Full Show Podcast: 15 February 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalks ed B. The only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.
It's all on Weekend Sport on your home of Sport

(00:27):
News Talks.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Ed B.

Speaker 3 (00:31):
Afternoon and welcome to Weekend Sport Elliott Smith and for
Jason Pine this week game fifteenth for February twenty twenty five.
Very good afternoon too. You're happy birthday two to Wendy's
cricketing like on Desmond Haynes kickboxer Ray Sifo Sugar Raycifo
Sugarfoot as he was, non Happy birthday to you if
you were celebrating as well. Super Rugby. Wasn't that a
great game last night? I had two great games the

(00:53):
Crusaders and Hurricanes play out of thriller in christ Church
is the Crusaders come back from mil to fourteen down
to win by eight and across the Tannsman. Maybe not
so good news for the Hoglanders, but a cracking game. Nonetheless,
I thought the Warritor pipping the Highlander is thirty seven
to thirty six in Sydney. Was there a knock on
in the lead up to the Guitars winning try. If
that is the standard hope of Super Rugby this year

(01:15):
and the closeness of the games, then we are in
for a great competition. Plenty of rugby on the show
this afternoon, Kyle Preston, the New Crusaders half back and
hat trick hero on the way. Later, so to Blue
CEO Andrew Horp as the title defense begins for the
Blues tonight at Eden Park against the Chiefs. Incidentally, Life
commentary on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio for you received them surely.

(01:36):
Mark Robinson, New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive, will join us
on the ANIOF saga that has taken hold of the
game this week into court. It goes New Zealand Rugby
not getting the money from Inions who have decided to
withdraw their spend three years early. Where will this end up?
We'll get the New Zealand Rugby view with their chief
executive in a moment or two. We'll take you to

(01:58):
London after one. One of the big wigs from Dezonne
the streaming service, to join the program. During the process
of buying foxtowl across the Tasman What their plans for
the market in New Zealand and just how big could
this company get and the sports streaming service on a whole. Yes,
well here to Australia as well. Adam Peacock as usual
text in with his view on the week across the

(02:20):
Ditch as Perl will take you to live golf in
Adelaide as well. How big were those scenes for Patrick
Reid's holding one yesterday? It's an absolute party in Adelaide.
Plenty to rip into on weekend sport. Your calls and
texts always welcome, Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
on the phone line nine two ninety two if you
want to get in touch with the text. We'd love

(02:41):
to hear from you this afternoon. It is weekend sport
and there is plenty to get stuck.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Into analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world.
Weekend Sport Call eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Youth Talks.

Speaker 3 (02:54):
Envy where it is nine after midday certainly came like
a bolt from the blue earlier this week that New
Zealand Rugby was taking in Thes to court over unpaid
sponsorship in the OSS, ditching the deal with New Zealand
Rugby a good three years early, citing market conditions reports
seducing that in the OS came with perhaps a settlement

(03:18):
offer of some kind of New Zealand rugby that was
rejected and now into court we go, or at least
the court process has started from New Zealand Rugby. Plenty
to get stuck into on that matter with Mark Robinson,
along with other rugby topics, and so grateful to have
New Zealand Rugby Chief Chief executive Mark Robinson with us

(03:39):
on the program this afternoon. Mark, Thanks for your time.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
Elliot, Hi, nice to be with you.

Speaker 3 (03:44):
I planned to get stuck into but two cracking games
to start Super Rugby last night. The competition has got
off on a great note.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Yeah, well, absolutely delighted. You know you're right. I didn't
get this charm time over Sydney at the moment about
to keep back home to that game at Eden Park tonight.
But clearly the game in christ you've founded from the
hearts of seen it was. It was fantastic and then
absolute FLI in Sydney here in the Highland just didn't
quite hang on. But both had had reasonable crowds, both

(04:18):
really really strong quality of Rugby, and I think it's
reflective of the whole pre season to be honest, Elliott,
We're really delighted as relates to New Zealand, especially the
way that the clubs outing for the regions and did
a great job with the pre season proagrams into some
of the smaller centers and certainly built on you know,

(04:38):
that digital presence we've been working on for a couple
of years now. I think you've seen far greater reach
and penetration right across the rugby trimunity and fans in
general with Super Rugby Pacific.

Speaker 3 (04:49):
Hope that continues tonight and into the season. Look big
news this week Mark Robinson that New Zealand Rugby launching
legal action against any asked one of your major sponsors
or were one of your major sponsors? When did you
get a feeling this was heading south?

Speaker 2 (05:07):
There obviously some conversations through you the beck half of
last year. So we're working at this a little while
and obviously disappointed that it's gone to this stage where
something else have breached and I wanted to walk away,
but you know, by the same hope and we have
to work quickly to protect their commercial interests in the

(05:28):
wider game. So you know, we're incredibly confident that we
have absolutely delivered on our adream and we're just have
to you know, we work through so well.

Speaker 3 (05:40):
Is this Do you buy the excuse that it's market conditions.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
That's for the end prospective, Elliott. You know, we've been
overwhelmed with incredible supports from our partners around the world
and domestically who continue to be really pleased with the
value we offer in these partnerships. And I'm up to
the UK on Thursday night and we've got a range
of meeting to us our existing partners and prospects as

(06:08):
well interested in getting apart in New Zealand, may being
the teams in Black. So it's you know, we're focused
on is obviously getting a resolution around this matter, and
then focused on the future around looking after our existing
partners and was going to grow the sort of sponsorship
family that we have.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
They say they tried to see it all. What were
the terms and why did you turn that down?

Speaker 2 (06:31):
Well, I'm sure you know that I can't answer that, Elliott.
But look, we as I say, we've been working on
this for a little while. It got to a stage
we were clearly we weren't able to do that for
the best extent was the past we've gone down. We'll
keep in contact about where there's any other possibilities free mediation.

(06:52):
But look, I'm not in the commoedy more than that.

Speaker 3 (06:55):
Do you regret the deal with any of us?

Speaker 2 (06:58):
No? Look, you get onto these things very much. What
hapen been some fantastic work done. As I say in
the partnership, we'll live on the things we set out to,
especially around the performance side of the agreement. You know,
engagement our teams and athletes has been really positives. There's
been some really good things achieved in it. But unfortunately

(07:20):
it's got to the stage.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
Have you heard from them since you know, the league
action was filed again.

Speaker 2 (07:27):
I'm not going to get into you know, the details
of the communication there at the moment, but we'll keep working.

Speaker 3 (07:34):
How do you fill a hole that has now been
left in your books? Though for this year and years
beyond that, you are counting on multimillions coming in from
this inniosteal for at least the next three years.

Speaker 2 (07:47):
Oh, I like I say, we're really pleased with the
level of engagement in support we have for existing partners
in the conversations that's not going on about prospects. So
overall i've seen any times for the behalf of last
year that we're atably strong position as it relates to

(08:07):
the financial speak of our game and especially in the
areas of sponsorship. This bridge is just something we've got
to work through and we'll continue to focus on crime
value and crimeal partnerships with others going.

Speaker 3 (08:20):
For how long you obviously mentioned your going to the
UK this week? How long do partnerships like those take
from initial meetings to fruition's contract signed, money starting coming
through into two bank accounts, etc. Because this isn't going
to be a quick process, isn't I'm sure a quick
process to get sponsors on board.

Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well, we're always we're always in the market having conversations
about you know, possibilities with partners so you know a
lot of those, a lot of those conversations alive constantly.
But look, ordinarily it can you view from sort of
three or four months to more to sixtomments just depending

(08:59):
on what sort of partnership, his jurisdiction and whole wide
range of things are going to these agreements.

Speaker 3 (09:07):
You mentioned you've had communication from companies and your other
sponsors since then. But do you believe there's any reputational
damage I suppose as a result of any us pulling
out to the Wide and New Zealand Rugby brand.

Speaker 2 (09:23):
No, I don't. I mean, I think we've been really
clear on our principles and values of integrity here. We've
worked incredibly hard. We talk a lot about the Rugby
Way within our organization as values a guide the organization
and we believe we've stayed true to those. We leave
to brands at an international level and TRIBB strong. Look

(09:44):
at the following. The teams with it are another part
to the world is incredibly strong and as I say,
the godal feedback we've had it being very very positive
and understanding. So so now look, I think that this
is just a case where we have to protect our interests.
We're doing that. We'll do that in a respectful way
that's constructive and keep looking through.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
Mark Robinson, New Zealand RP Chief Executive our guest on
Weekend Sports this afternoon on News Talk zeb Mark the
All Black Sevens Black Fans Sevens teams going to wear
the same usual uniforms with the Innis logos on their
training jerseys and shorts and everything like that at the
Vancouver event next weekend. Haven't changed those as yet that

(10:27):
are free advertising for any os. Isn't it hard the ideal?
They haven't paid for it.

Speaker 2 (10:33):
He's always going to be just a few things in
these situations and just have to keep weaking through. So
we can't we can't forecast ectiver yourthing with the matter
of these changes, So always for that.

Speaker 3 (10:44):
In a wider sense, how is the sports sponsorship market?
Because we hear about tightening belts and various things and
cost of living flying down to consumers. You're at the
forefront of trying to get more money in the door.
Is it a healthy sporting market that you're trying to
get sponsorship in at the moment?

Speaker 2 (11:00):
Well, I think across the country there'd be different views
on that. Clearly know New Zealand and a space where
things are charging. But overall, when we probably looked at
the international market, well, as I said before, we do
have really strong interests that a partnership we're looking for
here and certainly got really highly engaged and as to

(11:23):
partners still, but there's probably slightly more challenging you at home.
But overall, as I say, the level of interest and
engagement and ability to sort of you know, get meetings
and have the opportunity to get in the door with
key people who believe the work in these organizations around
the world. The potential partnerships is really positive.

Speaker 3 (11:46):
Market seems to a topic that continually raises its head.
So let's get stuck into it. Eligibility once again. Use
Ritchie Monger won't be coming back home, perhaps as earlier
as many a tips or expected, and you know, conversations
around whether he should be eligible, whether anyone overseas should
be eligible. Where are we at with us? Is this
a conversation that is going to keep on keeping on

(12:07):
and be basically a thorign in New Zealand rugby side,
where are we at?

Speaker 2 (12:12):
No, We're very clear that the current policy we had,
this one that we think has served the game incredibly
well for a long period of time now, and you know,
there's no appetite to look at changing that anytime soon.
I think Raise would probably be first to admit that,

(12:34):
you know, he might have been able to be a
little bit clearer and the way he spoke about it
last year, and I think he's also in a space
where being one year into the role. Now he understands
all the tools and flexibility we do have around that policy,
with the way the sabbaticals work and other sort of
terms that we have within that policy, so we are
very aligned himself, the whole organization is very very clear

(12:59):
that the policy is you know, in place for very
good reasons. It's probably not for appropriate for me to
talk any further un Raises Path. I know he'll be
doing media coming up later in the year and that'll
be for him to speak to. But as it stands
at the moment, really clear on where stand and we're
really supportive of the policy going forward.

Speaker 3 (13:18):
And a new boards not going to change that.

Speaker 2 (13:19):
You don't think, no, there's been no conversations on this
metal for board. The board at any given time obviously
has the right to review any of our policies. It's
a New Zealand Rugby policy that the board ultimately we
have the right to decide on. But the state and
there's been no signal, but there's something they want to

(13:42):
look at.

Speaker 3 (13:43):
Obviously a big time in rugby at the moment the
Six Nations is underway. Of course Super rugby as well,
the world game always a big topic around that bit.
With a year out from the Nation's Cup, do you
feel that a lot of the sporting nations rugby nations
are on the same page as you move towards the
sort of new era which is beginning next year.

Speaker 2 (14:04):
I think in terms of the vision for what we
want the calendar to look like, you know, absolutely, I
think it's it's incredible that the next five year scheduled
from tiny sects through the theory that we've been able
to develop, especially from New Zealand. If you look at
the Nation's Cup starting to say we've got two lines
here is coming here with the All Black Said Advocate
series getting underway, We've got two Rugby Wood Cups in

(14:27):
this part of the world. We're feender time zones, We've
got a well global Club Cup competition, and a lot
of the competitions around the club game we've been talked
about in terms of possibilities you know, for in the future.
So yeah, we feel greater around the way the collaboration
is working as it relates to building out calendars and competitions.

(14:49):
You know, I think we've been really clear that we
would like to be more speed in terms of evolution
in the way the laws work in the game and
the way the product works. We will keep advocating me
really strongly, but the need for more tempo lessons being
in the game, and that's what some of these meetings

(15:09):
in the Northern Hemisphere are next week about. So we're
looking forward to continuing those discussions. But as it relates
to the general direction of the game, creating value in
working together for the calendars, it's in a really positive space.

Speaker 3 (15:21):
Mark Robinson with us on new ZL on News Talk
CB this afternoon. Mark, obviously, broadcast deal is overrching and
still being negotiated. Where are you at your negotiations from
twenty twenty.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
Six Again, obviously can't talk too much more about that nearly.
It's a lot of the previous questions to ask me
on the neest topic. It's just it's not appropriate. But
as I say, we're really pleased with the product that
we are bringing to market. We think this next five
year content schedule is the best that we've probably ever

(15:56):
brought to market and into the range of product in
the way that we'll keep with hands and when you
look at that combinedents traductory of how the sport's being
played in the positive movements. It's a more open, expansive
sport that you would love to think there'll be massive
and interest and obviously interested in pooring the rights.

Speaker 3 (16:14):
Final question Mark Robinson, so grateful for your time. Look,
Josehpan announcing you won't stay on with the Wallabes as
have you had a phone call with him? Would you
like him to be back on New Zealand Rugby's books
in some way, some shape, somehow.

Speaker 2 (16:27):
Well obviously over here at the moment. And now I
think I think it's been a signal and it's been
word that I will stay on and say ncapacity with
Rugby Australia from bucking Heather and look, it's not appropriate
get into those conversations either to be honest, but look
we really pleased overall, and look at the quality of

(16:48):
coaching across the you know, the New Zealand supersides, the
Australian supersides, and then what we're seeing the international between
both teams that we've got great coaches down as part
of the world doing really good things and probably from
the legalcation we've had it there professionally with sometimes so
luck here. We just hope that they can keep producing

(17:08):
the kind of product that we're seeing that the starts
to radio sect and then that flows aren't really positive
in a way that the All Black Bodies performing international
stage from that is.

Speaker 3 (17:19):
Mark Robinson joining us on News Talk ZB this afternoon,
New Zealand Rugby Chief executive. What are we fifteenth of
February and plenty of rugby issues to get stuck into
the Innios one first and foremost at the mind after
the week that was taking legal action against Inios on
the basis of well no sponsorship in coming. They were

(17:41):
due more payments twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven, and
THEOS have turned off the tap or the pump more
appropriate for in the Austin said there's no more and
we are out of here. What do you make of this?

Speaker 4 (17:54):
O E.

Speaker 3 (17:54):
One hundred and eighty teen eighty nine two ninety two
for a text message the brand can walk away from
a deal that they've signed. Does that Signalant Zealand Rugby
that others may end up doing so? Is this a
specific in the OS case a very specific narrow case
that they've got no money. They seem to be losing

(18:16):
a hand over foot there cycling teams pretty much collapse
they're out of the America's Cup, although they might set
up a new one without being Ainsley. They are losing
hand money hand of afist at Manchester United, killing off
about one hundred jobs there or thereabout. Where do we

(18:36):
sit with that? Do you worry about New Zealand Rugby
because they've gone out and tried to get international partners
on board. But when you were in New Zealand other
side of the world, not as face to face within
the OS, it's very easy to flick them, you know,
all the way over from the UK. Oh, we can
just draw that line from New Zealand. We don't need

(18:58):
to worry about them. Is this a worry for New
Zealand Rugby?

Speaker 4 (19:02):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (19:03):
Eight hundred and eighty eight two nine two for a
text message? Afternoon, grunt? How are you?

Speaker 5 (19:08):
Yeah? Elliott? Before we get on to the end of yours.
So debacle if we can call it that? Is there
any update on France? Because a bit of a law
under themselves, you know that they weren't going to seeing
the players involved in their in their final for the
first Test, and then later on they said well we're

(19:28):
not going to send them at all, you know, we
want to give them a rest.

Speaker 3 (19:32):
My understanding is that they won't be coming at all
if they're in the top fourteen final. So and obviously
we won't know who's in the final until probably May
or June. You'd bit your bottom dollar that to lose
who contribute about well three quarters of the French team
will probably be in that final. So I think it's
going to be a very green looking French team that

(19:52):
gets sent down here. Wouldn't be expecting DuPont, wouldn't be
expecting any of the stars. We're seeing the six nations
to be backing their way down here, which is very
very disappointing.

Speaker 5 (20:02):
Well, yeah, they said there've always been a law under
themselves and I'd like to say something else, but I'll
leave it as a law under themselves. Can't say what
I really think on the radio about the French. But anyway, yeah,
in the offs, of course, I mean, you know they're
pulling out of everything. You know, Ben Vainsley's got the
big boot and the sponsorship there and with the rugby,

(20:26):
I think I guess it's can we call it a
Trump like debating move, not debating move, negotiating move to
threaten or start the legal action and obviously New Zealand
Rugby not happy with whatever the amount was of the settlement,
a bit of a payoff for the whether it was

(20:48):
half a quarter or less than that of years.

Speaker 3 (20:51):
I guess if they've turned it down, there would have
been expecting summer in the vicinity of at least thirty million,
if not more, probably over the next three years. I
would guess that figure whatever any of us write on
that piece of paper and slid across the table or
put in the envelope, would be well below that if
they've turned it down.

Speaker 5 (21:09):
Yeah, so I guess it's how hard we does it go?
You know, almost to both parties are ready to go
into the court. Suddenly a settlement has been reached. But
you know, we've talked about sort of money with New
Zealand Rugby lawyers and hopefully if it comes to that.
I mean obviously that the billionaires lawyers pockets or billionaires

(21:34):
layers points. The billionaires pockets are sort of very deep
that he can he can afford lawyers. But it'd be
very interesting what type of commercial entity we managed to
get to replace in the officer. I don't think it
would be an overseas petro chemical company.

Speaker 3 (21:52):
No, but you said that they do look overseas, don't they, Grant,
They want those brands that have got the bigger, deeper pockets.
This time hasn't worked out for them, But maybe in
New Zealand that money isn't isn't just isn't there in
the New Zealand commercial market.

Speaker 5 (22:07):
Yeah, yeah, well yeah, well I wouldn't. I wouldn't think
with the economy being the way it is, that we're
going to have a New Zealand sort of company a
sponsor them. But it's just a case of what commercial
entity is interested for a start, And you know, I

(22:30):
mean there was always the environmental thing that wasn't the
sort of scene as the best look petrochemical company and
so on. But you know, I mean they're obviously you know,
we are well, according to yours, the most winning ist
team in the international team in any sport in the world.
So we have a good product. Hopefully we'll get someone.

Speaker 3 (22:52):
In absolutely Yeah, they're working ar I'm sure over time
to get their money back through the door. Thanks very
much nicely from you this afternoon, Grant oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty nine two nine two for a
text message, Let's run through a couple of texts before
the break Mark Robinson gave his usual rhetoric and spin
avoided the question there must be a couple still floating
around with the calm games comm Games in Sydney on

(23:15):
the vehicles. Thank you Michael. Another one saying I'm so
overhearing that rugby is just a product we're bringing to
the market and from the head of n Zida and
another one inios needs to pay up. A contract is
a contract, honor it. That is from Tony keen to
hear from you, Oh eight hundred and eighty nine two
ninety two for a text message to companies walking away

(23:39):
from New Zealand Rugby make you worry about the future
of New Zealand Rugby, the sustainability and doesn't make it
more likely that they're going to have to go and
play more tests abroad to compensate for some of this
money that is now missing. Every year you know they're
taking They're talked about taking a French test to the

(24:00):
United States. They're going to play to be confirmed, but
most likely in Chicago later in the year again in Styland.
How far away until they start looking and take more
tests away from New Zealand to fill this financial hole
that in THEOS is leaving twenty nine away from one
News Talk ZB more of your texts and calls after this.

Speaker 1 (24:22):
The big issues on and after Field Call eighty ten
eighty with DJ Gunner Homes New Zealand's most trusted home builder,
News Talks to.

Speaker 3 (24:32):
Baby Heaves the calls and texts reacting to that Mark
Robinson interview coming through. Let's go to the lines and say, afternoon, Peter,
how are You's?

Speaker 6 (24:42):
Yeah good, I'm just out of interest so I get
more stuff done in the yard between midday and three
nice Saturdays and Sundays because of the sports. So I'm
blaming you.

Speaker 3 (24:50):
Oh it's good productive.

Speaker 6 (24:52):
Yeah, hey, any off. I think we don't need to
flatter ourselves and say this is a big deal from
and in the OSS point of view, because all it
means is that Jim Radcliffe has changed his philosophy because
he dropped one of the most winning cycling teams on
the UCI World Tour. He dropped Ainsley who hadn't won.

(25:15):
He hadn't won, but he'd gone pretty close a few times.
So this is a very high level decision on the
Ennios point of viewer and they weren't taken on New
Zealand Rugby. They were just changing direction, you know. And
the guy's got billions of dollars, so eight million dollars
a year which they haven't paid us to him. It's
neither here nor there, but he's just changed direction.

Speaker 2 (25:35):
Now.

Speaker 6 (25:36):
He's probably a god that's not used to being told no,
so he's not a guy that gives up on challenges easily.
So you know, he just likes to get his own way.
And fair news. You know, when you've you've obviously worked
enough to make so much bloody billions of dollars, you
get to choose how you spend it. And he's not.
He's not just singled out in New Zealand rugby. He's

(25:57):
walking away from sport in general. So you know, I
mean it's a bagafer New Zealand Rugby. Certainly it is
because they went into this with the full intention of
delivering the everything that they said that they would deliver,
and they were doing so. So it's not New Zealand
Rugby's fault. But let's not flatter ourselves and say that
it's a big you know that it's all about New

(26:18):
Zealand rugby when it's not it's in the office, is
just walking away from sport. So you know, I mean, well,
we'll have to find someone else to pay the bills.
So otherwise the players are going to take a take up,
and God for bid that should happen. But yeah, it's
just in the great scheme of things. Let's get on
with it. Find another sponsor. Because Jim Radcliffe has he

(26:40):
been to New Zealand.

Speaker 3 (26:41):
He has been. See he came to the America's Cup
when was there twenty twenty one, he was there. He
was there then, So I mentioned there was probably where
a lot of these deals were talked about and done
with New Zealand. Rake, But I think you're right. I
mean you list off those companies, those teams that he's
getting out of. He's now got in with Manchester United,
which I think is a boyhood club. It's probably you know,

(27:02):
a bit of you know, having just a you know,
the bill that he'd own Manchester United. It's probably quite
a nice for him. But even they're cutting a hundreds
of jobs to try and make it financially viable. So
you don't become a billionaire by making too many friends,
do you.

Speaker 6 (27:17):
Yeah, you know, when you're a Liverpool fan, you quite
enjoy seeing Manchester. You're not who go through that sort
of thing.

Speaker 3 (27:22):
So yeah, I think you're right, Peter. And look it's
another sponsor will come along and patch that whole. It's
just a matter of how long it takes.

Speaker 2 (27:31):
Yeah.

Speaker 6 (27:32):
Well I didn't know who Eltrade was until they were
splashed across the front of the jersey either, so you
know in theos who were they? Oh, that's right, they're
a petrochemical company that pays the bills. Well, something will
come along. I personally would rather see spates written across
in front of the jerseys, you know. But there's not
enough money in New Zealand to do that sort of thing.
We really do need one of these big international guys.

(27:52):
It's got really deep pockets. But wouldn't it be nice
if one of them was a rugby fan, you know
who actually who was actually a rugby person. Wouldn't that
be nice?

Speaker 3 (28:02):
It would be nice, Peter, Thanks to your call. I
think mister Altrad himself as a be fann, although there's
been some questionable stuff going on there. I guess New
Zealanders doesn't have the the pockets commercially to sustain some
of these deals where New Zealand rugby wants to go
New Zid Cricket look at them. Seems like every time
they play in India they patch with an Indian sponsor

(28:25):
that no one's ever heard of. I don't think New
Zealand rugby is alone in that. If you were in
a more domestic market, perhaps like the Warriors. A lot
of their sponsors are grassroots New Zealand Kiwi companies advertising
to maybe Australia and New Zealand. But New Zealand Rugby
believes there's power in that brand of the All Blacks
globally they can dip into it. On this occasion, they

(28:48):
have been burned. Nice to hear from you this afternoon, Peter,
Let's go to Nicko afternoon.

Speaker 7 (28:53):
Good afternoon. I just want to say my I personally
think the problem here is not in Nios. The problem
yere is mister Mark Robinson myself, he's just too soft.
But a few more rugby players were testing in the
Harka see that nothing he said nothing.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
JT.

Speaker 7 (29:10):
Pernardo were basically walking all over any protocol that ever
was involved that rugby team. Nothing has been said. I
think I think it needs to change at the top.
Is just too softly softy in all honesty, I think
it's taking a page out of just Sundo's playbook be nice,
but be nice does not favor balls.

Speaker 3 (29:31):
You need a harder task master. You reckon at the top, Nico.

Speaker 7 (29:35):
By you definitely, I mean New Zealand rugby as got
the potential, but I don't think the leadership. It doesn't
matter how much money you're pouring by justco deep and
deep into debt every year. It's deep and deep into debt.
So I think we need a change at the top.

Speaker 3 (29:50):
Okay, Nika, nice to hear from you this afternoon, oh
eight hundred eighteen eighty nine, two ninety two for a
text message? What say you? Is this in your saga
symptomatic of a wider issue with the sport here in
New Zealand, or as Peter said, is it one often
he takes Jim Radcliffe and any ouse at their word
and they are getting out of sport. They do have

(30:10):
financial issues at play and they're pulling back and New
Zealand rugby is just being caught in the crossfire. Nothing personal.
I do wonder if Jim Radcliffe thought we can probably
just wave away in New Zealand. We'll write a number
on a napkin, send that to Mark Robinson and the
board and then it'll get it off the balance sheet
and you on Rugby's gone. That number is a bit short.

(30:34):
I wonder if that's what's happened. Sure, some money is
better than no money, but when you're expecting I've seen
the figures very this week, one d eight million a year.
I've sent it upwards towards twenty twenty one million dollars
a year. I mean there's a big difference in that alone,
isn't there could be talking with three years left on

(30:55):
the deal, anywhere between twenty four million dollars and fifty
to sixty million New Zealand dollars. Plenty of texts on
two Lit's up through a few of them. Warren says.
If the contractors Robust and the OSS will still have
to play pay until Endsida find a replacement because the

(31:15):
times are tough and OLS does not let them just
walk away from a contract. They're talking nonsense that it's
just okay to walk whenever and not pay. We'll keep
wearing their name. Is there contract ly still a sponsor?
We do not want to give them any reason to
be able to break the contract, hence the legal action.
As long as the contract is strong. It's just when
we can say we can replace some good point Warren.
That may well be why in New Zealand Rugby aren't

(31:35):
gonna scratch out in the OS ahead of that sevens
event next weekend. Another one, how can Mark Robinson talk
about integrity when he picked the next All Blacks coach
before Fozzy hadn't finished his tenure and it was a
closed deal and we missed out on Joe Schmidt being considered.

(31:56):
That could have gone either way. I mean two schools
of thought. Do you get that coach locked in New
Zealand Rugby would criticized for leaving it late last previous
time around, they went early. This time they get criticized
for that might be a no win situation for New
Zealand Rugby on that and they also have had their
credit rating down graded. They have huge debts after Ratcliffe

(32:18):
has been spending like a drunken sailor. And Hayden says
this here here, Nico, where Weeks prefersible weasel wheat and
the Os mongrels walking away from sponsorship penalty fee. We
need some of them with Nico's bock attitude in charge, Hayden,
more of your calls and texts after this here on
Newstalk ZBB eighteen away from one.

Speaker 1 (32:39):
One Grudge Hold Engage Weekend Sports with GJ gugg Homes
New Zealand's most trusted No Milder News.

Speaker 3 (32:48):
Talk ZIBB fifteen away from one on Newstalks ZB Plenty
of calls and texts on this New Zealand Rugby in
the Os Sargent, let's rip through a few more. Love
to hear from you on eight hundred eighty ten eighty
nine two nine two for a text message trying to
catch up with where I was. This depends on how
the contracts is, how good the lawyers are in the

(33:10):
power of the governing court to enforce. I think it's interesting,
isn't it this from Chris by the way, whether the
New Zealand Rugby actually want to go to a court
case on this. So we're they're trying to send the
frighteners up in the office by filing the action and
up that level of an exit clause. Evidently there wasn't

(33:32):
an exit clause in the contract between the two parties.
Which is interesting. No break clause, nothing like that, because
they would have surely had to pay at New Zealand
Rugby clearly think that they're in the right. Interesting one
from Herman, Please debate. If New Zealand Rugby is unhappy
with anyone's breaking the contract, then should it encourage mu
Wonga to break his contracts Herman, Well, I think if

(33:56):
you get really specific, they were looking for a page release,
so they were going to do it as much by
the book, or certainly by the book, they were looking
to pay some sort of release clause to get them
back to New Zealand Rugby and they move. Perhaps part
of that deal is what I've heard a bit later on,
maybe he goes back to Japan. Obviously it's not going

(34:17):
to happen now, but they were upfront and having meetings
with Tashiba and Warnger. But it certainly there's some similarities.
I'll give you that. Herman muzz Alligant, you would think
there'll be sponsors lining up because of the All Blacks brand. Well,

(34:37):
you'd hope so, because they talk about being a global
brand in New Zealand Rugby and the All Blacks being
powerful and the global brands in the world of rugby,
they talk numbers, they talk significance compared to other sports.
They play what fourteen times a year on the world stage,
world TV coverage. It's a lot of exposure for certain brands.

(35:02):
I know from experience having gone overseas commentated All Blacks
games at the b and the All Blacks is strong worldwide.
I know seeing some of the launchers that have done
with ANYOS and some of the sponsorship experience have done
with ANYOS in London, for example, has been well attended,
has had any US's name up in lights alongside New

(35:23):
Zealand Rugby. It's a matter of how deep the pockets
are of these commercials that are willing to pay, isn't
it whether they have the money, whether they're going to
get the value out On the other side from New
Zealand Rugby, because they're targeting global brands, as we've discussed,
they're not targeting New Zealand brands. They have a suite

(35:45):
of sponsors that are New Zealand brands, likes of AGSB
and various others. But when you come when it comes
to marks on the jersey and on the shorts of
the All Blacks and some of the other teams in black.
These are big global conglomerates, not just New Zealand only companies.
That's the kind of financials that New zeald On Rugby

(36:07):
it's targeting. Maz Thanks very much for the text. This
is an interesting one which I hadn't realized until I
actually opened up the app myself. This is from Chris Gooday.
How acceptable do you think it is that the All
Blacks app, which has all things Rugby on it, still
does not have this year's Super Rugby drawer on there.
It's all just the results from last year in no
option to select this year. They want fan engagement to

(36:28):
be taken seriously and they even can't get that. Rice
Chris Well, I looked in the ad break I've got
the same app as you do, and looks like it's
closing down. They're All Blacks app. But directly you did
to New Zealand er. I've got a message saying this
app's closing something. You've got to download the New Zealand
Rugby at now. Whether that's got the drawer on there
for this year or not, I'm not sure, but they're

(36:51):
moving you across Chris to the New Zealand Rugby app.
So look, maybe that's got the drawer on it, maybe
it's not, but head to the app store or wherever
you get your apps on your phone and that might
be the goal to figure out this year's Super Rugby
draw But agreed, you've got to be on top of
those sort of things. If you want Super Rugby to grow,
you've got to make sure all the data is up

(37:12):
to dates. BARTI, with this one last one before the break,
can you please clarify. I was always under the impression
that in the OS purchased a share of the All
Blacks rather than sponsored the All Blacks. If they purchased
a share, surely it is up to any OS to
find a buyer for the share regards Barty. No, No,
this was just peeling an advertising deal. The silver ac
one was purchasing a share of New Zealand Rugby or
New Zealand Rugby's commercial arm that has now been splintered out,

(37:34):
So no purchasing of a stake as it were. It
was purely a sponsorship deal. Or they talk about high
performance and synergies and various things like that, but money exchanged.
Goods given in the form of sponsorship and commercial experience
and one more. This is an interesting one from Michael

(37:55):
on the topic of Super Rugby after the Hurricanes last
last night. Very disappointing from the Hurricanes last night. Why
do the Hurricanes have four captains? From Michael? Michael couldn't
agree more co captains was bad enough if you can't

(38:16):
decide one player to be the captain, the sole captain
of the team. He just feels like you just don't
want to tell anyone that they're not the captain, so
you just share it around. Just make one player of
the captain, make him the leader. Simple as that. It's
worked well enough in rugby and most sports. For goodness

(38:37):
knows how many years four co captains? Please Sin the
Warrior has gone with two? Why? I'm not sure exactly.
You have the captain that the captains? Then did you
pick another player? We'll have one captain and three vice captains. Madness.
Just pick someone and stick to it. Couldn't agree more. Michael,

(39:00):
take a break, come back with more after this.

Speaker 8 (39:04):
The Scoop from the track Field.

Speaker 1 (39:05):
Another on your home of Sports Weekend Sporting.

Speaker 3 (39:12):
Sex Away from New Sport and we're the one o'clock
here on News talk Z be coming up after one
o'clock we're going to get into streaming and sports streaming.
Design making moves across the Tasman. They've sneered Foxtel, subject
to commercial approval by the equivalent of the Commerce Commission

(39:33):
over in Australia, So what does this mean for the
New Zealand market and sports streaming as a whole. Design
has been very aggressive in the best use of the
term and buying up sports rights around the globe. They
started as a boxing service and they've multiplied since then
combat sports. You can get the Champions League here in
New Zealand. They now own the world ride rights to
NFL Game Pass. They seem like they're on a mission

(39:57):
to own sports streaming, So what does that mean for
us in New Zealand? Where are they at with their
plans for New Zealand. Plenty to dig into will be
joined by Alfi Sharma and from Dezonne after one o'clock
and the News Sport and whether Adam Peacock could joined
us as well to check in on all things Australagan's
sport as well. It's been another busy week for Australian sports.

(40:17):
Sam kerr In particularly getting cleared but what does that
mean for her and the Matilda's We'll dig himTo that
with Adam after one o'clock and more of your calls
and Texas well, Crusaders fans. After two Kyle Preston joins
the program. How good was he and how confident are
you that this might be a better year for the Crusaders.
Crusaders fans feel free to get it now and text

(40:40):
us nine two nine to two. Things looking up for
Rob Penny's men in season twenty twenty five. Cracking game
last night both at seven oh five and the one
across the Tasman as well. If that is what Super
Rugby is going to deliver this year, I think we're
in for a great competition. Lloyd says this. Though rugby
is dead in New Zealand, far too few people care.
In fact, I can't believe your program is commercially viable

(41:02):
these days, Lloyd, Still commercially viable. Rugby is still everyone's
taking a knock at it, but it's still the top
sport in the land. Nothing quite gets the phone lines
going like a rugby issue. Appreciate the text, tho Lloyd.
More of your calls and texts after this n eighty
ten eighty. But we've got your sports news and with.

Speaker 1 (41:20):
The next the only place to discuss the biggest sports
issues on and after fields. It's all on Weeke and
sport on your homeless sport on News Talk MB.

Speaker 9 (41:32):
What are we going.

Speaker 3 (41:39):
Seven after one weekend sport on News Talk z'd be
This is the old first out plenty to get stuck
into with Mark Robinson. Last out. We move on, we
move forward and we talk about a streaming sport shortly.
Might have seen over the summer break that design I
think of it. They sneaked it in just before Christmas

(42:02):
that they're buying Foxtowel across the Tamsman still got to
go through the Commerce Commission or the equivalent of across
the Ditch. But does that signal they're serious about a
play in the wider Oceania market? What have they got
in mind for New Zealand and streaming sports? If you're
unfamiliar design streaming platform, it's like a Netflix or a

(42:26):
Disney Plus or a Prime Video. But they're based out
of the UK. They've been big in boxing for a
few years now, then took on combat sports are now
their reach? Excuse the pun from combat sports has gone global,
so what do they want out of the New Zealand market.
Will be joined by Design's Alfie Sharman in just a

(42:48):
few moments time. We'll head across the Tasman as well
Adam Peacock to join the program as he always does
on a Saturday afternoon, to get some thoughts on the
world of sport from an Australian perspective. The Sam Kerr
issue comes to a conclusion. One of the old Test
bowlers reported for a suspect action and is this the

(43:11):
year of the warrita. Adam Peacock joins the program before
two o'clock Crusaders fans, maybe even Wellington Rugby fans, although
he might be a bit divided after last night. Kyle
Preston's going to join us after two hat trick herro
for the Crusaders. Why did he turn down the Hurricanes

(43:33):
and end up at the Crusaders. We'll put that to
Kyle Preston after two o'clock, take you to Adelaide as well,
with livgolf plenty to come as we roll on on
Weekend Sport nine after one, we're Design making moves in
the world of sports and sneering Foxtowl subject to approval
across the Tasman. If you're unfamiliar with Design d a

(43:54):
z N streaming service on the rise, they've had a
few New Zealand fights. Joseph Parker has been on the
Design platform David Kneecap as well. That's what they were
known for initially, but now spreading their wings a lot wider.
If you wait for Champions League fans, where you find
Dezone in New Zealand. I was having a look at
what else they've got. They've got Padel. I think they've

(44:15):
got very low level, lower level English football. I think
the National League you can watch that on there. You
weigh for Champions League certainly is the big prize they've got,
as well as the NFL Game Pass system, but it's
another one of the streamers that are looking to change
the way that we watch sport around the globe. Netflix

(44:38):
scrabbed a couple of NFL games over the Christmas period,
Prime videos making moves with Premier League Football in the
UK and Champions League and everything like that. It seems
like dezigone have big plans right around the globe. So
what do they have planned for New Zealand. We're joined
by their vice president of marketing out of London, Alfie Sharman,

(44:59):
joins us on Week in Sport ILF. We thanks so
much for your time.

Speaker 10 (45:02):
Yeah, that's great to be here, Thanks for taking time.
Sport never sleeps, but no, it's good to be speaking
to Yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:07):
Look, it's a fast moving world, isn't it. The world
of sport, In the world of streaming, sport, as you
well know and look to Zone has making some real
imprints on this part of the world where we are
in New Zealand's has been established obviously in the UK
for some time. Where do you see the world of
sport and streaming at the moment, Because it seems like
every day I wake up and see there's a new service,

(45:30):
or there's a new acquisition, or some sports moving somewhere.
It must be hard to keep up.

Speaker 8 (45:35):
Well, yeah, look it is.

Speaker 10 (45:36):
I think, first and foremost, I'd say it's an exciting
time for sport.

Speaker 8 (45:39):
There's obviously always been an abundance of sport.

Speaker 10 (45:42):
I mean you could argue there's certainly been surgences of say,
you know vert Comma's new sports. I mean things like
Padle for example, which we have on our platform. Is
vastly becoming one of the most popular sports. A lot
of my friend's colleagues. I'm sure you're the same player,
but it's a good time. And you know, I think
for us at the zone we've been, we've worked very hard.

(46:03):
We've been a business for over a decade now and obviously,
you know, had lots of aggressive growth.

Speaker 8 (46:08):
Plans and you know, we're in over two hundred territories.

Speaker 10 (46:12):
So for us, it's good for us to have been
at the start of that wave because we've we've we've
learned a lot over over the last decade, good and bad,
and we've optimized very quickly. So you know, I think,
I think given the fact that consumers are wanting more sport,

(46:33):
there is more sport out there to be had, and
then services like ours, where we see ourselves very much
as the you know, as the forefront of sports streaming
and have been.

Speaker 8 (46:41):
For many years now.

Speaker 10 (46:43):
It allows us the space to be creative and innovate
and most importantly take on more rights, which obviously bolsters
out our platform and our service and ultimately keeps our
subscribers happy, which is our number one priority.

Speaker 3 (46:55):
What are the trends that you're seeing around the globe
in terms of that consumption you mentioned people wanting more sport.
It is it just a matter of whatever you can
get your hands on, people will watch, and you know
what's the trigger for each market?

Speaker 10 (47:10):
Yeah, I mean, look, we take a lot of time
to observe the marketplace. As I mentioned, we're active in
over two hundred territories. We analyze the data, the trends,
We have people on boots on the ground, as we say,
in lots of those territories who are our kind of
you know, our our voices and and and give us insights,
give us obviously research various you know, various tools to

(47:35):
understand the consumer because it is different, you know, you
know often when we're talking about certainly in Europe, we're
talking about New Zealand and Australia for example, two very
different markets. You know, different people, different cultures, very close,
but you know it's different. It's you know, different behaviors
and we we adapt to those. But yeah, look, I
think I think for us, you know, the last the

(47:58):
last ten years has taught us that people will try
anything if you're a sports fan and there's competition and
the quality people will engage in obviously competitive price and
the quality of the broadcast and the production, which we
really pride ourselves in in innovating as well, you can
make anything work. We've obviously got a load of Tier

(48:20):
one sports on our platform, domestic football, boxing, which is
a big part of my role at the Zonne Multi
multi Sports, and yeah, I think if there's somebody out
there willing to watch, we're willing to entertain the opportunity
to have it on our platform.

Speaker 3 (48:38):
What's your outlook for the Australia New Zealand market in
terms of sport and sport consumption. There are a couple
of big players and there are certain things obviously you
can't say because you're in a process around Foxtail at
the moment, But what's your outlook for this combined market? Obviously,
as you say, it's separate, but in many ways it's
also a combined market Australia and New Zealand.

Speaker 8 (48:56):
Sure, yeah it is.

Speaker 10 (48:57):
Yeah, Yeah, I think it's important that I make clear
that we are we're acknowledging that they're very you know,
they're different cultures, different people, you know, you know, I
people in my team were us fortunate to work people
from you know, from both from both places.

Speaker 8 (49:10):
And they constantly remind me that two different territories.

Speaker 10 (49:12):
But as you say, you know, there are overlaps similar
to England and Ireland for example, UK and Ireland. But yeah,
the trend that we're seeing is that there is a
first for sport in the territory. That's that's no new news,
there's a there's a first to explore new sport as
well as what we've seen with a lot of our properties. Obviously,

(49:35):
you guys have your have your favorite sports as we
do over in the UK, as as our friends over
in the States do, and every territory all over the
world has different different kind of top three, shall we say.
But the trend that i'd see for the market is
that there is a real appetite for for more. But
on top of that, there is a demand for better
quality and just taking a sports right and sticking it

(49:59):
on the screen is not enough.

Speaker 8 (50:01):
You need to consider the.

Speaker 10 (50:03):
You know, the the conuct consumption, the behavior, how people
watch it, whether it's on demand, whether it's on the
big screen, whether it's on the move, on the way
to and from work, highlights, live, non live, et cetera.
And Australia, New Zealand in particular is no is no
different and it's a really exciting time for us actually
at the moment to observe those those trends and as

(50:26):
I say, to optimize our platform to make sure that
we're quentioning the first of the market, but fundamentally deliver it,
not trying to over complicate sport. That's the one thing
that we really make clear internally not to do, because
you know, sport is not a new thing, of course,
and people consuming sport is not a new thing. You
need to finally balance how to innovate and to keep

(50:48):
things fresh without over complicating the beauty of the simplicity
of sport.

Speaker 3 (50:53):
I think, do you see New Zealand as a growth market?
Obviously we're quite a small country, but is that an
area where you do see the potential for growth. You've
got some sports, You've got Champions League on the platform
at the moment, a few others as well. Do you
see that an area where you can get some growth?

Speaker 2 (51:08):
Yeah?

Speaker 10 (51:08):
I mean it literally is we define it as a
growth market. It's called a growth market within the zone.
Along with a collection of fifteen others that we have
really focused our efforts on in the last three years.
And really really focused in the last twelve months, in
particular we diversifying our right portfolio the promoters in my
world of boxing, in particular Tasman for example.

Speaker 8 (51:29):
We've got fantastic relationship with those guys.

Speaker 10 (51:32):
Lots of fighters who we've signed directly to work with us,
you know, and as well as as well as soccer
football you know, which we try call football over here,
you know, which which obviously brings in huge, huge audiences
our major pay per view events. But yeah, it's a
growth territory and there's you know, I think one thing

(51:52):
we are seeing is that there's a loyalty to sport.
There is an appetite to watch, you know, with the
time differences. That isn't a barrier for a lot of people.
Some people it is, and we're able, you know, we
adapt to our platform to ensure that you guys and
wherever people may be in the world, are able to
enjoy it with the same level of quality and energy

(52:13):
as anyone else watching live. But yeah, growth for us
comes in many ways, and that is by adding more rights,
that is, by innovating the platform and ultimately trying to
drive more people to our service and essentially grow our
subscriber base, which is my job.

Speaker 3 (52:29):
There are so many players now out there in the market,
and you know, what's the difference do you think between
saying Netflix, which has a couple of NFL games, and
then obviously the entertainment package versus Design which is very
much concentrated solely on sport. And how do you differentiate
between the two, I suppose in terms of targeting rights
and various approaches to getting consumers on board.

Speaker 10 (52:50):
Yeah, well, look, I think fundamentally, what we do, we
do it every day of the week. You know, we
have at times up to fullty live events simultaneous on
our platform well over the world.

Speaker 8 (53:01):
Nobody has ever done that, let alone doing it right now.

Speaker 10 (53:04):
You know you've mentioned that Flicks there obviously, you know
it's we see it as a real positive that a
business of that size and that scale are starting to
delve into into live sport, because it demonstrates that there's
an opportunity for them to make money. You know, this
is a commercial venture. Of course, we're providing a service,
and we're very proud to make sure that that service

(53:25):
is accessible primarily but available to as many people as
possible at fair pricing, but at a more at frequent regularity, right,
And I think the different fundamental difference between us and
say Netflix for example, and other platforms is the fact
that we do it day in, day out, in over

(53:46):
two hundred territories. But yeah, when it comes to rights acquisition,
you know, some of the examples of the guys that
you've given there, they will dip their toe into what
you'd consider to be one off major shows.

Speaker 8 (53:58):
If you look at J Paul Mike Tyson as a
prime example for boxing.

Speaker 10 (54:01):
As you can imagine, Eliet, I've been asked this a
lot over the last six months, you know what, I've
viewers of that, and I say the same thing every
time as what I just said to you. We take
it as a compliment. We've been doing this for a
long time and we consider certainly boxing to be you know,
we are the undisputed global home of boxing, and the

(54:21):
fact that other people are participating in it is a
sure sign that we're doing something right that people can
identify it as an opportunity to engage audiences and talk
to people in a relevant way. So long may it
continue to be Frankly with you, this.

Speaker 3 (54:36):
Is probably like picking a lot of numbers, but where
do you see sports streaming, sports rights going over the
next five to ten years.

Speaker 8 (54:44):
I think it's going to become the norm, if not already.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
You know.

Speaker 8 (54:49):
Don't get me wrong.

Speaker 10 (54:50):
I'm obviously a sports fan and consume whilst at work,
but also in my own time, much to the annoyance
of my family, are consume a lot of sport. I
think certainly, our our approach to how people look human sport,
it's going to become.

Speaker 8 (55:09):
It's going to become the norm.

Speaker 10 (55:11):
Our objective is for that norm to be realized on
the zone. We have a very ambitious plans to become
the sports destination for sports fans all over the world.
You know, that's a very bulshy, bold claim. It's going
to you know, we're taking strides every day getting closer.
List There lots of work to do, but you know,

(55:32):
testament to our growth in ten years. You know, I'm
confident that we will get there. But look, I think
the next ten years it's an exciting time. I mean,
we're I like to think what we're doing is you know,
extremely innovative. Lots of people are obviously following our footsteps
of what we do, but we are always looking to
the next thing. And I think you know, if you

(55:54):
if you even consider things viewing experiences like watch parties,
for example, people like you and I, if we were
to be talking about what a watch party is maybe
eight years ago, people be like, why would anybody? Why
would anybody do that? I would anybody care about that?
And now you look at businesses like Twitch for example,
which are huge, globally recognized successful businesses which are fundamentally

(56:14):
built around that simple concept. So I think there's lots
of exciting iterations to come off of OTT sports streaming
beyond just the viewing experience, and I'm very proud that
de Zonne are very much at the nucleus for that.

Speaker 3 (56:28):
Yeah, it's a fascinating time to be in the sports business,
that is for sure. Elfie, thank you so much for
your time. Appreciated and yet we'll keep in touches things developed,
I'm sure.

Speaker 8 (56:37):
Cheers Ellioms great talk to you.

Speaker 3 (56:38):
Likewise, Elfie, thanks very much of your time. Alfie Shaman,
the vice president of marketing at Design, joining us from
London to talk about their plans for the New Zealand market.
He was pretty up front they do have plans at
growth market. He called New Zealand. So another sports streaming
company targeting New Zealand. They have been operating here for
what maybe three or four years, maybe a bit longer

(57:00):
than that, with a bit of boxing in combat sports.
They took another leap when they got the Champions Lead
on their platform for this season. I think it was
for the first time. Doesn't seem like they're going to
slow down in terms of trying to wedge into the
New Zealand market. So it's another streaming service that if
you're a sports fan, an all round sports fan, you're

(57:23):
going to have to look at. We've had been into
the market. They're still around, although they've got nothing as
big as they used to have with the Premier League
and the Champions League, but they've still got the Scottish League.
I think the La Liga is on there, maybe the
Bundesliga as well. They've got a number of sports. We've
had Spark Sport of course come in then closed down

(57:45):
in New Zealand. There's been others that have sort of
periphery rights and sports on their platforms. How are you
handling it as a sports fan? Are you eager to
sign up for these sports services or is it just
a little bit too much. Have you gone full streaming
with your watching of sport or are you're still on

(58:09):
that Sky decoder or watching in a different manner. What's
your preference of watching sport and has it changed maybe
over the last few years. Have you adopted streaming more
so than maybe five years ago, because it's certainly the
way the market is hitting oh, eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty nine two ninety two for a text message,

(58:30):
Do you have a preference for the way that you
watch sport? Thinking about the way that I now consume sport.
I've got a Sky Sport now a subscription, don't have
the decoder, So any sport that I watch on Sky's
channels is via streaming TVNZ. Plus they've got to live
golf now, they've got a number of other sports, the

(58:53):
Black Caps, et cetera. I watch through that manner. I
don't have anything hardwired into the TV. Have you become
a bit like me? Are you all streaming now? You're
holding back?

Speaker 9 (59:05):
Then?

Speaker 3 (59:05):
I jumped on Zone the other day and watch the
Super Bowl on there. I think it was ninety nine
cents for the privilege, and you get the US broadcast.
You had Tom Brady on the Fox Network and all
the American ads and half of Hollywood starring in it.
It was a unique experience itself, but it's spread so
much thinner than it was ten fifteen years ago. What's

(59:30):
your preference of watching sport? Oh eight hundred eighty ten
eighty nine two nine two for a text message, Shawan says,
that's the only sky that I can access at the
moment is through my app, so I might as well
be streaming the sky Go app. I think it is.
What's your preference? Is the Internet good enough to be

(59:52):
able to stream widely? Are we still lagging behind? Like
those laggy ads that we see during every sports event
where you think the sport's coming back and it's actually
an ad for Coorus. I'm so sick of those ads.
But where are you at with streaming sport? Oh one
hundred and eighty teen eighty nine two nine two for
a text message this afternoon? It certainly seems to be

(01:00:14):
the way of the future, a wave of now, but
there are issues with it. The Zone though very ambitious.
You heard Alfie there talk about their plans snapping up Foxtail.
Couldn't talk too much about that, but once they're in
market properly in Australia owning Foxtel, and they'll probably rebadge

(01:00:34):
it and rename it. I'm sure they'll cast and I
over here and go, well, there's money to be made
from New Zealand. It's got to alistair afternoon. How are
you today, I'm good? How are you?

Speaker 4 (01:00:52):
You know?

Speaker 11 (01:00:52):
I saw in Skott for fifteen years and you know,
obviously we you know, I had a you know, mainly
the people that would sort of you know, you know
when we used to sign people up as you know,
they used to you know, basically you know, the only
thing they really wanted was mainly the rugby and a

(01:01:15):
little bit of cricket. It's been with all the students
and teed and sort of thing. But it'll be interesting
to see, you know, how these streaming services are going
to make him money. That's what I think.

Speaker 3 (01:01:28):
That's the question I have. There's only so much to
the meat sport and so many hours in the day,
isn't there in so many eyeballs to watch it?

Speaker 5 (01:01:36):
Yeah?

Speaker 11 (01:01:36):
I mean look at Spark I think you mentioned before
they well they paid twenty five millis season one hundred
and twenty five over five years. As far as I'm aware,
But how are they going to make him you know,
how is it going to work? Like, yeah, obviously if
they you know, especially Sky when they had basically every

(01:01:59):
single decent sporting service. Yeah, but yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:02:06):
It's it has been harder and harder. You spread so
thinly around the place at the moment with various streaming
services that ultimately there's going to have to be some
amalgamation you would think, or someone buying out someone else
over the next few years to make them viable.

Speaker 11 (01:02:20):
It's just I mean, people prepared to pay, you know,
maybe it might work if they charged per game or
something like that, or because I mean what it's sparked
with twenty five.

Speaker 3 (01:02:33):
Bucks a month.

Speaker 11 (01:02:33):
Yeah, roughly, yeah, roughly, And I mean you know, and
so you know, if you're a big sports fan, you're
like cricket, rugby and everything else, it's you know, it's
a big cost, you know, and they've got to have
to return money out of their investments. And obviously I
think you mentioned being sports and didn't they go broke

(01:02:56):
as well? They run out of money or they just
didn't get enough people describing.

Speaker 3 (01:03:00):
Yeah, I think they lost the Premier League here for
a Berts and I think they're still in market, but
I don't know what exactly they've got. I think they
have the Scottish football in Spanish.

Speaker 11 (01:03:10):
Yeah, yeah, they took the football off sky or a
number of that to eleven or something like that. But
I mean the main thing with people we used to
sell to were the cricket fans and the rugby fans,
and that's don't all bring me and go I want
your deal because we to do it half price for
a long time. So yeah, it's quite interesting. You know,

(01:03:31):
we got it the people pretty cheap. I mean we
were selling at forty bucks a month for all the
students in Dunsan for years.

Speaker 3 (01:03:40):
It's not a bad deal, especially on student rates.

Speaker 5 (01:03:42):
Yeah, for a whole.

Speaker 11 (01:03:43):
Year they had, you know, so it'll be interesting. Yeah,
but they all they all basically how we lost out
in that they all decided to get their home Sky home.
I go and take it home and take it back.

Speaker 3 (01:03:57):
To the leach off the pearance.

Speaker 4 (01:04:01):
Does.

Speaker 11 (01:04:01):
I mean, I'll be you know, I know hundreds of
people that are using Skoy going it's from ther parents account.

Speaker 3 (01:04:09):
Yeah, their parents are paying for it, not the students.
Thank you very much, Alison nice to chat with you
this afternoon. Oh one hundred and eighty and eighty nine
two ninety two for a text message. We're talking sports streaming,
The Zone joining us at the top of the hour,
talking about their plans for the New Zealand market and
where they go to from here. Afternoon, Rachel, how are
you hi?

Speaker 12 (01:04:28):
Good?

Speaker 13 (01:04:29):
Thanks?

Speaker 3 (01:04:30):
Yeah? Great? Thank you? Where are you at with your streaming?
How many services have you got?

Speaker 1 (01:04:34):
Oh?

Speaker 13 (01:04:34):
It gets a bit out of control, doesn't it. And
I think it's cast your mind back to the nineties
and the early two thousands. Is the one moned about
sky and the costs. But here we are now, and
if you are like me and you like tons of sports,
you really feel it in the pocket each month. I
just I prefer just to have it all on one spot,

(01:04:54):
one fee. I know what I'm getting, I can watch
what I want, when I want, how I want, and
it's just so much simpler. And I've had a couple
of experiences with the Zones. The first event I watched
for about till three years ago, and you've got a
seven day sign up free trial and then you paid
for the event. And then subsequent events that I've bought,
like boxing matches and whatnot, you then have to pay

(01:05:17):
the monthly subscription as well.

Speaker 3 (01:05:19):
As the event be.

Speaker 13 (01:05:21):
So again, yeah, there was one just recently, about two
months ago that I decided just not to bother because
it was going to end up being about fifty or
sixty dollars for a New Zealand boxer and I was like,
now that's about the gate. But yeah, by the time
I do my Sky Arena for the usc PA per
views and all these different bits and pieces, and then
you've got your knee ons, your Netflix Prime all this stuff,

(01:05:44):
it's just just I want to go back to SID.

Speaker 3 (01:05:47):
I agree. There's been so many subscriptions, isn't there that
it's hard to keep up, and you know, you want
to watch everything, but there is so many only so
many hours in the day that you can devote to
to watching, whether it's sport or entertainment, to streaming entertaining
movies or whatever it might be. There's only so many
hours in the day. Rachel.

Speaker 13 (01:06:05):
Yeah, Well, like I don't don't go out much anymore,
so for me, it's my it's my downtime. It's me
time to go to bed, or I have some friends
around for lunch or dinner, a barbecue and somemon. We
watched Sport and do the whole Sunday thing with USC
and it's a good time and that's the social aspect
of it for me. And then I just like the sports.
But yeah, Sky's not too bad. I'm paying about eight

(01:06:27):
dollars a month for Sport and my Sky recorder Dakoda,
so that's fine. But yeah, just once you start to
get into you got to go over there to watch
the Premier League. You've got to go over there to
watch cricket. You've got to go over there. And so
I just don't engage in some of those fringe sports.
If they were all in one place under my existing
Sky subscription, I absolutely would watch them, but I'm not

(01:06:50):
going to pay extra on a different platform. So they
missed my eyes on the screen, if you know what
I mean.

Speaker 3 (01:06:55):
Oh absolutely, And there are sports that you know, we're
desperate to get in front and get in get into
those platforms. But when they can't, that's when they, you know,
the people watching it miss out and also the sports themselves.

Speaker 13 (01:07:08):
Yeah, so I like guy. I prefer the old model.
It was just it was simple, it was easy, it
was easy to understand, easy to watch and yeah, just
take me back to the nineties and the early two thousands.

Speaker 3 (01:07:20):
Please, Yeah, I'm with you, rightchil. Nice to hear from
you this afternoon. Oh one hundred and eighty ten eighty
nine two for a text message, thanks for your call
this afternoon. There is something about having that decoda and
the remote in the palm of your hands on a
busy sporting night. Say there's some Super Rugby on NRL,
maybe a cricket game from overseas, but I'm maybe a
bit of tennis or something like that. If one qualifying

(01:07:43):
and just being able to ride that remote all night long,
go up, go down, and consume a little bit here
and there for the entire evening. Harder to switch on streaming.
You park up and watch a Super Rugby game. You
want to check what's happening in the NRL. You got
to go into the app select. It takes about ten

(01:08:04):
seconds to buffer check a score it's a blowout, or
go back to the Super Rugby game. It's about a
minute wasted. You can just flick up and down. There
is something to be said. They'll improve it. I'm sure
over time they'll make it easier to switch between channels
and streamings as streams and various things like that, But
for now it's a bit of a nuisance. Plenty of

(01:08:24):
text on this metal. It's ripped to a few before
the break. Let's go. The struggle with streaming is you
can't record the program. That's an interesting point I hadn't
heard from. They retain the highlights for a bit and
you can go and watch some Six Nations highlights or
Premier League highlights in the morning. You can't record it
and keep it. I recall it one of my old places.

(01:08:48):
We had the twenty fifteen Cricket World Cup semi final,
the Black Caps run chase on the Dakoda for ah,
I reckon a good I think until about the end
of twenty twenty one we had that, and periodically, especially
during COVID park up and watch Grand Outli gets innings,

(01:09:09):
Danie Vittori's four we were retaining that for about six years.
Very very good point. You can't record the program on streaming.
One more before the break, John says, the sky Sky
Sky all day long, record whatever. Don't have to worry
about endless ad streamers come and go. Look at the
company that had the Gulf in spark Sky so convenient.
Cheers John, every music skies as I'm sure more of

(01:09:30):
your text and calls after the break. Twenty five away
from two News TALKSBB you be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:09:36):
Have yours say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekend Sport with GJ. Guggos, New Zealand's most trusted home builder, News.

Speaker 3 (01:09:44):
Talks NB twenty two away from two on News Talks ZBB.
Plenty of text messages on this topic. It is variety
opinion opinions. I think it's fair to say. On the
streaming experience, Chris says this to Cooder is still the
best viewing experience. The picture clarity and smoothness is just
that little bit better. You notice the more when the

(01:10:05):
rugby balls in the year or a fastball as being
bold and cricket if it's streaming, the picture can't quite
handle something moving that quickly and you don't see the
ball the whole way. That's a very very good point. Actually,
I know it's a motion that's on the streaming coverage
of the way it's process, but you do occasionally lose
the ball a little bit on some of those streaming

(01:10:25):
services and I'm sure the quality is going to improve
over time. I mentioned to watch the Super Bowl via
NFL game Pass with nine nine cents the other day,
and there was a fox Ball broadcast out of the US,
and it was crystal clear h D from the minute
I switched it on to the end of the game.

(01:10:46):
The end of the actual game, and any end of
the game was actually been about the middle of the
second quarter, but the end of the game itself, it
was crystal clear the entire way through an HD. So
I'm sure it'll improve over time. It's a very good
point you make. Chris Rachel says loved the my Sky
Dakota for recording games that clash at times. I prefer
the TV, says another. But they have to get rid
of the ads. This is from Ben. I can stream

(01:11:07):
any sports without ads. Just get rid of the ads
like it used to beat and I'll stick with TV.
Another one. This is another cruise sis. I hate streaming
that's in capital it is. It stopped me seeing much
of the Rugby World Cup in Japan and the Black
Caps cricket. I want to turn on Sky and watch
rugby or cricket. There is something about the ease of

(01:11:30):
having a Dakota flicking it on and knowing it's there.
You do get a bit of rain fit occasionally, but
by and large you can pretty much guarantee it's there.
I think as well with the Spark sport, the Rugby
World Cup, it's changed so much. I mean that was
twenty nineteen and the Internet and New Zealand has improved.

(01:11:53):
It had to. It was lagging behind the rest of
the world. Everyone streamed a little bit more over the
last few years are a bit more used to it.
If Spark were to still be here, or that World
Cup was to be streamed, I think it would probably
infrastructure wise be handled a little bit better than that

(01:12:14):
World Cup, just with years of experience he is being
able to stream the internet being better. Michael sees this.
I've got Sky to watch on my TV, I can
record my Sports Live and tv TVNZ Plus on my
ip iPad and Sky Sport. Now, Gary, why the hell

(01:12:35):
do we consume our sport now and not just watch it?
Corporate speak? Gary, I guess because you're a consumer maybe,
and it's the whole conversation around the sport. You're not
just watching it. Listening to us on the radio talk
about it, which is consuming sport. I'll take the point though,

(01:12:59):
I'll try and drop it from my over okay over
the next week. While Gary thank you very much for
the text message, and Tony with this one, Sparksport ruined
international tennis viewing in New Zealand. I think Sky now
only have the Australian and French Open on multiple channels
and they screened them. Used to have all four of
majors Wimbledon and US Open one on Sky as well
until Spark out bid them. Spark now question mark, Wimbledon

(01:13:23):
and US Open question mark. I think Spark was on Sorry,
Wimbledon was on TV and Z. Last year US Open
was on TV and Z as well, but it now
certainly is split between the turn. If you're watching the
ATP Tennis, incidentally, you've got to go through Tennis TV,

(01:13:45):
which is another streaming platform which does exactly what it
sounds like tennis streaming. But I don't think they've got
the WTA, so you have to go to I think
Design if you want to watch the WTA and Tennis
TV if you want to watch the ATP, if you
want to watch the Grand Slams, you gotta go to
Sky's that's perfect example of the way that streaming has

(01:14:07):
splintered out tennis and now if you want to watch
all the tournaments Indian, Wells, all those other ones, you've
got to have multiple services. A very good point. Twenty
make that eighteen away from two on News Talk ZB.
We'll head across the Tasman. Very sure that Adam Peacock,
our Australian correspondents join us.

Speaker 8 (01:14:27):
It's more than just a game weekend.

Speaker 1 (01:14:30):
Sport with GJ Gunnomes New Zealand's most trusted home builder
News Dog MB.

Speaker 3 (01:14:37):
Fifteen away from two on News Talk ZB. Still a
couple of texts I do want to get to before
the hour is out on the streaming issue. But we've
got our boarding pass to go to Australia and our
Aussie correspondent, Adam Peacock is on the line. As we
do around this time every Saturday afternoon, we get across
the ditch and say gooday to Adam Peacock, afternoon whatever.

(01:14:58):
It is always a busy week across the Tasman. And look,
this Sam curse story was huge, but it's now come
to an end and a good result for Sam Kerr overall,
isn't it yeah.

Speaker 12 (01:15:11):
I mean it's a complex issue. Everything that's happened. It's
obviously not ideal that Sam found herself in that situation.
Was had a big night out, a lot of opinion
about what should happen. Now to Sam Kerr, I'm just
kind of pleased that it's resolved itself. Wishing the wrong

(01:15:31):
define wrong. I mean we've all gone out and had
a big night out and you know, behaved in a
way that you look back on and go, oh, was
that correct?

Speaker 4 (01:15:38):
Was that right?

Speaker 12 (01:15:39):
I think looking at the whole bit of vision and
the whole of it is available for thirty minutes, she's
doesn't feel like she's done anything criminally wrong. So yeah,
now everyone hopefully can get on with life. But it's
not going to be that simple because there's now questions
over whether or not Sho should be captain or not,
So that remains to be saying.

Speaker 3 (01:15:58):
What's the public feeling in Australia Should she remain captain?

Speaker 2 (01:16:03):
Yeah?

Speaker 12 (01:16:03):
A lot of people think that she should just get
on with life and it's normal, like it's how she
was viewed before this incident. Others think that there's no way,
well she should be a leader again. My personal view
is that. I don't think she should be stripped of
a captaincy. I thought a long time ago when she
was actually made captain. I'm not sure if it's suited

(01:16:25):
exactly what she needed in her life, if you know
what I mean.

Speaker 4 (01:16:28):
She was happy to be captain. She wasn't forced into it.

Speaker 12 (01:16:31):
But I just think that Sam is a leader through action.
She's a leader in the dressing room. Does she needed
that added layer of responsibility or always take talking to
the media and having that scrutiny.

Speaker 4 (01:16:42):
Probably not so. I don't know.

Speaker 12 (01:16:44):
It might look too convenient now to take away from
the captaincy, but it's up to Football Australia to communicate
it properly whatever decision they come up with, and I
hope they do that.

Speaker 3 (01:16:53):
Matthew Kernerman, the Aussie spinner cited for a suspect action
or reported I probably should say for a suspect action
over the course of the week. It's like there's a
prude of film watching it in slow motion. This is
it's eve a nice when a player gets called for
this sort of thing. What was your to take on it?

Speaker 12 (01:17:11):
Yes, I just can't see how he can reach the
test match level and then something like that all of
a sudden become an issue. Now Mattie Kernaman has had
questions around his action before, both domestically here in Australia.
Domestically here in Australia, I should say, obviously has jumped
over those hurdles whatever's been put in front of him
because he's been selected to play for Australia. I don't

(01:17:33):
get how, all of a sudden then an umpire can
turn around and go, oh, actually his action looks a
bit dodgy, and now this whole cloud comes over his
entire career again.

Speaker 4 (01:17:44):
I think he's grossly unfair personally.

Speaker 12 (01:17:46):
There's got to be better ways of dealing with this
in the lead up to becoming a Test cricketer, rather
than getting on that stage and then all of a
sudden his action being called into question by one of
the on field umpires. So now he's got to go
through this whole rigmarole of proving that he doesn't chuck
the ball by the letter of the law and by
the angle of his arm and all of that. Yeah,

(01:18:07):
it's a head scratcher administration wise that it can get
to that. But that's what Maddy Kuernerman has got to
go through now to prove that.

Speaker 4 (01:18:13):
He doesn't chuck.

Speaker 3 (01:18:15):
It's one of those things. And I remember the Darrell
here one with whinn he Noboard, Merley Duran and the
mid nineties. That was huge at the time and it's
a story that still resonates. What about thirty years on.

Speaker 12 (01:18:26):
Yeah, because that happened in the middle of a Test
match and he kept on no balling him instead of
giving him warnings. Instead it felt like a surprise attack
on him, which was grossly unfair at that time as well,
that was himurely that he was a very young player
at that time went on to have an amazing career,
so it was obviously all okay how he was bowling,
but seriously that was a circus that just did not

(01:18:46):
need to happen. And hopefully Matt Kerneman can avoid similar sight.

Speaker 3 (01:18:50):
And look Super Rugby underway as of last night, the
warattas get to win over the Highlanders. It might be
the year. It might be Australia's year in super rugby. Finally, yeah, one.

Speaker 12 (01:19:00):
Night, So let's all calmed down and they're not the
Blues and they're not the chief the Highlanders, with.

Speaker 4 (01:19:07):
All due respect to them, A bit of a buzz.

Speaker 12 (01:19:09):
About got to say about rugby starting again over here,
and I think that is sw Lee coming in Joseph
becauso Lee. So the fact that he started as a
wires Are and played okay by all four reports, both
very good judges, not just people like me who watch
it occasionally. So yeah, it's it's good that rugby's back well,

(01:19:32):
not on like firmly in the spotlight, but getting a
bit of a say over here. And the back end
of last year with the spread tours certainly helped. Having
a British and Irish Lions folded into a World Cup
campaign not too far away. That'll help, and so will
our super rugby clubs going Okay that the Brumbies will
be the benchmark again I think for Australia. But having

(01:19:55):
all these Melbourne Rebels players having that club dissolved and
then those players good ones filtering back into the other
other clubs and their systems has strengthened. So hopefully that
does strength in Australia's cause on this stage against some
of you.

Speaker 3 (01:20:10):
But I was at the Super Rugby launch in Sydney
for it for a day last week. Joseph su elite
you would have reeled off. I think about twelve interviews
in a space about three hours. He's twenty one years old,
but he has a professionalism of a thirty year old.
I think he's going to be good for rugby in Australia.

Speaker 4 (01:20:26):
Yeah, he's a pretty level headed kid.

Speaker 12 (01:20:28):
He's got his head screitched on, which is good and
rugby needs that needs good players first and foremost, but
good people as well, and a lot of them are
like a stack of the rugby boys are just good humans.
And Joseph because I certainly certainly fits that Bill and
I just you just want him to have a clear
runway health wise. And all the good players here from

(01:20:49):
Australia because we don't have that layer of depth that
I reckon you require to consistently get results on the
international stage against the.

Speaker 2 (01:20:58):
Very good sides.

Speaker 12 (01:20:59):
But that's what this competition is meant to build, and
hopefully it can continue to go in the right direction,
because it feels like it is last couple of years indeed.

Speaker 3 (01:21:07):
Well, Adam Peacock, thank you very much for your time,
wish you the best luck and we'll catch up again
next weekend. That's goods mate, Adam Peacock. Joining ours, says
he always does around this time on a Saturday afternoon,
talking all things Australian and sport, and no shortage of
topics to get stuck into, that is for sure with
Adam this week that's Samka things. Of course, plenty of

(01:21:27):
interest on both sides of the Tasman here and in
the UK. We're reading a whole range of perspectives on
that matter. But ultimately, you know, probably good for her
just to focus on the football and she's very very
good at doing that. It is coming up seven away
from two News TALKSZB.

Speaker 1 (01:21:45):
When it's down to the line, you made a call
on eight hundred eighty ten eighty weekend Sport News Talks EBB.

Speaker 3 (01:21:52):
Coming out four away from two on News Talk ZIBB
a text and saying I used the TV and Z
that for the first time in a long time as
I can as long as I can remember to watch
the live stream of the Adelaide Live golf tournament yesterday
and loved it. Certainly opened me to looking to other
shows on the platform. I think if Free Do We
is going to survive, it does need to be picking
up major sports again. Well done TV and Z. Sorry Sky,

(01:22:13):
but you are now the one at risk if you
don't improve your offering. I did hear that the PGA
was sort of telling broadcasters that had their rights not
to pick up lives. So I suppose it's separate here
in New Zealand. We'll go to Live and Adelaide next
hour on the program. Kyle Preston hat Trick Hero on
the program as well, and Andrew Howard Blue CEO joins
us as well. Newsport Weather next.

Speaker 1 (01:22:35):
The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies and the big conversations. It's all on
Weekend Sport on your home of Sport.

Speaker 8 (01:22:49):
News Talk said be.

Speaker 3 (01:22:54):
Welcome back in Weekend Sports six and a half. After
two final hour of the show, Alligant Smith and for
Jason Pine, this weekend's on Weekend Sport. We've taken you
across the tas been last year we've taken you to London.
We'll take you back across the Tasman this hour on
the show to Live Golf Adelaide, which looks like the

(01:23:15):
biggest party on the globe at the moment. They are
having so much fun at Live Golf Adelaide. I mean
you can throw all sorts of questions about the viability
of live golf and what it's done for the sport.
But that's in particular. Tournament at Live Adelaide has become
a serious event in its own I know a few

(01:23:35):
Kiwis have gone abroad. There was a text and earlier
from someone whose son has gone abroad, or read that
a bit later on in the hour, but it's certainly
a party in Adelaide. Will take you there. With Marcus Wheelhouse,
you're forming you Zely golfer, he's own golf coach to
join the program and give us a sense of what
it's like at Live Adelaide. A bit more rugby to

(01:23:57):
come this hour on the program, Kyle Preston, I mean,
it's going to take something pretty special to knock that
off the perch of stories from the first round of
Super Rugby. Hat trick on debut coming off the bench
for the Crusaders to get them a win at home
and start off twenty twenty five on a more promising
notes than twenty twenty four. Certainly was Kyle Preston. The

(01:24:21):
story out of last night's victory for the Crusaders is
going to join us in a few moments time to
talk us through that hat trick and why he chose
the Crusaders over his hometown Hurricanes. He'll explain more in
a few moments time. Andrew Hall is going to join us.
The Blues CEO they wanted to pack the park. How

(01:24:41):
close are they to packing the park for the rematch
of last year's final Blues and Chiefs seven five tonight.
You can't get to the game, you can hear it
on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. Looking forward to the call
of that match. Andrew hort on Super Rugby starting for
twenty twenty five and how the Blues go about their
title defense both on and off the park. To join

(01:25:04):
the program before the hour is out. Plenty to get
stuck into over the final fifty two minutes or thereabouts
of our show here on News Talk ZBB. But as
we do around this time Saturday and Sunday, if you've
slept in Heaven, checked your phone, whatever it might be,
Let's bring you up to date with everything in the

(01:25:24):
world of sport. It's in case you missed it. Let's
start and Jason Pine Ti retreat the Wellington Fall and
Phoenix have fallen to a loss against the Melbourne victory
only for gooss.

Speaker 2 (01:25:35):
In the box.

Speaker 3 (01:25:35):
Here's me gos the turf delivery and the turf to
Tanner unbuild the victory lays. They had to be patience.
But at the end of two of them in talks
goodbye to give the dead batch and that one who
loss leaves them sitting in tenth on the A League ladder.

(01:25:56):
Let's go to Sydney. Now the Highlander is just faltering
in the last minute against the war Atars. Let's put me.

Speaker 9 (01:26:03):
When you get the gay.

Speaker 3 (01:26:04):
The warts on the line and Amona right scored. Oh
and look at the Wartars. They're ecstatic.

Speaker 14 (01:26:15):
Ana. Their rough placement tight brought scores to the right
hand side of the uprights.

Speaker 3 (01:26:22):
The hand is screaming bloody murder about a knock on
and the lead up didn't see another angle of that.
It was a wee bobble from one of the Wartar's
replacement props. That's why they delayed full time through Angus
Gardner haven't seen any footage to emerge over that, but
I'm sure there's some angle out there. Islanders fans, you
must be pretty annoyed to lose that one against the

(01:26:45):
Tars last night thirty seven to thirty six to the
New South Welshman another one and the trophy cabinet for
the black Caps wait born and that's it. News a
little left the tri.

Speaker 15 (01:26:54):
Edition Trophy Hare and Karachi at the National Backstadium, a
team that just couldn't be defeated won three out of
three and they're rightly deservingly lift the trophy, beating Pakistan
by five wickets and probably won't be wrong because they're
comprehensively three departments.

Speaker 3 (01:27:13):
Look probably doesn't mean too much in the great scheme
of things, but a winner is a winner's a winner.
Trophy as a trophy, as a trophy, and most importantly
it's momentum heading into the ICC Champions Trophy. And they
play Pakistan again midweek in their openers. So some good
signs for the black Caps. And finally, I couldn't believe

(01:27:34):
this a staggering game of rugby league to open the
Super League between Egan and Egan, between Wigan and Lee.
The first eighty minutes. Can you believe this went scoreless?
That's right, it was nil all heading into Golden Point.
Then this happened.

Speaker 16 (01:27:50):
Try the possessions heads in place. I'm playing on the
right foot with a truck.

Speaker 3 (01:27:54):
Gun believes breach of the stars.

Speaker 17 (01:27:58):
A moment.

Speaker 16 (01:28:00):
It has taken, ain't seen two minutes for the first
points Super League season, the conti dramatic circumstances and then
so much winning moment.

Speaker 3 (01:28:16):
Kicks it through the steps one nil, full time. Unbelievable.
That was in case, mister.

Speaker 1 (01:28:25):
The scoots from the track field and the court on
your home of fort Weekend Sport, you talking me well.

Speaker 3 (01:28:33):
Quite incredible. Last night the Crusaders opened their Super Rugby
campaign with a win over the Hurricanes. It was a
back and forth game between the two sides, the Hurricanes
getting out to a fourteen they will lead, the Crusaders
getting back to fourteen all, and then the Hurricanes get
out twenty two to fourteen. The momentum swings their way,
then back to the Crusaders in the second half. I

(01:28:54):
think the Hurricanes only got three points in the second spell.
But in all of that, the story of the game,
apart from the Crusaders winning, has to be replacement half
back Kyle Preston's sorry, not once, not twice, but thrice.

Speaker 14 (01:29:09):
Crusaderes go short side right, little wedside play shell food
Jordan edits Kyle Preston under the posts. The Crusaders head
back numbers, hitt of the left, Harvely little Chip and
chase over for Jordan sits up beautifully.

Speaker 3 (01:29:25):
He gets a pass away to civil Race. He's quirking
at own of the Onster twenty two. He checks her
back at down by Priston.

Speaker 18 (01:29:36):
Crusades plays down Preston. He wos it guys, go Christon
a hats for Godjapo frop the chet from the Capitol.

Speaker 3 (01:29:48):
Unbelievable stuff And Kyle Preston has been nice enough to
join us this afternoon on Week in Sport the hat
trick hero from last night. Kyle, thanks so much for
your time with us here on news Talks. Heb not
a problem, bad to be here. Well, last night couldn't
have gone much better cut it for both yourself and
the Crusaders.

Speaker 19 (01:30:07):
No, definitely not currently ask for anything more, to be fair,
didn't expect anything like that, but super grateful. Kind of
feels like a bit of a dream.

Speaker 3 (01:30:18):
But yeah, Kyle, what were you thinking is but I
guess came on to the park. You probably weren't expecting
what seventy eight minutes of game time?

Speaker 19 (01:30:26):
Yeah, I definitely didn't expect Sevy Odd minutes on the field,
but yeah, I kind of saw no go down and yeah,
I had to step up pretty quickly because yeah, there's
neither way.

Speaker 3 (01:30:41):
Fourteen kneel down. I guess that wasn't the best to
start for the Crusaders, but you managed to work the
way work your way back into the contest. How did
you as a side respond to that early couple of
tries you conceded?

Speaker 19 (01:30:54):
Yeah, I think obviously getting two drives down early and
then yellow card was pretty tough, but the boys responded
pretty well. Keep grinding when you it would be a
battle and it would take take all of us to
do it. So the boys put them a big shift
and yeah, I.

Speaker 3 (01:31:10):
Guess a confidence boost for it for the team as
a whole. Kyle, to come from fourteen nil down at
home get that victory to start the season.

Speaker 19 (01:31:19):
Yeah, for sure. We spoke about this year Apollo Project
being our home and preteting it what all we got
and it's going to take all of us to do it.
And yeah, super super stoked that we were able to
start the season off with a good win.

Speaker 3 (01:31:33):
So yeah, I mean, Kyle, what were you thinking one try,
then two, then three on debut. That's a remarkable stat
line for anyone to have in a single game, to
get a hat trick. But you're on debut and Super rugby.
What were you thinking.

Speaker 19 (01:31:47):
Yeah, obviously didn't expect that. I was hoping for one
at least on debut, and to get through was yeah,
pretty special and definitely didn't think that was going to happen,
but pretty stoked.

Speaker 3 (01:31:58):
What are the skills that you pride yourself on as
a half back?

Speaker 2 (01:32:01):
Came probably the basics.

Speaker 19 (01:32:04):
Of just catch catch pass, obviously passing through the main
one and kicking game, but also I like to think
that I've got a good running support line game and
I'm always there to finish finish off tries with the
boys doing all the hard work and me just running.

Speaker 8 (01:32:20):
Over the line.

Speaker 3 (01:32:21):
What was it like playing a lot of your old
you know, Wellington teammates last night. It was a perfect script,
wasn't it.

Speaker 5 (01:32:29):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (01:32:29):
It was. It was I think icing on the cake
to be able to have a devut but do it
against those guys. It was pretty special. And yeah there
was a bit of a niggle and holding back in
the rucks and a bit of trash talk throughout the game,
but it's all what it's about so it was cool.

Speaker 3 (01:32:46):
What were you seeing out there at halfback? I guess
in terms of the way the game was panning out,
it felt like the Hurricanes had you at the edges
in the first half, but maybe you tightened that up
in the second. What were you seeing from your vantage point?

Speaker 19 (01:32:58):
I think, yeah, they did a really good job at
getting around the corner and beating us on the edges,
like you said, and I think we spoke about it
at halftime that that was a work one for us
through the second half, and the boys did really well
to adjust to that, and yeah, it done well.

Speaker 3 (01:33:14):
I guess last year you weren't there. But has that
been spoken about? I guess the tough times this team
went through in twenty twenty four. Is you embark on
a new season?

Speaker 19 (01:33:24):
Yeah, for sure. There's been a bit of a chat
of obviously how last year was and not letting it
been a downfall but a growth point for the group.
And I think, yeah, starting the season off for a
good one and good morele in the group is positive.

Speaker 3 (01:33:42):
Can let's be somewhere? I guess you add something because
you weren't there, you don't have that baggage of last year.
You can just come in and sort of add what
you want to this group.

Speaker 2 (01:33:51):
Yeah.

Speaker 19 (01:33:51):
I think well for me it's just coming into the environment,
being really welcomed in by the group and the coaches
and management, and then just just moving myself and adding
what I can and I'm hoping that it's been a help.

Speaker 3 (01:34:05):
So I know, the hurricanes, we're trying to get you
on board as well. What tipped you to go to
the Crusaders in the first place.

Speaker 19 (01:34:14):
Yeah, there's pros and cons for everything, for both choices really,
and I think for me it was I've been a
will into my whole life and to get out of
the region and have kind of a fresh start and
just a bit of growth aspect, not just for on
the field, but personally. I thought there was going to
be a big part of it. So yeah, I think

(01:34:36):
making the move down here was it was good for
me just off the field as well.

Speaker 3 (01:34:41):
Yeah, and obviously you've been a rufer by trades in
recent times. How most how recent were you doing roothing
and have you had to obviously park that for it
for a week while with a super Rugby become a
track contract coming your way.

Speaker 19 (01:34:54):
Yeah, So I actually luckily just finished my roofing apprenticeship
at the end of the start of last year, before
the NPC season started, So I think maybe my was
when I fully qualified, which I was pretty stoked to
get that done, and then to have a good NBC
season and kind of be full time by the end

(01:35:15):
of the year, so kind of worked out pretty perfect
for me.

Speaker 3 (01:35:19):
Do nights like last night sort of give you that
belief that you're on, you know, the right track as
a professional rugby play Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 19 (01:35:26):
I think obviously, like I said, deboos pretty special and
to be able to have a be some performance on
a game like there is, yeah, something I can take
a bit of confidence from.

Speaker 3 (01:35:41):
And obviously it looks like Noah might be out for
a wee while so that more opportunities might be coming
your way. Just have to grab both of those with
both hands, Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 19 (01:35:50):
Just continue to do what I do and keep working
hard every day to be better and one for myself obviously,
and then two to help the team do as this
as we can and hopefully hopefully knows back as soon
as you can.

Speaker 3 (01:36:04):
And it's not too bad and the Chiefs next week
in Hamilton always a tricky trip. What are you expecting
out of that. Obviously their first game coming up per tonight.

Speaker 17 (01:36:13):
Yeah, well we'll have.

Speaker 19 (01:36:14):
A watch of the game tonight and see how they go.
But yeah, they're always a tough, tough game. Haven't played
them personally if but I know the fight they give,
so it'll be it'll be a big better when we can't.
We can't leave that at all.

Speaker 3 (01:36:30):
Well, it was a great start last night, Kyle, loved
watching you play and look forward to seeing you over
the rest of the season. Beast of luck for the campaign.
Thanks for joining us.

Speaker 19 (01:36:38):
Awesome, Thank you very much. Cheers Gus.

Speaker 3 (01:36:39):
Appreciate your Ti'm Kyle Preston. One of the stories of
the round is going to take something pretty special to
knock that off. The purchase is a story of the
round and super rugby. He certainly made a name for
himself last night. A few people would have seen him
last year in the NPC for Welmington. He was superb
for the Mean for the Capitol as you heard there,
they put a contract underneath them. But he went to

(01:37:00):
the Crusaders and it looks like the Crusaders have managed
to get themselves a very very good play up on
the basis of last night when you think Noah Hotham
went down obviously injured. As we discussed, Mitchell Drummond was
them in the twenty three last night, so he certainly
impressed in the course of the off season. I think
his broncho time was staggering. It was top of the

(01:37:21):
charts for the Crusaders when he came in from the offseason.
Clearly showed he meant business and on the basis of
seventy eight minutes last night, he has made a name
for himself and you would expect he will start against
the Chiefs in Hamilton and hopefully he can continue that form.
Great start for the Crusaders. Got time for maybe a

(01:37:44):
call or two Crusaders fans on the pack of last night,
you feel confident that this year might pan out a
little bit better than last year? Is it your year again?

Speaker 9 (01:37:54):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:37:54):
Eight hundred eighty ten eighty nine two ninety two for
a text message? The Hurricanes hard to know too much.
I mean, I can't quite get a read on that
performance last night from the Hurricanes. They lied early fourteen
nil up, took advantage of the Crusaders poor discipline. Couldn't
get back into the contest though in the second spell
the Crusaders managed to apply. I was going to say

(01:38:17):
the band aid. Nothing really the band aid they applied.
I fe fixes at halftime and the Hurricanes just couldn't
get back into the contest and the second spell three
points to show after the break, Crusaders take charge.

Speaker 2 (01:38:30):
Is it the.

Speaker 3 (01:38:30):
Crusaders year again? I'll tell you what from the Hurricanes perspective,
heat an awful, very very impressive player. Looks like they've
managed to get there at the Hurricanes text line open
nineteen nine and two if you do want to get
in touch or eight hundred eighty ten eighty we'll take
your adelaide very very shortly. Liv Golf was absolutely pumping

(01:38:54):
at the moment of Marcus Wheelhouse is going to join
us here? On news Talk ZB twenty two after.

Speaker 1 (01:39:00):
Two, The Tough Questions Off the Turf Weekend Sports with GJ. Gunnomes,
Zeland's most trusted home builder, News Dogs Where it.

Speaker 3 (01:39:10):
Is twenty five after two talking about a super rugby
on the back of chatting with Kyle Preston and the
new Crusaders half pack who shan last night with three tries?
Other Crusaders back or is it too early to say?
Afternoon Wendy, how are you?

Speaker 20 (01:39:24):
I s thank you very huts with my team. I've
had this team since Alex Wiley.

Speaker 3 (01:39:32):
And you're you're in your reckon. They might be back
after a tough year last year, Wendy.

Speaker 20 (01:39:37):
It was a tough year and it hasn't started. All
fourteen of them still ill.

Speaker 3 (01:39:43):
That's right, tough, but.

Speaker 11 (01:39:46):
You know all the best.

Speaker 12 (01:39:48):
No.

Speaker 20 (01:39:48):
I changed to reach my hometown and I'm miss terribly.

Speaker 3 (01:39:53):
Well, it's on the go. You'll you'll have to make
a trip down. The new Stadium's not too far away, Windy.
It's looking I was down in Christ's last week.

Speaker 20 (01:40:00):
Yes, yeah, but I'm getting quite old and I can't
down there. Family can't take me. So that's disappointing. But
never mind. It's lovely when you've got the radio and
you can hear all these things.

Speaker 3 (01:40:15):
Well, we're grateful to have you listening, Wendy. Things for
your call this afternoon. So lovely to hear from you,
and listening this afternoon that new stadium by the way.
Just as as an aside, I was down in christ
Jeurch last weekend for the Coast to Coast our coverage
here on News Talk ZMB. I was down at Christmas
as well. It seems to have grown exponentially in the

(01:40:38):
six weeks between. It is coming along at a rate
of knights you have if you're not in christ Church,
it's going to be online from they say April twenty
twenty six next year. That is going to be some
scene when the Crusader's head to that stadium. It's going
to be pretty impressive. It just rises out of the city.
I can't remember who. Someone was describing it to be
like one of those wars were all the World's Darcy

(01:41:02):
water Grove actually, you know, one of those World of
the World monsters aliens that comes out of the turf.
It just is on the horizon. It looks spectacular and
looking forward to getting that underway next year. Tim says,
this is the John Preston's son. No, he's not. I
think he's had to play that down in the media before.
That's what John Preston did, wasn't it. We went from

(01:41:24):
Wellington to Canterbury, if I recall rightly, it might be
slightly wrong on that, but he went to Wellington and Canterbury,
so maybe there's something in the name. And Jeffer says
this Kyle Preston playing for Wellington versus Tasman last year,
dropp David Hervilly on the spot as heavily looks certain
for a try. Preston will be in the abs mix

(01:41:46):
bit call, but he keeps playing like that, certainly won't
be far away from contention. He's probably going to get
a bit of running game time with nor Hotham out
for the next week while we don't quite know as yet,
but incredibly impressive start Kyle Preston to a super rugby career.
Twenty eight after two on news Talk zb Beat, Let's

(01:42:07):
take you to Adelaide and the live golf Adelaide has
been absolutely pumping. I saw it last year, it seems
like it's got even bigger this year. And Patrick Reid
with us Whole in one yesterday absolute scenes. Let's have
a listen a little more encouraging, shall we say? As
the day goes on?

Speaker 2 (01:42:31):
Godness me.

Speaker 3 (01:42:34):
Baswa reading little duty. Well, I didn't check it on
ace in the first hour o day one. Those are
the scenes in Adelaide yesterday on TV and Z Plus
who now have the live golf right, So hole in
one for Patrick Reid that was the party hole seems

(01:42:56):
like the whole place is a party. And someone who's
there is a former New Zellian golfer and golf coach
Marcus Wheelhouse, joining the program. Marcus, it looks like it's
been absolutely raga. How have you enjoyed it?

Speaker 17 (01:43:10):
Yeah, it was look at a It's an event that's
got lots of energy. I'll put it that way. It's
great for the hearing.

Speaker 3 (01:43:17):
What's the atmosphere like, put it, put us on in
your shoes, I guess. On course it looks like an
absolute party fast. Is it actually like that at live
golf Atalte.

Speaker 5 (01:43:26):
It really is.

Speaker 17 (01:43:27):
I mean you can probably hear the tones behind me.
Now that's pretty much just playing constantly. You've got a real,
you know, sort of broad demographic of people that are
that are watching golf and and just being here, just
being at the event. You know, like I love strains,
but you know attitude. They'd go and watch, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:43:47):
A couple a race.

Speaker 17 (01:43:49):
So it's great, you know that there's yeah, all ends
of the spectrum, and and and everybody, you know, every
really got the party spot, you know, the watering hole.
And and as you saw, you say, that went off
like a cracker. And then you've got you know, the
DJ's playing at night, and so the crowd sort of changed.
Like during the day, it's gone interesting to watch, you know.

(01:44:10):
We come about four o'clock the party people started coming
and there was a lots of young people around and
it's great to.

Speaker 3 (01:44:15):
See in terms of I guess a golf vibe. Do
people actually watch the golfers a bit like the sevens
back in the day, you turn around if you you
run out of things to look at.

Speaker 17 (01:44:25):
I'm sure there's there's elements of that. But you know,
the great thing about lets you know the caliber player
that's here. You know, like you wouldn't get the john
Arms and the and you know and just Dustin Johnson's
the stuff if it wasn't with so you know, there
are some golf addicts and junkies here, you know, looking
at that as well. So, yeah, that's real. It's a

(01:44:45):
real uh braordinate.

Speaker 3 (01:44:48):
Ben Campbell's a player that you've worked with closely. He's
with the range Goats this year had a you know,
not too bad round one tied thirty seven and the
individual leader board. How did he get on on day one?

Speaker 2 (01:45:00):
Yeah, a little bit, a little bit tough.

Speaker 17 (01:45:01):
I was pretty frustrating. He sort of got off to
a pretty good start. He was toned early and then
it was pretty tricky with the win and a couple
of complacements I thought were pretty pretty tricky. So just
cop you coming home. But yeah, no, look at I
think he's definitely looking at at having a better day
to day. Felt like that. It's just you know, there's
a couple of things gon't quite right, but we hopefully
saw that last night and and and get.

Speaker 4 (01:45:23):
Up with great.

Speaker 3 (01:45:23):
How's he enjoying live golf obviously the second tournament and
the range Goats team, you know, how does he embraced
the full time nature of his job now?

Speaker 17 (01:45:35):
Yeah, look, I think it's really it's early days obviously,
just the second week where the range goes. But he's
had a year about here last year being a reserve,
so knows, you know a lot of the feels of
what you know, what the events are like and what
to do. So it feels very comfortable out here now.
And yeah, so it's just about you know, you're getting
kind of guys on the team and it's a cool vibe.
You know, like to have some people that you know

(01:45:56):
they all got your back and they're trying to egg
on and and everybody has you know, goody good and
bad days of sports, so it's nice to have some
support there. And and then they've also got just a team,
the team managers and the social media people.

Speaker 2 (01:46:10):
Et cetera.

Speaker 17 (01:46:11):
So yeah, there's a it's a pretty good crop. You've
got the caddy and they'll get on, you know. Well,
it's good to say.

Speaker 3 (01:46:17):
Yeah, it's been around for three or four years now
and there's alsosly always the talk of the merger coming through,
but they don't seem in a hurry to get back
with the p g A or to buy any extent,
so they're just forging their own path. Is that what
you're seeing?

Speaker 17 (01:46:31):
Yeah, look, I think it's it's taken a bit of
a turn in the last a couple of months, you know,
with a lot of the rhetoric and and chat about
you know, sort of from Rory, from from the CGA
tour players obviously now the extentions coming through with the
with the Open and the US Open, so you know,
things seem to be turning for the better for for inclusion.

(01:46:51):
You know, it was pretty pretty hostile these stages, wasn't it.

Speaker 12 (01:46:54):
You know, So.

Speaker 17 (01:46:56):
Yeah, no, look, I think, yeah, you look at up
the I p L and you look at you know,
a lot of a lot of you know, so you
could say breakout leagues or tours and it would end
upper sports. You know, it takes a couple of years
for people who sort of get there, I suppose the
gist of what they're trying to achieve and and and
you know, they do a lot of really good things
here at list and and I think that you know

(01:47:18):
that when once people sort of get over that, there
is I suppose a different offering is a good way
to put it. And that's I think, really, you.

Speaker 2 (01:47:26):
Know, really cool.

Speaker 17 (01:47:27):
I mean, you know, that's how the world we live in, right.
Everybody's not you know, it doesn't like cheese, you know,
and doesn't like chocolate. So it's good to just get
that little bit of change. And and that's a great entertainment.

Speaker 3 (01:47:38):
For it what I live golf event work in New Zealand.
Do you think Marcus, I know, has moved it a
little bit last year. Do you think that it would
have legs on the side of the tasm.

Speaker 17 (01:47:47):
Yeah, I'd say definitely. You know, there's definitely that sort
of antipathy into a way of enjoying yourself and music
and severs and everything else that sits around the entertaining
side of things. So yeah, no, like it would be
great to see. I'd just love to see more golf
in the film, you know, and at a high levels?
Did he nothing look good?

Speaker 3 (01:48:08):
And just in terms of Ben's game as well, I
guess the range Goes playing under Bubba Watson couldn't ask for,
you know, a better player to player alongside in terms
of his pedigree through the years playing majors and now
on the Live Tour and captaining the range Goats team.
But he's got a pretty good sponge to learn from
about how it all works on the Live Tour, doesn't
he for sure?

Speaker 1 (01:48:27):
Yeah?

Speaker 17 (01:48:27):
Like, and Bubba's you know, he's super nice guy. You
know there are a nice other better and better week
the week, and so yeah, no, it's so far for
good and everything's Joey lastly fantastic.

Speaker 3 (01:48:39):
I wish you the best of luck and enjoying everything
that Live Golf Adelaide has to offer. Thanks for your
time Marcus and joining us on news talk z'd be
this afternoon. Thanks for having us there. Marcus Wilhouse joining
us there. He's a coach of Ben Campbell, and he's
across there at Live Adelaide, which looks like quite the event.
Joe Texas at an early gipt our son, who's in
his late twenties, is at the Live Golf and Adelaide

(01:49:01):
with a couple of mates. He's having the time of
his life. Sees the golf looks incredible, whether in atmosphere
just amazing. Keeps ringing and texting his father telling him
he is loving us. I'm glad to hear that, Joe.
It looks like an absolute ball. Everyone that goes raves
about it. A couple of people that are bumped into
the last twelve months or so mentioning that they were

(01:49:21):
at Live Golf Adelaide and twenty twenty four and how
much fun it was. I actually looked at going this year.
I think it was an April last year. I thought, well,
maybe we can could combine it. Go to an AFL
game one night, poured Adelaide, Adelaide Crows or something, go
to the Live Golf for a couple of days, go
somewhere else and see what Adelaide's got to offer. But

(01:49:43):
then they moved to February and this weekend and not
to be. But if they keep going, they've got something there.
I think everyone poo pooed it at the start, this
Live idea, and I don't think it's got the TV
eyeballs that they're necessarily after as yet with the quality
of players that they've got. But what it has done
is create events like Live Adelaide. Cameron Smith can captain

(01:50:08):
the team across the Tasman and play at a home
tournament of sorts. It's extincted a reach around the globe
golf rather than being a very American centric product in
terms of the PGA Tour that I think Live has
done very very well. Is it here for the long term?
I think the jury is still loud. There's talk of

(01:50:29):
the merger and everything like that, but they're still signing
deals left, right and center. Signed with TV and Z
plus this week as well. The Adelaide Tournament is on
there if you're wanting to watch it. To go back
to our discussion last year last hour around, streaming doesn't
appear to be going away anytime soon, and they certainly

(01:50:49):
seem to have captured something in Adelaide. Twenty three away
from three on News Talk, becau Z' beat thank you
for those that have texted in John Prieston went from
Canterbury to Wellington, of course, not the other way around.
I should have known. I think you went to to
use my christ as knowledge. I want to put John
Preston short there. I think he went to some beads
so he was scored in Christis now I think about it,

(01:51:11):
and went from Cannabury eventually to Wellington. Great player that
hybrid nine and ten John Preston, but no relation to
Kyle forging his own path in rugby at the moment,
twenty two away from three News talk as he'd be
Weekend Sports.

Speaker 1 (01:51:25):
The biggest seams in sport are on Weekend Sport with GJ.
Guggos can New Zealand's lost trusted home builder News.

Speaker 3 (01:51:32):
Talks he'd be the defending champions kick start to the
titled Defense and Super Rugby tonight, the Blues hosting the
Chiefs in a rematch of last year's Grand Final, which
ultimately ended in a blowout victory for the Blues, winning
their first official title in twenty one years. Super Rugby
transit has been aside. They've put out the plea to

(01:51:54):
pack the park Eden Park this evening seven oh five
kick off. The weather's been a little bit patchy in Auckland.
Today dawned beautifully and then it's been on and off
showers for the last four hours or thereabout. Supposed to
clear in time for kickoff, but you never quite know
with an Auckland day. Joining us now is the Blues

(01:52:15):
chief executive Andrew Whoeso, Andrew, are you going to pack
the park?

Speaker 9 (01:52:20):
Well, we're actually ahead of where we have any other
game we've ever been at this time of year, so
that's a fantastic start. And it was still going really
well last night, so we are delighted with how it's going.
And I think you saw a great crowd last night
at the Hurricanes Crusaders, so no things have traveled really well.

(01:52:41):
So we're quite excited. And well, let's put it this way,
we wouldn't be able to play at Mount Smart and
so we're stoked and it there was some great rugby
last night, so let's hope that continues.

Speaker 3 (01:52:54):
How much have you got I guess a championship halo
from last year to work with in terms of getting
people through the gates to start the season.

Speaker 9 (01:53:02):
Well, I think that helps. I think doesn't mean a
number of things that have changed though. Within the competition,
I think the Commission has done a great job with
the Fantasy League. I think our players are more open
than to promoting and just being themselves. I think that's
grown a great deal of confidence amongst the squad, which

(01:53:26):
is good, right because people then get to know them
and open themselves up. So I think it definitely takes
a bit of a monkey off the back. But we've
talked all off season about not being overly complacent, but
it definitely it definitely does help and the chatter. But

(01:53:48):
let's face it, there's another ten teams out there that
will just want to do us in. So we've just
got to be aware that they don't just roll over
and give you give you a victory.

Speaker 3 (01:53:59):
No, that's quite right. And given how hard you worked
over the last twenty twenty one years to get that title,
you've gone from being the hunters to the So it's
a different proposition for the Blues this season, very much so.

Speaker 9 (01:54:11):
Very much so, and it'll be interesting, you know, and
that's when organizations are at their most vulnerable. We've talked
about this in the off season. If you look historically,
I think you know the Blues run it in two
thousand and three and it took another twenty one year.
So don't take anything for granted. And we've got to

(01:54:32):
put our head down because you know we're up against
our nearest and darest, and you know we've had three
or four years before that of making finals and semi
finals and having disappointment, and they've had a couple of
years of that. And we know that you carry that
and it makes the fire burn a lot more inside you.

(01:54:52):
So it'll be a crackert tonight. We'll have over five
hundred and fifty thousand people watching this on TV. No
other sport in the country can achieve that, and it's
still New Zealand's number one consume sport. So to the
doomstays out there. You know, if you want to go
and watch something else, come and watch it. But a
majority of people are still watching rugby.

Speaker 3 (01:55:13):
They are indeed, and you mentioned those changes to Super Rugby.
You've got a new CEO in place. Do you feel
that these tweaks are poised to just enhance the product
a little bit? Maybe it had been talked down a
little bit too much over the last recent years. You've
got a CEO who can do the talking and introduce
a few new things and all of a sudden the
competition has a wee bit of a shine again, correct,

(01:55:35):
And I think.

Speaker 9 (01:55:36):
They We've still got a lot of work to do
and the unions have got to allow Jack to flourish.
He's shown that what he can do straight away and
that's positive, right, but we've got to keep moving towards
this more and there's always a balance between high performance.
We've got the probably the best talent in the world

(01:55:57):
on show. We're the only competition in the country that
can say that it has that, but we've got to
make it fan centric and I think that's what Jack's
bought has given us direction and as a sport, and
we've got to get him behind him. And I tell
you the other thing that's been great this week as

(01:56:17):
I've spoken to a lot of club presidents and gms
out there, and I just want to thank the support
we've had from the rugby community this week. We sold
over fifteen hundred tickets last week through our clubs alone,
and you know, there was a bit of media about
the money that we put back into Auckland Rugby in
North Harbor last year.

Speaker 4 (01:56:37):
But we'll continue to do that.

Speaker 9 (01:56:39):
If we get that, if we get that support, and
they've been outstanding, really have how.

Speaker 3 (01:56:44):
Do you ensure all the teams are on the same
page in Super Rugby, as well as your CEO, as
well as New Zealand Rugby and Australian Rugby, who hold
a lot of power in this competition. Are you all
on the same page.

Speaker 9 (01:56:58):
I think we're getting on the same page. I think
they're still work to be done, but having are bored
at Super Rugby that is focused on Super Rugby gives
us a voice and I think Kevin mlloy has done
a great job since starting, and there's no use throwing rocks,

(01:57:20):
I think the more.

Speaker 2 (01:57:22):
I think they want to.

Speaker 9 (01:57:24):
Strong and powerful domestic product that will feed into a
strong and powerful international product, and we've just got to
agree on the way that we get there. I think
the intent is very much the same. So I'm really
positive about the outlook and I'm positive about what we
can contribute to the game because it's time for all

(01:57:45):
stakeholders to actually make to make sure the sport's strong.
And that's the key, because it's actually not levels of
rugby that compete against each other, it's us versus other sports.
And from my perspective, and I'm completely biased, I know
that the experience I've had as a kid growing up
in this great game, we need to applaud it and

(01:58:09):
celebrate it.

Speaker 3 (01:58:10):
Blue CEO Andrew Hall with us. Andrews that the competition
sustainable with eleven teams. I guess we saw last night
the war tize the beneficiaries of some of that rebels
telling to already sneaking that went over the hilanders. But
can you get away with eleven teams for too long
in this competition?

Speaker 9 (01:58:27):
Look, I think it comes down to what's going to
create the most intense.

Speaker 2 (01:58:33):
Games.

Speaker 9 (01:58:34):
Last night was awesome because they were intense, right and
I remember looking back at I think Queensland won the
Super ten when it was the Super ten.

Speaker 4 (01:58:42):
So the powers that be.

Speaker 9 (01:58:46):
And the clubs need to say what's actually going to
make the most intense footy for the punter every week?
And whether that's ten, eleven, twelve, eight. I don't think
we're sure at the moment, but my gut feel is
it's got to be around number. I think that helps,

(01:59:09):
and whether that's twelve or whether that's ten, But I
don't think it'll be much more at that at the moment,
and we've seen that. And whenever we do bring in
a new team, I think there are other sports we can.

Speaker 2 (01:59:24):
We can copy who.

Speaker 9 (01:59:26):
Support those teams to be extremely successful in their first year,
and that's something we haven't done well. But as I say,
with a commission and with a proper structure, we can
actually achieve that.

Speaker 3 (01:59:39):
And just a couple of final questions, Andrea, let you
go Boten Barrett back to the season. How many egs
or tickets per game at home is he with?

Speaker 9 (01:59:47):
I've never backed one individual just ow your tickets made.
I think there's a lot of clubs going broake with
that mentality. I've been around too long to know that
you can't back that. No, we've got to put a
shift in as a team. You're going to have the
one or two flash horries, but you can still if
you're not putting in a performance every week with your team,
then people won't turn up. So it's great to have

(02:00:10):
him back. He's good in the environment, he's extremely professional,
wonderful for our young fellas like.

Speaker 2 (02:00:19):
You know, young Spencer and co that are in there.

Speaker 9 (02:00:23):
Training with him, and that's where I think we'll get
our benefit from body the outstanding.

Speaker 3 (02:00:29):
And just finally, how confident are you that the trophy
is staying by June? You'll keep it in your headquarters
at Alexandra Park for another season.

Speaker 9 (02:00:39):
We just got to put our head down and realize
that it won't Those things don't come easy, and that'll
take care of it south if we just focus on
the process and what we've got to do and not
get ahead of ourselves.

Speaker 3 (02:00:52):
Andrew Waw, thanks for your time with us on News
Talk ZB this afternoon. Appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (02:00:56):
Thanks very much for having me.

Speaker 3 (02:00:57):
Mate Blue chief executive Andrew Hoare joining the program. Sounds
like ticket sales are pretty healthy. What did he say
that you wouldn't be able to fit them all in
Mountain sount Smart's capacity is about twenty five thousand, so
it must be at least over that, so I'm guessing
somewhere in the vicinity of about thirty k if not more.
And the weather is now clet again in all clin

(02:01:20):
so they might even get a bit of a walk
up crowd as well. Seven o five kick off. You
can hear live commentary of the match on gold Sport
and iHeartRadio very much. Looking forward to the ground and
to getting to the ground and commentating that one alongside
Aunt Strawn ends Nathan Limb this evening and we'll no
doubt review that game tomorrow here on News Talk ZIDB,
it is coming up nine away from three, will take

(02:01:41):
a break, come back and wrap up Weekend Sport for
a Saturday after.

Speaker 1 (02:01:45):
This breaking down, the Hail Mary's and the AMPI fails
Weekend Sport as a news talk for zbcause.

Speaker 3 (02:01:54):
The old afternoon on Weekend Sports on News Talk ZIDB.
We're talking earlier about the All Blacks official app and
suggesting that in ZIDR plus is the app you need
to use. A couple of tick saying he has an
updated so with the new season draw it, Michael says
he's got the official lap and it hasn't updated, So yeah,
I think you've got to move over to insr plus

(02:02:15):
if you want to track the Super Rugby drawer and
get those results. If you're following that way, you can
also listen to live commentary. As I mentioned before the break,
Blues Chiefs seven oh five kickoff to nine on Gold
Sport and iHeartRadio have also got the Force and mo
Onea pacifica game for you straight after from nine to
thirty five as well, So busy old evening of live

(02:02:36):
sport here. The Warriors have their trial game as well
this afternoon half past three and Hamilton playing the Storm.
Interesting to see how they get on this afternoon, final
hit out before Las Vegas. Jeep has that's rolled around
pretty quick, isn't it two weeks today or two weeks tomorrow?
They've got their season open in Las Vegas. A plenty

(02:02:59):
of KII sitting along for that. Interesting to see how
the Warriors get on this afternoon and Hamilton half past
three kickoff in that busy old show this afternoon. Very
much enjoyed your company. We'll do it all again tomorrow.
I'm sure we have plenty to get stuck into from
a super rugby perspective. If last night is anything to
go by, there'll be plenty of storylines to get stuck

(02:03:19):
into tomorrow. Interesting story around betting we want to touch
on as well, and abusive players on social media. We'll
dig into that after midday tomorrow on News Talk ZB
and a bit more around the Sporting Globe as well.
I know James mcconey is looking forward to joining us.
We've been exchanging predictions on how the Chiefs are going
to go tonight against the Blues. We'll park that for
now and chat with James tomorrow. Andy, what have you

(02:03:42):
got to play us out this afternoon?

Speaker 21 (02:03:43):
On weekends as well, Eliot, it's a National LAMB Day,
so trolled around quick.

Speaker 3 (02:03:48):
Yeah exactly.

Speaker 21 (02:03:49):
It's just last it felt like yesterday, that was last
year's National Lamb Day. But of course because of that,
Jenny Wigmore's Black Sheet will take us out lovely.

Speaker 2 (02:03:56):
Thank you.

Speaker 3 (02:03:57):
We'll see tomorrow. Thanks Andy, you drove black Never go back.

Speaker 1 (02:04:33):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talks it Be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

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Full Show Podcast: 15 February 2025

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