Full Show Podcast: 09 August 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 EDB. 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
home of Sport News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
You got a good afternoon. Welcome in to Weekend Sport
on News Talks HEEDB. The Saturday edition for August nine.
Happy eighty sixth birthday to Australian tennis legend Rod Labor.
Happy birthday of my dad too a spring chicken compared
to Rod Labor. I'm Jason Pine Show producer Evans Due.
We're talking sport with you until three. Big rugby news

(00:52):
this week. Richie Moroger is coming home. He has signed
an eighteen month deal with New Zealand Rugby from mid
next year through to the end of twenty twenty seven,
which includes of course the next Rugby World Cup. He'll
play NPCs for Canterbury before becoming eligible for the All
Blacks from next October. Plenty of layers of conversation to this,

(01:15):
which I'm keen to have with you. Sir Steve Hansen
has a unique insight into this from both sides really,
former All Blacks coach of course and now head coach
of Japanese League One side Toyota ver Blitz, so he
would have seen a bit of Richie more Ogham who
plays for Tasheba of course. So Steve Hanson standing by
to chat with us to give us his insight and
then we'll open the lines. Very keen to get your

(01:38):
thoughts on a couple of aspects of this, in particular
other matters around today. Busy old show. Massive game for
the Warriors tonight away against the Bulldogs. Win and their
top four hopes stay alive. Lose and they will drop
out of the top four for the meantime. Monty Betham
on that after two and I'm very keen to read
your pulse on a just how big a game this

(02:00):
is and b how confident you feel about us. The
world's top dance players in bound for the New Zealand
Darts Masters in Auckland next weekend. We'll number four. Stephen
Bunting is among them. He's on the show this afternoon.
Over thirty of New Zealand's biggest sports codes have united
to oppose proposed new gambling legislation that they say could

(02:21):
threaten the very future of grassroots sport. More on that
with Martin Snedden After one. Adam Peacock updates Australian sport
in his regular slot, including the very worrying news yesterday
that Western United have had their A League football license
revoked for both their men's and women's team. So what
does that mean for the upcoming season and is this

(02:44):
the end of Western United who just three years ago
won the A League men's competition and will play sporting
chants with the tab your chance to win a one
hundred and fifty dollar bonus bet and keep the winnings
if it comes in. We'll play that a bit later
on this afternoon. Plenty of live sport to keep an
eye on Bunning's MPC Round two North Harbor Tallannucky at

(03:07):
Albany from five past two, Way Cuttle against Wellington and
Hamilton kicking off at the same time. We'll get you
actually to FMG Stadium ahead of that game to set
the scene with our match commentator Minty Mead and Round
one of the FARA Palmer Cup Auckland White Cuttle Tallanucky,
Northland Tasman, Wellington All underway at five past two. We'll
keep eyes on all of those games for you and

(03:28):
the latest supercars event, the Ipswich four forty at Queensland Raceway,
last qualifying session and around fifteen minutes before the first
race of the afternoon at two forty five. Now the
show is certainly not a one way conversation. Please join
in if you would like to. You can get through
on the phone oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty,

(03:49):
text your thoughts through to nine two ninety two, or
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Speaker 3 (03:58):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (04:00):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
weekends for it with Jason him and Gjjarmni, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder News talks.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
There be some big news story of the week. Richie
Monger will return to New Zealand Rugby next year.

Speaker 4 (04:14):
Royguard feeds at Jacobson's feet. Now the All Blacks walk
forward advantage comes again. Roy Guard takes his time on
his right hand side. Jordi Backer wrap around playing from
Richie Moonger and Richie Morner goes himself to try here.

Speaker 2 (04:26):
Richie Moonger signing an eighteen month deal from mid next
year through to the end of twenty seven. He'll play
in PC for Canterbury before becoming eligible for the All
Blacks from next October. He has of course been playing
the last two years in Japan, where he has led
to Sheba to back to back titles. Let's bring in
formal World Cup winning All Blacks coach and current head

(04:47):
coach at Japanese side, Toyota ver Blitz So Steve Hansen, Steve,
thanks for joining us with your insight. First of all,
is this a good outcome for New Zealand rugby, for
the All Blacks and for Richie Mooonger himself.

Speaker 5 (05:02):
Oh, it's obviously a good outcome for Richie because he's
agreed to do it.

Speaker 6 (05:06):
He's probably very happy with it.

Speaker 5 (05:08):
Look, I think he's another quality player. It's available for
the All Blacks, so it's a great outcome for them
as well.

Speaker 6 (05:16):
And we know he's a quality player.

Speaker 5 (05:19):
He's won many, many titles and you know five eights
your main computer. So he's obviously doing a good job
in the team he's in and he's had a third
and a second out of World Cup, so you know
he's obviously performed at those levels as well, and it
adds to the depth. You know, with Boden playing really well,

(05:43):
McKenzie playing well and Richie coming back, so.

Speaker 6 (05:47):
You need depth to be able to win World Cups.

Speaker 2 (05:50):
The big question I think that everybody would like to
know the answer to, and you're perfectly positioned to give
us some insight, is whether he'll be prepared for Test rugby.
He'll come back play, but I n pc off the
back of two seasons in Japan, Steve, how prepared will
he be to return to Test rugby?

Speaker 7 (06:09):
Here?

Speaker 5 (06:10):
We prepared like you've seen Ardie Severe come back and play,
You've seen Voden Bert come back and play, and both of.

Speaker 6 (06:17):
Them have played well.

Speaker 5 (06:19):
So I think there's a bit of a myth from
years gone by about Japanese rugby is not.

Speaker 6 (06:27):
Strong enough for preparing you for Test footy.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
But there's a lot changed up here and the coaching,
the depth of player.

Speaker 6 (06:38):
Quality across all the teams. It's a very very.

Speaker 5 (06:41):
Competitive competition and you know, to be in a winning
team like he has, you've got to be playing well
and you've got to be doing commitment to your standards
and the stuff that you and your team needs you
to be doing. So I've got no doubt you'll come
back and play well. Obviously, Test rugbyes have big step

(07:06):
up from Super rugby or even Japanese rugby. You know
that doesn't matter where you go to step ups big
and you've got to be prepared for it. But we
know that he's been there before and he's done the
job before, So you know, I think of people like
Jerome Kino came back and was a superstar when he
came back. Yeah, Adie Severe played particularly well as well.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
Yeah, I've got Jerome down actually because he is a
specific successful example of a guy. I went to Japan,
played a couple of seasons there, came back to New
Zealand part of your World Cup winning side in twenty fifteen.
What were the reasons it worked so well for a
player like Jerome Kino.

Speaker 5 (07:46):
Well, Jerome was pretty beat up when he left, so
you know, just getting the opportunity to be mentally being
a different place and have different stimuli I think refreshed
and recharged his batteries.

Speaker 6 (08:03):
And you know, I'm sure.

Speaker 5 (08:06):
If you look at Richie, the same thing's happening with
him mentally. I know, talking to Bowden quite frequently, you
know just how much he loved the Japan stints that
he's had, because you know, it is different and the
stimuli is different, and you come back and I wouldn't
call it a grind, but it's you know, you're under

(08:28):
that constant pressure when you're backing in z whereas here
you just you know, a body, not somebody.

Speaker 2 (08:35):
Man management around this Steve, you know every coach has
to manage their players. How much of a man management
challenge will raise in our faces? He as he has
Boden Baron, Damien McKenzie. Richie's not back till next year,
So how does he manage those two before Richie gets
back and then after he gets.

Speaker 6 (08:54):
Back, Well that's a million dollar question.

Speaker 5 (08:57):
How well he does that job will really showing how
how well all three of them come back into the group.
And you know, you've just got to be upfront and
honest and make your selections based on on good criteria
and and if everyone's playing well, then it becomes a
really tough selection question. If someone's not playing well, then yeah,

(09:22):
it makes it harder for you to get picked.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
Doesn't it well exactly.

Speaker 5 (09:25):
You definitely have to have good conversations and be honest
and upfront, and I'm sure he will.

Speaker 2 (09:29):
Be yeah and well again, you know, without knowing the
conversations that go on if I'm bowed embarried or I'm
Damien McKenzie. Am I looking across up my All Blacks
coaches thinking to myself, he'd actually prefer if another bloke
was in the ten Jersey not me.

Speaker 5 (09:44):
Look, I think their questions you have to ask Bone
and Damien, you know, like I can't answer that for you,
because but both those young men are good all well,
they're great All Blacks, and they're good men who have
always put the team first. So they'll be looking to
play really, really well and and make it really difficult

(10:09):
for someone like Richie to get back in the team.

Speaker 6 (10:14):
I wouldn't think it's a given that Richie just walks
straight back in.

Speaker 5 (10:17):
I think he has to earn the right, just like
the other two boys are having to earn the right.
But again, their conversations you probably should have with Razor
and Damien, and.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
As Richie really stood out over there the last couple
of seasons, he's been among the best players, if not
the best player there the last couple of years.

Speaker 5 (10:38):
Well, there's a lot of good players here, so you know,
at times his performances have been very very good when
I've seen him play, and but there's other players that
are very very good too, so it's hard to say
he's been the outstanding player. But again, when you look

(10:59):
at the results, he's in a team that's won the
competition twice. He's the teen he drives that team, so
he's obviously playing well and that's a great sign for him,
and it's a great sign for when he goes back
to New Zealand if he continues to do that.

Speaker 2 (11:16):
And after the next World Cup he'll be thirty three.
So if he chooses, would he still command good interest
back in Japan if he chose to come back, say
in twenty twenty eight.

Speaker 5 (11:27):
Well, thirty three is a new twenty three with these
looks like they're all seem to be playing forever.

Speaker 6 (11:33):
So and you know, the recovery and the system of
S and C has changed so much that you know
the guys can play.

Speaker 5 (11:44):
For a long long time, and thirty three's he's just
a baby.

Speaker 2 (11:49):
And just on the standard you mentioned before about where
it sits now. You know League one in Japan, So
is it now? Is it close to Super Rugby? Steve?
Is it between NPC and Super Rugby in general terms
in terms of its strength?

Speaker 5 (12:03):
Well, it depends really if you allow the club to play.

Speaker 6 (12:07):
With no criteria around this foreign players.

Speaker 5 (12:13):
See over here you only had six foreign players and
your squad are twenty three.

Speaker 8 (12:19):
So but.

Speaker 5 (12:22):
That puts you know, if we had to play under
those circumstances and Super Rugby now, I don't think it
is the same.

Speaker 6 (12:29):
Level as Super Rugby.

Speaker 5 (12:30):
However, with the squads have got and they're training with,
I think their training squads are definitely Super Rugby level,
and you know some of the very top teams, some
of the lesser teams down the bottom probably aren't.

Speaker 6 (12:47):
And you know, you can get a few injuries and
you're going to drop off.

Speaker 5 (12:51):
But we saw preseason a couple of years ago Panasonic
competed beat teams. I'm not sure if anyone else one
I think there might have been, I can't remember now
my memory is going. But because a quality of squads
is deep, and it's just getting better better all the.

Speaker 2 (13:12):
Time, and you got Mark Tolay coming your way, it'd
be a pretty decent pickup. Wouldn't he go well up there?

Speaker 5 (13:19):
Well, I hope, So that's why we've picked him.

Speaker 6 (13:23):
We're looking forward to having him and what he brings
to our team.

Speaker 5 (13:28):
And again it's an exciting time for him and his
family and exciting time for the club to introduce him
to Japanese rugby.

Speaker 2 (13:37):
Looking forward to seeing how he goes. Really appreciate your
time and you're insight this afternoon, Steve, Thanks for joining us,
No problem, thank you, No, thank you, Steve So Steve Hanson,
former All Blacks coach, current coach of Toyotava Blitz up
in Japan with some very interesting thoughts anything you want
to pick up on there. You've had time to ruminate
on this as well since the news dropped on Thursday.
Very very keen to talk this through with you. Oh,

(13:58):
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty So the details of
the contract an eighteen month deal from mid next year
through until the end of twenty twenty seven, taking in
the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Of course, Richiem
Moorlngen will have to play NPC first before becoming eligible
for the All Blacks from next October. That means he

(14:18):
won't go on the tour of South Africa next year.
Details of that is still to be released, but we
know it's happening in August and September. So he won't
go on that tour. He'd potentially play in the Bledisloe
Cup matches that follow Those would be his first test
matches since he played in the twenty twenty three Rugby
World Cup Final. Now this throws the cat well and

(14:41):
truly among the playmaking pigeons in the All Black setups.
Some questions for you, how is Boden Barrett feeling right now?
He is the incumbent All Blacks number ten and has
to play for a coach now for the rest of
this year and most of next who he knows thinks
there's a better option. Boden's looking across at Razer and

(15:06):
thinking he's been chasing some other bloke and wants to
get him back. Boden Barrett's a very level headed guy,
but how would you put out of your mind the
fact that your national coach would prefer that there was
someone else out there instead of you? Next question, how

(15:27):
is Damien Mackenzie feeling right now? He is now staring
down the barrel Damien Mackenzie of being the third choice
number ten, and even though unlike Bowden he's an option
at fullback, he is by no means first choice there either.
Will Jordan is surely the man in the fifteen jumper
at least in Damien Mackenzie's favor. Is his impact, his

(15:48):
ability in an impact role, his versatility, meaning his place
in a match day twenty three is still very much
on the table, Unlike Bowden who probably knows he wears
the ten jersey or no jersey. How is Reuben Love
feeling right now? He's been pushed further down the pecking
order in a position he's very very keen to play,

(16:10):
has played for the Hurricanes and now becomes part of
a pretty clogged fullback conversation as well. So will there
even be a place for him on the plane to
Australia in a couple of years time now? And how
would it feel committing everything you have to New Zealand
rugby and seeing a guy parachute and basically to play

(16:31):
in a World Cup and more than likely jet out
back to Japan afterwards. And how was Richie Moulonger himself
feeling right now? He will be well aware of all
the dynamics I've just mentioned, and look, knowing these guys,
they'll find a way. You know, I might just be

(16:51):
making all of this up in terms of how guys
are feeling. I don't know. I guess I'm just thinking
to myself, how would I feel in a simmer situation? Anyway,
Richie Mooonger will be aware of all of this, and
I'm sure we'll slip back into that team with no problem.
He knows those guys pretty well, he's been around them all.
But the spotlight will be on him when he comes back.

(17:14):
It'll be white hot because in many ways, Raser is
putting all of his World Cup eggs into Richie Morng's basket,
and he'll be expected to deliver at test level off
the back of a few NPC matches in three years
in Japan. I think we all knew he was coming back.
Now he is, and it's managing that on a number
of fronts, which is the big challenge for Raiser.

Speaker 9 (17:32):
Now.

Speaker 2 (17:33):
Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty is our number
nine two nine two. If you would like to correspond
by text, a whole bunch of texts coming in, but
give us a yell if you want to get your
point across.

Speaker 10 (17:42):
Hello, Glenn hen here you going?

Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, good Glenn good.

Speaker 10 (17:47):
I think you're over eating and yet to leave it.

Speaker 2 (17:51):
God tell me why, Tell me why.

Speaker 10 (17:53):
I don't think that anyone thinks to going to walk
into the hold legs number Team Jersey, and I don't
think anyone thinks just these boy right, they're going to
win it every season, vote all three All Eggs players
and then night three doesn't go into one. So I
think I want to be the one.

Speaker 5 (18:10):
So they're going to.

Speaker 10 (18:11):
Try really hard. And it's Ruben Love is the same.
You know, you've got to be the best player to
make it. It doesn't matter what who you know, is
what you've done for the All Blacks. You've got to
be the best player. And that's what those doors will
be thinking of me turning the house down, the affecting
the goal kick. And then they'll just do the plan
as hard as they can. They won't sell, they won't
they won't take it out on Razor robertson all you're

(18:31):
like him better than me. It's up to them to
prove that they're the best.

Speaker 11 (18:35):
Right.

Speaker 10 (18:35):
It's not get footy than build.

Speaker 2 (18:37):
Blacks now, you're bang on, and what an outcome that is? Glenn, right,
I mean, what an outcome that is? If you're if
you're if what you're doing is encouraging excellence among a
bunch of guys who are all very good players. Anyway,
then you're right. Maybe this is a great outcome.

Speaker 10 (18:53):
It's a great outcome. That's a great outcome. That's it
couldn't be better. It's fantastic. Ritchie wrong and might come
back and he might not have that step and then
outside guess that you used to. He might not even
make your teammate well to see what happened. So the
beast player obeating.

Speaker 2 (19:09):
Good man, Glenn, great to chat mate, You drive safe.
Thanks for kicking the conversation off for us eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty. How are we ever going to
create depth? Asks Mike in New Zealand Rugby if we
invite Richie back? We have two adequate first fives and
rubin love. I think you'd call Boden barred and Damien
McKenzie more than adequate. The other part of this is

(19:30):
is their room and in all blacks twenty three for
all three of them, I'm not sure that there is
I think Boden barred, as I said before, wears ten
and only ten. If Richie More only wears that, then
you know, and I don't know that he wears another
jersey either, So that's a head to head proposition, isn't it.
And then you've got Damien McKenzie, who I think still

(19:52):
has huge value in an impact role and that might
be his role to play moving forward. Chris, how are
you okay?

Speaker 9 (20:00):
Mate?

Speaker 12 (20:01):
This is I think this is good news in New
Zealand Rugby based on the fact that, like Odin and Damon,
they are ten slash fifteens. But Mulung himself is a
specialist number ten and we've always done well when we've
had a really good specialist number ten. So I'm looking

(20:24):
at this from a we do need him point of
view and it's up to him to prove that he
can make the squad and if he does, great, and
if like Bowden, he may get put Will Jordan onto
the right wing again and put put him in fullback.

(20:44):
I mean, that's an.

Speaker 10 (20:45):
Explosive back line.

Speaker 12 (20:47):
So it's it's not all lost.

Speaker 2 (20:51):
No, no, nothing's lost, nothing's lost, nothing's lost. Chris. I
wonder you know whether Boden Barred is still a fullback option,
certainly from the start of a game. In game, yes,
maybe I just feel as though he now is a
ten and you know, Will Jordan is clearly the number
one fallback. But even if he wasn't there, I wonder
whether the Damien McKenzie might be second cab off that rank.

(21:13):
You know, Body's still got a lot to offer, still
a terrific rugby player. And look, I mean, look, we're
already scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes
to problems, aren't we who were going to choose among
our three top class teams.

Speaker 12 (21:26):
Yeah, exactly, And that's the beauty of this. We bring
him back and give him the crack, and all right,
if you can control number ten, then what happens is
we release the other athletes in their other good positions,
and we've got good, suitable men in there and the

(21:49):
progress going forward. So I looked forward to him coming home,
proving himself, earning his jersey back and steading the ship.
Because there's something that Body and Datmon don't do. They
play rugby like super rugby, Muwanga plays test rugby. There's

(22:17):
a difference there, and.

Speaker 13 (22:19):
You can see it.

Speaker 12 (22:22):
As a proper number ten. There is a proper number ten.
We haven't had that since then, can't left. Then we've
got Muwanga and these guys God bless them, they have
not end like world class number ten. So we need
to bring one back.

Speaker 2 (22:42):
Good on you, Chris, good points, well made, mate, Good
to chat to you. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty twelve thirty heap of text which I'll try to
get two lines of filling up as well, but there
is a spare one becoming available right as I speak.
One hundred and eighty ten eighty as we talked Buden Barrett,
Damien McKenzie and the return of Richie Muonga back in
a moment.

Speaker 1 (23:01):
The Biggest Things in Sports on Weekend Sports with Jason
Time and GJ. Dunnomes New Zealand's most trusted home builder
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Speaker 2 (23:10):
Be twelve thirty three Just wait for the big surprise
next years. Is this text Richie at ten, body at twelve,
Jordie at thirteen. That is giving me severe Christian Cullen
playing center vibes. I'm not a fan of that at all.

Speaker 7 (23:23):
Hello Jeff, Yeah, my thoughts about all us Zi Mahana.
You know he's not the only guy. He's not gonna
won every game for the all Bracks. We've got Toronic
players in there, just as god as Son, the Barrett Brothers,
Damian McKenzie and a few of those new guys. You know,

(23:49):
you know we've put a big spotlight on this guy
and everybody in his.

Speaker 2 (23:55):
I think we can all agree on that he guided
the Crusaders to seven straight Super Rugby titles. I think
that talks about his pedigree. He's won the last two
years in Japan, guiding to Sheba around to rave reviews. Yes,
you're right. If Richie Moonga wasn't coming back, I don't

(24:16):
think we need to wail and gnash our teeth about
our World Cup hopes, but having him there enhances it. Surely.
Would you rather have Richie moore Unga in your team
or not? I think the answer is an unequivocal yes.
What it does open up is the conversation that we're

(24:38):
having this afternoon about where he plays and what it
means for the others, what the dynamics are like, and
whether you can get them all into the same team.
And I think we learned from the As I said,
before the Christian Culen playing center situation. Whenever that was.
It was one of John Hart's ideas, wasn't it. He
had a lot of good ideas, John Hart. That wasn't
one of them to try and get who was he

(24:59):
trying to get on? Jeff Wilson, Jonah Tanna and Cully
all into the same fifteen.

Speaker 14 (25:06):
Hello Morris, Yeah, you know mate, Yeah, it's quite interesting.
But you listen to Chris before he's obviously from christ
because he can't see past Richie.

Speaker 15 (25:15):
But you know, and suddenly saying we haven't had it.

Speaker 14 (25:18):
We haven't had a ten since Dan Carda, will Bowte
and Barrett playing at ten after Carter got.

Speaker 16 (25:22):
Didn't you get two World Players of the years.

Speaker 10 (25:24):
So it is his pedigree.

Speaker 14 (25:26):
My concern is that I think the Raiser is on
the right track. And I'm not a fan of Razors,
but Rich Muhanga, if you look at stats in fact,
not just what you want. When the All Blacks don't
win over fifty percent of the ball. My Wunga struggles
when they're on the back for it against the French,
the Poms and those big packs.

Speaker 10 (25:46):
He really really struggles.

Speaker 14 (25:47):
He's a front foot player. I don't give any credence
to all those Crusaders and what you've done in Japan,
because remember he did a fourteen all blacks. Playing in
the Crusaders, you get front football, you dominate teams and
gig wars. You know, even I'd look good behind that pick.

Speaker 16 (26:03):
So you've got to look at the facts.

Speaker 14 (26:04):
When Richie's under the pump in those big games, they
get to that arrogance in the French when they just
bash you up the middle and there's not a lot
of ball. Boden Barrett thrives on that, and that's where
he's an expactor player. I don't think bode he's got
a problem. I think Richie could be between the two
then on the bench, who off the bench, split the
both and play both together how they played Carter and

(26:26):
Barrett when Carter was here. And the other thing is
that you can then enroll, you fallback.

Speaker 10 (26:31):
And on the wing.

Speaker 14 (26:32):
You've got a lot of options. The guy who's under
the pump en hugely under the pump, and he hasn't
done this is Damie McKenzie. And I always think, yeah,
the hurricane lad who's sort of coming into the shows,
he's not on in this out because he's a very
very good player. I think that actually that there's a
lot of positives for this. I don't think there's a
lot of negatives. And if you look at how Rage

(26:54):
is picking the side.

Speaker 16 (26:55):
Now you've got the.

Speaker 14 (26:56):
Big cloggie from down the Highlanders, You've got a big
pack that actually can win the set piece. They're starting
to dominate the set piece how we need to, which
is what's going to win games, and we'll still going
the nice leathers.

Speaker 9 (27:06):
So I think overall it's all good.

Speaker 14 (27:08):
But I don't think richie's a showing and I don't
think the other guys.

Speaker 9 (27:11):
He's part of the cog is.

Speaker 14 (27:12):
Going to get them to where they need to go,
and I think that would be very very well laid out.
But I think McKenzie's the one who's going to be
sitting say a, do I need to look.

Speaker 9 (27:20):
To go overseas?

Speaker 2 (27:22):
You know, we're yeah, good on you, Mar. It's got
to get to some other calls, mate, but always good
to hear from you. I mean, Damian McKenzie's resigned through
till twenty twenty nine. He's the He's the player in
the current mix who has contracted the longest he's through
to twenty twenty nine. Chris asks, since when is Boden
bardd only warned teen? Much of the last three years
he's been fallback he has, Chris, maybe I didn't make

(27:44):
myself entirely clear. What I was suggesting was that I
think from here on Boden barred is a ten proposition.
He hasn't played at fullback for the All Blacks since
Will Jordan came back? When was that South African tour
last year? From memory is when your Body played against
England at the start of last year and then Argentina

(28:06):
think Jordan came back for the second Test, and since
then it's been it's been Body at ten and Will
Jordan at fall back. Saying with the Blues, I think
Body played a couple of games for the Blues at
full back to start this Super Rugby season, but then
went back to ten. Yeah, I just he just feels
more like a first five to me at the moment.

Speaker 17 (28:28):
John, Hi mate, Hey Poiney, Hey, it'll be interesting to
get your opinion on this. You know, we've had a
bit of a shortage in that number ten Jersey for
the last couple of years now, but with Muhoga coming back.
I think it's a really good thing. I mean, I
think what we'll see after the World Cup is, to
be honest, I think we'll see Barrett retire. He's he's

(28:48):
you know, they're all really really good on the field.
But yeah, to be honest, I'm pretty sick of seeing
about playing style. I think he's just a.

Speaker 10 (28:56):
Little bit too afraid of the ball.

Speaker 17 (28:57):
Now, some of the other guys, you know, don't mind
playing up the ball and getting having those good runs along.
It is quite good at that, so as McKenzie, they've
got the eyes, they've got their ability to do it.
I'm not saying Barrett doesn't, but he just he just
tends to kick the ball a lot. I'm pretty interested
to see what some of the other boys have got
to offer, and especially with you know, Muwanga leading all
those all those wins over Japan and especially for the

(29:20):
Saders as well, it'd be interesting to see what he
brings for the next couple of years, you know, even
though he does have a doubt to you know, jump
back into the NBC. It'd be really really interesting to
see what he has to offer for his Zealand rugby.
And I think what also is going to happen. Is
I think some of those other names maybe like Ruben
Love Love might jump onto like sabbatical and then you know,
body might retire and then boom, you've got two. We've

(29:42):
only got mackenzie and then we've got Muanga left. So
I don't know, what do you think?

Speaker 2 (29:47):
Yeah, I'm like you. I'm very, very excited to see
Richie Muonger back in the All Blacks. I think he's
a terrific player, Johno. You know he's he's a He's
a perennial winner with the Crusaders and with Tashiba. He's
developed his game. I remember when he left. I remember
watching him in twenty twenty three and thinking, man, that
is a good player. And he was all about team.

(30:10):
He was all about improving himself. He wasn't just a flash,
not saying an in the mar but he was very
keen on playing his part defensively. He'd get up and
make his tackles. He's not a big guy. He's a
terrific player and I'm looking forward to seeing him back.
I think you're right about Buddy Buddy be thirty six.
I think at the next World Cup. So I under
Johnny Sexton played at thirty eight for Ireland. But yeah,

(30:31):
I think you're right. I think that might be his
swan song. And yeahber I don't think we're going to
go on sabbatical mate. I think he'll stay. He's been
early in his career even to earn a sabbatical, But
I think he'll be a big part of the team
moving forward. But put it this way, mate, if the
Allbokes are playing in a World Cup final in a
couple of years time, I would expect that Richie mu
Wonga would wear a ten jersey.

Speaker 17 (30:51):
Yeah, absolutely, I completely agree.

Speaker 18 (30:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 17 (30:54):
I mean, well, in the lead up to the World Cup,
those boys will have as much playing around and running
around as they can to you know, really get together
and see what they can do. But I mean, it
just takes one guy out to then fall short and
then another guy might be injured in the next couple
of days before the World Cup or something like that,
and then we're in the you know, and then we're.

Speaker 9 (31:12):
In the deep for it.

Speaker 17 (31:12):
So it's just good to have some sort of experience
back on the field again and see what the rest
of the boys can do.

Speaker 2 (31:17):
Good Man, John, great to chat to you, mate. You
drive safe of eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. You look,
and depth is important. I mean, anyone remember twenty eleven,
you know, I mean it gave us one of the
great stories in New Zealand sporting history with the great
Man Beaver doing the job for us. But he was
fourth choice first five. And Rays has been very, very

(31:40):
forthright about his quest to build depth. We've all heard
about the four four four four deep in every position
over four years to win a fourth World Cup. Well,
if your four first fives are Richie moong, Are Bowden, Barrett,
Damien Mackenzie and Ruben Love, that's pretty good depth much high?

Speaker 19 (31:58):
Mate?

Speaker 20 (31:59):
Yeah?

Speaker 21 (32:00):
How are you good?

Speaker 2 (32:01):
Mitch?

Speaker 13 (32:02):
That's the one. Hey, I don't like it. I don't
like it. Why are we letting a guy that just
wants to go overseas dolls thing and just come back
and jump straight brick in. I know it's not sure
and saw it, but how many when we were at
the top of the world domination for rugby, how many

(32:22):
guys we are playing overseas and then just coming back
and doing what they want?

Speaker 2 (32:28):
None? But times have changed much and and look it's yeah,
you're not the only one who has this view by
the way. You know, I've heard a lot of people
with the same view. It's like, okay, well, it's Richie
Moong's decision to go and play in Japan and benefit
financially from that. There's no secret he's on massive money
over there, nothing we can compete with back here. But

(32:49):
is it just let me ask you this, is it
now just professional rugby that a guy can play three
years in Japan, come back for an MPC in a
super campaign, go to a World Cup and then in
all likelihood go back to Japan? Is that just what
professional rugby is now? And are we okay with that?

Speaker 18 (33:05):
No?

Speaker 13 (33:06):
How many sabbaticals, says Damian McKenzie been on one one?
And why don't we Why why can't we just keep
them here, make them the best number team we can
or justine or whatever, and then just keep them on
that on that track into making us the best team

(33:27):
we can and run for that World Cup instead of
just bringing people in and out all the time.

Speaker 2 (33:35):
That's a good question, and it is, yeah, that is
there is one way they could have gone. I mean,
let's let's not you know, let's not hide from the
fact the reason Richie Morgan is coming back. Is because
raises the coach. That's the reason.

Speaker 13 (33:45):
Absolutely, Yes, absolutely, yes, that's a hard one, that's there.
I'm a big one on loyalty and I know you
would be too because you're a big Wellington man and
that's all.

Speaker 8 (33:59):
That's all you know that we have to do.

Speaker 13 (34:02):
Yeah, but it's just loyalty. There is none us a lot,
but it's none. If you get what I'm saying, I
do much.

Speaker 9 (34:12):
I do.

Speaker 2 (34:12):
Hey, good to chat to you with a counterpoint, mate,
I've got to move, but make callback any time. Let's
keep chatting. Let's keep chatting. And like I say, you're
not the only one with that view, and all views
welcome here. And they're single people. That's why we're talking
about it. It's not just just a cut and drid
Hey's coming back, He's going to play. There's all sorts
of points. I've got about one thousand texts here sixteen
to one back in a sec.

Speaker 1 (34:33):
Don't get caught off side. Weekend Sports with Jason Paine
and GJ. Gunnomes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder news
Dogs v.

Speaker 2 (34:44):
Twelve and a half away from one steph asks, isn't
the setting the precedent that they can all go and
earn big money and come back. I mean in a way, yes,
not all of them are going to get the opportunity.
The very best will. But as Gregor Paul wrote and
as always excellent column on this, is this simply what

(35:05):
professional sport looks like. Like Richie Morgan can spend three
years in Japan, return to New Zealand for one MPC
and one Super campaign, go to the World Cup of
the All Blacks and return to Japan in twenty twenty eight.
He's played a blinder Richie Warner off the field here
and so if he does it on the field when
he gets back.

Speaker 8 (35:20):
Hello, Eden, Hey pony, how's it going first time?

Speaker 6 (35:24):
Oh?

Speaker 2 (35:25):
Good to hear from you, Eden.

Speaker 8 (35:27):
Yeah, yeah, Man, Such an interesting conversation. I think when
it comes to Richard Muwanga, I mean, he's done it all,
he's been at the top level for so long. He's
back to back proves performance. I mean, I think what
we're only talking about is really the opportunity to be
selected based on that performance. Well our hope you know
that experience comes to performance. That's that's the ideal situation.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
Absolutely right, Dan, Absolutely right. So if he comes back
and he's and he's good in the NPC, which we
know he will be. What's your prediction, mate, do you
think he goes into that ten jersey for the Bledisloe
Cup for example, next year for the end of your tour?
You know, if we get to a World Cup knockout matches,
he wearing.

Speaker 19 (36:07):
Team Well, I think someone like Richie Muanga. We're talking
about a world class athlete like one sort of like
on Lebron James a little bit. As far as his
own mind, I think he's sort of got an envision
on how he wants to finish his career. I think
no doubt he will rise to occasion and probably win
the World Cup. However that is and you know, Raiser,
all he's worrying about is in the case of any injuries,

(36:29):
we've got those players to select from.

Speaker 2 (36:31):
Yeah, yeah, Look, I think anyone if you're the coach
of the All Blacks, we're on the coach of the
All Blacks. Like I said before, there's a there's a
very strong relationship between these two. But if you're the
coach of the All Blacks and you've got the option
of having Richie or not having him, it happen every
day other week.

Speaker 22 (36:46):
Me personally every day, and I think I'll probably give
him more credit as much as Daniel Carter's sort of level,
that sort of legendary status, the one they sort of
hand out to Boden a little bit more. I think
Richard wang Is and Damian McKenzie's sort of been a
victim of this, haven't hasn't been given that opportunity to
take the ship like body has, you know, But you know,
each coach has their own style, so that's up to them.

Speaker 2 (37:07):
Really, good man, Eden, Hey, callback anytime mate's been good
chatting to you. Don't be a stranger. You've got the
number now, mate, Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
it dos?

Speaker 9 (37:14):
Hello?

Speaker 2 (37:14):
John?

Speaker 10 (37:16):
Yeah, how you go?

Speaker 2 (37:17):
Good?

Speaker 9 (37:19):
Yep?

Speaker 23 (37:19):
Hey, you just think about it this way, then, the
more good players we have available to win World Cups,
the better. Are just thinking about a fortnight ago, You're
thinking we had three really good young halfbacks and if
we'd have been heading off to a World Cup and
not Argentina this week, well, all of a sudden, Hello,

(37:39):
you got two of your front line. One's better say
I'm home? Where more depth the better?

Speaker 2 (37:48):
Great point, John? In fact, that's a perfect analogy. You're right.
When we were watching the All Blacks play France last month,
we thought, look at us Royguard. We'd have tom hos them,
look at that magnificent and now two of them can't
go to Argentina and are in doubt. Well hope them
definitely isn't Royguard well for these big test matches against
South Africa. History tells us that anything can happen. Surean

(38:13):
Hi mate.

Speaker 10 (38:15):
Finally, good afternoon. I think we have to look at
the strategically. If we shut off the overseas sabbatical together,
we're going to lose more players. I think it's a
whole funded shoot. Museum has really Rugby has never really
come to grips with the professional game. We've had it
for nearly thirty years, but we're trying to migrate to
where I was soccer. But they've never There are certain

(38:36):
questions they can never answer. What do they deal with
their talent? I think it's bad to give some a
bit of rope. Let them do a sabbatical, or let
them do it, play our season and come back and
don't shut the door on them, or else they will
get bitter and they will want or play for the
jersey again. We have to be smart about I think
the ten year plan, and there's stills these questions about
professions in which we can't we've never answered. The rugby

(38:58):
unit has never answered.

Speaker 6 (39:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (39:01):
I mean the big stumbling block or the big obstacle
to letting all Blacks play anywhere around the world is
what it will do to super rugby. That is always
what it comes back to, Sean. What would happen to
super rugby if our top players could play anywhere and
still be All Blacks eligible?

Speaker 10 (39:21):
Well, there would be a sacrifice, but we do we
have to make the harsh reality that we can have
to make a choice between a national team and having
a reasonally good super rugby team. We haven't got the
population based like England does for soccer, where they can
have a top range Premier league and a decent national team.
We haven't got the population to do that. So we're

(39:42):
going to have to have a hard decision. Maybe he's
an opportunity. People are going to make a choice. Is
it going to be the national team is going to
be Super Rugby? I'm an only NBC now, I love
to reach your game, but we haven't got the population there.

Speaker 2 (39:54):
Both, Sean, I appreciate your thoughts mate. Thanks indeed, I've
got to get to a break. But I would say
to you, to you about a strong Super Rugby competition
and a strong All Blacks, I guess I would say,
why can't we have both? We have up till now,
and if we win the World Cup in a couple
of years, then the two things can coexist. With the

(40:16):
likes of what we're seeing here with Richie Moonga as
flavoring to the whole thing seven to one back in a.

Speaker 1 (40:21):
Month, breaking down the Hail Mary's and the epic fails
weekends for it with Jason him News Talk.

Speaker 2 (40:30):
Zenb final text wonderful news is this one? Richie coming
back can only be sent as a positive. I'm a
chiefs man but an All Blacks fan. He's a true
ten dmak, a special player, but a fantastic option for
Jersey twenty three. Very excited to have Lester fighting Anuku
competing for the thirteen Jersey. I see a bit of
Sterling Mortlocke about him. Understand the pushback with players returning

(40:50):
after filling their pockets, but the joy of winning the
World Cup out weighs everything. Thank you for that text
and all of your text. I'm sorry I couldn't get
to everybody. It's a great topic. Well, no doubt, revisit
it again sometime soon.

Speaker 1 (41:04):
The only place to discuss the biggest boards issues on
and after field, it's all on.

Speaker 3 (41:10):
We Join Ford with Jason Vye on your home of Sport.

Speaker 2 (41:17):
One seven on Weekend Sport. I'm Jason pine Bevanda as
a share of producer. Today we're till three in an
hour we're talking rugby league. Massive game for the Warriors tonight,
there's no getting away from it really. I know they're
all worth two points, but the Warriors need a win
tonight man against the Bulldogs. Tough over there. They are
also top four contenders, but Penrith win last night nine

(41:41):
straight by the way, jumped them above the Warriors. So
the Warriors need to win tonight to stay in the four.
They've been there since round six. Monty Betham on the
show in an hour or so. Also our Sporting Chance competition,
your chance to have a bet a bonus bet from
the tab and the winnings will go to you if
you in fact pick the right one. All keep eyes

(42:02):
on Live Sport two once it gets underway. Farah putmer
Cup and MPC among at all, but to kick off
this our thirty five of New Zealand's biggest sports codes,
representing around six and a half thousand sports clubs and
more than one point six seven million participants across the country,
have united to oppose proposed new gambling legislation that they

(42:25):
say could threaten the very future of grassroots sport. The
government is considering a bill to regulate online casinos and
license up to fifteen of those to operate here in
New Zealand. But unlike other licensed gambling such as Latto,
the tab Pokey Machines, they don't plan to make those
online casino operators give anything back to local communities. On

(42:50):
top of that, there are affairs that once online casinos
are legal and marketed, they'll eat into the market share
of Pokey's without replacing the one hundred and seventy million
dollars a revenue that goes back to sport from those
machines every year. One of our foremost sporting administrators and
former international cricketer Martin Snedden, is leading the call for

(43:13):
re examination of the bill and he joins us now, Martin,
thanks for your time. Ever since gambling has been legal
in New Zealand, all political parties have honored the principle
that a share of gambling revenues must go to communities,
including community sport. In fact, the Gambling Act of two
thousand and three enshrines that principle. Pokey trusts have to

(43:34):
give forty percent of their annual revenues to communities. Lotto
and the tab have similar obligations. How has this obligation
been missed in the original drafting of the online Casino
Gambling Bill?

Speaker 24 (43:48):
Half known? Jason, I think your introduction summed up a
lot of the points that I would make, but I
don't understand how they've missed it other than I think
what's happened is that the Department of Internal Affairs, in
preparing analysis to provide to their minister, the Minister of

(44:09):
Internal Affairs, Brook van Velden, has failed to place significant
emphasis or a spotlight on this in order to make
sure that she and then as a consequence a cabinet
has been properly informed about the risk to community funding,
including sport funding. And we should always remember that in

(44:30):
what the pokies do is that sport gets a lot
of funding as you said, one hundred and seventy odd
within a year at the moment, But the same amount
goes to non sporting communities who are operating at the
front line, who are struggling in many cases to hang
on there and provide those services. So it's a huge omission,

(44:51):
and it is I guess I would describe it as
a breach if it went through as it is at
the moment, it's a breach of a social contract that
successive governments have had with New Zealanders over the last
fifty years. Consistently over that time, the conversation about legalization

(45:13):
of gambling has been coupled with a tradeoff, or a
few trade offs, but in particular one that has seen
proceeds from gambling being allotted to community including sport. And now,
for the first time that I know of, they're moving
away from this, and they're doing it without having any

(45:33):
real consultation prior to the bill being tabled with the
impacted communities, and that's not great. So once we found
out about this, and it was really by accident that
I stumbled across this a few weeks ago, we've really
had no choice but to start to make public noise
in order to help the Minister sit up and take

(45:54):
notice and realize the full extent of the rest that
this bill was posing to community funding, including sport.

Speaker 2 (46:01):
Is this an oversight, Martin or why wouldn't they have
put it in there? It's not deliberate surely that they
wouldn't deny community sport and as you've mentioned, you know
why to community organizations and arts, culture, etc. They wouldn't
deny them the ability to benefit from gambling as is
enshrined as a say under the Gambling Act. Is this
just an oversight?

Speaker 24 (46:22):
Well, I've read the paper sitting in behind the bill
and it wasn't an oversight insofar as it went to
Department of Internal Affairs through to the Minister of Internal Affairs.
And I think that there was a very brief, pretty
bland reference in it to paper that went to Cabinet.
But I don't think Cabinet was given the benefit of

(46:45):
some proper analysis as to the real risk here, and
that is an oversight. I think what the rationale behind this, Jason,
is that government quite rightly are trying to regulate an
unregulated area with international online casino operators. I'm told that
over the last five years say, they've built up a

(47:07):
market here worth about six hundred million New Zealand a
year now quite right, the government saying, well, we want
to get some regulation around that, and so that's set
up a framework to regulate, which has tried to entice
international operators to take licenses to operate on a New
Zealand platform. And I guess they've tried to make the

(47:31):
offer attractive because whilst the government itself will take a
twelve percent gaming tax plus GST and a little bit
for problem gambling, I think possibly some of the thinking
was that if they then, on top of that required
the international operators to provide what the class for pokies

(47:52):
have to do, which is additional monies into that could
be set aside for community in sport, and that what
might make their offers offer less attractive. Now I'm looking
at it and thinking, well, hold on, we've got international
operators who are not based in New Zealand, will not
base themselves in New Zealand. Once they get a license,

(48:13):
I will simply enable online platforms to be accessed by
New Zealanders. Apart from what they have to pay to
the government for tach, gaming tax and GST. They're going
to drag all the profits off shore, and over time
community is going to suffer because over time this is

(48:33):
just going to gradually eat into the moneies that can
be derived by the pokies, and as a direct result
of that, the money that then flows onto community, including sport.

Speaker 2 (48:48):
I can't understand how this has happened. Why would the
government not want it to be exactly the same as
the pokies, exactly the same as lotter, exactly the same
as the tab What are they worried? I mean, it's
of an online casino operator doesn't want to contribute to
the country that it's operating within as a as a

(49:11):
give back if you like, then tough, they don't get
to operate here. What's the government? Why wouldn't the government
just just say here are the rules.

Speaker 24 (49:19):
Well, I agree with you. I think that's what should happen.
And if they say, well that's not economically viable for
us to do it, then fine, go and operate elsewhere.
I don't set up a situation which runs a real
risk of really hurting community, really hurting sports organizations. They're

(49:43):
missing an opportunity here. Now I should caveat this by
saying we're only at the first reading of the bill.
There's now a public process that's going through. Hopefully a
lot of organizations and individuals that are now aware of
it because of the noise we've made over the last
few days, will take the opportunity of putting in public
submissions and they have to do it in the coming

(50:03):
week because those finish on the seventeenth of August. And
hopefully once those submissions are and there's a consistent message
there which sends a signal to the Minister of Internal
Affairs that she has to take notice of this, that
she has to rethink this and honor the social contract
that successive governments have had with New Zealanders for fifty years.

(50:25):
And as you said, the Gambling Act is loud and
clear about this, and that should be a principle that
continues through this legislation. So I'm hoping that as a
result of the noise there will be greater realization within government.
I try to imagine, you know, guys like Art Mature,

(50:49):
the Minister of is Fort, Chris Bishop, the Associate Minister,
the Prime Minister himself, Chris Luxen. They love sport. They
do not want, surely to allow legislation to go through
that risks this.

Speaker 9 (51:02):
Happening.

Speaker 24 (51:03):
So now's their opportunity because, as I said, I actually
don't think they were aware of before the last week,
and I think now though, that the awareness of it
will be much greater and the realization of the risk
will be much greater. So hopefully what we'll see is
good praises followed and then adjustments made to reflect this
that ultimately will result in protection for community funding being

(51:28):
inserted into this legislation once it becomes final.

Speaker 2 (51:32):
You said hopeful, Martin, do you feel optimistic that that
will be the case once all the facts are made
known to people who maybe weren't aware of them up
until now.

Speaker 24 (51:41):
I can't get a read on this at the moment
because I haven't had or haven't started conversations with the
key decision makers and influences within government. I've now got
a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs that'll come
up in about a week and a half, so that'll
be a start to the conversation. But I think there's
a whole lot of ministers that will be sitting up

(52:02):
and thinking about this at the moment, and Mark much
on especial will be too because of their portfolio responsibilities
with Sport. Another probably will be Louisa Upston, who's Minister
for Disabilities. Now you know it's not just sport here,
as I've said, it's actually a whole range of organizations,

(52:23):
including organizations that look after people with disabilities, and this
funding from class for poties is essential to their future
financial sustainability. So they can't afford this to be to
be pulled apart by this type of legislation which you know,

(52:43):
on the face of it, it just provides no real
benefits to New Zealanders. Why set up a framework that
enables international operators not to even base themselves in New
Zealand but actually use New Zealanders to grow profits for
themselves and have a flow on effect which ultimately will
hurt organizations that are based in New Zealand that are

(53:06):
looking after people who need help.

Speaker 2 (53:08):
Bang on, bang on. So you're obviously advancing meetings and
good to know that that Brook van Velden has agreed
to meet with you, and hopefully some of the others
you've mentioned will also be involved in conversations. What about
you know, your every day member of a sports club
Martin our listeners, is there anything they can do.

Speaker 24 (53:28):
Yeah, they can, you know, if they care about this,
and they they can find the link on I guess
it's the internal Department of Internal Affairs. I guess if
they google online to see our gambling bill submissions, then
that'll take them straight to a link. And it's a
really simple thing to file a submission. You don't need

(53:49):
to get complicated about this. If someone feels passionate about this,
just get online, fell In and a few sentences, just
I care about this. This shouldn't be allowed to happen,
you know, protect community funding going forward. And if they
do that, and they're just going to add into the
noise that that hopefully then will be enough that governments

(54:11):
sit up and take notice and do something about it.

Speaker 2 (54:15):
I'm glad you stumbled on this by accident, Martin.

Speaker 9 (54:18):
Yes I might.

Speaker 24 (54:19):
I mean, I'm staggered that it wasn't really something of
major discussion in the public domain, simply because it is
such a departure from what has happened in the past,
and philosophically, you know, it's a major departure because everyone
knows that gambling does cause problems for a number of people,

(54:43):
and you know, it's a bit like smoking. You wouldn't
you wouldn't let it happen. But in this instance, over
the years, there's been discussion and it's been agreed that
one of the trade offs is that at least the
proceeds from gambling are put into good causes, including community
in sports. So yeah, that's that's a principle that should

(55:05):
be continued, and that's what happens. And if there is
a sensible mechanism put in place in our percentage of
the gambling profits is set aside for that purpose, if
the right mechanisms are found for getting it to the
front line of community, including community sports, and that's a

(55:26):
great end result and we will have achieved what we
set out to achieve. If it doesn't happen, if the
bill goes through in its current form and this omission
is not rectified, then the damage to this will gradually
become a weird year after year, and it might take
a while for it to fully be seen and realized.

(55:51):
But it's an avoidable mistake. And people now know this
is on records saying you don't have to do this,
you can get it right now, So take the opportunity
please and do that them. Have it proved to you
and then try and classic around and fix a mistake

(56:13):
that was absolutely avoidable in the first instance.

Speaker 2 (56:17):
Good man Martin, good to have you leading the fight.
Appreciate you updating this. So we'll look forward to seeing
what happens in the next little while as you as
you meet with some of the some of the decision makers.
We'll stay in touch. Thanks, Jason, all the best mate.
Martin's ned in there. Yeah, look, total sense. He makes

(56:38):
total sense, doesn't he? Who are the sports that Martin represents?
Asks this text thirty five of our biggest one so
all of them, rarely the big ones, all of them.
And like Martin said, and I can't put it any
more eloquently than he did. The reason we are allowed

(57:00):
to gamble here is because there is a positive flow
on to the community that is enshrined. Enshrined in the
Gambling Act that gambling is allowed, but there must be
a benefit to the community. Poking machines, they're allowed benefit

(57:21):
to the community. Forty percent of their annual revenues go
to communities through the likes of you know, the various
pokey trusts. I'm sure you're aware of them. Same with lotto,
same with the tab They all have to have community
good at the end of it. These online casino operators, Look,
it's right for the government to regulate them, right it is.

(57:42):
It's the right thing to do to regulate them so
that it's not just the wild West out there. But
there has to be a give back for earning regulation here.
Otherwise they're just coming in making money of us off
us with absolutely no give back none. So look, if

(58:07):
you are of a mind to make a submission, and
as Martin said, it's not a difficult thing to do,
then I would encourage you to do so. So many
of us have been or remain involved with sports clubs
and with wider cultural arts organizations, and almost without exception,

(58:27):
those amateur clubs and organizations are at least partially funded
by pokem machine money. A lot of clubs, you know,
rely I was going to say exclusively, that's not the case,
but they rely in huge amount or you know, in

(58:51):
a huge way on pokem machine money, whether it be
for gear for their junior club, you know, new footballs
or goalposts or that sort of thing. That is what
this money goes too. Because the other part of this,
obviously is that if online gambling is regulated here, then
some people will choose that. I reguard to the pokeies

(59:13):
and so if there's no community good, then that money
just shrinks and shrinks and shrinks. And sports clubs are
doing it tough anyway. They're doing it tough anyway. Look,
you may not agree with gambling. That's fine, that's not
what this is about. And there's a few texts coming
through here now saying, look, we shouldn't be gambling. Look,
that's a completely different discussion and not one for a

(59:35):
sports show. Probably what what really is? You know it's
going to happen. So if it's going to happen by
the letter of the law, there has to be community good.
I don't know that there's any other way I can
say it. Anyway, Let's hope that we have a positive outcome.
We'll stay in touch with Martin stend and here's a
good guy to be leading the fight on this. Because
it can't go through and it's current form, it can't.

(59:59):
You may have some views. Oh, eight hundred eighty ten,
eight nine, one, twenty six, we're back in a.

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Speaker 1 (01:01:17):
The biggest things in sport are on weekend sport with
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builder News Dogs NV.

Speaker 2 (01:01:27):
One thirty on text. Excellent discussion about gambling. I work
for an arts organization that gets funding from gambling charities.
We're worried as it will affect our community work as well.

Speaker 20 (01:01:36):
Hello Pip, oh hi yah piney. I'm Pip from the
Napier Business Association and we're proud recipients of gambling funding
to run you know, these our regional street parties that
there is no way that we could run on our own.
So yeah, we're we're we're really consumed and we'll certainly

(01:01:57):
be submitting because the social good that the parties that
we offer in the community are far out way than
at we believe that the funding that comes in.

Speaker 16 (01:02:09):
So yeah, no, we are.

Speaker 20 (01:02:12):
We are worried for the industry because without this funding,
there's no way that we can be offering you know,
parties or events, I should say, street events that create
vibrancy that brings for the ten to fifteen thousand people
to our street every year.

Speaker 2 (01:02:32):
Oh, you've heard about your party. It's magnificent. And as
you say that, you know, without without this funding. How
concerned are you that that this will go through uncontested.
I mean it's going to be contested now for the
likes of yourself and Martin who have taken up the calls.

Speaker 20 (01:02:48):
And I think, yeah, and it's great to hear hear
it in the media and on the radio, because I
think the more and more of us that hear about it,
you know, I'll be going out to my membership of
four hundred and fifty and saying, hey, here's the link.
Send it through. Sends your feedback through Beau because you know,
it's worrying for the sports clubs, you know, the clubs

(01:03:12):
that struggle to you know, it's hard enough to get
volunteers to put their hand up to do things these days,
and you know, if we've got limited volunteer base and
limited funding, where where is the fun going to go?
We're going to lose it completely.

Speaker 2 (01:03:30):
Yeah, real life example. Pip, thank you so much. I
wish you all the best in your quest and I
hope you're one of many many in a similar situation
who are contemplating doing the same thing. It is a
sports show and obviously the reason we got Mark None
was to talk about the impact on community sport. But
it is much wider than that I read this morning
about about the number of community groups who rely hugely

(01:03:53):
on poker machine money. Pip just gave us another example there.
There are so many examples, big and small amounts but
crucial amounts. And sports clubs are struggling anyway. You'll know
if you're involved in one, getting volunteers, you know, memberships
are you know in some places are down, other places

(01:04:14):
they are thriving. But you still need gear and you
need funding for trips. I said on the on a
advisory committee for New Zealand Community Trust for a while,
and the wide variety of applications that came in and
just the breadth of what they were looking for money

(01:04:38):
for and the good that it did just incredible. It
can't be. It can't be, you know, put out risk, Colin,
I mate, can I go?

Speaker 9 (01:04:49):
Mate?

Speaker 25 (01:04:49):
Good?

Speaker 9 (01:04:51):
Now?

Speaker 26 (01:04:51):
Listen, I have a couple of nonprofit organizations which are
eligible for funding from Lilly's Commissioner and Gaming.

Speaker 9 (01:04:59):
Now what I do is I pay my taxes.

Speaker 26 (01:05:02):
Is I believe you all nonprofit organizations should, including Saint
John's and religious church. Now my nonprofit organization applies for
funding at least once a month from gaming in my
area because eighty percent of that profit from those machines
is meant to go back into the community. But we
have a very weird law in New Zealand with gaming,

(01:05:22):
and it states that the barman of the licensed establishments
cannot direct patrons to applications for funding. You have to
research it, you have to go get in there yourself,
pick the paper work up, ask the duty manager for it,
and then you have to apply. You have to apply
and then you also it's a very complicated document. It's

(01:05:45):
not something that's quite easy to do.

Speaker 2 (01:05:46):
You've got but it's worth column.

Speaker 9 (01:05:50):
It's worth it. I've sent a couple of Harker groups
to the States. I've paid for leagues for the state
able athletes. I've sponsored, I've sponsored rugby teams, I've sponsored
poverty I have I've spent as the last team years,
I probably have gotten about eight hundred thousand out of

(01:06:10):
post machines.

Speaker 2 (01:06:11):
Yeah, and well worth it, Colin. As you say, it
is a process that takes some time, and so it should.
You can't just give out money willy nilly. But it's
worth it. It's worth it more to come on this
over the coming weeks and months, and let's hope that
sense is seen. Twenty five to two. Round two of

(01:06:32):
the Bunnings MPC continues today meantime four games, including White
Cuto against Wellington on the pristine playing surface at FMG
Stadium in Hamilton. Graham Minty Mead has the call on
gold Sport and iHeartRadio. How's your weather, mate?

Speaker 27 (01:06:46):
I look at some but radio of a night, Jason,
But it's waken up this morning, dead fine, not much wind.
You know how good the grass is down here? But
so long as Kj's not listening, we'll be right. But
no beautiful afternoon here. I love afternoon rugby, Pinty.

Speaker 2 (01:06:59):
Let's be honest on it's the best kind. It's the
best kind, Minty, And looking forward to your call this
afternoon on Goal Old Sport. White cut All came back
from twenty points down to beat Auckland in the season open.

Speaker 25 (01:07:11):
How were you?

Speaker 2 (01:07:13):
And I gave you a bit the heart failure, But
how in peace were you with the way they came
back in round one?

Speaker 6 (01:07:18):
Yeah?

Speaker 27 (01:07:18):
I talked to Floss and Sweeny yesterday and they said
the best thing that happened was they played eighty one
minutes and they played right through the game. He said,
we knew we had a chance, we just had did
some things go right and play right through the end
of the game and they came home strong. And for me,
last round last weekend won't cool rugby. It's just something
different again, super rugby, a little bit off steroids. But man,

(01:07:39):
there's some cool co getting played out there and a
lot of game players showing up.

Speaker 2 (01:07:42):
Indeed at the other end of the spectrum. Aaron Cruden,
he started that game. He'll come off the bench in
this one. I said to Pie Cook, savare just going
to start at ten? Are those two likely to rotate
across the season? And that ten jumper well and Lima
as well.

Speaker 27 (01:07:56):
Lenda Subuana, he's I don't think he's running out today
because when he did that the side step, they told
me he actually just pulled a handstring a bit. That's
the fastest his hamstrings had gone in a while. But
they're there to bring some experience and James Tucker along them.
Leggy mcgonall, he's standing down. Ross is doing a bit
of rotation today, which is it's really good to see.
But a couple of young fellows popping up and of

(01:08:17):
course Davia Rowe, who I think has been around forever.
Fifty games today, I thought he was close to to
one hundred, but so fifty games will work out there
for the eight half back.

Speaker 2 (01:08:24):
Yeah, special day for him. Did you think he might
be in the All Blacks conversation when a couple of
those blokes went down.

Speaker 27 (01:08:30):
I thought he might have had a sniff Pooney. But
you know, he sort of fell behind Cortez Ratama last
the season and they were fighting with them, and he
was playing great code last year and Courtiz just came
a step ahead. I think he's unlucky. We've got too
many good half backs around at the moment, and yeah,
anyone's got a show because we've probably got six. I

(01:08:52):
think that we could play at half back for the
All Blacks and be happy.

Speaker 2 (01:08:55):
Ollie mathis now. He played open side flanker last weekend.
I see he's on the right wing today. Is the
hype about this kid Reel?

Speaker 27 (01:09:02):
You know, all day long since I first saw him
play first fifteen rugby, I saw him play sevens. I
saw him cut people apart and the boys high. He
was just outstandingly brilliant. I've been away with the sevens
from Britney's now come back with what's going on with
the world. But you know he's outstanding.

Speaker 21 (01:09:22):
It's all right.

Speaker 27 (01:09:23):
The rumble you heard was that some big tall lot
just picked up.

Speaker 2 (01:09:27):
It sounds like Steve Gordon.

Speaker 21 (01:09:29):
V oh yeah, yeah, just arrive.

Speaker 2 (01:09:34):
Stephen's great to have you year. What a double agd
you two. You'll be You'll be looking towards some afternoon
code as well, wouldn't you, Steve.

Speaker 28 (01:09:41):
It's just stunning, you know, come come out, the sun
shining and AJ's left. kJ has left the room so
we can to smoke at the moment. But he just
always produces fantastic pictures and this is no exception. Today
it's looking looking just stunning in a little little wafty breeze.
Blown was it blown? And minty is it's sort of
wester we're in size st We're we're.

Speaker 10 (01:10:03):
In the box.

Speaker 28 (01:10:04):
So yeah, it's Sidney. It's a it's doneing day here.
But I lot two good sides pretty evenly matched, I
think today, and a lot of mature players on both
sides and both camps you know, testing their skills today
as well, So I think it's going to be a
really well contested competition.

Speaker 2 (01:10:19):
Yeah, I was going to ask you as I mean,
do you think you're any chance against Wellington this afternoon? Minty?
Any chance?

Speaker 11 (01:10:24):
Well?

Speaker 27 (01:10:24):
I actually thought we had the wrong team here warming
up because they're in white shirt, white shorts and green tops.
I thought men or two had got lost. But now
it's that is Wellington and they're playing there in green.
You know, has Bucky got them into Marist or something.

Speaker 2 (01:10:37):
I don't know what's happened there. No, it's very much,
very much still the black and gold of the Wellington lines.
And you look, I love this about the MPC. You
talked about Aaron Cruden and Limasoppowanga, and you look in
the Wellington back line and there's Julian Savia and Matt
Proctor brother of Billy, of course, Jackson Garden Baship. There's
plenty of experienced ten twelve thirteen, but I love the

(01:10:58):
way that experience mixers with youth. Steve and this competition
always new faces and new players to enjoy.

Speaker 28 (01:11:05):
I think we just saw that last week and you know,
playing for the Turbos, you know, he was just mister
consistent for them, and then when last week we know
Lima for way Katta was great and it's it's great
to see that they're attracted back here and playing and
I still call it our premier comp This is where
where careers are starting to be forged. And to have

(01:11:28):
those guys back in the mix involved and passing the
bat nine a lot of them and a lot of
them are really happy to do that. In part that
experiences that they've accumulated over their footy careers into these
young players is as just goal.

Speaker 2 (01:11:42):
All right you fine men, look forward to your call
this afternoon on gold Sport and iHeartRadio. What Cut against Wellington,
Graham and t Meat. Steve Gordon, thanks for joining us.

Speaker 27 (01:11:51):
Boys, Yeah, not a problem mate. You realize we have
the tallest commentary team in the rugby competition other than
we use kJ.

Speaker 2 (01:11:59):
Because I had bring the average down, the average down.
He hubs it, he haves it. Good boys. Well see
your boys, Minty, Minty, it's Steve Gordon, our one and
only team from the White Cuttle bringing you White cut
the home games and of course they're there for Super
Rugby as well, and the Chiefs are in town. If
you want to listen to commentary that game with those

(01:12:20):
two gold Sport iHeartRadio kickoff just after two nineteen Away
from two, we're back in the mile across the Tasman
with Adam Peacock, One.

Speaker 1 (01:12:28):
Grudge Hold, Engage, Weekend Sports with Jason Paine and GJ. Gunnerhomes,
New Zealand's first trusted home builder, News talks to Bailey.

Speaker 2 (01:12:38):
Quarter to two. After two, Monty Betham's on the show
as we talk Warriors. I don't know, I'm I don't.
I can't think about this game for too long otherwise
I get too nervous. I know it's only a regular
season game, but it just seems so pivotal to me. Anyway,
we can get to that after two with Monty Betham.
Your thoughts on the Warriors welcome as well. Let's get
you across the Tasman. Our Australian correspondent Adam Peacock joins

(01:12:59):
us at around this time every Saturday and today now exception.
There's some pretty ordinary weather in parts of our country today, Adam,
sounds like it's the same in Sydney where you are.

Speaker 15 (01:13:11):
Yep, crap garbage like I've moved to dun Eden anyway,
the good folk of Dunedin will be Yeah, I probably agree,
just garbage weather.

Speaker 2 (01:13:22):
Yeah, let's talk some Let's talk some Australian sporting stories.
Really worrying news yesterday Western United have been stripped of
their A league licenses that's for men and women by
Football Australia.

Speaker 5 (01:13:34):
Up.

Speaker 2 (01:13:34):
They've got some time to appeal, but this leaves them
on the brink of folding. What is the story here?

Speaker 18 (01:13:40):
So sad?

Speaker 15 (01:13:41):
It has been bubbling away for a while for stories
of late payments to players and coaches and a lack
of super intulation payments and a lack of payouts and
other former players still owed money. It's just horrible and
they're always playing catch up. Western United when they came
into the league, they paid this massive license fee to

(01:14:01):
the FFA then and they said, oh, well, what we're
going to do. We're going to do things differently. We're
going to set up we're going to build our own stadium,
We're going to have a residential accommodation around that. It's
a big real estate play as much as anything in it.
That happens a fair bit in the MLS in America.
Everyone jumped at it and went yeah, but then they started,

(01:14:22):
you know, they got in the caravan and started playing
here and playing there, blah blah blah, that the ground
wasn't built, the ground wasn't built. Finally they've built the
training ground, but it feels like they've got into such
a financial amous that they've just basically run out of money.
Now I don't know the whole story there, and there's
a bit to play out over the next week because
they have said that they're going to appeal, so they've
got that right to do that, but it doesn't look good.

Speaker 2 (01:14:43):
Is there a lifeline here? Is there an avesta who
might ride in and save the day.

Speaker 15 (01:14:49):
Yeah, Well, when you look at assets understrained like this
football club, is the new investor comes out of nowhere
because it appeals to them because they know then exactly
how they're going to make money. Well, the situation the
Alet is in at the moment. This is a club
with a small fan base. They're going to make money
through merchandise and ticket sales and everything like that immediately,

(01:15:09):
Probably not. Are they going to make you know and
came out of coin. Are they going to make money
through TV rights and overall marketing authority? Probably not? Are
they going to make money through bayofls? Potentially They've got
a good crop of young players. But that's you know,
that that's up in the wings. That is you can't
get that's not guaranteed revenue. So when I say that

(01:15:30):
is there going to be a white night? I mean
it doesn't look great. It absolutely doesn't look great. And
they thought they had that a couple of months ago
when an American real estate art came in and allegedly
bought them. But there's been no proof of funds and
this mob have been through this before overseas and been
run out of town. So yeah, it's not looking good
at all.

Speaker 2 (01:15:50):
This is a cursory tale, isn't it. Because they've been
good on the field. They won the whole thing three
years ago, they made the semi finals last year and
the men the women have played a Grand final. So
clearly the on field success is not an indicator of
financial liquidity.

Speaker 15 (01:16:05):
Is This is the really sad thing about it, because
there are good football people involved, starting with John Olwissi,
and they've got a good women's program as well. They've
got a good academy that are bringing through young players
in the Western Melbourne. It's a good football story there,
but the business side of things has let them down
and That's where I feel really sorry for the people
involved as well as the fans. That the people who

(01:16:27):
are running the club behind the scenes that've got it right,
they're doing the right thing, but they've just been let
down by the bottom line and I don't know how
they get out of it.

Speaker 2 (01:16:36):
Well, let's hope that they find a way. Otherwise we're
staring down the barrel of a twelve team a league
means and a reduced women's competition as well. We'll keep
our fingers crossed all the matters around on your side
of the Tasman. The Wallaby's off the back of the
British and Irish Lions series defeat have shelved the guitar law.
So presumably now you can play anywhere in the world

(01:16:57):
and still be eligible to play rugby for Australia.

Speaker 9 (01:16:59):
Is that right? Yeah?

Speaker 15 (01:17:01):
And coming at it from where my bread is buttered
mainly the football world, I can't believe this was a
fee in the first place. Like I get you know,
you want to make your super rugby teams as strong
as possible and this is probably throwing back to the
power of the states in Australian rugby that no, we want,
we want our best and they shouldn't deserve a spot
if they nick off overseas and by bah, those days

(01:17:24):
are gone. But you're going to make your best money
by as a rugby union player in Australia by going overseas,
and that's where the big pot of money is at
that level, at provincial level, club level. So it's just
ludicrous to think that you can go on this way
and then have a competitive baller beside a consistent basis.

(01:17:45):
So I'm glad it's gone all right.

Speaker 2 (01:17:46):
Different over here. Obviously, we continue to have eligibility discussion.
We've been having it this afternoon, so be interesting to
see what it does to the Australian sides and super
rugby and your latest inductees into the Sport Australia Hall
of Fame. This is a glittering array of sports people
who are some of the features of the latest inductions.

Speaker 15 (01:18:06):
He was a great Mars Shawtz is there the most
cap soccer U of all time. So that's great kind
of looking at it and you go, how is it
he in it in the first place? That no, he's
he's been inducted and he'll get inducted pretty much. I'll
have a ceremony in Melbourne pretty much twenty years to
the day since the Uruguay game was the most thirty
years of non compete at the World Cup and he

(01:18:27):
was a massive If not for him, we don't go
through potentially. So yeah, himself, Camera Smith, the great rugy
League player of the four hundred games, mast Caps, NRL
player of all time, tour Bright Olympic gold medal of snowboarder.

Speaker 9 (01:18:41):
She is in.

Speaker 15 (01:18:43):
Jason Dunstill is that AFL player, and yeah, a few
others as well, which is which is great to see.
But good to see Mark Shawts to get a call
up there. Late Hewitt as well, late Heward they call
up too, So yeah, it's a big thing over here
and we celebrate our greatest moment in sport for the
year and yeah it's a really cool night.

Speaker 2 (01:18:59):
Awesome Rod Laver's eighty six birthday today and on this
hope for a ship mate.

Speaker 15 (01:19:04):
Yeah exactly, what a what a legend and it's good
to seem still going to tennis events as well because
everyone gets to pop out of that. So yeah, we're
speaking of Australian sporting legends. And yeah he's in the
curd final.

Speaker 2 (01:19:16):
There's one right there all. I hope your weather improved. Mate,
We'll cheat again next Saturday. Jeez MATEO feet cock out
of Australia as a wet and soggy Sydney. I wonder
if that I have an impact on tonight's rugby league
Action Warriors Bulldogs. I don't know who a wet field
actually benefits. Really, I'm not sure benefits anybody. Let's hope
that it's okay when that game gets underway nine thirty tonight.

(01:19:39):
Adam Peacock part of our Saturday's around this time on
Weekend Sport eight and a half to two.

Speaker 1 (01:19:43):
Back in the month's good from the track, field and
the court on your home of Sport, Weekend Sport with
Jason talks in.

Speaker 2 (01:19:53):
Me coming up five and a half to two. A
major Super Rugby announcement is coming in christ Church on
Monday morning. Media have been invited to attend a major
competition announcement at one New Zealand Stadium at T huh
christ Church Monday.

Speaker 6 (01:20:08):
Now.

Speaker 2 (01:20:08):
You might remember Super Rugby CEO Jack Mesley when he
joined us on the show back in early June. But
a chat about a possible Super Round in Canterbury. Anything
you can.

Speaker 29 (01:20:19):
Tell us Jack, Yeah, we're working really hard to make
that a reality. So I think it'd be such a
great event to bring all of Super Rugby down to
christ Church to help open that amazing stadium.

Speaker 25 (01:20:32):
So yeah, we're working hard on that. We're working hard
with a number of government bodies to make that a
reality and we really hope that things can come off
and that we can announce that soon. It had been
in around the ANZAC weekend as well, which I think
we'll just be a fantastic event.

Speaker 2 (01:20:50):
So that was Jack Mesley speaking on the show back
in June. As I say, an announcement coming of a
significant innovation around Super Rugby on Monday, it have to
be that, wouldn't it have to be Anzac weekend next year?
Accidentally Friday twenty four, Saturday twenty five and Sunday twenty
six April this year, those dates were round eleven of
Super Rakby, so that seems to fit. Te Car's estimated

(01:21:13):
opening date is March April. I wonder whether this would
be the event that actually opens the stadium. I've heard
varying reports about what they want to have as the
first event there, but by ANZAC weekend back end of April,
you think it'll be open, So yeah, if you are
of a mind to attend super Round when it by

(01:21:37):
all accounts Lands and christ Church, then yeah. Weekend of
Friday Friday twenty fourth through Sunday twenty sixth April, with
Anzac down the twenty fifth, of course, might be a
good time to check out some accommodation and some flights
to christ Church official confirmation. By the way, on Monday
after two, Monty Betham and I want your your read

(01:21:57):
on Warrior's Optimism.

Speaker 1 (01:22:01):
The only place to discuss the biggest sports issues on
and after Fields on Wi Jon.

Speaker 3 (01:22:07):
Sport with Jason Vaide on your home of Sports.

Speaker 2 (01:22:14):
Seven on Weekend Sport, I'm Jason Pinebevin jew At producing
the show. We're here for another hour. Then Tim Beveridge
takes over weekend Collective Saturday edition. Quite a bit to
get through between now and then. Stephen Bunting, the world's
number four darts player. He's in Australia the moment headed
our way next weekend as part of a glittering array
of the top darts players in the world. Luke Littler's coming,

(01:22:36):
Luke Humphrey's current world number one girlin Price and Stephen
Bunting among others for the New Zealand Darts Masters. Stephen
Bunting and to join us actually around two to chat
about his year which has been very, very good. It's
got a couple of wins already this year, was a
semi finalist at the World Darts Championship right at the
start of twenty twenty five. Why is it going so

(01:22:58):
well for them? Monty beat them on the rugby league
as well, and we'll play sporting chants, your chance to
place a bonus bet at the tab and and enjoy
the winnings if in fact you make it astute bet.
More details to come on that. I do want to
read your pulse on the Warriors as well, either on
the phone or via text. Oh eight hundred and eighty

(01:23:19):
ten eighty remains our number. Ninety two ninety two of
course is our number for text messages and lots of
live sport to keeping on as well. North Harbor and
Tartanucky have just kicked off at Albany, as have White
Cuttle and Wellington in Hamilton. That's in the NBC and
in the Farah Palmer Cup games between Auckland and White
Cuttle Tartanucky in Northland, Tasman and Wellington all underway, so

(01:23:41):
we'll update you on scores from those matches as well.
But as we always do it around about this time
on weekend Sport, it's time to get you across some
of the stuff that you may have missed over the
last little while. It's in case you missed. It's starting
in Zimbabwe where the Black Caps have taken a very
firm grip on the second and final cricket Test against

(01:24:02):
Zimbabwe and Bulawayo it stumps on day two they are
six hundred and one for three. That is a massive
lead of four hundred and seventy six runs centuries to
Devon Conway.

Speaker 30 (01:24:17):
Not there though, the half folly down the ground and
a Test hundred for Devon Conway are terrific innings is.

Speaker 1 (01:24:24):
Fifth Test hundred and he continues to dominate the Zababwe
and bowling.

Speaker 2 (01:24:29):
One for Henry Nichols.

Speaker 31 (01:24:30):
There we go another main feature star of the show today,
Henry Nichols as he goes to one hundred, one hundred
and two tenth in Test matches.

Speaker 2 (01:24:40):
And for rchen Revendra running.

Speaker 30 (01:24:43):
With the shot, he'll make it comfortably in another Test hundred.
Rich In Revenger his third in Test match cricket and
it comes at double quick speed.

Speaker 2 (01:24:51):
So day three underway at around eight o'clock tonight. Will
New Zealand pull out and trying bowls and babewe out
for another three day test or they just bat on.
They could get anything. They could get a thousand if
they beat on. Henry Nichols and Ruch and Revendra are
still batting. The English football season is underway, Birmingham hosting
Ipswich Town to begin the second tier championship season. The

(01:25:14):
home side went ahead early in the second half.

Speaker 4 (01:25:16):
Kyoko, he's away here, Kyogo comes back off the Pasty.

Speaker 32 (01:25:20):
Praigs Thistl Turningham's breakthrough moment and it comes from Jay
Statsville and that championship season has its left off.

Speaker 2 (01:25:31):
But Ipswich Town leveled things up very very late on.

Speaker 31 (01:25:36):
By minutes into stoppage time, Hurst against Allsop, and.

Speaker 32 (01:25:41):
Hurst tucks it away. Ipswich level with their first attempt
on target off tonight.

Speaker 2 (01:25:49):
Here one one was the final score to the NRL.
The Panthers continue their charge, far too good for the
Knights in Newcastle when.

Speaker 11 (01:25:57):
They'll play remaining big wins of the Panthers. They've made
a nine on the truck here in Newcastle. At the
moment they are in the top four on the live ladder.

Speaker 2 (01:26:07):
They are smiling. Why wouldn't they be.

Speaker 11 (01:26:10):
At full time they've taken down the Newcastle Knights forty eight.

Speaker 2 (01:26:15):
Points to twelve. The're convincing from the Panthers. Then the
Raiders went back to the top of the table, coming
from behind to beat the Sea Eagles.

Speaker 7 (01:26:22):
A fuger.

Speaker 33 (01:26:23):
It's strange, look they had it in the sapway matter.
Chris is in a bizarre play with the Raiders.

Speaker 6 (01:26:29):
Try the end.

Speaker 33 (01:26:31):
Beeth and strange look like a glitch on a video game.
But it didn't matter because Chris picked up the crumbs
and put it under the posts.

Speaker 2 (01:26:40):
Twenty eight to twelve the final score there and finally
to the Bunnings ENDPC Northland are on the board after
a twenty two seventeen win over Southland and funga Ay.
The Tunny Far trailed seven mill at halftime, at fought
back thanks to a second half hat trick to their
replacement hooker James Mullen. At author picture starting to drive

(01:27:01):
in the hands of looks like.

Speaker 5 (01:27:03):
James Mullen case of the line and the replacement hooker,
but Zuck he's got his third try.

Speaker 1 (01:27:10):
The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Vane and TJ Gunner Homes New Zealand's
most trusted home builder News Talks Evy.

Speaker 2 (01:27:20):
Just updating you on buddings ENDPC Action. Wellington have scored
the first try against White Cuto in Hamilton. They lead
by seven points to nil. We've had about seven minutes
there at scoreless. And the other game between North Harbor
and Taranaki and actually Wellington are doing okay in the
Farah Palmer Cup as well. They've scored the opening try
and Lee Tasman five nil. That game being played in Nelson.

(01:27:44):
They've had about five or six minutes there as well. Massive,
massive game for the Warriors tonight they meet the Bulldogs
from nine point thirty in Sydney. They go and off
the back of consecutive home defeats to the Titans and
last weekend to the Dolphins, and with as we've just heard,
the Panthers winning their ninth straight match last night, the

(01:28:05):
Warriors need to win to retain their spot in the
top four. In fact, if the Sharks would have beat
the Dragons and the five o'clock game today, they too
would jump ahead of the Warriors. So it's possible the
Warriors could end the weekend in sixth if they don't win. Conversely,
of course, and let's think positively, victory would restore confidence

(01:28:26):
and keep them in the top four, where they have
been ever since Round six. That's how big this game is.
Former Warriors captain and our Skysport commentator Monty Betham is
with us on Weekend Sport. Monty four losses in the
last six, including those back to back defeats at home,
where do you think Andrew Webster and his coaching staff

(01:28:47):
would have been placing their major focus ahead of this
weekend's game against the Bulldogs.

Speaker 18 (01:28:52):
Well, I think I know that being in the change
room after their last loss or most recent loss, was
the fact that they're happy, they're again together, are going
to be in camp. They went over on Wednesday and
morning this week, so the top thirty we're there. They've
spent some time to connect, to think about what's important,
then to really get up for this game, and there's
no lack of mo motivation for tonight. That's what sure.

(01:29:13):
Playing a top four team playing at a course at
them and that goes both ways for the Bulldogs as well,
realizing that they were below their best last week out
against the Tigers. They're at home and that they want
to be. They're at the business time of the season.
It's going to be at the very ground. So that's
a great game tonight. I'm looking forward to Pony Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:29:31):
Sa same Monty. Absolutely, injury should never be used as
an excuse. But how big a part have they played
in the last couple of months for the Warriors. Well
we hear about the.

Speaker 18 (01:29:40):
Man up mentality or next man up mentality, but last
week there was nixt boy up mentality. You know, you
had three guys here on the bench and four guys
overall and the team. They were part of the under
nineteen issue ball side in twenty twenty three and then
just two years later they're playing viral roles against the
Dolphins a game media stadium. I think the first two
interchanges were tennis Dalis Smith coming on and then also

(01:30:03):
debut on Eddie Toyava. You know, so that Ramitoyas So
that just shows you.

Speaker 8 (01:30:11):
How light they are.

Speaker 18 (01:30:12):
But in terms of saying that these young guys are
guys of the future, and if they had have got
it right, which they are really close to getting it right,
it's a lot of trust that has shown and then
also complemented and well received from the young men.

Speaker 2 (01:30:24):
Absolutely right. Well, there's been a bit of shuffling as
a result of unavailability. Did you like the look of
chance nicol klukstar in the centers.

Speaker 18 (01:30:33):
Yeah, well, look, there's other parts of his game. What
I did like was having both he and Tane on
the field at the same time, and what Taine's been
able to do at the back with those young fresh
feet very fast. We know that defense of the Utan
has always been the man at full back accounts the
splits well and he's come up with some big tri Savis,
and we've seen that also from Taine to it. I

(01:30:54):
just feel that much more confident when you've got some
guys in the centers with great communications schools, because it
helps the guys a little bit wider. And Roger was
in fine form last week, and I have no doubt
there is some of his fine form three hundred and
thirty five meters was down to the fact that Mia
challenge inside them, egging him on. He is the barometer
in terms of high performance and getting people up at

(01:31:17):
and motiv motivating people to go well. So I did
like the look of that last week for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:31:23):
How have you assessed Tenor Boyd's first four games in
the seven Jumper?

Speaker 18 (01:31:27):
Yeah, look, I think his first game at Game Media
that's my stadium, was the best, of course, But you know,
I do think he's been carrying a little bit of
some niggles of late as well, and I think that's
made a little bit harder. But for him in terms
of being still very very young and very experienced and
a guy that's really enjoying the environment at the club.
You know, even before he plaid a game he decided

(01:31:48):
to take up his option for another year, has been
enjoying being in the club and around. The learnings of
Andrew Webster and other coaches have for me and just
the boys. They have connected their average type the titles
I've seen for some time, and luck he's played a
big par and we saw last week that was very
much in the spine of the new South Wales Cup

(01:32:10):
that were playing together and they've been instrumental and the
success of that side. Who's been right up there. I
think if that day this weekend they might secure the
minor premiership for the new Southwest Cup competition. Is that
he's able to come up and play just as well.
Within the side.

Speaker 2 (01:32:27):
There were concerns for a while monthly over the right
edge defense of the Warriors. Have you seen improvement there?

Speaker 18 (01:32:32):
Yeah, I think bring him Adam Pompeo was a huge improvement.
But no doubt doubt DLM what kin as a liz
NeXT's been wanting to improve and feel better about himself
and sometimes that comes with confidence as well. Also from
the inside you let to do a job in terms
of pushing and enstooging to get across the for pressure
inside players so they've got less time to play. And

(01:32:52):
also by getting across aminza edge or a four men
defender who's here in the second row, he can be
a little bit wider, which is gives a bit more
time and space for the center and the winger to
help out. So yes Dale has been making a few
areas of la in terms of his decisions that went
to come in. But also that comes under pressure with
the guys on the inside. But so much better looking

(01:33:13):
point in the weekend, and I think Adam Pompey, who
for if we're honest, each year, you know last year
and the previous year, people go, well, I think he's
going to be struggling to hold on to that that
center jumper. But every year he just turns out you
provide and he's he's a one constant in terms of
that that center that each week is out there and
doing his singing.

Speaker 2 (01:33:33):
Very well without wanting to pump a young blokes ties
up too much. What might leck a Hella Seima's ceiling be.

Speaker 18 (01:33:42):
Well, he's the last player to scored ten tries and
afford the Warriors as afford for the Warriors was Ali
lap Back in two thousand and two. So lekas on
ten right now, the season is not over. You'd think
he'd be a specialty to score another couple of tries. Look,
the ceiling for this kid could be outstanding. I knew

(01:34:03):
this from a few years back, and I think fed
the club. But it depended on how well he applies
himself for the work effect, which is a solid one,
and how he deals with the fame of what he's
been able to do each week, where he talks about
defense and addresses defense because he realizes that this kid
can do it all. He's not just a one trick pony.

(01:34:23):
A lot of guys over the year is a wonderful attackers,
but they get lost in the defenses of the more
they become a liability. I don't think that's going to
be the case of Liquor. He wants to learn. He
goes after the areas and he pushes really hard. Although
I did him lying down last week with about of
severe cramp and he'll realize that he can't be doing
that and as your shot and this year you're going

(01:34:45):
to be gone, that you can't just do that. But
in saying that, like this is a wonderful kid who's
all of a sudden shot to such start and amongst
the young supporters and fans of the Warriors, but he's
been level headed pony, which is great to see.

Speaker 2 (01:34:58):
All Right, Bulldogs away tonight, then Dragon's home, Titans away,
Eels home, see Eagles away. You reckon three wins? Those
five would be enough for the top four.

Speaker 18 (01:35:09):
Yeah, well that's the other thing. I think three from
five probably will be enough. But to be honest, it
may take the fourth, but it depends on tonight in
terms of how the guys go against the Bulldogs, what
they're able to do with that weekend camp, with that
mini camp, and then you know obviously what you're able

(01:35:30):
to do on top of that going forward will help
you because the confidence you take the wind like that
when you're back against the wall, you've had two losses,
you yet to have three losses in the row this year,
and you go on top tip over a top four,
you know, a favorite for winning the competition. That will
do wonders for the side, but you know it's going
to be a hard game. Last time Mount Da paid
of course stadium with a thirteen twelve one point when

(01:35:52):
to the dogs, and I think will be close again tonight.

Speaker 2 (01:35:54):
All right, well, look forward to seeing how it plays out.
Always appreciate your analysis, Monty. Thanks for joining us, mate,
Thanks funny, Thank you mate. That's Monty beat them with
his thoughts. He's confident. Worris fans, let me read your
pulse on this. Let's have let's have a bit of
a yarn about this. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten
eighty lines open. How confident are you feeling? Warriors fans
ninet two ninety two. If you just want to summarize

(01:36:16):
via text, Big boost. You've probably heard this news. Captain
James Fis Shaharris will play. He'll start at prop having
recovered from that calf issue. It means Maratta near Corda
heads to the second row. Liqua Helisima will move to
the bench. That's massive, massive, there's no weight Egan still,
Rock o'berry and Ali Laiatawa are still a couple of

(01:36:38):
weeks away. Jacob Laban won't play until the finals at
the earliest with the leg injury he suffered last week.
But having James F. Shaharris back is massive for his
leadership and his influence on this team as much as
anything else. The team's always better when he's in it,
and it does release. As I say, near Quarte back
to the second row allows lack Ahalasima to provide his

(01:37:00):
impact off the bench. It'll be great to have that
cavalry back in the centers with Barry and Laiatawa, as
I say, a couple of weeks away, so they'll be
arriving back at a pretty key time. I don't mind
the back line. I've gotta say chances a good stop
gap at center. I don't mind. That much better solution
than having Kurt Capewell. There he's a second rower. He

(01:37:21):
was really only ever there as a as a as
a temporary solution. And Andrew Webster said, I don't know
how many times he said we don't want them there,
we want them in the second row. Well there he is.
And the spine, as Monty Beatham says, this is the
spine from the new South Walest Cup side that's lost
just one of their twenty games. They lead that comp

(01:37:42):
by seven points. Tang Taipicki tanor Boyd Sam Healy. Big
knights for those blokes tonight, Big Knights, Big knights for
everybody ready. A Warrior's wind would see them reclaim fourth
spot from Penrith, who moved into the top four with
their ninth straight win, thumping the Knights last night forty
eight twelve in Newcastle. And as mentioned of the Sharks

(01:38:04):
beat the Dragons at five o'clock, they too would jump
ahead of the Warriors. So a loss for the Warriors
tonight would mean they could end the weekend in sixth.
Look you know it's there's no catastrophe to be had here,
but a win tonight would be massive. It would be

(01:38:25):
such a massive boost to go to Sydney and beat
the Bulldogs, who themselves have real designs on that top
four would be massive. Can they do it? A eight,
one hundred and eighty ten eighty. Give us your levels
of optimism or anything in particular that stood out from
the chat to Monty or your conversations with your Warriors

(01:38:47):
mates during the week. Text you on watching the Warriors
like I used to watch horror movies as a kid
from behind the couch, occasionally peaking a look when I'm
feeling brave. I love it, David Queen's stance, here's Jason
like everyone else. I'm hoping the Warriors can't get the
win tonight. I just hope they take the opportunities to
take the two when they get penalties on attack. The
tries will come when they come, but take the two

(01:39:09):
points it can potentially mean an extra six or more
points a game so important in type games, especially as
we head towards the playoffs. How much did they lose
by in their last game up the Wars? Thanks Dave? Yeah, look,
I think in hindsight, if you go back a week,
they would have. You know, of course, hindsight's always twenty twenty,
but they would have taken the two points, wouldn't they?

(01:39:30):
Andrew Webster explained it though, explain why they didn't take
the penalty to put themselves out by four points against
the Dolphins. He said he could just imagine a scenario
under which the Dolphins kick off Regather score a try,
and then we're having a different conversation. He said, we
would rather have kept them pegged down that end, which

(01:39:50):
is what they decided to do. Didn't turn out in
their favor, but at least the rationale for it was sound.
Two twenty five. Stephen Bunting before three, But let's talk
some league oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty nine,
two nine to two on text back with some of
your calls after this. Two twenty five.

Speaker 1 (01:40:07):
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(01:41:01):
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Speaker 1 (01:41:14):
The big issues on and after field Call oh eight
hundred eighty ten eighty weekends Ford with Jason Pine and
GJ Gunner Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home Bilder News
talk to.

Speaker 2 (01:41:25):
Baby two twenty nine Talking Warriors. How confident are you? Greg?

Speaker 34 (01:41:31):
I'm a bit like you piney, but nervous, Yeah, a
little bit nervous. I think something that a lot of
people haven't thrown into the conversation is that the Dogs
lost last week as well, so they're going to be smarting,

(01:41:52):
you know, to try and get the two points as
they're in a bit of a situation like we are.
But yeah, at Combank Stadium as well, that that's their
home ground. They have said that the Warriors have gone
all out to give tickets left, right and center in
the area, so there should be a good Warrior's support.

Speaker 2 (01:42:16):
Well, I agreed, I read, sorry, mat, I read that
they reckon that Warriors fans could outnumber Bulldogs fans. There's
forty thousand capacity that ground. As you say, there's been
tickets handed out, and I'm just reading hair data shows
Warriors supporters have bought more tickets and Bulldog supporters for
this one.

Speaker 34 (01:42:36):
Yeah, I heard that somewhere myself. So obviously the supporter
would be good. But I just I just don't know, Sessher.
Harris has obviously got to be put in the mix,
but I'm still I'm still worried about the right edge.
Alan's still coming in far too close to the centers. Yeah,

(01:43:02):
I'd rather have Charms back at full back and put
to a pecking maybe into standoff, and put Harris Davida
at center, maybe just for the defensive side of things.
Got some to a peck. He's not a big boy.

Speaker 2 (01:43:22):
Yeah, I'm not sure to be chopping and changing it
too much. I don't, I don't. I think Harris Davida's
best best position is probably in that six jumper tenor
boy do I think is growing game by game, and
I think a big one from him is necessary tonight.
And yeah, look, I think Charms once, once a couple
of those centers are fit again, the likes of Berry

(01:43:44):
and Latawa, I think we will. We will see him
back at fullback.

Speaker 34 (01:43:49):
So yeah, I think I'm going for I'm going for
golden point in a Warrior's win.

Speaker 2 (01:43:56):
Golden pointed a Warrior's win. That is the spirit. Greg.
Let's chat tomorrow, mate, We're going to unpack it all tomorrow.
So give us a yell back and we can either
lick our wounds or celebrate the victor Anthony on text
Jason as a lifetime supporter and business sponsor of the
Warriors for more than two decades. I'm betting We're going
to win this one. The Warriors have had disappointing outings

(01:44:18):
in the last two games that we expected to win.
Tonight's game wouldn't rate as one we should definitely win.
But the Warriors are going to do what they do,
and I smell a win in the year as Anthony,
who finishes by saying, I'm betting my neighbour's house on it.
Love that, Anthony, Love that. Lindsay's Jason Monty has made

(01:44:38):
me feel better. Thanks Monty. Do you think having heaps
of Warriors fans in Sydney will help our chances?

Speaker 6 (01:44:44):
That?

Speaker 14 (01:44:44):
I do?

Speaker 2 (01:44:44):
I really do. I can't see how it could possibly
be anything other than a massive boost to have such
a big crowd in coming. Yeah, I think it's going
to be a massive boost to us. Leroy, Hi mate,
I'm getting bunny.

Speaker 21 (01:45:00):
Are you very good? Leroy?

Speaker 2 (01:45:02):
What's your level of confidence ahead of tonight?

Speaker 27 (01:45:04):
Mate?

Speaker 16 (01:45:06):
Real confidence?

Speaker 15 (01:45:07):
No panic?

Speaker 16 (01:45:08):
Yeah, you want to go there? We'll get those two
points just listening to their guys before me. I don't
think putting taint your picky into your half and putting
down into the centers is the one. I think as
that is now tains is good at at the back
end for chance in the centers.

Speaker 2 (01:45:27):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, Tane's been playing fullback for the new
Southwest cap side, hasn't he. That's where he's been playing,
you know, so well for them. So look, I agree
with you Lee Roy. I think that you're given the
one jersey, you know, playing where he's used to playing.
I really like him. Uh you know, I know I
played on the wing before Dellan came back, but I've

(01:45:48):
always liked the look of me. It's not the biggest guy,
but ma'am what a heart.

Speaker 16 (01:45:53):
Yeah, they know he's got heart and many he's got
a lot of speed and you know there's some players
there that they set up and they normally and they
normally score. So yeah, and with Sam and hockey and
as well family. Yeah, you know that's the the guess
the reserve great bloody you know fine yeah, yeah, that's
time for money Martin. You know last week was was

(01:46:14):
it's fine, it's money Martin. Anybody had to go back
out on the reserves for Shennon. So now I like
the bunny they well I can't wait.

Speaker 2 (01:46:24):
Yeah, god on you Leroy, Look, I'm gonna have your
words ringing in my years mate, give me a call
tomorrow if you get a chance tomorrow after mid day
to sell back and we can chat about it almost
like sort of revisiting things, revisiting predictions afterwards. Bevan Dewa
is producing the show today. You'll know Bevan's voice as
h as one of Sky Sports commentary team. How do
you feel about this mate? You've seen a lot of

(01:46:46):
this team and how are you feeling about tonight?

Speaker 21 (01:46:50):
Not confident?

Speaker 35 (01:46:51):
Ifs to be completely honest with you, Pioney, you're taking
on a top four team. Canterbury could possibly be in
the Grand Final by the end of the season. Look,
I personally think the Warriors won't win tonight. They should
though next week they should theoretically beat Saint George and
they should theoryically beat the final home game which is
paramatter as well, So they should get two more wins

(01:47:12):
left in the last five games, pushing it to win
four out of five to make the four. But I
think Pineyer at the end of the day, it's a
messive tick in the box as if they can at
least make the eighth. And that's an improvement from last season,
isn't it?

Speaker 2 (01:47:26):
It has been? But yeah, i'd be. I think a
lot of people would be so gutted given the fact
we've been in the top four since Round six. And yes,
I know it's a long season and injuries happened all
that sort of thing. Yeah, it would be if you
lose tonight, it would be difficult. You'd probably have to
win three of the last four, wouldn't you. And as
you've mentioned s George at home and the Ears at home,

(01:47:47):
but then they've lost their last two home games, Titans
who seemed to be a team we can't be, no,
and then then see you go was away in daily
Cherry Evans final game for the club where there's gonna
be all sorts of emotion wrapped around. So tough games
to come, No, that's right, and at any of the day.

Speaker 35 (01:47:59):
Also, you know, losing to Gold Coast at home after
leading by what two tries in the first six minutes
or so, thought that was going to be a blowout
it wasn't. And then again last week against the Dolphins,
which we probably should have shut that game out, we didn't.
So yeah, look, as I say, tonight, in my opinion,
Canterbury probably win. But in saying that we should probably

(01:48:20):
win against Saint George and also paramettera possibly finished sixth
by the end of the regular season.

Speaker 2 (01:48:28):
That's my prediction anyway. Yeah, you're too much of a
voice of reason for me, Bevan, but I don't mind it.
It does counterbalance the rather naive optimism that I tend
to bring to these things sometimes. Thanks for your thanks
for your and mate. We'll see how they go and
we will cover off the Warriors tomorrow after midday. We're
going to move to darts though, the world's top players

(01:48:48):
heading to Spark Arena in Auckland for the sky City
New Zealand Darts Masters next Friday and Saturday. It marks
the tournament's much anticipated return to Walkland and it's debut
at the larger venue of Spark Arena. This year's event
features a stellar lineup of international stars Luke Humphreys, Luke Luttler,
Goin Price in world number four. Stephen Bunting is also coming,

(01:49:13):
he joins us now on the show. Is this your
first trip to New Zealand, Stephen no, no.

Speaker 21 (01:49:18):
I was there ten years ago. I did the the
Auckland Arts Masters ten years ago.

Speaker 36 (01:49:22):
So it's nice to be to be coming back to
New Zealand to Auckland and I'm really looking forward to me.

Speaker 2 (01:49:27):
You are coming in great form. Four World Series finals
this year, two wins. Only Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor
have ever won three in a year. What are you
doing so well right now?

Speaker 21 (01:49:37):
I think just believing in me honor ability.

Speaker 36 (01:49:39):
Obviously, playing against the best players in the world every
week now is really improving my game, going in sharp
and feeling good. So it's all about turning up here
one showing my best arts on the other side of
the world, and yeah, I'll keep them trying to improve.

Speaker 2 (01:49:56):
Have you always though, believed in your own ability? That's
not something that's just happened in the last little while,
is it.

Speaker 6 (01:50:01):
No?

Speaker 36 (01:50:02):
No, There's been obviously times over the last probably four
or five years where I've felt down in the dumps
and ready to walk away from the game. But I'm
in the best possible mind state of the mina. I
feel unbelievable with me darts. I'm enjoying it and walking
around with a smile on my face and to get
to come to these countries who can enjoy darts and
I'm so happy.

Speaker 2 (01:50:22):
What keeps you going in the in the more challenging times.

Speaker 36 (01:50:26):
I think obviously it was well documented to seeing a
sports psychologists and a hypnotist and and they've really changed
my mindset the way I thought about the game and stuff,
and obviously seeing the fans over the last few years
it's been a massive help. Tearing up to tournaments and
people shouting and chanting my name now being well number four,
getting up to the high in the rankings, and keeping

(01:50:48):
to improve, seeing that improvement in the backstages and on
the biggest stages of the world.

Speaker 21 (01:50:54):
And yeah, I think that's really really helped.

Speaker 36 (01:50:56):
And obviously the darts is just getting bigger and bigger,
and I'm one of the biggest names at the minute,
well number four and just enjoying life.

Speaker 2 (01:51:04):
To be fair, how much of the sport is confidence?
How important is that?

Speaker 21 (01:51:10):
I think it's the most important thing.

Speaker 36 (01:51:12):
Going in with any confidence, especially when it's high, you
can win any single title you want. Obviously, the players,
the standard of play now is increasing every year, so
to keep up with that, we've got to work hard
behind the scenes, do all the tournaments we can and
make sure that we keep ourselves to the top of
our game, and obviously winning breeds confidence. So I've won

(01:51:34):
a few tournaments this year as well, which has rarely helped,
and confidence sky high. Like I said, I'm coming into
Australia and New Zealand on great forming a long way
that continue.

Speaker 2 (01:51:43):
Absolutely right in Poland recently ran a rap to Goobin Price,
but eight seven in the finals, so I could have
gone either way. But on the way you beat Luke
Littler and the semi's everything one hundred and four point
one two terrific semi final. Tell us a bit about
that match.

Speaker 36 (01:51:58):
Yeah, obviously, anytime you play Luke, you know you need
to play to your best ability. He's such a fantastic
player and he's the reason why it is so popular
now at the minute, everyone speaks about Luke little and
no matter watch sport you watch. So it was really
important to get that win over him. I know I
gave everything to that game, but he never went away.

(01:52:18):
Even when I got on top of him, he was
still clawing back, lawing back, And yeah, it's so important
that when you get so far ahead of an opponent,
you've got to finish them off, and that's what I
was able to do. But he's such a great character.
He's brilliant for our sports and We're going to have
many more battles over the coming years.

Speaker 2 (01:52:35):
Absolutely. Well, of course you had one at at the
World Champs at the start of the year in the
in the semi finals. How do you reflect back on
your on your most recent appearance at ELI Pelly in
the World Champs right at the start of twenty twenty five.

Speaker 36 (01:52:47):
Yeah, I think that's been a catalyst, to be honest,
to be able to move forward this season. I think
obviously getting to the semifinals was a massive achievement for me,
obviously pushing myself up the rankings back up.

Speaker 21 (01:52:59):
To well up to a world high of well on
before now.

Speaker 36 (01:53:02):
So it's been really great, to be honest, it's been
It's help me on the Well series getting back into
that playing Premier League as well, which has been amazing.
And obviously I know that I still need to work
hard to be able to do this for the for
the seeable future, and I'm trying to do that. And yeah,
I'm sure PDCC how well I'm doing, and they they

(01:53:23):
obviously looking after next year's already, so I want to
be back in them. I want to be doing these
well serdies year after year and I want to be
competing at a daughter at the highest level, and that's
what I'm going to try and do, and especially against
these these young whipper snappers like Luke Little and who
are coming through and other players who are there, It's
going to be difficult. But yeah, I'm not getting any younger,

(01:53:44):
but I'm getting more hungry to win titles.

Speaker 2 (01:53:47):
That Simmy, are you average ta hundred and that's semi
How does it feel when you throw so well but
but you still don't win.

Speaker 36 (01:53:55):
You've just got to take your hat off, to be honest, obviously,
when when I know that I'm playing well, I can't
get up too upset in the game.

Speaker 21 (01:54:02):
I can.

Speaker 36 (01:54:03):
I've come away from that game, to be honest, I was.
I was upset that a lot, but I think the
performance levels I took a lot of confidence away from that,
which helped me build towards the rest of the season.
As you've seen, I've won a few titles this year
as well, the World Series titles and stuff. So yeah,
I'm really happy with the way we form is consistent
wise as well. I'm one of the most consistent on

(01:54:24):
the on the on the tour at the minute, and
that makes me dangerous And yeah, I just I just
feel like I'm part of the part of the PDC
now Top four, playing Premier League, all the well sadies,
and yeah, it's a great time to be a dark
player as well, and I'm just reaping the rewards and
enjoying every little bit.

Speaker 2 (01:54:42):
You'll walk on song one of the Beast Titanium. How
did you land on that song?

Speaker 36 (01:54:47):
Yeah, it's my son's favorite song, so obviously the bulletproof
tagline and nothing to Lose it sort of fits really
really well. And yeah, that was that was a big
part of moving forward, trying to rebrand myself. I've gained
a lot of fans with the walk on and stuff,
and lots of people know me now just for the

(01:55:08):
walk on, I think I needed to get away from
the family I walk on as well. It was a
bit too gimmicky and stuff. So I'm glad I've done that,
and I've got a proper song now that everyone can
relate to. When everyone hears it now they know it's
my song. And yeah, it's amazing.

Speaker 2 (01:55:24):
You talk about a rebrand there, and look, you've become
a viral sensation on social media, TikTok and all of
the others as well. How important is that, you know,
to increase your own profile but also the profile of
the sport itself.

Speaker 36 (01:55:38):
Yeah, I know, it's massive, and it's about showing your
personality as well. It's nothing's feet, everything's theirs real. I'm
just a normal lad who's living his dream, to be honest,
and it's nice to be able to show everyone, especially
on like TikTok is. It's all a bit of fun,
but it's my personality and it's showing people a different
side to the darts as well. I'm not just a

(01:55:59):
dark player. I'm a normal person and it's nice to
show people what we can do as well. There'll be
some funny stuff coming on me YouTube over the next
next year or so, so there's We've got a lot
of things planned. But obviously I'm first and foremost. I
want to I want to do well on the darts
as well and keep you profile high on that.

Speaker 2 (01:56:16):
What's the camaraderie like among the world's top players as
you move around all over the globe now to play, Yeah,
all all.

Speaker 36 (01:56:24):
The players are rarely friendly, to be honest. We see
each other more than family, so we are pretty much
one big family to be fair, and we play that
much darts together. We know each other's dietary requirements, to
be honest, so yeah, we get along really well. It's great,
great camaradi we have. But obviously when we get up
on them stages, we want to beat each other. So

(01:56:46):
we can't get too paliu when we're up on the
stages because yeah, they're taking the money out of my pocket.

Speaker 2 (01:56:53):
Here's your favorite double? Changed much over the.

Speaker 36 (01:56:56):
Years, And yeah, I would say so because I keep
missing double sixteen, So double top and double sixteen, I
mean me too, my favorite. But I think any double
I can hit his favorite, to be honest at the minute.

Speaker 2 (01:57:09):
Is there any double that not just you but players
don't like it? On a double three as I don't know,
is there any double that you really don't like?

Speaker 36 (01:57:16):
I think double one's got to be one of them,
although sometimes we do end up on Numble one waite
a lot. But yeah, it's a bit of a scary double.
If you come inside, you bust and there's no other
other goal. So yeah, i'd say double one or double three.
As you said, you come inside, you've left three, it's
a bit more awkward, So yeah, double three or double one,
I would say.

Speaker 2 (01:57:36):
I can't wait to see you here in Auckland for
the New Zealand Darts Masters. Stephen A delight to check
you made all the best in Australia first and can't
wait to see you when you get here. Thank you
any much, No, thank you, Steven. Stephen Bunting, the world's
number four darts player, part of the incoming star Power
for the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland next Friday
and Saturday two forty five. Alright, let's play a sporting

(01:57:57):
chance with the tab. Every week we place a one
hundred and fifty dollars bonus bet on behalf of a
lucky caller if it comes home. The winnings minus the
initial one fifty, of course, are all yours. I'm going
to offer you the chance of three bets short, evans
or long. You decide which one you want, will place
the bit for you. You must be over eighteen if

(01:58:17):
you are called now at eight hundred and eighty ten.

Speaker 1 (01:58:19):
Eighty The Tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sport with
Jason Pine and GJ. Garnnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted home
builder News Dogs.

Speaker 3 (01:58:32):
It's time for a sporting chance thanks to tab.

Speaker 2 (01:58:39):
Good day, Greg, Hey, funny a game, good Greg. Okay, mate,
here's how it works. I'm going to give you the
choice of three bets, Short, Evans and long. You've gotta
choose which one you want and we'll take it from there.
Is that easy enough to understand?

Speaker 9 (01:58:54):
That?

Speaker 10 (01:58:55):
Certainly?

Speaker 2 (01:58:55):
Is okay?

Speaker 9 (01:58:56):
Sure?

Speaker 2 (01:58:58):
All right? Here's the short. Here's the short one NRL Warriors,
Bord Warriors, Borlldogs, Tonight, dell and Y Tennis a Lesni Act.
To score a try at any time, it's paying two
thirty five. That would get three fifty two fifty minus
the one fifty, so you'd collected about two hundred and
two dollars. All right, So that's the short. Dellan to

(01:59:18):
score a try at any stage. Evans NPC, Canterbury, Auckland,
Tonight Auckland to win by one to twelve, it's paying
four twenty, which means six hundred and thirty minus the
one fifty. You would get four hundred and eighty if
that comes off.

Speaker 29 (01:59:37):
And Long.

Speaker 2 (01:59:39):
Championship Football in the UK Wrexham against Southampton. Libby Cacacy
the keiw plays for Wrexham now to score on his
Rexham debut. He's paying fifteen dollars, so that's twenty two
hundred and fifty minus the one fifty you'd get twenty
one hundred. All right, So Dallan Tennis alesni act to

(01:59:59):
score a try, Auckland to beat Canterbury by one to twelve,
or Libby Cacaci to score a goal on his Wrexham debut.
Which are the three d you like?

Speaker 6 (02:00:09):
Oh?

Speaker 24 (02:00:09):
It's I think the Reekson one's out.

Speaker 10 (02:00:11):
I can't see that. The defense might be.

Speaker 29 (02:00:13):
Too hard for that.

Speaker 9 (02:00:14):
All right, let's go.

Speaker 10 (02:00:16):
Oh, let's go Auckland to.

Speaker 2 (02:00:20):
Win, Auckland to beat Canterbury one to twelve. The games
in christ Church. You're still happy enough? The games in
christ Church? Yep, all right?

Speaker 21 (02:00:29):
Why not?

Speaker 2 (02:00:30):
Why not? It's paying four dollars twenty for Auckland to
win by one to twelve, So four twenty times the
one hundred and fifty bonus bit six hundred and thirty.
Take off the one fifty greg you'd be collecting four
hundred and eighty. If Auckland beat Canterbury one to twelve tonight, that.

Speaker 13 (02:00:47):
Would be amazing.

Speaker 2 (02:00:48):
It would be for you and for Auckland.

Speaker 24 (02:00:53):
So much.

Speaker 2 (02:00:53):
I was gonna say do you normally cheer? Where are
you calling from?

Speaker 8 (02:00:57):
Just on my way home?

Speaker 11 (02:00:58):
Just in.

Speaker 2 (02:01:00):
Good stuff? Oh good god. Well you can cheer for
Auckland tonight. I normally wouldn't allow it from a fellow Wellingtonian,
but I'll allow you to cheer for Auckland tonight by
one by one to twelve.

Speaker 27 (02:01:11):
Mate.

Speaker 13 (02:01:12):
Excellent, Thanks for that, Bunny.

Speaker 2 (02:01:13):
Norah's Greg. Just stay there. I think we've got your details.
Bevan will just check that with you, but we'll place
the bet and keep our fingers crossed. If you get
a result. Those winnings are yours. Will do it again
next week thanks to our mates at the tab. As always,
please bet responsibly eight away from.

Speaker 1 (02:01:29):
Three, analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting
world weekends for it with Jason.

Speaker 3 (02:01:36):
Five call eight hundred and eighty and eighty US talks eNB.

Speaker 2 (02:01:40):
Five to three. That's pretty much us for today. Quickly
get head to tomorrow's show Warriors. We'll unpack that after midday.
Whatever happens, whatever happens, we'll talk about it tomorrow. After midday.
Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby's on the show.
We'll get inside the black Ferns and the Tall Blacks
camps as well, and chat about anything that comes up
in the next twenty one hours or so. Tim Beverage
after three o'clock. Huge thanks to Bevan Dure for producing today.

(02:02:03):
What's your choice of exit song today?

Speaker 21 (02:02:06):
Mate?

Speaker 2 (02:02:06):
I chose to make it.

Speaker 35 (02:02:07):
With Chew Bay the Queens of the Story Age, just
because it.

Speaker 2 (02:02:09):
Was the quickest thing I could find. Piney, well, that's good.
Expedience is a good thing. Thanks for your right help
this afternoon, Bib. We'll see you guys tomorrow.

Speaker 1 (02:03:24):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks it B Weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.

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