:24):
Outside on the Thursday and training the wet weather and
you know, obviously you have to tighten up and it
was windy and that, so you know, things don't go
perfectly how you planned, but we planned that well. We
were hoping that Saturday would be better, so we got
out there and stuck at it. Anyway, So now the

(01:07:44):
boys are the boys have been on this week has
been a great week, So big game for us.

Speaker 2 (01:07:50):
You're coming off the back of the one over the Brumby's,
first time you've beaten them in Canberra since twenty seventeen.
What was the most pleasing feature or features of that
when last weekend As far as the coaches, we're concerned, Ah.

Speaker 15 (01:08:01):
Well, good mindset from the men. You know, we really
embraced the handsac week. You know Whopper had been over
Glipoli and that in those ways, and he started telling
some stories and you know, the boys just trying to
understand what what they've done for for Australia New Zealand
and so we kind of tapped into that mentality a

(01:08:23):
little bit and then just simple things that we had
trained during the week went out there and and did it.
And it looked like even though when things didn't go
our way, we had a calmness about us, which we
probably haven't had too much this year. It's always been chaos, chaos, chaos,
and so even if as things were a little bit

(01:08:45):
offbeat against the Brumbies, we kind of we had people
where they're supposed to be and could fix it. So
it was that was quite pleasing.

Speaker 2 (01:08:53):
How big a boast has the return of Bully Propter
been for you?

Speaker 15 (01:08:57):
He's a good player. He is, he's he's he's a
nice player to have on the field. He just understands
the game. And I've coached him a few years now
with with Wellington and the Hurricanes, and his understanding for
rugby both sides of the ball. You know, when you've
played for so long stupid rugby and that starts slowing

(01:09:20):
down for you, and then once it starts slowing down
for you can make some good decisions. And it's just
it's doing that for him, but just the confidence that
he brings guys around the paddick as well. He's his
voice in the team in huddles. He can be stirring
when he needs to give solutions. But also you know
guys like Rubes who's just jumping into ten for us.

(01:09:42):
You've got that a little bit of calm, a little
bit wider to help see things for them and make decisions.

Speaker 6 (01:09:49):
So you know, he had he had a good game.

Speaker 2 (01:09:52):
How do you reckon Ruben Lover is going first five?

Speaker 6 (01:09:56):
He don't mind it.

Speaker 15 (01:09:57):
Yeah, he's obviously a live wire, and you know he
wants the ball in his hands and he wants to
create stuff and his ability to play, but also not
have to do it all himself, you know, make the
right decision, look for space. And he really is trying
to learn from when he jumped in against the force
and potentially taking off, you know, from a structure a

(01:10:20):
little bit sometimes too early. He learned that and during
the week and trained it and then got back into
position a lot as a first five to run the team.
But I'm enjoying him being there. And again, when you've
got a young guy that's way. He's played first five before,
but at this level it was really trying to jump
in there and run the ship. You still need a

(01:10:43):
good understanding for offense around the whole everyone and the
team and making it simple so you can make the
right decisions, you can see the right cues. And yeah,
I thought he was great in the against the Bumbies.
So another opportunity this week.

Speaker 2 (01:10:57):
Let's look at the Chiefs competition's top point scorers, top
of the top of the table. I know you have
a defensive brief within the Hurricanes coaching staff. Where do
you place your defensive focus tonight?

Speaker 15 (01:11:09):
Oh, you've got to go everywhere. The physical their forwards,
we'll try.

Speaker 6 (01:11:14):
And and messle you up.

Speaker 15 (01:11:17):
You know, you give them opportunities to try to beat
your forward pack.

Speaker 6 (01:11:20):
Up, they're going to try and do it.

Speaker 15 (01:11:21):
So there's a good opportunity that they're going to come
for us physically in that area. Backs are unbelievable. If
you give them time and space, they'll they'll hurt you.
But they've also got what compliments there. Their attack is
their unbelievable kicking game. You know, everyone in that back
line can kick a ball long, can put you under
pressure behind your defensive line, and when they don't get.

Speaker 6 (01:11:45):
The pitches they want, they go to their kicks.

Speaker 15 (01:11:47):
So yeah, we've got to be We're going to be
on defensively enough physicality and and when they do kick,
you know, we've just got to be smart and take
those balls and not let them pressure us that way too.

Speaker 2 (01:12:01):
So they've gone six to two on their bench. I'm
sure you've picked up on that. They've done that a
few times this season. Hurricanes have always stuck to five.
Has there ever been discussion or you know a serious
look at going six to two on your bench every week?

Speaker 15 (01:12:14):
Jimmy Mackintosh and Britain they'd rather go an et nil
and just have all foards on that bench.

Speaker 6 (01:12:20):
So there's discussions all the time.

Speaker 15 (01:12:23):
Yeah, the chief ones, you know, are they trying to
you know, mustle up with the forwards that did they
have any backs left with a few injuries.

Speaker 14 (01:12:31):
So.

Speaker 6 (01:12:33):
Yeah, interesting one.

Speaker 15 (01:12:34):
But no, we definitely talk about it a lot of
just trying to find coverage on that bench and who
can go where and we that kind of stuff that.

Speaker 6 (01:12:43):
You know, you talk about as a team. But you
know they wanted every week.

Speaker 2 (01:12:48):
The last time the Chiefs played in Wellington the course
the semi final last year. Has that been talked about
it all? C J is motivation for tonight.

Speaker 6 (01:12:57):
Some of the guys that played on it have just
had little little chats about it.

Speaker 15 (01:13:02):
But again it's a new year and you know there's
some guys that weren't even involved in in it, so
you know, we probably had our worst first five minutes
of a of a semi final against them, and they
really put us to the sword. So you know, a
couple of guys that have they still feel it, you know,

(01:13:23):
don't want it to happen again, but they've got an
opportunity to go out there and.

Speaker 6 (01:13:26):
Not let it happen again. So it's yeah, it's gonna
be a good one.

Speaker 2 (01:13:29):
Just one more player. I'll ask you about Kenny Nahlo.
You reckon he could be an all Black?

Speaker 6 (01:13:34):
I reckon he can be an all Black Piney. Yes,
he's he's so dynamic and and.

Speaker 15 (01:13:40):
He's unbelievable with the ball in hand. You give him
a little bit of room just his strength as fend.
You know, I'm biased here, but probably the best the
pensive winger in New Zealand at the moment, just by
spots he can get to and then when he makes
a tackle, he's great.

Speaker 6 (01:13:58):
Over the ball.

Speaker 15 (01:14:00):
You know, had a little bit of a down period
for the last couple of weeks and up until the
Brumbies where he probably will the news in his energy
and efforts as well as he had been.

Speaker 6 (01:14:10):
He came in and was unbelievable against the four.

Speaker 15 (01:14:13):
So but he got engine and then you know Ken,
he came back against the Brumbies in and just went
out there and played awesome and potentially were the big
reason why we won the game.

Speaker 6 (01:14:24):
So he's got an awesome opportunity.

Speaker 15 (01:14:26):
This week to go and and do the same against
a great chief.

Speaker 2 (01:14:30):
Thing the game coming tonight. CJ all the best, mate,
Thanks for the chat as always that awesome Matt. Thank you, No,
thank you, Corey. Corey Jane, then assistant coach of the
Hurricanes five past seven Sky started him tonight for commentary
on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio eighteen to three. Women come back,
We'll get you inside the Blues camp and when last
night over the Force has got the back of the
top six hooker Kurt Ecklund to join us right after this.

Speaker 1 (01:14:53):
The biggest seasons sport are on Weekend Sports with Jason
Paine and GJ. Gunnos, New Zealand's most trusted home builder
News Sogs'd be.

Speaker 2 (01:15:03):
So forty five, the Blues are back and Super Rugby
playoff tension and.

Speaker 3 (01:15:08):
The Blues get the bonus point and they're in the
top six playoff spots for maybe only twenty four hours.
They win at forty nineteen.

Speaker 2 (01:15:17):
Over the Force last night at Eden Park Blues hooker
Kurt Eckland as with us Kirk, Thanks for your time.
How are the overall levels of satisfaction after that win
last night?

Speaker 14 (01:15:27):
Yeah, mate, Mu's been saying we've been working towards for
a while, and I think satisfaction, a bit of release
and you know, I think you know, a little bit
of confidence to get out of that one as well.

Speaker 2 (01:15:36):
How needed was this win given the season that you've had.

Speaker 14 (01:15:41):
Yeah, big time, man, especially the position we've put ourselves in,
Like if we had to drop that game, you know,
Like I'm not sure what it would have been like
trying to make them top six. But you know, I
think we're back in contention now and as long as
we've win every game running into the playoffs and hopefully
we'll find ourselves playing in them.

Speaker 15 (01:15:59):
I suppose.

Speaker 2 (01:16:00):
Why do you think have you been able to put
your finger on why the season has been such an
inconsistent one for you?

Speaker 14 (01:16:08):
I think getting madded on the head there, it's just
the inconsistencies. Like you know, we've had a few games
where we thought we've played a ride and we've been
unfortunate to miss out by a couple of points, and
then there's been other games that we haven't, you know,
just turned up and played at all. So I think
the inconsistency of the season is probably a big thing.
And you know, hopefully if we can build a few

(01:16:29):
consistent performances in the next few weeks and things will
start tender.

Speaker 6 (01:16:32):
Up or up for us.

Speaker 2 (01:16:35):
Are you employing a fairly similar game plan to the
one that was so successful for you last season.

Speaker 14 (01:16:43):
I think we've tried like a few little bits and
bobs and some variations throughout the season, and I think,
you know, it's the old cliches, mate, back to basics,
and I think that's really what works for us. And
I suppose any rugby teammate, you know, you're playing the
right end of the field and all that sort of thing,
and and things really start to work out for you.
So I think that's been a big focus for us,

(01:17:03):
but we still need to nail little little it's along
the way as well. So yeah, just like you said,
that consistency and trying to find.

Speaker 2 (01:17:10):
That twelve seven Are you lead at a half time
last night, so fairly narrow halftime margin. Did something change
in the second half that allowed you to kind of
stretch away.

Speaker 14 (01:17:21):
I think we just talked about a half time, you know,
plants our potential and we leave the Force was going
to come out and you know they've done every other game,
you know that very competitive and their first half showed that.
But I think we had another level to give and
you know, like we just needed that belief and someone

(01:17:42):
has spark something and I think as trying first up
really helped that and then sort of got a bit
of momentum from there.

Speaker 2 (01:17:50):
And you're back in the side obviously. I know we
spoke earlier in the season. You had a pretty frustrating
time of things, didn't your first month or so. Yeah,
we're out for the first four games, came back and
then missed another one. You enjoying being back on the
side and next for getting a decent run without any injuries.

Speaker 6 (01:18:03):
Touch Wood, Yeah, such with me.

Speaker 14 (01:18:07):
You know, it makes all the training worthwhile. You know,
that's how we do it. And to be out in
the paddict mate, you know, that's that's the icing on
the cakes. So yeah, we just keep winning, mate, and
keep smiling. So that's the plan.

Speaker 2 (01:18:18):
Really good stuff. It's up to Souber next day. The
drwer Thenea Pacific, our Warrts House. They all seem winnable,
don't they. They all seem winnable those games.

Speaker 14 (01:18:27):
Yeah, well, you know every game is winnable, mate. But
you know again these teams have shown that they can
play some good footy as well, so you know, you
can't take anyone lightly, especially going to Suva. You know,
their home field advantage that they have over there and
the support that they get is going to be a
huge game for us. So one day we really need
to you know, get on top of and yeah, just

(01:18:48):
like I said, if we can get some back to
back performances and their consistency back in our game, then
we should be all right.

Speaker 2 (01:18:54):
Now, just before you go, what was Angus Taavar doing
at the end trying to kick the ball?

Speaker 4 (01:18:57):
Now?

Speaker 2 (01:18:58):
What happened there?

Speaker 5 (01:18:59):
Oh?

Speaker 14 (01:19:00):
Let up front rowers down, that's for sure. You know
you usually you usually back in the you know, kick
a ball two meters over the touch line. But you
know again the back of the cliches don't take you
off the ball, mate, you know. So yeah, we'll have
we'll have a big chat with our front rollers meeting

(01:19:20):
made and yeah, really let us down there. But you know,
it's work on for him, so hopefully he'll be better
off if he gets his opportunity again.

Speaker 2 (01:19:27):
Exactly. His kicking the touch from two meters big for
the big fuller. Well my last time, mate, you got
you got the points. I hope it's a the start
of a good run, a good run towards the finals. Man,
thanks for taking the time for a chat.

Speaker 6 (01:19:43):
Thanks Matt, all right, thank you you too.

Speaker 2 (01:19:45):
Correctly, I st if you saw that at the end
the Blues had the ball and all they had to
do was kick it into touch from but they were
inside their own twenty two. They're basically five meters out
and the ball spits out their side, so you just
got to pick up the ball and kick it into touch.
It literally two meters away from the touch line, and
Gus Tarvous had a bit of a He's picked it
up and he's basically he's gone to kick it into

(01:20:07):
touch and he's just for some unknown reason not being
able to do it. It's kind of scuffed off his
foot and it stayed in. And the potential I mean
that the Blues had the game won, but they had
the potential to lose the bonus point because they scored
three more tries than the Force did last night, so
they had the bonus point. Kick it into touch, you

(01:20:28):
take the bonus point, you take the five points. Instead,
the ball didn't go into touch, the Force got it
and they were were on a tech. I can only
imagine the talking to Angus Tarvo would have got had
the Force managed to score a try and deny what
could be a fairly important bonus point from the Blues.
Didn't happen. Everything okay, I'm sure we'll get plenty of

(01:20:49):
good natured ribbing from his teammates in the weak ahead.
Speaking of Super Rugby, updating you from Suva where it's
half time between the Fiji and Rawer and the Reds.
The Reds with a nineteen fifteen lead at halftime as
a Round twelve of Super Rugby Pacific continues. Back in
a moment on Weekend Sport ninety three.

Speaker 1 (01:21:10):
Breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails Weekend
Sport with Jason Lyme, News Talk zenby.

Speaker 2 (01:21:18):
Six to three. Just quick look at to tomorrow's show
before we knock it on the effort today. Kevin Malloy,
the chair of Super Rugby Pacific, is with us after
the Midday News tomorrow with a generic overview of how
the season is going as far as they're concerned around
the boardroom table, what are they seeing on the grass?
Are they pleased and what can we look forward to
in terms of further innovation from Super Rugby Pacific. We'll

(01:21:41):
also cover off what is set to be a huge
night of sport with Super Rugby, the Warriors and Magic Round.
Auckland FC have a game as well, and lots more besides.
We'll get you to Miami for the Formula one one
Grand Prix featuring Liam Lawson of course, and the World
Snooker Championships into their very final stages. We've got some
insight there as well. Thank you for listening in this afternoon,

(01:22:03):
Tim Beveridge, After three. Anni McDonald's being produced in the
show with great enthusiasm and efficiency as always and therefore
has earned the right to give us the exit song.

Speaker 12 (01:22:13):
Yes, Piney, it's a New Zealand Music month, of course,
so I have to chuse a New Zealand banner. I'm
gonna surprise you it's actually not Alamento p this time.
It's obviously Dutch shooting season, so I've gone for the
Mutton birds and for those of you getting out in nature,
there is my tenuous links. The song is Nature by
the Mutton Birds.

Speaker 2 (01:22:33):
Very good. Yes, New Zealand Music Month. We love it.

Speaker 16 (01:22:35):
See them are at midday.

Speaker 2 (01:22:55):
I've turned something.

Speaker 16 (01:22:59):
I save.

Speaker 1 (01:23:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to news Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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