Full Show Podcast: 16 May 2026

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from New Stalks ed b a city taken over for
a festival of footy, a celebration of rugby league. Welcome
to Brisbane, Welcome to Magic Ground. Eight games, sixteen teams,

(00:31):
three days, the NRL's biggest party on the ground in
Brisbane to bring you all the color, the chaos and
the noise with legends of the game, he still fans
from every corner of the league and stories you won't

(00:56):
hear anywhere else, inside analysis, opinion and the atmosphere. It's
Weekend Sport with Jason Vine Live be in Brisbane for
NRLs Magic.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
Time, your home of sport, News, dogsb Yes, indeed Celler.
Good afternoon from Brisbane and welcome to Rugby League's great
annual road show, the one weekend on the calendar when
the whole NRL converges on one city, one stadium, and
one giant celebration of the game, Magic Round at sun
Corps Stadium where over three days, every match of the

(01:31):
Round is played under one roof, turning the heart of
Brisbane into a Rugby league carnival and for New Zealand fans,
all roads this weekend lead to tomorrow afternoon. The Warriors
arrive sitting second on the ladder with genuine momentum, but
they face one of the toughest assignments in the competition,
the Brisbane Broncos at their spiritual home in front of

(01:53):
a sellout crowd, kick off at five past four local
time tomorrow, the middle game of a Sunday tripleheader and
the marquee clash of the entire weekend. The Warriors have
made a habit the seat of answering the big questions
away from home. This, though, is a very different sort
of challenge. Magic Round brings a Finals like atmosphere in

(02:14):
the middle of May, fans from every club wall to
wall footy, and a stadium that genuinely lifts when the
Broncos run out onto it. A fascinating test of where
Andrew Webster's side rarely sits in twenty twenty six. Are
they just enjoying a strong start or are they genuine
contenders capable of beating a Brisbane side in Brisbane when

(02:36):
the spotlight is at its brightest so as the Caxton
Street crowds build, the jerseys from every corner of the
league flood into town and three days of back to
back footy takeover the city. We are live from Brisbane
for the biggest festival weekend in rugby league, and with
the Warriors and Broncos looming tomorrow, there may be no

(02:57):
bigger gain for Kiwi rugby league fans all season than
this one. It's a great pleasure to be bringing you
the show from Brisbane. I'm Jason Pine. Producer is Andy McDonald.
We're here until three, so much to cover off breath.
A NaSTA leads us off shortly. Rugby League royalty in
this part of Australia and well in any part of

(03:19):
the world rarely melman NINGI is going to join us
after one o'clock. Lots of time for your calls and
feedback as well. Will zoom in on the Warriors game tomorrow.
Andrew Webster's going to join us. A couple of old
boys from the team, Mark Tuke and also Kevin Campion,
CEO of the club. Cameron George joins us tomorrow. But
I want to chat a bit about Luke Metcalf today.

(03:41):
I know you've been thinking about this all week Warriors fans,
so we could do that this out also in a
jam pack show Auckland FC are into the A League
Men's Grand Final. Going to celebrate that after two o'clock
with Sam Cosgrove and the Wellington Phoenix women today play
their Grand Final, the first New Zealand team ever to
play in an A League's Grand Final. Going to preview

(04:02):
that for you as well with CJ. Bott This afternoon.
Super Rugby. Oh we haven't forgotten that. Josh Jacob out
of the Chiefs after they won their seventh straight match
of the season, comfortably accounting for the Highlanders in Hamilton
last night. How are we going to fit it all in?
We'll give it a crack. Lines open all afternoon. Very
keen to hear from you as always, Oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty. You can send your thoughts fire

(04:24):
text to nine two nine two emails and to Jason
at Newstalk SEDB dot co dot NZ. Just gone eleven
and a half past midday.

Speaker 1 (04:34):
It's the NRL's biggest party, Magic Round in Brisbane weekends
board with Jason Kye the News Talk Zibby.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
So as we come to you live from Brisbane for
Magic Round. Leading us off today as a former NRL
premiership winning five eighth he played nearly three hundred first
class first grade games rather in a decade and a
half long career with the Bulldogs, the Roosters and the
West Tigers, hugely important part of the two thousand and
four premiership winning Canterbury Bulldogs side. He also represented You,

(05:05):
South Wales and state of Origin and played four Tests
for Australia. Since his playing retirement, he's become a very
prominent rugby league commentator and media personality and his host
of Fox League's NRL three sixty, which we love, of
course in New Zealand. I'm talking, of course about braith
A NaSTA. He's got a pretty busy weekend, but he

(05:27):
made time for us. Yesterday I went to Bratha Nasta's
hotel and we sat in the lobby and chewed the
fat about all sorts of things. I asked Breatha NaSTA,
first of all, just how good Magic Round is.

Speaker 3 (05:38):
It's the best.

Speaker 4 (05:39):
The vibe here is pretty electric and everyone's starting to
roll in the last couple of days and it's yeah,
it's starting to fire up for a big weekend.

Speaker 5 (05:46):
Right.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
I want to get straight to the Luke Metcalf stuff,
because that's what we're all interested in. Across New Zealand,
what if you made of this whole thing. Let's before
we break it down, and specifically, what if you made
of the whole thing?

Speaker 4 (05:56):
Very shocked, like many others in the INNY our game are,
and I'm assuming all across New Zealand we would feel.

Speaker 3 (06:02):
The same way.

Speaker 4 (06:03):
So when I first heard it, I couldn't really believe it.
I knew there were murmurs working in my industry. You
hear the rumors, and I heard he was unsettled about
a month ago. I couldn't quite understand it, to be
honest with you. We may go into more depth about it,
but my first thoughts were, you know, a tenant boy's
been killing it, he's going great, he deserves his upgrade extension.

(06:23):
And then I thought that Metcalf would be his partner
in crime in the halves. So I didn't think it
was a big deal, and I thought that combination could work.

Speaker 3 (06:32):
So I was surprised that he didn't entertain it.

Speaker 2 (06:35):
So is that look Metcalf saying I don't want to
play six, I want to play seven only.

Speaker 4 (06:39):
And is he entitled to make that call. He's entitled
to it. As I said before, I'm a little surprised
by it. I don't know the intricate details, but from
what I've heard and just looking from the outside in,
you know, they loved him in New Zealand. I spoke
to Kem George, you know, not about the actual details,
but he was disappointed the way that it's all panned out.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
They would have wanted him to play five eight.

Speaker 4 (07:02):
He's played twenty one games at five eight for the
Roriors see him as a traditional seven.

Speaker 3 (07:07):
I could see him playing six.

Speaker 4 (07:10):
So again I don't know the actual details, but I'm
assuming that they've asked him, you know, can you play
six ten or boil or play seven?

Speaker 3 (07:17):
We think it can work, and he's just flat out
said no.

Speaker 4 (07:20):
And that's and again that's that's me just assuming that's happened,
because I couldn't think of any other reason why he'd leave.

Speaker 3 (07:28):
He loves the place.

Speaker 4 (07:30):
He's the pin up boy there, almost the face of
the New Zealand Warriors, and he had a bright future
there and I thought they could form, as I said,
a formidable combo. So that's sounding where I can assume
it's happened, because you know, he didn't get the seven,
and they would have been offering him the six. They
would have warrant him to stay because they had Harris
tv to talking to other clubs and a possibility moving
on next year. So if you join the Dots, you

(07:52):
know he's just not happy. His agents probably had sourced
other opportunities and got him obviously a good pay packet
at the Dragons and other options there, so you know
he's entitled to it.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
I wish him all the very best.

Speaker 4 (08:03):
I just I wish he would have just gave it
a crack in the with Tenner.

Speaker 2 (08:07):
We all wish that, and there was a couple of
games and they did his hand me. But like last year,
he was playing so well at seven before you know
the knee injury. I don't know, I mean, do you reckon?
They would have gone, okay, six seven, the two of
them mat and he can play six.

Speaker 4 (08:18):
Come in metcalf I do because I don't think metcalf
is a traditional seven.

Speaker 3 (08:23):
He started at six. He's played a bit of both.

Speaker 4 (08:26):
If you look at ten and Boyd, he's a not
an overly dominating half.

Speaker 3 (08:30):
So it's not like.

Speaker 4 (08:31):
Metcalfe wouldn't have got enough touches or still had an
influence on on his on the games for the Warriors.
And you know, as I said, I just see him
as one of the halves in our comp that can
play both positions, and tenor would have been accommodating to that,
and I don't need ten is on a huge deal
compared to other halves in the competition, so there was
still money in the cap, and I, you know, I

(08:52):
truly believe the Warriors still wanting him. I just I
think this is a loop metcalf decision. And you know,
again it's it's pretty it shocks me, you know, but again,
he's got every right if he wants to play seven,
he thinks he's a seven and he's not a six
or anything else, then you know, can I suppose that's
that's up to him.

Speaker 2 (09:10):
So what now then, Braith, Because he's with the Worries
for the rest of this season as I understand it,
and we'll go to the Dragons from twenty seven onwards.
So how does Andrew Webster deal with that challenge of
having Luke Metcalfe and his squad? Does he play him?
Does he put him in a reserve?

Speaker 5 (09:22):
God?

Speaker 2 (09:22):
What do you predict?

Speaker 6 (09:23):
Well?

Speaker 4 (09:23):
I love Andrew Webster and Cam George, and I think
They're doing an amazing job and I actually applaud them
for handling this situation as they have. If anyone's going
to get him or do the right thing by the
team here is going to be wavy. I think, yeah,
he's going to be heavily involved in this campaign. He
has to be. You know, you'd be stupid not to.
You've got a high quality player. You got a chance
to win the premiership, you know. I think obviously Tanner,

(09:46):
Voyd and Harris DEAVEDI get the first shot. I'd be
playing him because he's coming back from ACL and I
think he may have come back a little early because
he looked a bit rusty that that first game. He
did come back and I thought maybe he was underdone.
But now getting fully fit, he's had the week off
and I understand he had the week off this week
to clear his head make the decision.

Speaker 3 (10:05):
To move on. So once he it's that behind him,
bring him into the team. Is fourteen. You can't change
your winning halves combination.

Speaker 4 (10:11):
There's pressure on those guys now to deliver though, and
the luxury they have now is Metcalfs there on standby
and you can still have an impact them off.

Speaker 2 (10:19):
The bench and I reckon the Warriors are going.

Speaker 3 (10:21):
I think they're doing really well.

Speaker 4 (10:23):
I just love the way they've been trending now for
a long time, I really do. Their form has only
got better over the years.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
As I said, I love their leadership and their coach,
you know.

Speaker 4 (10:33):
And you've got such a young, exciting team that they
can really you know, score points at any time, but
their defense is holding up, you can till they love
each other. They're playing for each other and that's what
you want out of any any team. And they're doing
they're doing themselves in New Zealand proud. And you know,
everyone over here in Australia has taken notice.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
When fans see you at Magic Ground have already seen
you're swamped by a couple here in the hotel for
you this morning. What is it they usually want to
talk to you about? Is it the bulldog's days or
is it current stuff? What do they mainly talked to
you about?

Speaker 4 (11:03):
Well, it's pretty crazy because our show and O three
sixty we talk about everything, so everything, you know, like
obviously you get the roosters and bulldogs. Fans come up
to me, but honestly, like because we talk about the
big issues and the drama every week and who's going
where and what happened there, and so they just grabbed me,
and honestly, I could be I get stuck it with

(11:24):
every second fan for about ten or fifteen minutes. It
feels like I'm on the show again. But it's great.
But everyone's really in a good mood up here. Everyone's excited,
and I love Boonie.

Speaker 2 (11:35):
As a player. Just to take you back briefly at
that O four side and your time when you were
you were basically the main man and the teams you played,
and did you embrace that pressure. Was that something you
enjoyed being that being the one who could pull the
strings and ready make a difference.

Speaker 4 (11:46):
Yeah, I loved it, Like it was kind of give
me with the games on the line, give me the ball,
you know that That was kind of how I grew
up and how I saw of transition in the first grade.
I love the big games, the big moments. You know,
you you come up trump sometimes if you fail at
other times, but you kind of you know, as you
get older, you wear the scars and you learn from
it and you try and be the best player that

(12:08):
you can.

Speaker 3 (12:08):
But I like games like this magic round.

Speaker 4 (12:12):
I didn't get to play, but you know, it reminds
me of going to an Origin or you know, Grand Final,
semi finals.

Speaker 3 (12:18):
It's a it's a it's different.

Speaker 4 (12:20):
You know, you've got bigger crowds, more parochial, and you know,
you know everyone's watching, so you want to play the
best that you possibly can and it's a good opportunity
to show what you got.

Speaker 2 (12:30):
Of course, we love our rugby union in New Zealand
and at the end of I think go for there
was a bit of talk that you might might go
to union. Was that ever a possibility? Did you ever
genuinely entertain that?

Speaker 3 (12:39):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 4 (12:40):
I was a tragic union supporter and player.

Speaker 3 (12:43):
I played as much union as I did league.

Speaker 4 (12:45):
I was on the custer of playing Australian schoolboys rugby
union and then I made this autral the league team,
so I couldn't play in it.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
But no, I took it serious.

Speaker 4 (12:54):
You know, you see a lot of these guys talk
about rugby, but mine was genuine because I know the
game well. I loved it just as much as I
love league, and I nearly went to the Warrior Tarju
and Mackenzie was a coach back then, but there was
just a high risk. It was high risk and it
was going to be a bit of a long journey
because I was solidified in rugby league and I was

(13:14):
playing Origin and all that. It was at the time
for a young bloke it was probably too much to
take on.

Speaker 3 (13:19):
But you know, I often think.

Speaker 4 (13:21):
About whether what would have happened, you know that what
is but I ended up all right where I.

Speaker 2 (13:25):
Was all right just to finish. Then it feels like,
I mean, this is probably biased, but Bronco's Warriors feels
like the game of the weekend. I don't know what
you think that it's going to be magnificently on Sunday,
So what decides that game?

Speaker 4 (13:36):
I don't think it's bias at all, to be honest,
it is you know, you know, I mean, see how
Stolphin is going to be a cracker and I've got
them to probably on path of this weekend. But decide
that game, I think, well, the Warriors have been so consistent, right,
their defenses has been holding up. You know, it's a
bit ironic, but you look at the halves and that's

(13:56):
what it's probably going to come down. It was creating
opportunities because you know, if you look at the Broncos.

Speaker 3 (14:01):
They don't have a shortage of that.

Speaker 4 (14:03):
You know, They've got Reynolds and Walsh and ezra m
and so they're going to come up with points. So
the Warriors, it's it's probably starving them with points the Broncos.
The defense holding up as it has been, but it's
creating enough opportunities to outscore the Broncos is probably going
to be the big thing. And the Warriors have had
no issue in doing that. But up against the Broncos,
whose defense has been really good, maybe until late they've

(14:27):
been pretty good majority of this year.

Speaker 3 (14:28):
So that's their main challenge.

Speaker 2 (14:30):
That is the very familiar voice to rugby league fans
of breath An Astor, who I spoke to yesterday at
his hotel. What a champion of a man. You know,
he's pretty famous in Australia, particularly in rugby league, country
break and Asta. And as soon as he came into
the hotel for you, there were you know, two or
three people who saw him and wanted to get a
photograph and a and a chant and talk of rugby

(14:53):
league with him. And he was very very generous with
his time. Obviously you could tell there he loves the
game of rugby league and is a very prominent and
pretty credible voice in the game as well. I saw
him there at at Magic Around last night. They've got
their work cut out, they're going to do eight games
across the weekend, but there he was doing all his preps.

(15:14):
Oh yeah, brathannastera great to get the chance to chat
to him on on weekend sport. So you've heard from
Bratha NaSTA. Your chance to react, oh eight hundred eighty
ten eighty, And in particular, I want to chat to
you about the Luke Metcalf situation. This has been playing
out over the last few days and thankfully it hasn't
dragged on. It hasn't been allowed to drag on if

(15:37):
you're just coming out from under a rock or you're
not familiar with what has gone on here. Luke Metcalf
earlier in the week, through his representatives, presumably told the
Warriors that he would like to explore options away from
the Warriors for his immediate future or his short term future.
Presumably the Warriors granted him permission to chat to other clubs,

(16:00):
and obviously, with a player of Luke Metcalf's capability and ability,
they started to line up. So Luke Metcalf will leave
the Warriors at the end of this season and take
up a playing contract with the Dragons. So that's how
it's all played out.

Speaker 5 (16:16):
Now.

Speaker 2 (16:16):
A big part of me says, why don't we have
contracts in the first place If a player can just
if he's not happy about something, and we'll get to
that in the moment, just go to the club management
say look, I want to break my contract. I want
to get out of this contract. I don't want to
play here anymore. I want to leave. However, if we
put that to one side, I think the last thing
you want as a malicious complier in any form of employment,

(16:38):
you don't want somebody there who really doesn't want to
be there. However, you sign contracts for a reason, both
players and clubs too, but it seems as though they're
often not necessarily as water tight as perhaps clubs or
players would have you believe. Be that as it may.
How much of a surprise was this to you, because

(16:59):
I must admit it was a massive surprise to me
when I heard this being talked about in the early
part of the week. I just assumed Luke Metcalf would
want to return from injury and make his way back
into the side when he was fit again. There was
no inkling at all, and not that there would have
been necessarily, but there was no inkling at all that

(17:19):
he was agitating to play in the seven jersey and
the seven jersey only. But that's clearly what's happened here.
Luke Metcalf has decided that he only wants to play
half back and it appears as though if he can't
do it at the Warriors, then he wants it to
do it somewhere else. A big part of me, as

(17:43):
I say, says, you know what value is there in
a contract. But if Luke Metcalf is so driven to
play number seven somewhere that he wants to change club
in order to do it, then that's a pretty big call,
isn't it. And it raises the next question, and this
is the one I'd be keen to really hear from
you on how does Andrew Webster use Luke Metcalf for

(18:07):
the rest of this season? What do you predict for
Luke Metcalf's involvement for the rest of this current season.
He has committed to the Warriors until the end of
this season. The twenty twenty sixth season and then he
will depart. So what does Andrew Webster do in terms
of selecting Luke Metcalf to start matches, to be involved

(18:31):
in matches, or to not be involved in matches, as
the case may be. I actually think it's it's fairly simple.
Andrew Webster uses Luke metcalf if and when he needs him.
Tanner Boyd is the halfback, Chanelle Harris Tavita is five eighth,

(18:52):
and I would love to have seen the Tanner Boyd
Luke metcalf combo and what it would have looked like.
We got a small taste of it earlier on in
the season and we may again get the chance to
see it depending on injuries and things like that. But
I don't think you bring Luke Metcalfe into the side

(19:15):
unless you have to. The future Halves combo, provided Harris
Dedvita stays with the club is Chanelle Harris Devita and
Tanner Boyd. That is the future Halves combo. And a
big part of me says, why would you continue to
develop Luke metcalf as a player when he's leaving at

(19:39):
the end of the season. But he is still a
very very good rugby league player. Maybe he wears fourteen,
as Braitha NaSTA suggested there, maybe you have him there
to provide impact as and when needed, because there is
no doubt he is a superb player who could make

(20:01):
a big impact on this team this season. I've seen
people say he shouldn't be picked, he should plan reserve grade.
He should not be picked to play for the Warriors
again this season. He should play in reserve grade, see
out his contract and from there he can go. I

(20:22):
have the opposite view. I think he should be used,
but I don't think you'd be rushing him back into
the side. I think you treat him like any other player,
any other player that is in the team, use him
to try and win the Warriors a premiership. How much
irony would there be if the Warriors do finally win

(20:43):
the thing and Luke Metcalfe plays a part of it
and he's gone the Dragons. Oh, eight hundred eighty ten eighty.
Happy to take your calls. They're starting this stack up.
Give us a call. Eight hundred eighty ten eighty mark
kick us off.

Speaker 7 (20:56):
Yeah, you talk about irony. Wouldn't be ironic if the
ult and if he won the competition this year. Crazy, Yes,
so was it?

Speaker 2 (21:06):
Ponny No, No, no, I mean just I'm just keen
to hear your views on how you think Andrew Webster
will and should use Luke metcalf for the rest of
this year.

Speaker 7 (21:15):
Well, I mean it's looking into a crystal ball. It's
a very long season to go and anything to happen.
I mean, Tyler Boyd could get injured next week, so
you really want to have a class back up like Metcalfe.
And I mean he's got to he's got to get
it back up to speed with the NRLs. I mean,
you play him. I mean, were's just such a fabulous coach.
I mean the way he brings talent through players is

(21:35):
just incredible. I mean I think I said to you
last year, you know, we couldn't win the comp with
Tanner Boyd as are half back, and this year you're
basically going, well, that's turned around on it said, because
he's our number one half back and he certainly we
need him to win the competition. So yeah, I just
find his coaching ability, Yeah, something I probably haven't seen before.

(21:58):
And I feel a bit sorry obviously for metcalf Who's
you know any player and professional sport. He gets injured,
I mean, there's a there's a whole little of stories
that sort of, you know, tell the tale of someone
getting replaced and never getting their seatback. So, I mean,
metcalf as a quality player, as he proved last year,
and he'll get it, he'll get a good job in
the NRL, But you want to keep him as a

(22:20):
backup because I mean, you know, any of the herds
could go down like we saw last year, or both
of them could go down, We're probably going to need him.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
Yeah, he does seem to be and this is I
don't like this phrase, but I think I'll use it
because you'll know what I mean. He does seem to
be injury prone. You look, he was at the Sharks
for a couple of years and he's been the Warriors
for the last four years now. And I'm just going
to do some quick maths. There thirty six games for
the Warriors, just thirty six in the last four seasons.

(22:49):
We know he had that injury last year. He played
the first it was fifteen games or so, and then
the injury ruled him out and he was right at
the peak of his powers, letting the Dally m and
all of that, but he does seem to get injured
a bit, and I know you know that you can't
you can never predict this stuff, Mark, But yeah, I
kind of feel as though Andrew Webster will will be
to just you know, talk to Luke metcalf I'll get

(23:10):
on the same page. Luke Metcalfe must have known that
as soon as he decides to leave the club, but
with still you know, half a season ago, that there
are going to be some challenging conversations to be had
and that he can't expect to, you know, to be
treated in the same way as a player who has
committed their future to the club.

Speaker 7 (23:28):
So his the sign was Saint George.

Speaker 8 (23:30):
Is he is not?

Speaker 2 (23:32):
I actually, I mean that's that's all the male you're hearing.
I haven't seen anything. Have I seen anything official? And
he might be able to tell us, he'll he'll do
the research. But yeah, it seems pretty common knowledge and
may or may not be official yet that he he'll
join the Dragon, So he probably need a bit of help, Mark.

Speaker 7 (23:48):
Yeah, I mean looking back from last year and I
mean he was probably I mean, Nathan Cleary had his
own injuries last year, but he was probably maybe the
second best half back I think in the competition before
he got injured. And yeah, I mean the talent just
doesn't go away, but yeah, I just think that. I
think Tanner Boyd from what the play he was last

(24:08):
year to this year is quite remarkable. I mean every
aspect of his game. He runs the ball now he
wasn't running and I think a lot of it was
down to confidence. And I think when Metcalfe came back
for those two games and a weird way, it affected
Tanner Boyd's game. He sort of was off his game
from my opinion, and I think, yeah, I think the

(24:29):
Warriors have got a very strong team this year and
the food pack, I think everyone's looking at and going,
you know, this is pretty much one of the best
packs in the competition, which is our sort of advantage
at the moment. Yeah, up the wires.

Speaker 2 (24:42):
Up the wires.

Speaker 5 (24:43):
Mark.

Speaker 2 (24:43):
He has signed a three year deal a three year
deal with the Dragons starting from next season. Thanks for you,
col oh eight one hundred and eighty ten to eighty.
Paul with you after the break twenty nine away from
one speed line there if you want to jump aboard
and talk the Warriors talk Luke Metcalf in particular and specifically,
how you would how would you predict he will be
used for the rest of this NRL season by Andrew Webster.

(25:05):
Back can I say on Weekend Sport Broadcasting live from
Brisbane for Magic Round.

Speaker 1 (25:10):
Live from the world's largest rugby league festival of the
Nrral's Magic Round in Brisbane. It's Weekend Sport with Jason
Hine on your home of Sport News Talks.

Speaker 2 (25:21):
MB twenty five to one on News Talks. Heb coming
to your live from Brisbane. My colleague Ben Francis, who
writes rugby league and other things for The Herald, has
just sent me through the stats that he included in
one of his stories this week. Luke Metcalf has only
been available for forty two percent of Warriors games since
he joined because of injury. Paul Goaday, mate, good.

Speaker 9 (25:43):
Mate, Yeah, it must be fantastic over the Magic Round.
I saw pictures of the pop up store, and that
was that the queue would look like it was a
climate along mate. It looks unreal for the Warriors, Paul.

Speaker 2 (25:54):
Honestly, I went down there to that pop up store
and you're right, it was just chaos, mate, and then
speaking of Chaos Caxton Street before the first game of
Magic Round last night on a mate, I actually thought
of you as I was walking down there, thought Paul
would love this. He would be absolutely loving this if
he was here. So you got to you gotta get
it on your buck list. Have you been before?

Speaker 9 (26:16):
No, I haven't been to Magic Ground. I know Front
Court is a fantastic stadium. We have been there, but
I did say to my son this morning that we're
going next year. We've got a plan and we're going
to make a father and son trip of it. Mate.

Speaker 2 (26:28):
So you'll love it, mate, you absolutely love it.

Speaker 5 (26:32):
Yeah.

Speaker 9 (26:33):
Yeah, A. You know, this Metcalf situation, I think it's untenable,
to be honest. I'm just looking at the whole picture.
The statement that was put out by the Warriors, when
you know, when it first came out, it was a
six line statement and it came from Cameron Georgia came
across like very very If you know Cameron George, he's

(26:55):
a straight shooter, and it just came across like he's
pissed off that that was the first statement. You know,
we will not make any further comment on this matter.
And it was very very short and sharp. Then they
made another state that come out from the world, same thing,
you know, six lines long. You know, he signed with
another club. We wish him all the best, see you later.

(27:15):
That to me, that's not a statement from a club
about a player. You know, there's no sort of I
thinks for his service, he's played this man of games,
blah blah blah, you know what I mean. So I
think they're pissed off. I think this is untenable. In
my opinion. There might be conspiracy Ponty, but I think
that he's gone to the club or his management and
he wants to leave on compassionate grounds because he's just

(27:36):
got married, had a new baby, and the Warriors.

Speaker 6 (27:38):
Don't want.

Speaker 9 (27:41):
Another player leaving on compassionate grounds because to the fans
and the public it would just be embarrassing. So they
have said, you know, if you know what I mean.
So that's my opinion. I think that's what might have happened, mate,
But I think it's untenable with they cannot I don't
think he'll play them. I mean he can't. He can't
put them on the bench. He can't go in New

(28:01):
South Wales Cup because you've got jet clearing. You've got
Luke Hanson or who are flying at the moment. The
next one is to step up? So where does he go?
What does he what does wiz to do?

Speaker 2 (28:11):
So do you so you reckon that that he'll just say, hey,
you know, I'm not going to pick you for first grade.
As you say, we've got other other emerging halves down
and you know, down in reserve grade. So so what
does Luke Metcalf do? Does he just train with the
team presumably and then just sits up in the stand
with a suit on on match days? Is that? Is

(28:32):
that how you see it playing out?

Speaker 9 (28:34):
Well, I just think there's a bit of blad bad
blood there. I'm not sure what's going to happen.

Speaker 7 (28:40):
He can't.

Speaker 9 (28:40):
I mean on the bench you've got tomighty Martin, he's
really you know, he's due to come back. Sure as
tenor boy gets injured tomorrow or the next week, sure
that they would bring Luke Metcalff and no doubt. But
I just think that I just think something's not right
than the whole with the whole situation with Luke Metcalf
and the other thing too. Mate, he's going to a

(29:01):
club he doesn't know who the coach is for next
year there, and there's no way they're going to be
in a premiership within ten years. So he's leaving a
club that is absolutely flying at the moment and he's
going through to this sort of club who, by the way,
who already has a number seven, who's an up and
coming star. So if Luke Metcalf goes there, will he
play six? And if he does play sixty, well that

(29:23):
makes a mockery of the reason why apparently he left
here in the first place. So I just think this
there's a lot to play out in this.

Speaker 2 (29:30):
Yeah, it makes some really good points, and you're right, Yeah,
what if Luke Metcalf turns up in the Dragon's number
six jersey? I hadn't even thought of that, you know,
because the narrative has been that, you know that from
the club. I don't think Luke Metcalf has spoken publicly
about it has been okay, he's made it pretty clear
he wants to play, you know, a certain position that
vacancy does not exist. Now they've just well resigned Tanner

(29:50):
Boyd till twenty twenty nine, so clearly they're all in
on him, and there's just out they've got Jack Claire
and a couple of others coming through as well. So yeah, yeah,
but I don't know the I think you're probably right, Paul.
I think in case of injury, if there's an injury,
yes he comes in. But unless that happens or Tanner
Boyd had as a catastrophic drop off in four, which

(30:11):
which I can't see happening, I think you're probably right.
Maybe he doesn't play first grade again if those things
don't happen.

Speaker 9 (30:18):
Yeah, well, I think I think don't be surprised if
Luke Metcalf has gone within a matter of weeks. You know,
see you later. I mean, nine undred thousand dollars for
a guy who's hardly ever taken the field and just
one more quickly pining on on the Wars at the moment,
you know, just sitting second on the table. I watched
the Dolphins closely last night and we beat the Dolphins,

(30:39):
and I'm just looking at all of the teams and
I'm just thinking, you know, we're definitely a top four
team at the moment. The Panthers are obviously the benchmark.
We played them in a few weeks and we've definitely
got the wood over, you know, most of those teams,
so it's it's very very exciting times for US Worries fans.

Speaker 10 (30:54):
Mate.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
Oh once again again I totally agree, mate, I totally agree.
Always good chatting league with you, mate, Yeah, start planning
for Magic ground. You and your son will absolutely love it, mate.

Speaker 5 (31:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (31:05):
A couple of reasonably one sided games last night, with
the Sharks beating the Bulldogs thirty eight sixteen, but what
was it at halftime? Thirty points to six Like every
time the Sharks attack, they scored, and the Bulldogs kind
of got a couple you know, near the end. And
then the Dolphins, who were very well supported obviously being
a Queensland side at sun Corpse Stadium last night, getting

(31:26):
up over the rabbit Os by thirty two points to ten.
Again at halftime it was what twenty nil twenty four
nil on the hour mark before South finally woke up
and thought, oh we're playing in this game as well.
Far too late by that stage. So the games today
one of the West Tigers against the Sea Eagles, the
Roosters and the Cowboys and the Eels up against the Storm.

(31:48):
So some interesting storylines there. Oh, eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty is our number if you want to talk.
Luke Metcalf nineteen to one, Paul another Paul, Hello here
you get me?

Speaker 7 (32:00):
Can you hear me?

Speaker 2 (32:01):
I can hear you? Fine?

Speaker 11 (32:03):
I see, yeah, I've really it's sorry for McCafe. You
know you come on the scene. He's the one who's
a hope, is a great, He's the man who's the
man and where my injury? You know, give Hi another season?
Another injury. Yeah, I'm really disappointed because he really stood

(32:25):
at the mark with Ccht him on Ccht. They're blowing
her off the park.

Speaker 2 (32:31):
It's the thing, is Paul, with those injuries, right, I
would I don't know if it was me and I'd
been injured as often as Luke Metcalf has and I'm
finally injury free, I feel like I would just be
doing everything I possibly can to say to them, say
to my coach, I'm your man to play that position.
And I don't know he's I mean now that he
got a hammy and he's back from that, so doubly frustrating.

(32:53):
But I don't know, I feel like you're back now,
just you know, show me that you're the man for
the seven years he give ten a boy to run
for his money exactly.

Speaker 11 (33:03):
But he do get to run the low rad you know,
he should have did the run in reserves. Yeah, we
becking straight away, you know that shouldn't happened. But sure
back in the day he's injured out, so you know,
two injuries. Now he's down that unfortunately shame for us.

(33:23):
But Set it's t We've got to hang on to
him for sure.

Speaker 2 (33:28):
Yeah, I know, I think that's a that's a very
important point, Paul. I think that's a very important piece
of business for the Warriors, is to make sure that
Shanelle Harris Tavitas the football club beyond this year. I think,
you know, just as we've been talking, when Luke Metcalf
first came to the Warriors, he did play in the
sixth Tuesday because Shawn Johnson was the half back. So
it's not as though he hasn't played there. I guess

(33:49):
he feels as though he's developed sufficiently to be the
main man there. And look how freely admitted and obviously
this a few times in the last little while. I
remember at the start of the season talking about the
Warriors and when Luke Metcalf they weren't sure when he
was going to be back. There was talk about round six.
As it happened, he came a earlier than that. But
I remember talking about this and think, okay, Tanner, just

(34:10):
be a safe set of hands for us, just get
us through until Luke Metcalf is ready to come back.
And he did so well that he is basically now
the number one guy. He has gone past Luke Metcalf
in the Warrior's halfback pecking order. And that's where you
I mean, because what would it say if as soon

(34:32):
as Luke Metcalf was fit that he replaced one of
the form players in Tanner Boyd. What would that say
about Andrew Webster's coaching, his man management, his selection It
wouldn't say a heck of a lot. Yes, there are
some players who live above the selection line who if
they are available, they play regardless. But you cannot deny

(34:55):
or ignore the form of Tanner Boyd in that seven
jersey for the Warriors this season against expectation. Like I say,
I just I was just hoping that he would that
he would, you know, run the cutter, you know, efficiently
without being too flashy, kickers goals and make sure that
when Luke Metcalf came back that that, you know, the
Warriors were a reasonable position instead, instead he's guided them

(35:21):
to one of their best starts to the season. Ever,
so you can't drop the bloke. So Luke Metcalf has
obviously read that riding on the wall and made the
decision that he will look elsewhere. And elsewhere is the Dragons.
The irony is they are a pretty poor side at
the moment, aren't they. I heard Mike saying yesterday on

(35:42):
the air. That's like him leaving news talks 'b and
going and working at another radio station somewhere. Why would
you leave the top dog? Quarter to one, we'll talk
Warriors and Luke Metcalf until one o'clock. Melmyn Inger is
our guest after one, but Line's opened a chattle bit
of Rugby League with you, Magic Round, etc. Oh eight
hundred and eighty ten.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
Eighty all the trays, all the celebrations and all the
calls weekends for with Jason Vine and live in Brisbane
for the NRL's Magic Round on your home of Sport
with us Dogs.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
Envy coming up eleven to one. Fiona on email. Aside
from Metcalf's talent, Jason, if he's not prepared to play
in another position. He's obviously not a team player. He's
playing for himself and his imagined glory, not for the team.
He could take a leaf out of Roger to Ivasask's playbook,
thank you very much, indeed, Fiona and on text here
having Metcalf on the bench and knockout foot, he would

(36:35):
be valuable. If Tanner Boyd and Harris Devita can't break
down the Panthers, for example, then Metcalf can come on
and may do so. He's gone next season, but this
year he is still a Warrior.

Speaker 6 (36:48):
Hello Ellen, Yeah, good one, Jason. I can't help feeling
that there's a lot to do with family in this
whole episode. I think, as your Herald correspondent suggested, I
have some sympathy for him because he's here with his
wife and young child basically by themselves, if you know

(37:08):
what I mean. I mean, yes, he's got the company
of the team and all this sort of thing, but
that doesn't happen twenty four to seven, and with this injury,
he's been having to sort of sit around or go
into Warriors and do sort of work and so on.
But I believe he's had a long time with just
him and his wife and we won. And I think

(37:31):
his situation to some degree is even comparable with that
of Barnett. Barnett openly admitted that the family, missing the family,
particularly with the young child, is what was the motivation
for him. As far as his argument of wanting to
play seven, I tend to agree with Braith and Astra

(37:54):
in the sense that I think he could play easily
play six, that the two positions are not as clear
cut as they once used to be. They're very easily overlap.
Boyd is playing in the man of Sean Johnson and
his last year, the twenty twenty three. Johnson's way of
playing changed after he had that broken leg from Tony Simmons.

(38:19):
I think it was playing in a game for Manly
when Simmons came down on the back of his leg
and broke his leg. He didn't have the same speed
or the same ability to do the massive side steps
and running skills that we saw of him from when
he first came on the scene, but he adapted his game.

Speaker 5 (38:39):
Now.

Speaker 6 (38:41):
I think that's happened to some degree to Boyd, and
I think that's what metcalf is going to have to embrace.
I'm not sure that he's going to have that speed
that he once had. He's twenty seven years of age,
so that the lightning speed, if you like, is starting
to fall away now. I doubt if he'd be as

(39:03):
fast now as he was when he was twenty twenty one.

Speaker 2 (39:06):
But that Andrew here, Yeah, sorry, and we'll let me
ask you. That's just to your point about the environment
around Luke Metcalf. So let me ask you this. If
he was surrounded by his family, had a lot of support,
Let's say, if he goes to the Dragons and has that,
do you think he'll be happy to play number six?

Speaker 6 (39:26):
I can't answer that, to be honest with you, Jason,
I'm not dodging the question either. I mean, who knows
what's going to happen. And as I said before, in
my opinion, six and seven have become almost an overlap.
I mean, we see Harris Tavida making a good fist
of where he's playing, but when you look at it,

(39:47):
he's pretty much doing the same as Boyd in the
sense that he's either letting the ball go for the
rest outside him to have a go, or he's kicking
it to some sort of chance that the wingers the
outsides might be able to get up on it. He's
just not doing it as often now. Yes, Boyd is

(40:09):
doing more of a direction of the running of the
team and the sense that from set plays he's the
one that decides which way they go. He's the one
that decides what the call is going to be if
they're playing inside the ten meter the opposition ten meter.
But Harris Teed is completely capable of doing both of
those things. Boyd is doing nothing wrong and therefore it

(40:32):
makes sense to leave him there where he is.

Speaker 2 (40:34):
Yeah, Allen, I've got to go, but very good points
well made mate, Thanks for calling in. Look forward to
chatting rugby league with you again soon. Seven Away from
One US talks EDB.

Speaker 1 (40:43):
Live in Brisbane for the NRL's Magic Ground. We can
sport with Jason Vine on your home of Sport for
use Talks, NB.

Speaker 2 (40:51):
News Talks HEB final text on this The Worries have
obviously their lesson says this one. There's no point having
a play with them. Who doesn't want to be there?
That is all there is to it. Thank you for
all your calls and correspondence on the Luke Metcalf situation.
We can chatt some more about that a bit later
on if you like. But after one o'clock in Queensland
there is one rugby league king, probably melman Inger. He's

(41:13):
with us after.

Speaker 1 (41:14):
One, bringing you the build up, the battle and the
battle as we celebrate the world's biggest festival of rugby league.
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine Live and Brisbane on
your home of Sport News Talks.

Speaker 2 (41:33):
Envy yesde Welcome back into the show as we come
to here live from Brisbane for NRL Magic Round games
today three of Tigers, CEA, Eagles five o'clock, Roosters, Cowboys
seven point thirty Eels, Storm nine forty five. That's the
lineup today. Tomorrow, of course, the Warriors take center stage.

(41:57):
This is the marquee game of the round, Warriors Broncos
just after six o'clock tomorrow evening New Zealand time clock
Local time. I've said this a few times, but you
cannot walk any distance here further than about ten meters
without seeing a Warrior's replica jersey. They are everywhere, everywhere,

(42:23):
lucky enough to be over here to witness it all.
And for those of you who have been to Magic
Round and in fact been to Brisbane ahead of a
Broncos game or a big NRL fixture. Caxton Street is
the street that leads directly down to sun Corp Stadium.
It is full of pubs and dining outlets and last night,

(42:44):
well actually in the afternoon. We sort of got there
at about half past three, four o'clock ahead of the
first game at six. The place was just absolutely jumping.
So many people, so many different you know jerseys. If
you weren't wearing club colors, you almost felt out of place.
But so many Warriors orders already here. I just can

(43:09):
only imagine what tomorrow is going to be like. On
the show tomorrow, Andrew Webster will join us. Also Cam George,
CEO of the Warriors, and former players Brent eight, Mark
Tookey and Kevin Campion are all on the show tomorrow,
so looking forward to that. We're going to cover off
Auckland FC. Don't worry, we'll do that after two o'clock
today with Sam Cosgrove. Also preview the Phoenix Women's Grand

(43:31):
Final with CJ. Botton, also football analyst Kirsty Yallop. But
I want to start this hour with one of the
most iconic figures in rugby league, He starred for Queensland
and Australia during a glittering playing career spanning the nineteen
eighties and nineteen nineties. A dominant center, he played in

(43:52):
multiple premiership winning sides with the Canberra Raiders. He captained Australia,
becoming the first player in history to be part of
four Kangaroo tours of Great Britain and France. He played
more than four hundred first grade matches, earned thirty two
State of Origin caps for Queensland, and was widely regarded
as one of the game's toughest and most influential players,

(44:15):
overcoming multiple broken arms during his career to remain at
the very top. He was appointed a Member of the
Order of Australia in nineteen ninety four, inducted into the
Sport Australia Hall of Fame and later elevated to Immortal
status in Rugby League. He went on to coach Queensland
through an era defining State of Origin dynasty, led Australia

(44:38):
to World Cup success, and last year was appointed head
coach of NRL expansion team the Perth Bears. Ahead of
and through the club's inaugural season in twenty twenty seven,
who else could I be talking about but Melmanninger who
joins us now mal great to have you on weekend
sport broadcasting across New Zealand. Let's start with Magic Round.

(44:59):
It's become one of the signature weekends in rugby league.
Why do you think it resonates so strongly with the fan?

Speaker 12 (45:08):
My personal opinion that Queensland's the hub of rugby league globally,
you know, so, I think that's a great start. I've
seen with so many Warriors fans come here, you know,
so it's obviously it's great for I think anyone, anyone,
even outside of rugby league. This is what I've noticed
over the years is that it's a festival, you know,

(45:28):
so it's not and it's a happy festival. It's not
around you know, competition and you know I support this
team and someone else supports the other team.

Speaker 3 (45:37):
It's all this adversarial stuff.

Speaker 10 (45:38):
It's just a.

Speaker 12 (45:39):
Happy, happy time, That's what I find. And having a
collectively in one spot is excellent. Having in Brisbane is
even better.

Speaker 10 (45:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (45:46):
Well, as you say, this is the heartland, isn't it
as far as you're considered and as far as a
lot of a lot of fans are concerned. You're right
about Warriors fans. I mean I flew over yesterday and
the plane was full of them. What have you made
of the Warriors in twenty twenty six.

Speaker 12 (45:58):
They've been great, They've been excellent obviously, you know, every
website's got them buzzing. The clubs in a great state
at the moment. Well led you having success on the
field and then you have full crowds now at go
Media Stadium. That's you know, it's fantastic and.

Speaker 3 (46:13):
It's great to see.

Speaker 12 (46:14):
It's you know, I've been obviously an advocate of Roby League.
It's you know, see that happening in New Zealand is fantastic.

Speaker 2 (46:22):
When people bump into you here, what do they want
to talk about the most? When they I mean, I'm
sure you can't walk down the street without, you know,
seeing somebody every ten minutes here who wants to talk
with you. What do they want to talk with you
about normally? Is it your playing career, your coaching career,
what you're up to now?

Speaker 12 (46:38):
Probably two things. They obviously a bit of respect you know,
from from the playing career, I think, which has been nice,
and it's not overbearing, which is fantastic. It's really sincere,
which is which you know, I really appreciate. The other
thing is about the Perth pairs, you know, so they're
all wishing me the best to luck, you know, which
is fantastic. And it's everywhere I go travels and I

(47:00):
go over to w A or you know, I'm in
down in Sydney or m Brisbane or go down Melbourne
or wherever I go to. It's it's all around, you know,
that wish. You know, the Perth bears all the best
to luck and they want to see us be successful.
So you know, I'm not surprised by it, but you know,
I'm really really grateful for it.

Speaker 2 (47:16):
So how is that project going.

Speaker 12 (47:18):
It's it's it's a challenging project, but you know, and
at the same time, it's it's very enjoyable, you know
it Actually to start up a club from its very
beginnings and and trying to build it into something, you know,
something successful and sustainable, it's you know, it's a I
feel very get, very honored and grateful.

Speaker 2 (47:39):
I'm in that position in terms of recruiting because people
want to know who's going to be playing for this team.
What's how challenging has recruiting been. I mean, rugby leagu's
very much Eastern Seaboard sport, isn't it. How how how
challenging has the recruitment side of this being not?

Speaker 12 (47:53):
I don't think it's been. I don't think it's been challenging.
I feel that we've got the right story. You know,
We've got the right story. Perth is a great Liverpool state.

Speaker 10 (48:04):
You know.

Speaker 12 (48:04):
I don't think in every player that I'm talking to,
who the reason why I'm talking to them is that
they want to make some really courageous, bold decisions. They
want to get out, They want to get out of
their comfort and to go to uncomfortable. They are all
great advocates of our great game. And you know, part
of our charter is to is to build participation and
popularity of rugby league in w A. That's part of

(48:26):
our charter. So every player that we've signed has got
that vision, you know, which is really good and be
obnestly be part of something that trail blazing, being pioneers,
part of the foundations of the club. And collectively, and
this is what I probably say to everyone, collectively, we
can we can actually start a bit of a movement
around who we are and what we what we were,

(48:47):
who we represent and build respect in the w A.

Speaker 2 (48:50):
Community, So building culture, building aspect that sort of thing
as well. But do you feel also PreCure to be
competitive from day one?

Speaker 12 (48:57):
It's always that's a lot of a head coach and
you know the football department really is to be successful
and be competitive. You know, I feel, you know, putting
the team together, that's going to be a competitive It's
really as that simple. And you know we're not. We're
not going to be in my mind, we're not going
to be that team that goes over to or plays
against any other team that's going to get flogged.

Speaker 10 (49:19):
You know.

Speaker 12 (49:19):
That's that's the perception sometimes of people who watch a
game or I've got a grand opinion of our game,
you know, So that's not who I am. I'm I'm
not a loser. I'm a winner and that's where my
team's going to be.

Speaker 2 (49:33):
Can we talk about about your playing career. You wore
those jerseys with such pride and we loved over in
New Zealand watching you play for Canberra, played for queens Land,
play for Australia except when it was against US obviously,
which Jersey do you think meant the most to you
or did they mean different things to you?

Speaker 12 (49:49):
Well, they put them on the same pedestal, but they
mean different things to me, you know, so it's a
bit of both. I guess, you know, I wouldn't be
playing for Queensland in Australia if it wasn't for the
club's success, you know so, and that club's success with
the Raiders, it was all around playing for your mates.
It's just a great environment to be involved. And that's

(50:11):
the one thing you miss when you retire, is that
going to going into that environment, club environment every weekend,
you know, every week, how to repair for a game
and doing it together. So that's that's huge. It's huge
for camera because you know, we're the first team outside
of Sydney to do it. And then because of because
of that success, you get an opportunity to play for Queensland,
and then from queens And you get an opportunity to

(50:32):
play for Australia. But Australia is the biggest honor, personal honor,
I think, you know, that's to put on your country's
jersey and represent that on foreign soil as well, in
particular with us. You know, that's that's a great acknowledgement
of your of your career, you know, so I often say,
because you know, obviously I was coach of the Australian side,
often said that, and you know what, what's what's the

(50:54):
one what's the one jersey? If you've had to pick
one jersey to put above your mental piece, that's that
represents your career, that's that, that's that national jersey.

Speaker 10 (51:04):
Amazing.

Speaker 2 (51:05):
At what point in your playing career or do you
start thinking about coaching?

Speaker 12 (51:08):
I never did.

Speaker 10 (51:09):
I never did.

Speaker 12 (51:10):
It was wasn't It wasn't until Sinsy left the Raiders
that I was approached by the club and I had
a good yard to the players because you know, I
was just out of out of plan as well, and
they felt that, you know, I could do a good job.
So it was from there, but I quickly found out
I didn't want to be a coach. You know, well,

(51:31):
you know, I think you've got to do it. But
it's the one thing I believe around coaching, you've got
to do your apprenticeship. You've got to understand who you are.
You've got to have a philosophy around how you want
to present your teams and things they have present yourself.
So over a long period of time, I think I've
managed to do that, you know, with all the rep
representative sides that I've had over over many, many years.

(51:54):
And I believe I'm in a situation now where I've
got the experience and knowledge is to be part of
a startup.

Speaker 2 (52:00):
Kind of going on in the NRL at the moment.
Expansion obviously the Perth Bears, P and G, this Las
Vegas obviously, now Magic rounds well and truly entrenched. Does
it feel like the code of rugby league is entering
very bold and exciting era right now?

Speaker 12 (52:13):
Yeah, it is excited to be involved. I think you know,
everyone everyone involved in sport can see that, you know.
So yeah, it's it is exciting, It is bold, and
you've got to have a bit of courage, you know,
to do what Peer of Land is and this team
is doing. And I think what we're trying to achieve
over in Perth, you know. So that's the type of
characteristics that we want in people and players. You know,

(52:35):
that's going to be part of our club. So yeah,
I think we're representative where the game is trying to
take our game just.

Speaker 2 (52:42):
A finishial I want to finish on a New Zealand
question about the Warriors. I mean, you know, we all
say it's our year, it's our year. It hasn't been yet.
Do you see the green shoots there for Warriors success?
If not this year, then at some stage in the
next little while.

Speaker 12 (52:56):
We understand over here how strong the game is over
there and the talent pool over there. So most clubs
are sort of searching around it, you know, to see
where that next kiwi is covered from honestly, and all
Pacific islander you know. So yeah, it's it's in a
it's a really healthy state. And I probably I probably
agree with Keron George in this sense that they've still

(53:19):
got to they still want to entrench themselves more. They
obviously it's all Auckland center centric in the moment, and
they need to need to help propagate the game in
all parts of New Zealand. You know, New Zealand is
a stronghold for rugby as we all know, you know,
and and and athletic progress. You know, it's it's a
great when you talk per capita, it's highly successful and
the success of all your teams over there. So yeah,

(53:41):
it's it's exciting, it's exciting, but you've got to tamper
that with a bit of patience. I reckon and and
I think I sort of agree with Cameron George at
this stage of the development of the of the Warriors
and the game development of the game over there in particular.
But I'll get to a stage where, you know, I
believe that, you know, you could probably carry a second team.

Speaker 2 (54:03):
Well, great to see you all the best with getting
the Berth Beers up and running. Wait to see you
over in New Zealand sometime in twenty seven.

Speaker 12 (54:09):
Ah, well, it's a long way from Perth. We'll see,
We'll see what happens, you know. Maybe so maybe it's
a Warriors Perth game at Magic Round. I mean that
we can start talking about that maybe in twenty seven.

Speaker 2 (54:21):
It's do a great to seemail things. Yeah, thank you, no,
thank you, Mel mel Meninga, the one and only you.
What about that Perth Bears Warriors at Magic Round a
year from now? Who knows? I mean, the Warriors are
such a big draw cards. I know it gets said
a lot, and those of you who have had the
chance to watch the Warriors overseas will know this, but

(54:45):
it's not until you actually get here and I cannot
imagine what tomorrow is going to be like, but I
simply cannot wait to find out. But the number of
Warriors fans, they are everywhere, absolutely everywhere, And you talk
to fans of other teams and they say, look, whenever
the Warriors come to play us or otherwise, there are

(55:07):
always so many fans. And I think obviously in Queensland.
I mean there's a lot of Keywis on the Gold Coast,
you know, up into Brisbane, and probably a bit further
up towards the Sunshine Coast as well. A lot of
Keywis around here anyway, and I'm sure a lot of
you know, a lot of the fans I'm seeing and
Warriors jerseys live here, of course they do. But there
were so many people coming in to Brisbane in the

(55:30):
last couple of days as well. The plane I flewent
on was just absolutely rammed with Warriors fans, I can
tell you. The airport was like a nightclub before before
we took off. Everybody in full celebration mode. And that's it.
That's the feeling you get here at Magic Round. It
is a feeling of celebration. Yes, all these all these
fans support their own teams. But you do hear a

(55:52):
lot about how fans can be a bit feral, and
maybe that's happened, but I haven't seen any evidence of
it at all. Basically, yesterday on Caxton Street, you threw
fans of all seventeen teams into a big melting pot.
Even I even saw some Canberra Raiders jerseys and they're
not even playing here this weekend, but there are a

(56:14):
lot of Raiders jerseys around. But you threw all of
these fans into this big melting pot with Rugby League
at the center of it, because that's the reason, let's
face it, that we are all here. And the sense
I got was just one of just celebration, just an absolute,
you know, carnival atmosphere. It was a lot like the

(56:36):
Sevens used to be. That's the vibe I felt that
the very early days of the Sevens, you know, around
that kind of sweet spot of once we'd worked out
that we needed to dress up sort of the two
thousand and three four five around there, you know, when
the Sevens really used to pump. That's what it felt
like yesterday here at Magic Round, and it made me

(56:57):
think that we have to propagate super Round for Super Rugby.
We simply cannot let that be a one and done.
And while we know there's going to be an Anzac
Day Rugby Test next year, that Super Round we have
to find a way to keep that alive, to have
fans of all the teams come to one place where
their colors mix and mingle. Make it a celebration weekend. Yes,

(57:19):
watch the rugby and cheers so loudly for your team,
but also just be part of something that is bigger
than that, bigger than your team. That's what Magic Round
feels like to me. I would urge you if you
get the opportunity, and this is me speaking before I've
even seen the Warriors against the Broncos tomorrow, which is
going to be absolutely jam packed full of fans from
both sides and a sprinkling of others as well. But

(57:43):
if you're a rugby league fan, or you're a fan
of sport, or you're a fan of occasions, then I
would urge you at some point to make this something
you tick off your bucket list, because even at this point,
even two games into an eight game weekend, it has
been simply superb here in Brisbane one twenty three. Let's

(58:04):
take a break. Lines are open one hundred and eighty
ten eighty at any stage if you want to pass
comment nine two, nine to two on text. But there
is other sport going on. I know that I know
the center of the universe. Over here. It feels like
Magic Round and it is. But there was some super
rugby last night and the Chiefs quietly and efficiently won
their seventh game in a row, beating the Highlanders. I
watched some of the highlights when I got back last

(58:25):
night of this game, and that was so grim seeing
Caleb Tounguetowe stretched off. That was that was so heartbreaking,
watching a creastfallen Caleb Tunguetowe stretch it off for what
looks to be a long period on the sidelines, just
so gutting. And Damien McKenzie knocked out as well. Josh

(58:48):
Jacob is going to join us shortly to recap the game.
He's off to the Highlanders next year as well as
the how was the dynamic? Looking forward to jetting to
Josh Jacob next on Weekend Sport Live from Brisbane one
twenty four.

Speaker 1 (59:00):
Live from Brisbane South Bank for the NRL's Magic Round.
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Pine News Talks MB.

Speaker 2 (59:08):
News Talks EV one twenty seven. Phil says, I remember
big Mal back in the days of the Green Machine,
running down the sideline, big smile on his face, carrying
the ball in one hand. I must have been like
my major memories of Mal are in an Origin jersey,
in that Queensland jersey, and with the big armguard on
because he broke his arms so often, didn't he? You

(59:30):
always seem to have an arm guard on. Sharon says,
hopefully you're wearing a warrior's jersey while broadcasting, and he says, Piney,
are you wearing your warrior's top? I can report that, yes,
I am wearing my Warriors top as I broadcast today
and will be again tomorrow. Travis's good thing the ossies
won't kill magic round with in saying, look of licensing
glaws like Wellington did with a SEVENS. You a good point, Travis,

(59:52):
and Scott says, hey, Piney, here's my conspiracy theory. Andrew
Webster and Ivan Clary reunite at the Warriors. When Clary
finishes with the Panthers, Jet and Nathan play together at
the Warriors. Boom. It would be Boom that would be
a boom idea. I did hear Ivan Clary say that

(01:00:12):
he wasn't interested in coaching another NRL team when he
finishes at the Panthers at the back end of next year.
But you never say never, do you. You never say never.
There must be quite a he's coach one of his
sons for a long time. You'd have to think there
would be just a little bit of a motivation, a
bit of a temptation to come over and see how
jets going at the Warriors, as you know, as we

(01:00:33):
know Andrew Webster and Ivan Clary work together at the Panthers.
Not beyond the realms of possibility. I guess we wait
to see how that all plays out. Thanks for all
your texts. One twenty nine. The Chiefs have gone back
to the top of the Super Rugby table after a
crushing forty to twelve home win over the Highlanders in Hamilton.
There's seventh victory on the bounce.

Speaker 5 (01:00:52):
Yeah, there's the turnover. The Chiefs are turn it over. Jacob.
Jacob gives it tomorrow.

Speaker 13 (01:00:57):
Fil out tom fail out tomor fil out inside ball
at the back of the hand. Carl Brown scores fourteen
points to well out the back door goes to moy
for our and Carl Brown says, I'll had that.

Speaker 5 (01:01:13):
Full time here in Hamilton forty two twelve.

Speaker 2 (01:01:15):
Yeah, Minty Graham, Minty Mead and Steve Gordon with call
last night on news Talk z'd be Sport Chiefs first five.
Josh Jacob is with us today after thanks for giving
up some of your time, Josh. Pretty convincing performance from
the Chiefs. What do you reckon? The coaching staff and
the playing group will be most pleased about with what
happened last night in Hamilton.

Speaker 8 (01:01:35):
Yeah, I think the school board potentially doesn't reflect the
feeling of the game. To be quite honest, I think
the Highlanders came out firing and both both have to
start to start both halfs. Sorry. I think we adjusted
well in moments, but there were some key messages, especially

(01:01:57):
on field, around where we could have been a bit
better last night, in particular around our discipline that probably
allowed the Highlanders to get a bit of a flow on.
So I'm sure there'll be a boot talking point once
we connect again leading into this weekend against the Crusaders.

Speaker 2 (01:02:19):
You got to start at first five, look really comfortable
staring things around. How are you feeling about about your
own form when you get these opportunities in the Ten Jersey.

Speaker 8 (01:02:30):
Yeah, firstly, always grateful to be out there, especially in
the Ten Jersey, and I think just when those opportunities come,
just to be really calm and have a bit of
poise about my presence in particular my voice. In terms

(01:02:50):
of how I'm feeling, feeling really comfortable, I think the
biggest thing for me is just getting a few more
instances maybe with hands on ball, and just so I
can feel like I can get a bit of a
flow on Sometimes I'm obviously the how the game is,

(01:03:10):
how the game is going, those opportunities might be a
bit slim, but more so just focusing on a saar
slim or there's less opportunities making sure that when I
do have hands on ball, I'm being really accurate with
what I'm trying to do.

Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
So, yeah, is that decision making that you're talking about
there and that accuracy is that? Is that an evolution
of you as a player? You know, as I say,
from from us looking in, you look really assured all
the time. But do you feel that's an evolution that
your decision making is improving week on week? The more
often you get the opportunity to play in that in
that jersey.

Speaker 8 (01:03:50):
Yeah, I think so. I think that's a good way
to put it. Sometimes less is more, And like I
said just before, if it is less less opportunities or
less hint, less instances with the ball and hand, it's
being really accurate. So yeah, I don't want to make

(01:04:14):
I don't want to be out there searching, but searching
and trying to make things happen off the cuff. So
just being patient, knowing where I can influence the game,
and yeah, when those opportunities come, just making sure I'm
really accurate with what I'm doing.

Speaker 2 (01:04:32):
Some some quite worrying scenes when Damien was was down
and was knocked out cold for a bit. Was he
okay afterwards? Did you see him afterwards? How did he seem?

Speaker 8 (01:04:44):
Yeah, no, it was it wasn't nice at all. When
I was running back on and seeing the position he
was in, it was you never want to see anyone
in a position like that, especially a teammate and someone
you care for in someone new respects. So I did

(01:05:04):
get to see him after the game on the field.
It was good to see him on his own two feed.
And yeah, there was a period of time in our
conversation that when we were talking about the game, he
couldn't quite remember, which is almost expected with the circumstance
he found himself in. But overall, I think initial signs

(01:05:29):
is that it was good to see him on his
own two feeder. It was good to see him out
on the field and good to see him in a
reasonable space of mind. So really happy to happy to
see that personally, and for the rest of our team
as well. I know he's a massive part of our squads,

(01:05:51):
so I know everyone was happy to see him being
able to one walk off the field on his own
and to be out there amongst us once the final
whistle went.

Speaker 2 (01:06:04):
Good to hear. Good to hear equally grim scenes with
Caleb Tonguetail leaving the field injured. I'm not sure if
you've seen the footage of this, but he looks absolutely distraught.
How hard is it to see a fellow player go
through that. I mean, it's not your teammatee next year
he will be, But how tough is to see any
player go down like that and be so distraught as

(01:06:25):
they have to leave the field.

Speaker 7 (01:06:28):
Yeah, no, I feel for Caleb.

Speaker 8 (01:06:31):
He I think you run in New Zealand knows how
well he was playing. But I think when you push
rugby to the side, and I know him, I guess
well enough as a player and as a person. Got
to play together on that All Black fifteen tour at
the end of last year and just feel for him,

(01:06:55):
gutted for him really and I knew it was pretty
serious when he was running in front of me and
he dropped before anyone had touched him and the ball
rolled into my hand.

Speaker 10 (01:07:06):
And so.

Speaker 8 (01:07:08):
Yeah, I just sent him a message late last night
just to let him know I was thinking of him,
and I was guarded for him and ordered for the
next steps of.

Speaker 7 (01:07:18):
His recovery as I just wished him.

Speaker 8 (01:07:22):
I do wish them all the best and I've got
no doubt that when that time comes that is back
on the field, he'll.

Speaker 7 (01:07:29):
Pick up right where he left off.

Speaker 8 (01:07:31):
So it just condolences to him as partner, his family
and the Highlanders.

Speaker 7 (01:07:36):
I know he's a missed part of this squad as well.

Speaker 2 (01:07:39):
Yeah, very well, said mate. As I mentioned before, you're
heading to the Highlanders next season. Of course that'll be
your team next year. Was that an interesting dynamic last
night or were you able just to put that to
one side and say, look, I'm a Chief now and
I've got a job to do here.

Speaker 7 (01:07:53):
Yeah, that's exactly it.

Speaker 11 (01:07:55):
Mate.

Speaker 8 (01:07:57):
Obviously it's common knowledge that it's where I'll be hitting
next year. But from that decision was made, I made
it very clear to John O and the rest of
the coaches that I'm fully, fully locked in with the Chiefs.

(01:08:18):
Obviously I'm here, but more so mentally, Yeah, I'm like
I said, I'm fully locked in and I'm ready to
do whatever the team needs each week, if it's filling
a role in the starting jersey or off the bench,

(01:08:38):
or preparing the boys throughout the week. If I'm not
playing whatever role I'm handed with each week, I'm just
making sure that the Chiefs get the best out of me.
And yeah, I guess making sure. I'm just doing what
I can do to show that I'm fully committed to
this club for the remainder of the season, which.

Speaker 2 (01:09:00):
Could go quite deep. I mean, you're looking good again
the Chiefs. It seems likely that you'll go deep into
the finals again, another Grand Final. Maybe it seems like
I ask every Chiefs player who I talk to, there's
question about about whether there's this monkey on the back.
So you know you've had three Grand Finals that winning one,
you know, it does it doesn't sit there. And the
second part of the question is how do you make

(01:09:20):
sure that you win one of these things?

Speaker 8 (01:09:24):
Yeah, you're not wrong, Pioneer, it's definitely. It's definitely something there,
like it's important to address the elephant in the room
if we get to that.

Speaker 7 (01:09:36):
If we get to that stage, obviously.

Speaker 8 (01:09:37):
There's two more games for us in round robin and
then and then it's business time, so we've got to
get there first, one week at a time. But I
think if we are lucky and fortunate, fortunate, fortunate enough
sorry to reach that Grand Final, then I think, yeah,

(01:10:01):
it's important to probably address it. But also that's in
the past, and all we can focus on is what's
in front of us and making sure we're keeping our
feet on the ground and taking the rest of the
hopefully what is the next five weeks week by week
and if we get there, When we get there, we

(01:10:25):
can put it out of performance and get a result
not only us as players and coaches can be proud of,
but our whole franchise, our whole club, and our supporters
as well good.

Speaker 2 (01:10:36):
Man, Josh, well, congratulations on the latest step good win
last night against the Highland is all the best as
you recover and look forward to next week.

Speaker 12 (01:10:43):
Mate.

Speaker 2 (01:10:43):
Always appreciate you taking the call and having.

Speaker 10 (01:10:45):
A chat to me.

Speaker 8 (01:10:47):
Yeah, no, cheers mate. Always enjoy jumping on and turn
the set with your mates. So cheers for the call
and have a good one.

Speaker 2 (01:10:54):
You have a good one too, Josh. Thanks indeed, Josh,
Jacob there out of the Chiefs, so mission accomplished for
them last night forty two points to fourteen the bonus
point wins, so they go to forty five points the
same number of points, says the Hurricanes have. The Chiefs though,
are top And I get this question a lot, and
look it needs to be posted somewhere. People say, why

(01:11:15):
are the Chiefs top and the Hurricanes are second? They've
got the same number of points and the Hurricanes have
a better points differential, so surely the Hurricanes should be
ahead of the Chiefs. And it's not just the Hurricanes
and the Chiefs whichever two sites. The first separator for
teams who are equal on points is the number of wins,
So the Chiefs have had ten wins, the Hurricanes have

(01:11:37):
had nine wins, albeit from one fewer game. That is
why the Chiefs at the top of the tape. So
if the Hurricanes were to win or even get a
point later on today against the Blues, they would go
to forty six and they would be top. But that
is the reason why when teams are level at the
top or level anywhere on the table, that the team
with the most wins is listed above the other team.

(01:11:58):
All right, that's how it works. Anyway, Chiefs back to
the top. Forty five points, seven straight wins. The Hurricanes
up against the Blues. That game is at Eden Park
tonight five past seven. You can hear a full commentary
on news talks. He'd be sport of that one. That
is the middle game today, the Fijian Drewer up against
the war Atars. That game is in Suva just after

(01:12:20):
four point thirty. And then later on tonight after the
Canes and the Blues out Western Perth, it's the Force
against the Reds. This is round fourteen of sixteen in
the Super Rugby Pacific season. No game for the Crusaders
or Mowana Pacifica across this weekend of course, also the
red So those three teams have the buye next week.

(01:12:42):
If we just want to quickly look ahead Friday night
Crusaders Chiefs under the Roof, that'll be a Cracker waratars Brumbies,
and then Saturday mona pacifica Reds, Hurricanes, Islanders Force against
the Drewer nineteen away from two. Somebody's reminded me on
text about melman Inger's torpedo kicks. I remember those. Yeah,
he's a good torpedo kicker. And I remember the arm

(01:13:02):
guard as well, says this one. Yeah, what are we doing,
Let's take a break. I was gonna say, let's get
you across the Tasman. I feel like I'm already here.
Adam Peacock is our Australian correspondent. We'll talk on the
same sign in the same time zone for once. Adam Peacock,
our Australian correspondent, is with us after this.

Speaker 1 (01:13:21):
Following the end, z Ed Warry is on the road
live in Brisbane for nrral's Magic Round. It's Weekend Sport
with Jason Vine on your home of Sport Youth Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:13:32):
V BANG on one forty five here on News Talks
hereb this is Weekend Sport. At around about this time
every Saturday we catch up with our Australian correspondent Adam Peacock.
It sounds or feels a bit weird being in Australia
while talking to you, ADAMC. Great to have you on
as always. Hows how's your week been?

Speaker 5 (01:13:49):
Good?

Speaker 14 (01:13:49):
Tiny, Welcome to Australia. How's Brisbane trading amazing?

Speaker 2 (01:13:53):
I have to say it's amazing. I'm sure you know.
Obviously Magic Ground and let's start there. The NRL's Magic Round.
It does resonate around Australia, particularly in the rugby league heartlands,
but I can tell him mate, it's it's off the
chain here in Brisbane. Where does it sit in the
Australian sporting landscape in terms of an event across an

(01:14:14):
entire weekend.

Speaker 14 (01:14:15):
Yeah, it's hard to pin where it sits. It's just
something that everyone gets excited about really quickly. I think
it sits ahead of when regularly do things Vegas and
there's a little bit it's interesting, I'm noticing a little
bit of fatigue about Vegas, but when it comes to
Magic Round, there's no fatigue at all. It's like, oh,

(01:14:37):
you're beauty. This is a it's almost like a communal
gathering of the sport. So AFL do it as well.
I think it emanates out of what regularly did in
the UK all those years ago, and I think they
still do it, like everyone gathers at one place and
AFL do it in Adelaide and it goes well, and
it goes very well for Brisbane. And I think they've

(01:14:59):
signed up this week until twenty thirty two.

Speaker 2 (01:15:01):
Yeah, I see that to Lincoln with the Olympics here,
so yeah, Like I can tell you that that there's
an absolute buzz here. A couple of comfortable wins last night,
the Shark's getting their inage, the Bulldogs, Dolphins over the Rabbit,
O's Tigers and your Sea Eagles. I've seen plenty of
manly shirts around around town. And what do you how
do you fancy your sides chances against Whists?

Speaker 8 (01:15:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 14 (01:15:22):
Good, Tigers haven't been great in the last couple of
weeks and they've been smashed by injuries, their best player
a happy Corusales not playing, and yeah, mainly have come
very good under your guy here and forum. So yeah,
I think we should have enough in this game if
they aim up, if they don't show up, or they're
going to be in trouble, I dare say. But yeah,

(01:15:42):
there's the fact that there's plenty of Manley shirts around.
If Magic Ground was six weeks ago, I don't think
there would have been as many something. Now Darren's re
ignited incredible.

Speaker 2 (01:15:52):
Yeah, it really has been quite the turnaround, hasn't it.

Speaker 5 (01:15:54):
Now.

Speaker 2 (01:15:54):
You can also offer us an unbiased view on Broncos v.
Warriors tomorrow. Obviously you know we're in Bronco's heartland, but look,
I don't know I've seen as many Warriors' shirts as
any around here, and there's a lot of Kiwi living
in Queensland. Of course you reckon the Warriors. There a
chance to turn the Broncos over.

Speaker 14 (01:16:11):
Yeah, that corridor south of Brisbane, north of the Gold
Coast and including the Gold Coast, it's almost a suburb
of suburbs of Aucklands. There's a lot a lot of
KeyWe's there and it's a good place to live. But
that's one of the real tough ones. At the weekend,
that's when I can't really split. I mean, today we've

(01:16:33):
got some games off, maybe Melbourne Parrots and I probably
put Melbourne ahead, but that's going to be a top
top game because Adam Reynolds is back to understand and
they're starting to get their cavalry back Brisbon after a
period of injuries. But the Warriors have been excellent and
there's nothing to suggest that they're going anywhere because they've
got a very good side. I think Mitch Bunnett's been

(01:16:54):
named on the bench. That gives an idea of how
well everyone's going. So top game I've maybe tipped towards
the Warriors just given that they're in pretty hot form
so or have been for the whole season in pretty
good form. So yeah, it should be a great one.

Speaker 2 (01:17:09):
It should be a cracker. A League men's semi finals.
First game last night or the first semi final was
an Adelaide won all after the first league in Auckland.
Auckland f C with well I Reckon probably one of
the best, if not the best performance in their short
existence going to Adelaide which is always tough and winning
three nil over there was this a surprise to you.

Speaker 15 (01:17:30):
Yes, yeah, yeah, absolutely, I mean Auckland have come up
with some good away performances this year, notably the one
in Newcastle. One of the few teams to go to
Newcastle and get get at any kind of joy.

Speaker 14 (01:17:43):
But yeah, just the way that they were able to
nullify Adelaide last night. Look that they Adelaide will regret
exactly what happened. I mean, the very young side, but
they kind of looked. Quite a bit of experience went
against them the occasion as well, and not dealing with
things at set pieces. The penalty was, oh, there's probably

(01:18:04):
a fifty one to forty nine. I get why it
was given, but I could get why it wouldn't be given.
It was a really tight one, I thought, I don't
know what you thought, Piney. But in the end Auckland
did what they had to do and took some really
good opportunities and chasing the game, you know, to nil
chasing the game, everything's opened up and then again they

(01:18:26):
take their opportunity. So down to that taking taking their
chances and making them pay. But what do you make
of the.

Speaker 2 (01:18:32):
Pen Yeah, we'll put it this way. If it's not given,
I don't think it's then given by var So. Yeah,
so you're right, it's that fifty one to forty nine situation.
He's given it on the field. VR then needs to
look for a reason to overturn it. Can't find one.
But like I say, if he doesn't give it, I
don't think it's a pen. I do think Auckland they
deserve to win the game, just with as you say,

(01:18:54):
taking their opportunities. And what I also liked was the
fact that when they were too nearlyhead they didn't just
sit back. You know, you've seen teams sit back at
too well just to try and soak things up. I mean,
the best place to defend is in the opposition half right.

Speaker 14 (01:19:07):
Exactly exactly, and that kind of speaks of the balance
that Steve Krek has got with that side, a fair
bit of experience. There have a few younger ones too,
which you always need in the A League and should
always be in the A League. I mean you can't
play a team of thirty two year olds, but yeah,
just a maturer experience performance and get themselves into a

(01:19:28):
grand final. And I guess everyone in Auckland is now
sharing Sydney has se to do the business in Newcastle
night so they can host a grand final.

Speaker 5 (01:19:35):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:19:35):
I think that's exactly the situation as far as awkward
as a concern. So yeah, so that's second semi tonight,
the second League of it's all locked up at one all.
How do your fancy in this one?

Speaker 14 (01:19:46):
You have to say Newcastle home. But again looking at
last night, Sydney has younger players than Auckland so in
terms of experience in getting it done, but just Newcastle
will have a lot of the ball. If Sydney come
up with a performance where they can nullify what they
do and hit them on the counter attack, I think
it will be more counter attacking football at it done

(01:20:06):
that they can certainly cause some problems and you know
you've got to play like Joe Lowery, who can who
can come up with something at any time. So yeah,
pressure on Newcastle to find the performance that's got them there.
It's not always easy as at al able or tests,
so I certainly don't discount Sidney tonight probably edge towards
Newcastle just but I think it's I think Sydney you
are going to give them some kind of some kind

(01:20:28):
of test yep.

Speaker 2 (01:20:30):
Tend to agree. Always great chatting Australian Sport with you, Adam.
Thanks and Dan mate, we'll like catch up again next Saturday.

Speaker 14 (01:20:35):
Cheers party, survive magic ground.

Speaker 8 (01:20:37):
Good luck.

Speaker 2 (01:20:39):
I've got through thus far. It is only Saturday though,
good call. Thanks Adam, always appreciate chatting to you. Adam Pecock,
our Australian correspondent, part of our Saturdays eight Away from
two News Talks EB.

Speaker 1 (01:20:50):
Live from the world's largest rugby league festival of the
Nrral's Magic Ground in Brisbane. It's Weekend Sport with Jason
Pine on your home of Sport News Talk MB.

Speaker 2 (01:21:01):
And coming up four to two into the final out
of the show after two o'clock, but of focus on
football Auckland FC into the and finally the A League
Men's betting Adelaide last night. We'll hear from Sam Cosgrove,
one of the key participants, before the team flies back
to Auckland. Also preview the Wellington Phoenix women in their
Grand final and historic occasion this afternoon at Amy Park
in Melbourne. They take on Melbourne City and could become

(01:21:23):
the first side ever to win an A League Grand Final.
They're the first ones to play in it. They've beaton
Arkland FC by about a week so we'll preview that
as well. More from Magic Round two on text. Get
a mate listen. A massive Liverpool supporter here, but we're
not going to talk about Liverpool anyway. I lived in
Wellington all my life. There's no way I'm supporting Auckland
next weekend. I hope they lose five NOL. Good luck

(01:21:46):
to Wellington today though, Max. Indeed, Yeah, Well, football fandom
there is at its very best. We probably do of.
Andy sent me a sneak preview of in case you
missed it, and he has very kindly included the Liverpool
result from this morning in that. So that's just excellent news.
Look forward to reliving that and the other off that

(01:22:06):
you might have missed overnight news next to two and
then back with the final out of the shows. We
come to your life from Magic Round in.

Speaker 1 (01:22:12):
Brisbane, a city taken over for a festival of footy
and a celebration of rugby league. Welcome to Brisbane, Welcome
to Magic Ground. Eight games, sixteen teams, three days, the

(01:22:33):
NRL's biggest party on the ground in Brisbane to bring
you all the color, the chaos and the noise, with
legends of the game, fans from every corner of the league,

(01:22:55):
and stories you won't hear anywhere else. Insight, analysis, opinion
and the atmosphere. It's Weekend Sport with Jason Vine live
in Brisbane for NRLs Magic Round on your home of
Sport News Dog ZB.

Speaker 2 (01:23:13):
Yes, coming up to eight. I'm Jason Pine and McDonald
running the cut of this is a weekend Sport live
from Brisbane and Magic Round. Just a quick look at
tomorrow if you are keen on tuning in, we'll zero
win on the Warriors tomorrow. They don't play until tomorrow
against the Broncos just after six New Zealand time, the
middle game of the three here in Brisbane. Brent Tates

(01:23:35):
on the show. Also Mark Tuki and Kevin Campion, both
members of that two thousand and two Grand Final reaching side.
Andrew Webster's on the show tomorrow coach to the Warriors
and CEO Cameron George. So a big focus on the
Wires tomorrow. If you missed our earlier chats with braithan
Asta and melman Ninger to icons of the game, they

(01:23:56):
are available via our website Newstalk SDB dot co dot
nz just look for shows look the weekend Sport not
too different. Fine if you want to listen back to
those two gentlemine, fantastic to get the chance chat to
both of them. It's been brilliant being over here, I
have to say, and as I said last hour, if
you have even just the inkling of coming to Magic
Ground as a rugby league fan, I would highly recommend it.

(01:24:20):
I would highly endorse it as a weekend away for
you and whoever else is lucky enough to travel with you.
Tim Beverage on the radio after three. Before we get there, though,
we focus on football is out because a couple of
grand finals to talk. Auckland FC are into the A
League Men's Grand Final courtesy of their second leg three
nil victory over Adelaide United last night to make it

(01:24:42):
for one on aggregate, they will be in the Grand Final.
Sydney FC travel to Newcastle tonight for the second leg
of the other semi and the way this is structured
is that the team that finishes higher up the table
that is in the Grand Final hosts the grand Final.
So if Newcastle were to win over Sydney and make

(01:25:04):
the Grand Final, they would host Auckland f would travel
to Newcastle next Saturday night to play Newcastle. However, if
Sydney FC were to win tonight and go through to
the Grand Final, Auckland FC finished higher up the table
than Sydney FC, so the Grand Final would be in Auckland.
Incredible looking forward to seeing how that plays out, presumably

(01:25:25):
at big Go media. I know that it's probably going
to be talk about playing at Eden Park and there's
no Blues. I don't have a game there next weekend
to they I can't imagine they'd move it away from
Go media anyway. We wait to see what happens later
on tonight with that, So yeah, I think of previous
I haven't I haven't told you about what we're doing
with the women either. The women's final Wellington Phoenix Melbourne

(01:25:47):
City six fifteen this evening at Amy Park. C J
Bott as captain of the team. She played the first
seven games and then stepped away as she prepares to
give birth in the next few months, but still a
big part of this team. She's on the show and
Kirsty Yallop Football Ferns Century and also going to join
us to preview the game and talk about the arrival
of Chefs. We'll see the Chelsea women's side in Auckland

(01:26:08):
later in the year to take on an Auckland FC
invitational team. So I've got a bit of football for
you and we will play a sporting chance. This is
what we do every Saturday afternoon. We give you the
chance to win a one hundred and fifty dollars bonus
bet from the tab. Place it on one of our
three options that we give you. If it comes in,
we give you the winnings minus the one fifty, so

(01:26:29):
a sporting chance as well. Before we close the show
at three o'clock this afternoon. But as we always do
and around about this time on weekend sport approaching eleven
past two, it's time to catch you up with some
of the things that you might have missed while you
went about your life and didn't have full focus on sport. Luckily,
and he does in case you missed it. A thumping

(01:26:51):
Premier League football performance from aston Villa.

Speaker 1 (01:26:54):
It's him again topped it off a stella goal for
the skipper.

Speaker 2 (01:27:02):
Next up Estanvil Prior ten final.

Speaker 3 (01:27:07):
And asking that I will go there.

Speaker 2 (01:27:09):
Having already qualified for the Champions League, Estonvilla thrashing Liverpool
four to two, and as mentioned they're in commentary locking
in their spot for Champions League football next year. Danish
cycling star Jonus vinger Gar has achieved quite the milestone, but.

Speaker 16 (01:27:25):
He's going to take the final turn knowing that victory
will be his.

Speaker 2 (01:27:30):
The team set him up. He's done his thing. You
want to singer.

Speaker 15 (01:27:33):
York's laying the foundations or wins in the Gino completes
the set of Grand Tour stage where he's and sets
up an assault.

Speaker 2 (01:27:42):
On the manor Orser.

Speaker 5 (01:27:44):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:27:44):
His first ever stage win at the Jura Detelia. He's
won stages in all three Grand to us now as
he looks to win the whole thing and to Magic Round,
The Bulldogs have slumped to a fifth straight NRL loss,
going down to the Sharts.

Speaker 17 (01:27:59):
Last plays been Heinz and Trindle in the forced propouts,
Hines kicks towards across the boat.

Speaker 3 (01:28:06):
Look they've cut another one.

Speaker 5 (01:28:09):
The no No's come and double up return hunts till another.

Speaker 2 (01:28:14):
Militalo thirty eight sixteen the final score of the Sharks
and the Dolphins did some happy hunting in their home
home state, beating the rabbit Os thirty two to ten.

Speaker 5 (01:28:25):
Areta.

Speaker 16 (01:28:26):
He gets away, he's in the clay finally, henisode tell
me white Thedo has his Magic round try.

Speaker 3 (01:28:33):
It took seventy eight minutes.

Speaker 10 (01:28:35):
It was.

Speaker 16 (01:28:38):
Hooks the haven out of Count Tendy and the Dolphins
did their third streat.

Speaker 1 (01:28:43):
Rent following the Insid Warriors on the road live in
Brisbane for nrral's Magic Round. It's Weekend Sport with Jason
Vine on your home of Sport Youth Talks.

Speaker 2 (01:28:55):
V thirteen minutes past two. Also on this side of
the Tasman. Last night, Auckland FC made a little piece
of history, the first New Zealand men's team to make
it through to an A League football Grand final.

Speaker 5 (01:29:10):
There is the final whistle history for.

Speaker 3 (01:29:13):
Off the FC.

Speaker 16 (01:29:14):
They book a spot in the Azuzu A League Grand
Final and put the heartbreak of season one behind them
and go further than they've ever been before.

Speaker 3 (01:29:25):
Handshakes for Steve Courriker.

Speaker 16 (01:29:27):
They've traveled to Adelaide a professional performance three nil on
the night four to.

Speaker 5 (01:29:34):
One on aggregate. They become the first team in the.

Speaker 2 (01:29:39):
Grand Final yep, and they'll be joined by either Newcastle
or Sydney FC. As previously mentioned. A three nil win
against Adelaide United in Adelaide, a two legged semi final
aggregate score of fur to one. Jake Goodwood, Reich, Sam
Cosgrove and Logan Rogerson the goal scorers last night. The
team's about to fly home to Auckland to prepare for

(01:30:02):
the Grand final, but Sam Cosgrove is with us on
the line. Congratulations Sam. As a result in your pardon,
it was significant. What is the feeling is you prepare
to fly home and get ready for an A League
Grand Final?

Speaker 10 (01:30:16):
Yeah? Thanks Jason.

Speaker 18 (01:30:17):
First of all, I I mean, obviously incredible night for
everyone involved, as you said, an achievement to get to
the final, but not really the way that we're looking
at the moment.

Speaker 10 (01:30:27):
I think the achievement for us probably winning the Grand Final.

Speaker 18 (01:30:30):
So yeah, good night, good time was had by everyone afterwards,
but it's kind of straight down to business again and
how we're going to win the whole thing now.

Speaker 2 (01:30:38):
Going to Adelaide, which is hard any way, winning three
nierl in a sold out semi final. They'res some statement.
Did it feel like Auckland FC's based performance of the
season for you?

Speaker 18 (01:30:49):
I think so in terms of a satisfying performance, it
was right up there and we went and did did
the perfect away job, you know. I think even in
the first leg we were good in the first half,
we reacted well after a tough one hundred and twenty
minutes against City and then maybe just blew out a
run and a run out of gas. A little bit
towards the end of the second half. Yeah, in the

(01:31:11):
game yesterday, we were strong, we pushed through and call
him on the counter and.

Speaker 10 (01:31:15):
Then just did a did a perfect job.

Speaker 2 (01:31:17):
I'd say, Yeah, what were the keys? What were the
main messages during the week from Steve Corrick at the
coaching staff, the senior applies, what sort of you know,
what was the key to being so good last night?

Speaker 10 (01:31:30):
It just seemed as if everything clicked last night.

Speaker 18 (01:31:33):
The kind of the message that the manager has been
giving us all season is that if we stay compact,
resolute and don't concede, we're going to score goals. And
that was the case the case yesterday's. I said, it
was a perfect job done. I think I don't think
he could have written the scripts any better himself, the manager,
if he could. But I think I think the boys
at the back were absolutely tremendous. That the back three

(01:31:54):
worked very well. Two wing backs Callen and Heiroki were
upping down like rockets up the wing. And yeah, as
I said, once we get that, once we've got that
one goal, that kind of the nerves and I don't
think we look back from there.

Speaker 10 (01:32:08):
I think we were we were worth our worth our
three nil in the end.

Speaker 2 (01:32:12):
So the second goal yours from the penalty spot. You
you won the penalty, stepped up to take it what
you obviously had the penalty from the shootout a couple
of weeks ago, to to kind of draw upon what
are you What are you thinking as you're standing, you know,
at the top of your mark to take that penalty.

Speaker 18 (01:32:28):
Thinking this is what this is what I'm paid to do.
It's got a goal from these situations. But no, it
was it was actually nice to get a decision for once.
We don't usually get many of them, especially off the
Aussie refs and in Australia, So that was that was
nice to begin with. But I knew that I could
probably put the game to bed if I scored, and yeah,
I think that I knew the keeper was going to

(01:32:49):
dive one way and if I hit hard and low
then the very worst is going to land and I
can I can get the rebound.

Speaker 10 (01:32:56):
But I was I was glad to see it going
to be fair.

Speaker 2 (01:32:59):
Yeah, well winter because I couldn't quite antill the first
time whether it was just sitting on the line for
you to follow apple with a it had actually dribbled
across the line on sick and look at ahead. But
I mean, yeah, what a moment for you. I mean
it must be it must be very satisfying to contribute
in a match of that magnitude with a goal on
such a big stage and you know, and and chalk
up another one for the season in your first season

(01:33:20):
with Auckland.

Speaker 10 (01:33:21):
Yeah, no, no, of course, very happy.

Speaker 18 (01:33:23):
I mean obviously the getting the getting the golden boot
for the for the regular season was a good, good
accomplishment in itself, but as we said, kind of that
the aid was to go on and win the Grand
Final and the boys are going to need my goals
goals to do that. So for sure, it's good to
contribute on the score sheet, but if I can still
do it in other ways, that's that's still my job

(01:33:44):
and that's still what I need to do. But it
was it was a good note around for for a
lot of boys last night.

Speaker 2 (01:33:49):
The other thing that stood out to me was after
you were tunal ahead. I mean a lot of teams
at Tunil up, you know, and and two goals ahead
and the tie might sit back, might sort of you know,
invite invite pressure, but you still keep going forward.

Speaker 19 (01:34:02):
Is that a.

Speaker 2 (01:34:02):
Is that a conscious decision to keep on staying on
the frank for and in defending in theirhalf? If you like.

Speaker 10 (01:34:11):
The way things have gone this season, We've not kept
too many clean sheets. So I mean.

Speaker 18 (01:34:16):
We did say that once we get one, we want
to here, and once we get to we probably want
three and just kill the game and shut out. And
I said, we kind of know that if we if
we keep that compact base which you had yesterday, and
we defend strong, we've got the pace and the power
up front. You've got your jesses, your logans, your Lucky
Brooks to come on and go go at a time

(01:34:38):
and defense. So we know that we've got that threat there.
So it's it's kind of keep it shut up shot,
but know that these guys can cause a bit of
damage as well.

Speaker 2 (01:34:46):
How much did you enjoy silencing the Adelaide crowd last night?

Speaker 18 (01:34:51):
Yeah, I mean their boys were a bit chirpy last week.
You know, the social media teams were a bit chirpy
in the week. Maybe getting ahead of himself, So stay
humble until you get across the line. So that was
that was a satisfying one for sure.

Speaker 2 (01:35:04):
So I guess we're all cheer for suddenly s tonight
and then because if they win it's a home grand final.

Speaker 10 (01:35:09):
Yeah exactly.

Speaker 18 (01:35:10):
I mean I think that in fairness, a lot of
the teams that have made the finals that are very
even so regardless of who wins, it's going to be,
it's going to be it's going to be a tough,
tough us. But yeah, for sure, we want to we
want to bring that home final so that we can
go get a packed out, go media and give the
funds one last terror before the end of the season.

Speaker 2 (01:35:30):
Congrat to Sam, to you and the team on a
tremendous performance last night. You've earned the team their first
ever grand final. Travel safe, mate, have a great week
and we'll see you hopefully at home next Saturday.

Speaker 10 (01:35:39):
Perfect.

Speaker 2 (01:35:40):
Thank you very much, Jason, No, thank you Sam. Sam
Cosgrove there Auckland FC striker score of the second goal
last night, which helped his side through to its first
ever A League men's Grand final. You'll remember, of course,
Auckland FC got to within a game of the Grand
final last year in the inaugural season, couldn't quite get
across the line, losing to Melbourne. Victory across two leagues

(01:36:01):
last season they have taken that extra step this season
and we'll play in the A League Men's Grand Final
next Saturday night, And just to reiterate, we don't know
where that game will be until after tonight's second semi final,
which kicks off at around nine to forty New Zealand
time at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle. The Newcastle Jets

(01:36:24):
up against SYDNEYFC, and as I mentioned a little bit
earlier in the show, if SYDNEYFC win that game, the
grand Final will be in Auckland. So I guess for
Auckland f C fans you're chairing for SYDNEYFC tonight. It
would be almost circular if a Grand Final was between
Auckland FC and SYDNEYFC. Steve Coricker, of course, head coach

(01:36:46):
of Auckland FC, was formerly a player and a coach,
winning championships and premierships in both capacities with Sydney FC,
so wouldn't that be a strangely circular if it was
Sidney FC who he came up against in the first
ever Grand final for Auckland FC. If Newcastle win tonight,
then off they go to Newcastle, top of the regular season,

(01:37:07):
earned hosting rights for the Grand Final if they make it,
and so if they were to win tonight then Auckland
FC would head back across the Tasman for the Grand
Final next Saturday night time, and those sort of details
in terms of kickoff to be confirmed. If you watched
the game last night, keen to hear from you, if
you've got some thoughts on it. Eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty. I just thought, I mean, I've watched all

(01:37:30):
of Auckland FC's games in the last two seasons. I
thought it was the best performance I've seen from them,
given the circumstances, given what was on the line, given
the magnitude of the occasion, given the opposition, and the
atmosphere at Coopers Stadium. For those who aren't really familiar
with the A League, Cooper Stadium is widely regarded as

(01:37:52):
the most hostile away ground to visit. It's a wonderful grounds.
It's rectangular, you're right there in you know, the crowd
are right on top of you the whole time. But
they are sophus They are so parochial, they are so
into you. You hear players talk about how from the

(01:38:14):
moment you get there, from the moment that the whistle
blows to start the game until well after the final whistle.
They are into you over there. They give you not
a second's respite. So to go over there and silence
them in the way that they did it is quite
the achievement as far as Auckland FC are concerned. You

(01:38:36):
would have enjoyed it, Derek, Well.

Speaker 17 (01:38:38):
I'll do what. I nearly fell off the couch here
on watching a replay of Argentina versus Netherlands for four
years ago, just getting into my World Cup mode. But
I nearly killed over when I heard you talking about
Australian correspondent about the penalty. I mean no doubt the
Cosgrove got to the ball first and the defender just
had to be disciplined and let Cosgrove go with a

(01:39:00):
boar because the actual factor is first touch. He was
actually going away from goal there. I don't think he's
player was going to turn and hit it in one movement,
so he just had to leave him. But in the
end he had to take a swipe out of Kylesgrove.
And I was a little disappointed at the Vaar getting
involved because the referee was right there. It looked pretty
clear to me. And after what we've seen around the

(01:39:20):
world with VA recently the Celtic carts game that was
a disgrace, and then of course the West ham Arsenal
game where the referee he had five minutes to make
a complete and uther hash of that. So I was
just hoping that wasn't going to be a little bit
of a hat trick of sorts. But no, Look, the
whole the game was built around character and steel and
this club has plenty of it. I thought the back

(01:39:42):
four were magnificent. I thought Pinnica was very strong and
all his tackling. I thought that Calum Elliott was obviously
coming in as left back for Deprees. He has done
the last three weeks and he's been brilliant, and he's
been brilliant, and he's been rewarded quite rightly with the
spot on the World Cup side. He really deserves that,
he really does. He's a great young player. He can

(01:40:04):
cover both sides of the defense. I thought he had
a great game last night, really great game. I thought
the midfield lived on their nerves a little bit because
some of their tackling was a little bit over the top,
but they really did what they had to do and
I also thought that Saki back in the team now
after a few injury absences this year. He got down
that right hand side with a brilliant run which led

(01:40:26):
to a brilliant safe by the keeper of the first half,
which led to the corner where go And got the goal,
and then of course the penalty was all about once
again Saki getting down that right hand side and making
the difference. He's a great player, he's a great leader,
and Auckland are completely different when he's on the field
with a captain's armband. And I thought also young Jesse
Randall probably the best game I've seen him playing about

(01:40:47):
the last couple of months. He took them on. He
was doing the back heels, all the little flicks. Looked
like his confidence was up. He just wanted to enjoy it.
And I think Auckland also did it without their best player,
without Jerrila Momay, who can create goals, score goals, take
penalties do but he can do everything conting. But without
him they had to already close down an Adelaide side
that is such a free passing, smooth team to watch.

(01:41:10):
But every time Adelaide tried to get something going, Auckland
were strong they were out muscling them. They really took
them to the well. And even afterwards I heard a
couple of Adelaide players saying, we just couldn't handle the
strength of Auckland, the physical strength. We couldn't break them down.
And look, at the end of the day, it's very
difficult for me to ring up and say that one
Auckland player had at a better game than the others,

(01:41:31):
because they played like a team and you just have
to look at Krriga and say, you've got his tactics
on the day, absolutely right. And look, this club has
only been around for a short period of time. But
I looked at those Auckland fans in the corner there
and they will love it, weren't they. You're right, there's
a hostile environment there at Adelaide, But look they silenced

(01:41:53):
the crowd, Jason, they silenced them. And I was so
proud of the boys, so proud of the way they
put it in. I mean, you know, you always ask
for a team to go out there and show character
and show strength of mind and body, and they did
all that. And I think anyone they planned the final,
it doesn't really matter who they played the final. It'd
be great if they come back to mant Smart Stadium.
But anyone they planned the final, I think they're going

(01:42:13):
to be looking out of their shoulders and saying, boy,
this Aukland team, We're going to have to really play
well to beat them because Auckland are tough. They are
a tough group with good character. No I was Lyric
proud last night.

Speaker 2 (01:42:26):
Good on your Derek, great summary mate. Nothing I can
add to that brilliant summary, and you're right there were
no bad players out there for Auckland FC last night.
Thanks for your call mate, two twenty seven it is.
We'll take a break, come back and flick our attention
across to the women's final, Wellington Phoenix up against Melbourne City.
But later on today six fifteen in fact New Zealand
time that kicks off at Amy Park. We'll preview that

(01:42:48):
for you still to come before three o'clock as well,
your chance to play a sporting chance with the tab
back in a.

Speaker 1 (01:42:53):
Second, all the trays, all the celebrations and all the calls.
Weekends Sport with Jason Vine live in Brisbane for the
NRL's Magic Round on your home of Sport news dogs.

Speaker 2 (01:43:06):
eNB Bang on two thirty on text, Jason, have you
been corrected yet for calling Melmanninger the King of Queensland? Well,
I mean maybe I was a little bit. Yeah, I
got a bit carried away because he was here and
I kind of, you know, felt like I wanted to
build him up. But he doesn't need building up, absolute king.
But yeah, of course the King of Queensland Rugby League
is Wally Lewis. Of course I even saw his statue

(01:43:26):
last night for the first time outside some corpse stadia.
But yes, I have been corrected a few times. I
still think you can call Melmanninger Queensland Rugby League royalty
for what he did in a Maroons jersey. But I
absolutely take your point and yes I have been corrected.
Thank you for the text. Massive day for women's football

(01:43:48):
in New Zealand. For the first time a New Zealand
team will play in the A League Women's Grand Final.
Anthony is in here.

Speaker 16 (01:43:57):
The crowd rise to that f feat doesn't have the
legs Brisbane defendant right to the very end, Caitlin Williams.
Is it history made for Wastington Phoenix They advanced to
an A League's Grand Final for.

Speaker 2 (01:44:13):
The very first time.

Speaker 5 (01:44:16):
The yellow fever celebrate party into a park.

Speaker 2 (01:44:21):
It's flotes up the next at the end There Wellington, Phoenix,
Melbourne City A League Women's Grand Finals six fifteen tonight,
New Zealand Time at Amy Park in Melbourne. Football Firms.
CJ bott led the team in their first seven matches
of the season before stepping away as she prepares for
the birth of her first child, but she's remained very

(01:44:42):
closely connected to the squad throughout this remarkable campaign and
is in Melbourne with the team as they chase a
first ever A League Grand Final win a first ever
A League title. C J boddles whether you've been in
Melbourne since Wednesday? I think, CJ, the day is finally here.
So how was the feeling in the playing group on

(01:45:02):
this special day.

Speaker 20 (01:45:05):
I think the girls a all really eager to get
out there.

Speaker 21 (01:45:07):
It's obviously been a few days of build up here
in Melbourne and a few good training days, but they're
ready to go and I'm really excited to be on
the sidelines and.

Speaker 1 (01:45:15):
Cheering them on.

Speaker 2 (01:45:16):
You were there in the early weeks of the season,
as I say, you led the team in the first
seven matches. Did you since then that the squad had
something special about.

Speaker 20 (01:45:25):
It that I knew we could do it. However, I
was I won't lie.

Speaker 21 (01:45:30):
With all the injuries we had and obviously me stepping aside,
and we went through a lot this season, there were
definitely a few times where I question that, but these
girls have proven time and time again that they can
come back from anything, really and seeing I would say
I started getting more hopeful towards towards the end of
the season when I started seeing these performances show up
and then suddenly I was like, Nah, we've got this.

Speaker 18 (01:45:51):
We can do it.

Speaker 2 (01:45:53):
So you can't influence the game directly. Now, I know
how passionate a player you are when you're out there.
How hard has it been watching from the stands and
not being on the pitch.

Speaker 20 (01:46:04):
Definitely had a taste of what it's like to be
a co coach. It's not nice. I definitely don't like it.

Speaker 21 (01:46:09):
I'm a football player because I like to play football,
so it's definitely been tough. But at the same time,
I've obviously had something that's been distracted me quite a
lot with this whole pregnancy thing, So it has it's
been a journey for sure.

Speaker 20 (01:46:22):
I haven't loved to be on the sidelines.

Speaker 21 (01:46:24):
But honestly, watching this team go from strength to strength
and overcoming all these obstacles that have been in our
way has been incredible and I'm so so proud of
these girls. That's definitely been what's put me through on
the sidelines.

Speaker 2 (01:46:35):
Good on you. Have you found ways to still lead
to still be an influence despite not being able to play.

Speaker 5 (01:46:43):
Yeah, I think so.

Speaker 21 (01:46:44):
It's definitely taken me a little while to kind of
see how I would be best used, I guess, but
I think it's all the little conversations in the changing
room and checking in on players and being on the
sidelines and training and being a positive influence on the
girls and being an honest opinion when they need it.
And then yeah, I like to get involved on game
day as well and give them a bit of a

(01:47:05):
rack up as well.

Speaker 2 (01:47:06):
You've played at World Cups, Olympic games, you know, over
fifty matches for the football Ferns. What advice have you
been sharing with some of the younger players about handling
a big occasion like this.

Speaker 21 (01:47:19):
Honestly, I think the thing with these girls is to
kind of ignore the external pressure and to just think
about it as a game. Of football, and this team
has played so so well the season when they've just
enjoyed it. They've enjoyed each other's company, they've enjoyed stringing
passes together and putting together something beautiful on game day.
So it's just reminding them of those moments and the
moments of success and realizing that it's not all because

(01:47:42):
of all these fans that are coming and all the
noise and stuff. It's just because of what they do
on the day, and they're perfectly capable of doing that
today as well.

Speaker 2 (01:47:51):
Mackenzie Barry's taken on that on field leadership role brilliantly.
How proud have you been watching the way she and
the senior group have driven this team in your on
field absence.

Speaker 20 (01:48:02):
She's done so well.

Speaker 21 (01:48:03):
She's done so well, and I think you can see
that well from what I've heard from day dot five
years ago. She was such a positive influence on this
team and has kind of always given a hundred percent
and I think she definitely leads by example first and foremost,
and that has not faulted one time this season. So
in that regard, she's done incredible and I think the
girls listen to her and she's just such a presence

(01:48:24):
and has so much experience in this team and does
it with so much passion because she just truly cares
about the success of this club. So yeah, she's been
remarkable to watch and I'm so proud of her.

Speaker 2 (01:48:33):
Coach, Bev Priestman. She's clearly had a massive impact in
her first season, CJ. What has she specifically brought that
has helped lift this group up to another level?

Speaker 21 (01:48:45):
It's hard to put into words what Bev's brought. She
brings obviously a lot of experience in high performance environments,
and I think that's something that is invaluable in this
league and probably well a lot of these other coaches
probably don't have that high performance experience like she does,
and so I think that's probably the first thing. But
I think she just has such an incredible way of

(01:49:05):
looking at this and well, what's in front of her,
I suppose, and adapting a game plan, adapting tactics around
who we have available in any one time. But I
said the other day in an interview, she's got no
ego and so she has no problems. She'll stress and
rip her hair out all week trying to put together
a killer game plan and then twenty minutes into a game,
if things aren't going to plan, she has absolutely no

(01:49:27):
problem changing it at the drop of a hat. And
I think that kind of foresight and that kind of
leadership does this team so well. And I think she's
also done really well with putting the right people around
her as well. We've got such great staff and they've
recruited so well in terms of players as well, that
she's yeah, just put together a winning formula.

Speaker 2 (01:49:45):
I suppose Melbourne City consistent all season of been the
benchmark in many ways, along with with Wellington. What gives
you confidence that the Phoenish can beat them this afternoon?

Speaker 21 (01:49:58):
I think, honestly, I'm taking confidence from the fact that
we haven't beaten them yet, and I think that it's
just a point to prove today.

Speaker 20 (01:50:05):
We're coming in as the the dogs.

Speaker 21 (01:50:07):
They're coming in to defend a lot of history and
a lot of wins that they've had obviously, and I
think I saw the other day that we haven't beaten
them in nine games, or they haven't lost in seven
or eight games or something like that. But I think
that just means we've they've got more to lose than
we do, and our girls are hungry and they're ready
to put them to shame.

Speaker 20 (01:50:25):
I suppose wait to watch it.

Speaker 2 (01:50:28):
Yeah, oh, same same, And the team has inspired so
many young players in New Zealand already. I mean, what
would it mean, you know, to cap this run by
bringing home the club's first piece of silverware and you know,
and blazing a trail which this team has over the
last five years.

Speaker 5 (01:50:45):
Yeah.

Speaker 21 (01:50:45):
I said to the girls the other day that growing
up as a Wellingtonian I didn't really have too many
female footballers to look up to, and I certainly didn't
have a female football team to look up to. And
to know that that's what these girls are to so
many young New Zealand girls and especially Wellingtonian girls, that
means the world to me and I think it means
the world to them as well. So if we can
bring home the trophy and just set a precedent and

(01:51:07):
blazer trail for women's football in New Zealand, then that's
job well done and I'll be incredibly proud and.

Speaker 2 (01:51:13):
Back to you. Finally, cej huge life moment coming up
off the field as well. So how special has it
been for you to still feel part of this team's
story at such an historic time, but also with very
exciting times to head for you and your family.

Speaker 20 (01:51:26):
It's been incredible.

Speaker 21 (01:51:27):
I think I didn't know how I would feel throughout
the season and whether or not it would kind of
feel like an injury being on the sidelines, but honestly hasn't.
It's been such an incredible journey for me and watching
my body change and seeing what I am capable of
doing while still being a part of the team and
knowing that I still have such a strong role in
the team.

Speaker 20 (01:51:45):
I'm really proud of myself.

Speaker 21 (01:51:46):
I'm proud of how my body is held up, and yeah,
bringing home that trophy today will just mean the world
to me.

Speaker 20 (01:51:53):
In the season and so mother.

Speaker 2 (01:51:56):
It would all sort of come together perfectly. Well all
eyes on Amy Park a bit later on today, ce J,
great to chat. All the best to you and the
team as you look to bring home that silverware. Thanks
so much, funny than QCJ for joining us. CJ bot
there out of the Wellington Phoenix camp. Won't be playing
a part on the field, having of course played the
first seven games before stepping away to prepare for the

(01:52:17):
birth of her first child. Very exciting, but she's been
a massive part of this team. I can tell you
that her influence is still significant within the playing group
and great that she's in Melbourne to help with the
final push to get this team across the line. We'll
get some more analysis with former football fern. Another one well, CJ.
Bot still is a football fern. A former football fern
Kirsty Yellop shortly also want to talk to her about

(01:52:39):
the arrival of Chelsea to play an Auckland FC women's
invitation and Elevan. Kirsty Yellup's going to be an assistant
coach for the Auckland team. But before we go any further,
we must play a sporting chance with the Tab. We
do this every Saturday afternoon with our good friends at
the Tab. We give you the opportunity to win a

(01:52:59):
one hundred and fifty dollars bonus bet to use at
the tab, and all you have to do is listen
to the options we give you, choose the one you like,
We'll place the bet and if it comes home, the
winnings minus the one fifty, of course, are all yours.
We give you a short and evens and a long option.
You choose the one you want, and it's as simple

(01:53:20):
as that really you have to be over eighteen. If
you are and would like to play, oh eight hundred
eighty ten eighty, we will take call a number.

Speaker 1 (01:53:28):
Five clave in Brisbane for the NRL's Magic Grounds Weekend
Sport with Jason Vine On your home of sport to
use dogs MB, It's time for a sporting chance thanks
to TB it is indeed Love.

Speaker 2 (01:53:44):
As part of the show, we give one hundred and
fifty dollars bonus bet to a lucky caller. They place
the bet on one about three options. If it comes in,
they take away the winnings.

Speaker 5 (01:53:52):
How are you Joe?

Speaker 22 (01:53:55):
Yeah, after name pliny.

Speaker 2 (01:53:56):
How are you very good?

Speaker 22 (01:53:57):
Joe brilliant?

Speaker 2 (01:54:00):
Where are you calling from, Joe?

Speaker 22 (01:54:03):
I'm calling just out of Rotoroa. I'm driving from Welling
back home to Tower on the today. So yeah, perfect opportunity.

Speaker 2 (01:54:10):
Good to have you on mate, Good to have your
hands three and having left Wellington. That's interesting because we've
got a couple of Wellington sort of based bets for you.
You understand how it works. I I'll give you three options,
you just have to choose one.

Speaker 7 (01:54:23):
Yeah, it sounds good, all right.

Speaker 2 (01:54:25):
Here's the short option. The A good day for Wellington
Special Super Rugby Blues Hurricanes Hurricanes to win the game.
It's paying a dollar fifty head to head, you would
win seventy five dollars, so that's Hurricanes to beat the
Blues seventy five dollars. That is your short option for evens.
The a very good day for Wellington Special A League

(01:54:48):
Women's Wellington Phoenix against Melbourne City to lift the trophy
in the Grand Final. So whether it takes ninety one
hundred and twenty minutes or penalties for the Phoenix to win,
it's paying two point fifty you would win two hundred
and twenty five. And the long option is the ridiculously
good day for Wellington even if you don't live in Wellington.

(01:55:09):
It's the NRL Magic Round. The three games today the
outsiders all to win, so the Tigers, the Cowboys and
the Eels all to win today. It's paying fifty one dollars.
You would win seven and a half grand So Canes
to beat the Blues, you'd win seventy five. Phoenix to

(01:55:29):
win the A League Women's Final you'd win two twenty five. Tigers,
Cowboys and Eels all to win. You would win seven thousand,
five hundred, Joe, what are you gonna go with? Oh?

Speaker 22 (01:55:43):
Look, I think the NRL one is really risky, especially
with that Seagles Tigers Gama thing. The Sea Eagles will
we'll we'll get to get over them on that one.
But I'm gonna go with the Evan Spiny. Yeah for
the Phoenix woman.

Speaker 2 (01:55:57):
Nice, nice, Joe. I think it's a good bet, mate,
And yeah, two hundred and twenty five dollars and a
bit of history as well. We will place the bet
for you, mate. You drive safe and he's going to
talk to you a little bit more in a moment,
just to make sure we've got all your details. But
we'll place the bet for you and certainly hope that
it comes home. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you.
If you get a result, the winnings to twenty five

(01:56:18):
will be all yours. Will do it again next week
thanks to our good friends at the Tab. If you're
keen for more action on sports and racing, join the
Tab and they'll match your first deposit up to fifty
dollars in bonus cash. So put in fifty and you'll
have one hundred dollars total to get your bet on
Teesncy supply R eighteen and please as always bet responsibly.

(01:56:41):
It's coming up thirteen away from three. Back to the football.
The CHELSEAFC women are coming to New Zealand. They'll play
in Auckland FC Women's Invitation in eleven Saturday August eighth
at Eden Park. Tickets from Ticketech. Kirsty Yellop Football Fern
Centurion is the assistant coach with Jenny Binden the head coach.
She joins us now, Kirsty, thanks for taking the time.

(01:57:03):
This feels really significant Chelsea coming here. This is a
hugely significant moment for the game here, isn't it.

Speaker 19 (01:57:11):
Yeah, thanks for having me, Pliny. I mean it's massive,
it's huge, right. This is one of the best teams
in the world, club teams in the world and some
of the best players in the world, So coming all
the way to New Zealand to have a one off
game is pretty amazing really, and what an amazing opportunity
for everyone, all the fans and footballers and boys and
girls to get out there and come and watch some

(01:57:32):
quality football.

Speaker 2 (01:57:33):
Was it a pretty easy yes for you when you
were asked to be involved as an assistant coach to
Jenny Bunden.

Speaker 19 (01:57:40):
Yeah, well, you know, I was looking to get back
into coaching sometime soon, but not quite ready with a
young family and Tamika is still playing professionally. So this
was alsome opportunity like a one off game quality team
coming down, like I said, one of the best in
the world, and then a chance for you know, local
talent and football firms and perhaps some other signings we

(01:58:02):
could get in to play one of their best teams
in the world.

Speaker 2 (01:58:06):
How are you going to go about selecting the side?
What's the process going to be for that?

Speaker 19 (01:58:11):
Yeah, you know, we're still working that out at the moment,
but obviously we'd like to have a lot of local
talent in the squad as well as you know, boost
them up with some high quality players, whether that be
you know, some football ferns in there and perhaps some
other internationals. Yeah, you'll just have to end see all right.

Speaker 2 (01:58:30):
I'll look forward to seeing it when you do get
them together. I presume you won't have them for very
long before the game. So what are the challenges going
to be of meshing them quickly for such a big occasion.

Speaker 19 (01:58:40):
Yeah, you know that there's definitely challenges with that. We
will probably only get like a twelve day lead in
maybe hopefully, and then it'll just be trying to get
into a game model and gain shape and making sure
everybody understands the style of football we're trying to play
and their roles and responsibilities within that. We won't really
have much time to work on other things, you know,

(01:59:01):
we just need to be ready to set up and
play and execute.

Speaker 2 (01:59:05):
And often if of course we're waiting patiently for the
inclusion of an Auckland f C side in the in
the A League women's competition, do you think a fix
You're like, this is going to help create a bit
of excitement and show people what's possible for the club
and the women's space.

Speaker 19 (01:59:18):
Yeah, I mean, I really hope.

Speaker 8 (01:59:19):
So.

Speaker 19 (01:59:19):
I think it's a great opportunity for Auckland FC to
you know, put on a showcase of what this women's
side could look like potentially and also for the you know,
the people, the fans, local players, everyone to see, you know,
what's possible and that this team is going to be
in the A League very soon and this is kind of,

(01:59:40):
you know, the first step in that and opportunity for
Auckland FC to put on a bit of a show
on what they're trying to achieve within the women's space.

Speaker 2 (01:59:48):
Yeah, look, just yet, it can't come quickly enough as
far as I'm concerned, So hopefully this will be a
little bit of a stepping stone towards that. Obviously we've
got the A League Women's Grand Final for this season
later on today Wellington Phoenix are there. I mean, how
significant is it to have a New Zealand team in
the A League Women's Grand Final for the first time.

Speaker 19 (02:00:05):
Oh, it's Hugemmi men or women's. It's massive. It's the
first time ever. And what Bev's managed to do with
the next down there and the squad this year, I
mean they've achieved so much already, you know, just to
make it to the Grand Fild final is huge, and
to finish in second place after being you know, down
the bottom of the table since its inception essentially, So

(02:00:25):
they're just really showing what New Zealand football is capable
of when you you know, have great talented local players
and add in some quality internationals into a side to
boost it up in that A League. I think they've
really shown what we are capable of and that we
can be one of the best teams in the A League.
And you know, next if we get another team, Auckland FC,

(02:00:47):
we could have two of the best teams in the
A League and that would be That'd be huge for
New Zealand football.

Speaker 2 (02:00:51):
Absolutely it would. So Melbourne City are going to be
favorites but later on today, but I'm not sure the
Phoenix are that far off the page. What has to
go right, really really right for Wellington to win this
one this afternoon.

Speaker 19 (02:01:04):
Yeah, I agree with you on that one. Think obviously
City are clearly the favorites, but going into this, you
know the next they can definitely win the game today.
I think they do need to execute their game plan
one hundred percent and I think they can't afford any
little mistakes at the back or you know, City are
going to capitalize on that and they're going to put

(02:01:25):
their chances away. So trying to minimize as many opportunities
that they give to City will set them up well.
And then obviously we need the next to be taking
their opportunities as well at the other end and putting
them away. I think you saw that against Brisbane in
the first game. They were bet off the pace in
that game they didn't execute the game plan very well

(02:01:46):
and Brisbane were able to win that game, but then
turn around down and put into a park and the
next finished their chances. You know, they took all of them,
They finished them, and they didn't really let raw get
much of a looking.

Speaker 2 (02:01:58):
BF priestman, who her influence has been undeniable, what have
you seen specifically in terms of the impact that she
has had on this playing.

Speaker 19 (02:02:07):
Yeah, I think she's done amazing to bring them together
and make them really unified. You know, they're a solid,
solid squad and they're pulling on every member of that
squad and she's been able to find the best in
each of those players and bring out the best in
them on the pitch and get them working together as
a team. And I think, you know, they're just doing
what they need to do to win games and to

(02:02:29):
get results. And yeah, I think she's done that really well.

Speaker 2 (02:02:33):
Wonderful I can hear. We know that they're vying for
our attention. So onlie you go, Kirsty looking forward to
looking forward to the final this afternoon and this game
between an Auckland FC Women's Invitational and Chelsea on the
eighth of August. Crater Chetti, thanks for taking the time.

Speaker 19 (02:02:46):
Yeah, thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (02:02:48):
Thanks for joining us. Kirsty Kirsty yell Up, their assistant
coach at the Auckland FC Women's Invitational eleven take on
Chelsea at Eden Park Saturday August the eighth. Tickets from
tick a Tech seven to three News Talk Sadbak.

Speaker 1 (02:02:59):
Live from Brisbane South Bank for the NRL's Magic Ground.
It's Weekend Sport with Jason Fine.

Speaker 2 (02:03:06):
News Talk sed B four to three, Back again, Tomorrow's
built towards Warriors Broncos to beverage after three huge things.
Dowena McDonald for producing What's Our exit song? Mate, Well
Piney Magic Round Queen's Land, A kind of magic Queen
love it said tomorrow, folks.

Speaker 10 (02:03:45):
I think.

Speaker 1 (02:03:52):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Full Show Podcast: 16 May 2026

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

All Episodes

Full Show Podcast: 16 May 2026

Joy 101 with Hoda Kotb