Full Show Podcast: 18 October 2025

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 News Talks EDB. It's the only place to discuss
the biggest sports issues on and afterfield.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's all on Wiser and Sport.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
With Jason Vane on your home of sport a used Talks.

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Hello, good afternoon, Cure. Welcome into the Saturday edition of
Weekend Sport on News Talks EDB for October eighteen. Happy
sixty ninth birthday to eighteen time tennis major winner Martina Navratilova.
Happy forty eighth to aar Whites legend Ryan Nelson. I'm
Jason Pine. The show is produced today by Isaiah Aberdingo.
We're here talking sport until three o'clock. How could a

(00:49):
Otago going? There's the siren, here's the crowd. Bet this
time the hasty and it's hitting the touch and Paul.

Speaker 4 (00:56):
William says, that's it.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Otago.

Speaker 5 (00:59):
That's through to their fast MPC Grand Final.

Speaker 3 (01:02):
They are loving it down there into the NPC final,
playing some apps, absolutely scintillating rugby in front of ever
growing crowds. The glory days coming back to the South.
Otago halfback Dylan Pledger has been turning plenty of hair
teas on the show this afternoon, king to hear from
you as well Otago fans on the side of yours

(01:23):
and whether you can go all the way and win
the NPC for the first time since nineteen ninety eight.
Speaking of Southern rugby men, Jamie Joseph will lead us
off today he selected his All Blacks fifteen squad for
the upcoming Northern Tour. He's head coach of course, of
the All Blacks fifteen this year and next. Now Dylan
Pledger isn't in that side, despite a bit of clamor

(01:44):
for him to be included. Going to find out why
and what the role of the All Blacks fifteen is.
Jamie Joseph with shortly came to know from you as well,
what the purpose of this team is, what you think
it should represent, what it is there to do. I've
got a few thoughts on that you might too. Also
want to talk about the Greatest Rivalry Tour confirmed yesterday

(02:05):
the All Blacks and Barking on a full tour of
South Africa next year for the first time in thirty years.
How excited are you about this? Other matters around today,
the silver Ferns have been outclassed sixty nine to fifty
two by the Australian Diamonds and the opening Constellation Cup
netball test in Melbourne, New Zealand only behind by four
at three quarter time but outscored twenty four to eleven

(02:28):
in the final quarter. Coach of at McCausland Jury on
the show after one o'clock to break it down for
us your reflections as well netball fans. So much noise
off the court at the moment. It was actually quite nice.
I thought to watch some netball on the court last night.
How is the internal dynamic going? How are they keeping
that outside noise? Awake of at mccauseland Jury after one.

(02:51):
The New A League men season underway this weekend. Both
Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix open their campaigns tonight. Got
a big football hour for you after two today. Auckland
FC away at Melbourne victory. Their coach Steve Corriker and
key defender Dan Hall are with us. Wellington FE next
all the way over in Perth to take on the glory.
Their coach John Calotaliano and goalkeeper Josh Olaway Emmy are

(03:13):
also along. Ossie correspondent Adam Peacock in his regular slot
around one forty five, and we're going to play a
sporting chance, giving you another chance to place a one
hundred and fifty dollars bonus bet from the tab and
collect the winnings if it comes in. But a live sport.
This afternoon the Meads Cup Final and the Heartland Championship
is on from five to past two. This is the

(03:35):
upper echelon of the Heartland Championship mid Canterbury against Thames
Valley in Ashburton from five past two. Just an appointment
too for you to make for this time tomorrow twenty
four hours from now, after the Midday News tomorrow, lou
Vincent is with us for an extended chat on his
black Caps career, including a century on Test Day bill

(03:58):
against Australia, being lured into match fixing, his life ban
from cricket, the relaxing of that ban, and his redemption
to the point now where he just wants to help
others and help them avoid falling into the same traps
that he did. Some incredible insight from lou Vincent tomorrow,
including what he was required to do as a spot fixer.

Speaker 6 (04:21):
It's topped so much about the winning and losing of
a game. It's about what's better on and segments of
the game and sessions of the game. So that was
certain certainly my role as the opening batsman's to score
ten to fifteen and get out. But the last game,
I think it's documented somewhere centaly in the court case
I was involved. It was, you know, when I was
supposed to get out, I accidentally Darreth kind of look
at to miss it get stumped. And I still say

(04:42):
to this day, I swear to God that ball hit
a big rock on the pitch and it spun into
the middle of my back and went over the Umbi's
head down to long On who stumbled the catch over
his head for six. So instead of getting out, I
hit a six. So I wasn't very good at spot fixing.

Speaker 3 (04:56):
Just a snippet of what you'll hear from lou Vincent
when he joins us after the mid day News tomorrow
on Weekend Sport. We would love you to join the show.
If you choose to do so, oh eight hundred and
eighty ten eighty, we'll get you through on the phone.
You can send your thoughts via text message to nine
two ninety two emails into Jason at NEWSTALKSEDB dot co
dot NZ just gone twelve past midday.

Speaker 7 (05:16):
Analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world
weekends for it with Jason ye n call Oh eight
hundred and eighty eighty news Talks EDB.

Speaker 3 (05:26):
Eight capped test players and a group of rising young
stars have been included in the thirty man All Blacks
fifteen squad for three games in Europe next month. They
will play the Barbarians in Brentford on Sunday November two,
New Zealand Time England A at Bath on Sunday November nine,
and then Uruguay at a venue to be confirmed on Sunday,

(05:48):
the sixteenth of November. All Blacks fifteen head coaches Jamie
Joseph who joins us now. Jamie, thanks for your time
this afternoon. Tell us about the process you went through.
How did you go about selecting your All Blacks fifteen squad.

Speaker 2 (06:03):
Well, let's the start of the APC.

Speaker 8 (06:05):
We had a big list of players that was given
to us from the All Black coats. They obviously here
you know, and get successfu plans around the All Black
team and then of the course of the n p
S when we as a coaching team started checking that
list plus others in the games within the in can see.

(06:26):
And then along the way we take on teaching up
and have them set around. You know, who's informed, who's injured,
that their original list to the to the final list.
I would say, you know, over half to teachers remained consistent.
So the key players in regard to the zem footing
and in what the all black coaches.

Speaker 2 (06:47):
See as you know, potential all Blacks.

Speaker 8 (06:48):
And then there's a group of guys that have signed
some form or some some Thomas that we have identified
in the un it's pretty much that we've made up
the team.

Speaker 3 (06:59):
When you're selecting younger guys with no international experience, Jamie,
what are you looking for to give you confidence that
they are ready and able to take that next step.

Speaker 9 (07:09):
There's a number of things I guess, and as coaches,
everyone values different things in a player.

Speaker 2 (07:15):
For me, really has to have the potential.

Speaker 9 (07:19):
Mentally and physically, and I can't identify what I see
as being integral at that level of the game.

Speaker 2 (07:26):
So you know, things like resilience.

Speaker 9 (07:28):
You know, it's more than having a work ethic, and
it needs to be more instinctive and they can't be coached.
So those kind of those kind of two attributes to
the sort of things that I have. And then you
have the technical technical things.

Speaker 8 (07:42):
You know that that players need to have the ability
to pick up things really quickly as a.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
Key one, but you don't know that to your coaching.

Speaker 8 (07:51):
And I guess the last one is that you're watching
maybe players since those players that really anticipate the.

Speaker 9 (07:55):
Game really well tend to tend to be the ones
that can improve quickly.

Speaker 2 (08:01):
In look, we've got a really sharp tour.

Speaker 9 (08:04):
We don't have a lot of time to come together,
so that balance is really key.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
At the other end of the scale, and you talk
about that balance, how important is it to have some
experienced all blacks in the side like David HARVILLI, like
Dalton Papaleti there in the squad as well.

Speaker 9 (08:18):
Yeah, it's you know, like we're going over there and
as soon as you put a black juice on expectations that
you win, that can that can be a realan center
for some players and some other players it's just a
border pressure. So every fellas that have been in those
situations multiple times is crucial and and I mean you've
met you mentioned a couple, but there's been a spec

(08:40):
of those boys in our team that have had had
some experience at this level. So that's the exciting part.
I guess as a coaching team.

Speaker 3 (08:47):
There's been a lot of clamor for Otago half back
Dylan Pledger. A lot of people thought he should have
been included in your squad. Can you just talk us
through the reasons why Dylan Pledger hasn't been included?

Speaker 4 (09:00):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (09:00):
I look, I look at I look at Dylan and go, well,
what a player quick?

Speaker 9 (09:05):
He's just when he's had his first NPC season, And
I guess if the conversation is just about Dylan and
his rateb and his opportunity, then he should be in
the team. But when when you put him alongside the
guys that were selecting who's competing with in Fuckatava, Preston
and Roe and then the boys from the All Blacks,

(09:26):
I think it's a it's a different context, you know.
And so he's got plenty of time, he's got a
whole career in front of him, and these other boys
have been playing very well as well, so it's just
it's just a tough competition in that position.

Speaker 3 (09:41):
Just picking up on Fatava, a guy you know well
of course from coaching him at super level at the Highlanders.
Does Fatava still have All Blacks ambitions despite now being
eligible eligible rather to play for Tonga.

Speaker 2 (09:55):
Oh? Absolutely.

Speaker 9 (09:56):
I haven't talked specifically to Flower recently about his ambitions,
but I know the boy well obviously, and there's no
doubt in my mind that he wants to play at
the top of the game for you know, one of
the bit of teams in the world. So All Blacks
as would be as priority for sure.

Speaker 3 (10:15):
It's a short, sharp tour, just a three games, So
how will you ensure everyone gets a decent opportunity on
this tour?

Speaker 9 (10:21):
Yeah, there's no guarantees said, like one man data is
to go out there, and you know, as we've sleeped
to the group of players that we think can go
over in a short amount of time and perform, there's
no man dad that everyone has to get a certain
amount of game time. I mean, we're talking about the
second best team in the country.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
But we're possible.

Speaker 9 (10:43):
And you mentioned earlier on around the potential four blocks
to drop down late in the week, and so those
are the kinds of those are the kinds of things
that we've got a juggle works as New Zealand fifteen coaches.

Speaker 3 (10:58):
You haven't named your captain yet. When will you do
that and how will you decide who your captain is?

Speaker 2 (11:05):
There's a few contenders.

Speaker 9 (11:06):
I think there's there's a couple of guys that are
that are keptaining their provincial sides and so they've got
you know, confidence that they can lead.

Speaker 2 (11:13):
I guess the big one is who's going to who's going.

Speaker 9 (11:16):
To play all the games and who's got the experience
to bring the team together quickly.

Speaker 2 (11:21):
Then there's a couple of guys that you mentioned earlier.

Speaker 9 (11:23):
On around around Dalton and David Avelli that have got
oodles of experience to be able to do that. I'm
also mindful a lot of those guys have come off
some pretty big years. You know, they generally if they're
leaders and super rugby teams or NPC size.

Speaker 2 (11:38):
Then.

Speaker 9 (11:40):
And then this tour might be one where they just
really focus on, you know, three big games of footy.
So I'll make that decision when I meet them. I
haven't met all those players. It's my first season back
last year, so and we're coming together next week, so
shortly after that, I'd say and.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
What about for you, Jamie in terms of being asked
to head coach the side for this year and again
next year? How easy are yes? Was that for you?

Speaker 2 (12:06):
I had to tell you a bit of thinking.

Speaker 9 (12:09):
Because I've got a I've got a big responsibility around,
you know, coaching the Highlanders and that's so and that's
a big job and so yeah, there wasn't It wasn't
a straightforward opportunity because I'd already committed to another team
and then this this tour now was you know, we
come back and we played and we were straight into
a pre season for the Highlanders, and unlike a lot

(12:32):
of the other clubs like the Chiefs and the Crusaders,
the Hurricanes and the Blues, we've only got two current
All Blacks, so we're those clubs are the majority of
their players on leave.

Speaker 2 (12:43):
My players all here and Dinheaton ready to go. So
that took a bit of time.

Speaker 9 (12:47):
I want to make sure that I can do the
job justice, I felt after a few talks with some
key people for me and my boss here at the
Hoighlanders as they were really supportive.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
So yeah, it wasn't straightforward all.

Speaker 3 (12:58):
Right, And just on the Highlanders turning heads everywhere. I
know it's the MPC side as opposed to the Super
Rugby side, but a lot of those Otago guys feed
into your Highlander's side. So has Otago's excellent NPC been
helpful to you as you plan twenty twenty six with
the Highlanders?

Speaker 2 (13:15):
Oh no, it's awesome.

Speaker 9 (13:16):
Yeah, I'm and Taga Man played for Tago, so Setholman's
the shield.

Speaker 2 (13:21):
Oh yeah, you get a lot of feel good you.

Speaker 9 (13:24):
Know from the younger players, like last year our team
was ever jag of twenty two. A lot of those players,
you know, the Tago boys and the Southland boys, and
so for them to get some to win some games,
you know, and get a smile on their face, and
to get confidence that what they're actually doing is paying
a bit of hearing a bit of fruit is it's
good for us in the long term.

Speaker 2 (13:45):
So no, it's a good thing to doain here, that's
for sure.

Speaker 3 (13:47):
Absolutely all right. Jamie, Hey, thanks for joining us, mate,
all the best on this All Blacks fifteen tour up North.
Appreciate you taking the time.

Speaker 2 (13:53):
No, awesome, Jason, thanks very much, No, thank.

Speaker 3 (13:55):
You, Jamie, Jamie Joseph. There All Blacks fifteen head coach,
not just this year but next year as well. Ken
you hear your thoughts on on the All Blacks fifteen
oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty, it feels to
me as though the purpose of the All Blacks fifteen
is threefold. One to expose some up and coming players
to international rugby, and that brief has certainly been fulfilled.

(14:19):
When you run your eye down this list, there are
a lot of guys who have had no international experience
or very limited international experience, maybe the likes of an
All Blacks fifteen in years gone by, but certainly not
All Blacks experience, so to expose them to some international
rugby and being inside an international environment. Number two to

(14:41):
be a source of cover if the All Blacks were
to suffer any injuries, having a thirty man squad in
the same part of the world would certainly be of
great advantage to Scott Robertson. If, in fact, one or
two of his players happen to succumb to injury, and
history tells us that that will happen, he can easily

(15:02):
dip into the pall of players in the All Blacks
fifteen to help boosters numbers. Even if it's just to
bring somebody in as wide a cover. And the third
one is to be a place and this is the
most intriguing to me, where guys in the All Black
squad can get some game minutes if needed. It would

(15:25):
not surprise me at all, not one little bit if
a couple of guys from the All Blacks drop into
the All Blacks fifteen to get some minutes. Guys who
have had limited opportunities within the All Blacks up until
now are in the All Black squad for the Northern
Tour and might still find themselves down the pecking order

(15:45):
a little bit, but it's important that they continue to
play rugby rather than just for the four weeks of
the Northern Tour just hold tackle bags or run as
the opposition. And the best example of this is Ruben Love.
We've heard a lot throughout the year from Scott robertson
how Ruben Love has been running the opposition in opposed training.

(16:09):
So he hasn't been in the match day twenty three
very often, but as the first five in the opponents,
he basically assumes the personality or assumes the playing style
of the first five from the team that the All
Blacks are up against. And that's all well and good,
and it's a very very valuable way, I'm sure of

(16:31):
developing yourself. But really, if they are all in on
Reuben Love as being a first five option for them,
should that occasion arise, then he has to play some
first five. He has to actually play some games in
that position, and it's just something that hasn't been possible
this year. Hasn't been possible. So it wouldn't surprise me

(16:55):
at all if Ruben Love drops into the All Blacks fifteen,
plays a game, one of their three games and then
maybe even starts the final Test of the year for
the All Blacks against Wales and Cardiff on the twenty
third of November, because it would be a big ask,
wouldn't it to throw him in there in that last Test?

(17:18):
Or be it against a pretty average Whales side, but
still a Test match without having had a decent run
at first five for somebody. So the All Blacks fifteen
I think serves that purpose as well. Others who haven't
got much of an opportunity this year for the All
Blacks may well be in the same boat. And is
there anyone who isn't there who you thought would be
oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. I totally get

(17:40):
the Dylan Pledger rationale that Jamie Joseph just outlined. He's
got a bit of skin in that game too, hasn't
he Because he is the Highlanders coach. It probably I'm
almost certain this hasn't come into his thinking, but it
does serve his purpose as Highland as coach to have
Dylan Pledger have a full Super Rugby pre season in

(18:01):
order to come out firing in February next year if
he goes away on this or Blacks fifteen tour. I
think all the players who do, they almost certainly have
to have a longer standdown. They won't join in pre
season until a bit later than the others. So yeah,
for Dylan pledgure he can obviously finish the season stronger
with Otago and then have a bit of a break

(18:22):
and then come back for a full Super Rugby preseason
in the clamor to get guys like him and Lucas
Casey is the other one sort of elevated relatively quickly.
We do have to remember they've never played Super Rugby,
these guys, so to jump from NPC into the All
Blacks fifteen is a bit of a stretch. Most of

(18:43):
the other guys in this All Blacks fifteen side. In fact,
I think all of them have played super rugby, so
maybe they just decided, you know what, it's not a
place where we elevate guys beyond where they're playing at
the moment. Eight one hundred and eighty ten eighty Any

(19:03):
thoughts on the All Blacks fifteen. The other thing I
wanted to talk about this hour is the is the
Greatest Rivalry Tour which was announced yesterday. More on that
in a sec. But lines are open to talk All
Blacks fifteen, guys who should be there, who aren't, and
the purpose of this team. I mean, is there interest
in it from you? I feel as though you know

(19:24):
the games are on the same day as the All
Blacks Tests. They are a nice little curtain razor each
time to the Island, Scotland and England Test matches. But
it feels to me like I say that the purpose
of the team is something other than just going up
there to win games of rugby. I want to win,
but there are other purposes that play here as well.
Twelve twenty seven it's open the lines A eight one
hundred and eighty ten eighty back with your calls after.

Speaker 1 (19:46):
This one grudge hold en Gage Weekend Sport with Jason
Pain and TJ.

Speaker 7 (19:53):
Gugner, Homes New.

Speaker 1 (19:54):
Zealand's host Trusted home Builder News Talks, a Baby News Talks.

Speaker 3 (19:57):
They'll be coming up twelve thirty spear line there. If
you want to jump a board, we'll go to the
lines at a moment of eight hundred and eighty ten eighty.
Couple of techs through talking about cam Miller from Dave Piney.
Whe Why is there not more talk about cam Miller?
A quiet achiever who runs the team around the paddock
with skill and thoughtful tactics. He's kicking with confidence. Shouldn't
he be the follower to body? I think cam Miller

(20:20):
has had a terrific NPC season, absolutely tremendous. I'm not
sure that there was a great clamor for him after
Super Rugby to be in the All Blacks, but what
he has done during the MPC season is showing just
what a quality player he is. His goalkicking and I
stand to be corrected here, but I think his goalkicking

(20:40):
stats are the best in the competition. And while that's
only a small part of it, it can be a
very big part of it. So yeah, cam Miller. There
was another another text here from Tony Findey, what about
cam Miller. Surely he should be in the All Blacks fifteen.
They've only named the two first fives, which is instructive
to me and probably lends itself to what I talked
about before with Ruben Love dropping down if need be,

(21:04):
Josh Jacob and Rivers Ray other two first fives in
the squad, and I think that's probably fair enough. Josh Jacob,
I think we all can agree as is probably the
next cab off the rank. If there was to be
somebody to move up into the All Blacks in a
first five role, I think Josh Jacob would be your man.
Revers Rayhannah had a terrific Super Rugby Final, didn't he

(21:26):
guiding the Crusaders to glory and has been solid for
a while now, so I think that is probably earned.
But yeah, cam Miller, Look, yeah, he's he's a guy
I'd like I say. I don't think many people were
talking about him pre NPC. Plenty of people are talking
about him now, including you, Phil. I know you're enjoying

(21:48):
watching Otago even though you're not really an Otago man.

Speaker 10 (21:53):
Yeah, it's a tricky one for me, poorly because I'm
a good boy from Southland. But so yeah, but living
in christ Churchs, you know, over living in christ Churchs
for probably thirty years or more now, so always enjoy
I do enjoy watching the Tago and I do like
it when they win.

Speaker 3 (22:10):
Yeah, I've been, I've been loving it. I've been, I've
been loving it. I think it's funny, isn't it. Phil.
You know, it's easy to it's easy to back a
team that, you know, they're almost a team that that
we remember fondly their old days, and we all want
them to, you know, to recapture that until they become
so good they start beating our sides. It's a bit

(22:31):
it's a bit different, but I think we can. I
think we can all enjoy what they're doing right now
because they are a terrific watch.

Speaker 10 (22:38):
Yes. Yeah, I watched the game last night and I
just thought it was a fantastic game. And and like
you were saying, with those Texas Cam Miller, I was
really impressed by him. And you know, I was thinking,
why isn't this guy in the all black mix and
because yea, as soon as he kicked that first goal
as well. It was straight down the middle, you know,
and I thought, oh, this guy is on straight away

(22:59):
with the kicking, and and he did. But yeah, I
think of him like I think of him like Tom
Christie for the for Canterbury and the Crusaders, just that
sort of like you said, the quiet achiever that goes
about and next thing you're thinking, gee, didn't he have
a great game by the end of it, you know
sort of thing. So yeah, I hope in the future

(23:21):
that he might be considered. And of course the other
two boys that I have no doubt are going to
end up all blacks as the half back and the
fella number seven, is it? I just forget their names
from from.

Speaker 3 (23:35):
From Otago Yah, yeah, yeah, Dylan, Yeah, Dylan Pledger and
Lucas Casey as yours your man at open side.

Speaker 10 (23:42):
Yeah, they were great. And watching that game last night too,
I did did take me back to the old house
of paying days, you know, in house Attained, and I
did think of those players ob Tine Randall and Josh
Crimefield when and Jeff Wilson when O Targo had that
that those golden periods. So Yeah, it was fantastic. Yeah,
I really looking forward to this game tonight and then

(24:04):
the final will be great, I think with MPC, but
I'm liking I like the idea of this All Black
fifteen team to I've done enough. I fully understand. It
was interesting listening to Jamie Joseph. I'd like to hear
that interview again, but I think it sounds like it's
going to be a feeder team to give guys a

(24:24):
chance and give them game time and stuff like that,
and I like that idea.

Speaker 3 (24:28):
You know, Yeah, I do too. I think, you know,
having having a team right there, I mean they're in
the same hemisphere at times. I think they're even in
the same the same country. Once the All Blacks get
to England, they'll be in the same country as as
the All Blacks fifteen, So it's an easy transition to
get players going in both directions, as I say, not

(24:49):
just in one direction, but in both directions. And look,
I also think that they probably I mean, being professional
rugby players, they want to win their games as well.
So yeah, I like you. I'm looking forward to seeing
how they go, and I like you are enjoying Otago.
I know you want your cannib team to win tonight,
Phil and set up a final in christ Church next weekend.

(25:10):
I know Otago, if that's what they have to do,
will have no fear coming up the road because as
we remember, they were the ones who took the shield
off Canterbury in christ Church not too long ago. Always
good to chat, Phil, Thanks mate, Hello Simon.

Speaker 11 (25:25):
Gooday, how are you going?

Speaker 3 (25:27):
Very good? Simon?

Speaker 11 (25:28):
Hey, it's not so much for me about about who
hasn't been selected. It's more about a few people that
have been that have been about confusing all year when
you've got a NYE in the future, and that's people
like Jacobson, Rico and Antonline of Brown who seemed to
be out of favor, getting old and still making the

(25:51):
All Black team versus maybe developing some young talent. And
I just don't really understand what this strategy is in
that regard.

Speaker 3 (26:01):
I think the strategy is conservatism, Simon, if I'm honest,
I think it's a conservatism that has been probably a
feature of Scott Robertson's time as All Blacks head coach,
even though he's blooded nineteen New guys. I think this
tour party is a demonstration of the conservatism that he

(26:22):
selects with. And I just wonder, mate, whether this might
be the last, the last time we see some of
the guys you've mentioned. Look, I just don't know what
the future is for a guy like Seva Reese. Is
he going to be at the next Rugby World Cup.
I'm not sure that he will be. Luke Jacobson perhaps
the same Anton Lennett Brown seems to have been overtaken

(26:43):
in terms of the midfield pecking order now. So while
while I like the fact that there's been some loyalty showing,
I just wonder whether from next year on, with a
Rugby World Cup looming, that if guys aren't going to
be at the World Cup, then they're not in the
All Blacks.

Speaker 12 (26:58):
Yeah yeah, And no disrespect to those kinds of great No, no,
not at all, not at all.

Speaker 11 (27:03):
But we've got a northern tour that's got Wales and Stufftland.
You know, that would be an ideal time to really
be to be planning some new players. But anyway, that
was just the only thing I wanted to say.

Speaker 3 (27:15):
Really, no, good on you, Simon, and I think you
to make a salient point. And I've heard a lot
of people talk about it as well, and the Conservatism
also brings with it just a bit of a sluggishness
when it comes to reaching and what seems like an
obvious solution. And the specific example of give the Year
is Leroy Carter. Leroy Carter was, in the eyes of

(27:38):
most people, one of the best two or three wingers
in Super rugby this year, really really good for the
Chiefs every time he played, added energy, enthusiasm, vigor, pace, power,
good on defense, all that stuff. And he wasn't selected
in the All Blacks initially for the French series, was
brought in his injury cover to go over to Argentina

(28:00):
and didn't actually have his All Black Staybut until they
got back and there was that deboot in that and
that abiration that was the lost to South Africa in Wellington,
he probably actually one of the guys who emerged with
any credit from that. But then he kept his place.

(28:20):
He played against Australia in both of those test matches
in Auckland and again in Perth and has made absolutely
every post winner. And we've got there, We've got to
the point where ow Leroy Carter is one of our
best wingers in the All Blacks. But it just took
a little bit of time to get here because other players,

(28:42):
the likes of Severa Reese, Riquo Jowane, who played a
lot on the wing in the early part of the season,
were kind of persevered with. And like I say, loyalty
is a very good trait, a very good trait for
a coach, because it gives confidence to players that they're
not just going to be put on the team and
at the first sniff of trouble dropped. I do like loyalty,

(29:02):
but the overplayed strength is the weakness, the overplaying of
loyalty as conservatism, and it prevents you're getting to the
place you should perhaps get to earlier. Leroy Carter's the
hot hand should have been playing before that first Test
against South Africa. Anyway, here we are, Simon, good to
chat to you, mate, Thanks for taking the time to call. Hey.

Speaker 13 (29:22):
Mark, Okay, how are you very good?

Speaker 14 (29:25):
Mark?

Speaker 3 (29:26):
How are you mate?

Speaker 14 (29:26):
I Mark, You'll be offter, You'll be off to that.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
Wonderful little stadium of yours tonight to watch your boys
against Hawks Bay.

Speaker 13 (29:34):
Can we buy twenty point.

Speaker 3 (29:37):
Twenty?

Speaker 12 (29:38):
Mark?

Speaker 3 (29:39):
Actually, you know, you know what they could win by
twenty You're right, they could they're a pretty good team
here they are.

Speaker 13 (29:44):
Are you one thing about the Black fifteen? Even hard
locked to be in that even holding the tackle tackle bags,
you know.

Speaker 3 (29:54):
You'd be good at that mark. I know you hold
a good tackle bag, mate, you'd be good at that.

Speaker 13 (29:58):
You know, because some dominant gardener and or then they'll
be fantastic and or black fifting, they'll even nixt time
dominic gardner and ah in number six for cany callaher,
he'll be They are just improven, improven improvement each week
for Cannery and by Crocky he'll be a good All

(30:20):
Black fifteen. I'm looking forward to actually plenty.

Speaker 3 (30:23):
I am too. I'm just having to look here at
the Canterbury players in there and given the fact I
know there are quite a few in the All Blacks,
but given the season they've had, actually there aren't that
many Canterbury players actually in the backs. There are Chaffey,
Huckey's there, Dallas McLeod, Bryden in or is there rom
and here Brodiy mckellister is there of course, So yeah,
there's a sprinkling of Canterbury players in there. Are as

(30:46):
we say, a number in the All Blacks as well,
but yeah, look, I think you know, like I said before,
and you might have heard me say this, I think
everybody outside of the Canterbury region would like Hawks Bay
to win tonight so that we can have an Otago
Hawks Bay Final and Dunedin. But it wouldn't be beyond
the realms of possibility. In fact, it's probably highly likely
Mark that we're going to be back on your patch

(31:06):
next Saturday.

Speaker 13 (31:08):
The Kenneby once. Will you be down here for the final?
You know You're much welcome.

Speaker 3 (31:12):
To Look, I know I'm always welcome there. I love
my time in christ Church. I'm not going to be
there for the Super Final next weekend. I've actually had
a weekend off oddly enough, Mark, which is terrible timing,
I know, with the NPC Final on. What I can
tell you, mate, is that we've been in negotiations to
get to christ Church for Super Round next year and
Super Rugby when all of those games get played at

(31:33):
your brand new stadium down there. So I intend to
be in and around christ Church for out three or
four days during Super Round next year, so hopefully we
can catch up.

Speaker 13 (31:42):
We will, Pony, Yeah, you going to Phoenix tonight, Piny
go to Phoenix.

Speaker 3 (31:46):
Indeed, Mark, I agree with you, mate, Yes, all the
way out west you what a big sporting weekend. It
is a man honestly, it is just couch time. Really.
If you wanted to, and if you were able to
and able to get rid of your other commitments, you
could just basically park up sort of late afternoon tonight
and just box through. There's so much going on on,

(32:07):
so much on Mark, always enjoyed chatting to you a
couple of texts before we move on. When who I
talk this All Blacks the greatest rivalry tour in a moment,
Jamie Joseph saying New Zealand fifteen is what we all
think it should be spoken of in that description. More
maybe when the media call them that it will change

(32:27):
the New Zealand rugby marketing brands. I'm quite sure what
you're getting at there, Scott. Like I know a lot
of people don't like the fact that the All Blacks
brand is attached to this All Blacks fifteen and it
is a marketing tool. As soon as you say all Blacks,
people get that. We all know that it's effectively the

(32:48):
next best team. Whether you call it New Zealand day,
whether you call it. You know, I don't know what
you call it. The All Blacks fifteen is what it's called.
It adds a bit of gravitas to what the team
is overseas, but in the eyes of some people and
I get this, it dilutes the All Blacks brand.

Speaker 15 (33:08):
Look.

Speaker 3 (33:08):
I think those guys going out there all were black
in the All Blacks fifteen will be absolutely determined to
make sure that they uphold that brand seventeen away from
one back in a moment on Weekend.

Speaker 7 (33:20):
Sport, You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (33:23):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekend Sport with Jason Pain and GJ. Guvnerholmes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder News Dogs there'd.

Speaker 3 (33:32):
Be fourteen to one couple of text to mop up
here from Aidenen darned and the best thing about the
All Blacks fifteen is that it'll add to the positional
depth razorers looking for the worst thing about the All
Blacks fifteen is that it will add to the positional
depth Rugby clubs around the world and through sixty are
looking for. This will add positional depth and show athlete
readiness for international rugby, but will also showcase our fringe

(33:55):
talent to the rugby market. Unless News zeal Rugby can
meaningfully look after the players in the squad, I expect
will lose several to hire bidders. Cynically, I see this
as part of the New Zealand Raby All Black brand
strategy to maximize revenue. Thank you, Aiden, always appreciate your
thoughts and from Red Hi there. I'm a raiser supporter
as I sit in the heart of Crusader country, but

(34:18):
didn't Jamie Joseph Oo's coach confidence with that calmness that
makes you feel he's got this. I agree read, I agree,
a very very capable coach and a top quality human.
Rugby's greatest rivalry and alternating tour between South Africa and
New Zealand has been confirmed and the tours made in. Yes,

(34:39):
South Africa will host New Zealand in August and September
twenty twenty six. The All Blacks will play the Stormers,
the Sharks, the Bulls and the Lions to complement a
four test series against the Springboks. Ellis Park, DHL Stadium
in Cape Town and FNB Stadium and Johannesburg will host
the first three tests. Before the fourth at a neutral venue.

(35:01):
Twenty twenty six marks thirty years since New Zealand's last
major tour of South Africa, where they claimed an historic
first ever Test Series win in the Republic. All Blacks
fans already checking their calendars and booking their leave to
go on this tour. Nick Roland is head of Commercial
for Sports, Travel and Hospitality Group, New Zealand Rugby's official
travel and hospitality partner. Nick, how much fan interest do

(35:24):
you expect there to be in this All Blacks tour
of South Africa next year?

Speaker 16 (35:27):
Put it this way, Piney, We've probably been waiting thirty
years for this, haven't we meet.

Speaker 3 (35:31):
It's a very good way of putting it, a very
good way of it. Yeah, we're definitely seeing a lot
of interest.

Speaker 16 (35:36):
I mean, the announcement today is obviously one thing, and
obviously we're hurry hurrying away at our trying to pull
some product together, but we've got massive interest already. We've
had interest even before this news came out today, because
there's been rumors swelling for a while. So yeah, to
say there's heaps of interest on the line, there definitely is.

Speaker 6 (35:54):
We've been waiting thirty years and we're excited about it.

Speaker 3 (35:56):
How attractive is the history element of South Africa and
the battles down the years long long ago, getting up
in the middle of the night and you know, in
some cases listening to these games on the radio. How
big is the history element when all Blacks fans plan
their overseas trips to support the team.

Speaker 2 (36:14):
Yeah, I think it's huge.

Speaker 13 (36:16):
From our end.

Speaker 16 (36:17):
We obviously we've traveled to South Africa a few times,
but if you look back over the years, the rivalry
that these two teams have, you know, they said it
in the video that they launched this morning with New
zeald Rugby and South Africa Rugby around, you know, they've.

Speaker 17 (36:30):
Changed the world.

Speaker 16 (36:31):
In some cases, it's not just it's more than sport
really so.

Speaker 2 (36:35):
And for Kiwi fans, you know.

Speaker 16 (36:36):
It's a kind of ultimate destination going to South Africa
and getting on to Fari and doing some of those
other things while you're over there and seeing the beautiful country.
But absolutely the history between these two teams and we
can still see it to day and age right like
it's one all this year and it continues to be
backwards and forwards battle every time they meet.

Speaker 3 (36:54):
So the team's going to be away for the best
part of six weeks. Will you kind of cut and
slice packages to suit those who can't be there the
whole time, Yeah, one hundred percent.

Speaker 16 (37:03):
Yeah, we'll obviously do the full remit of it wants
to go away. I think it's thirty two days in
total or thirty one days in total, so we'll obviously
do that. But yeah, absolutely, we'll have a whole bunch
of different cuts of what it looks like. Some people
might just go for the tests, some people might just
go for the you know, the regional game. So we'll
have a whole mix in place when we launch products.
And yeah, it's really exciting because you can not only

(37:24):
do the games, but while you're there, you might as
well check out some of the beautiful country that is
South Africa.

Speaker 3 (37:28):
Indeed, and with such a long tour for those who
do take up one of the longer options, do you
need to also keep people occupied if you like, between matches.

Speaker 16 (37:37):
Yeah, some people will choose to do their own thing, obviously.
I can imagine there's going to be a whole bunch
of South Africans from New Zealand wanting.

Speaker 2 (37:43):
To go over, et cetera.

Speaker 16 (37:45):
But you know, some people will do their own thing,
but we'll also be able to occupy them as well.
It's one of those countries where a lot of people
don't necessarily like traveling to by themselves, so going as
part of a big group gives that that safety net,
gives them the camaraderie with the other all Blacks fans.

Speaker 18 (37:58):
That will be there.

Speaker 9 (37:59):
So we'll we'll do a bit of both.

Speaker 16 (38:01):
But you'll see you'll see definitely that old school tour
coming to the fore here with so many great matches
and you know, it's really exciting for that long haul
stuff to be able to get into, you know, Safari's
Uptable Mountain over to Robin Island and you know see
everything in and around the spots that will go to.

Speaker 3 (38:18):
When do you expect the venue for the fourth Test
to be announced?

Speaker 2 (38:23):
I'm not sure really.

Speaker 16 (38:24):
It's one of those ones where I think that there's
talks of a few different venues.

Speaker 18 (38:29):
They're just trying to nail it completely down.

Speaker 2 (38:31):
It's it's interesting, right.

Speaker 16 (38:32):
Because it's a little bit like Chicago for the Northern
Tour or the Grand Slam this year.

Speaker 17 (38:37):
It's kind of those ones.

Speaker 16 (38:38):
Some people will just do that, or someone will carry on,
So it'll be interesting. I'm not sure when that comes out.
I can't imagine it'll be too far away. But yeah,
we're obviously looking forward to that as well and seeing
how many people will kind of kick onto that fourth
test after being in South Africa for so.

Speaker 3 (38:52):
Long, and have you been inundated with people offering their
services as tour guides?

Speaker 16 (38:58):
It is a few bad people wanting to be along.

Speaker 2 (39:01):
I think your producer actually fine, a.

Speaker 6 (39:02):
Hea, you know, mom, heaby to come and carry some bags.

Speaker 2 (39:05):
So you always get that with our tours.

Speaker 16 (39:08):
You know, it's exciting, it's an exciting business to be
and really but yeah, we will definitely if we want them,
I'm sure we'll be able to find them.

Speaker 3 (39:15):
I bet you will, all right, So just to recap, then,
when are you expecting to have or have you already
got some some packages and some options for people to
look at, or if you haven't, when might those be available?

Speaker 16 (39:26):
Yeah, we've got expression of interest running today so people
can register on our website, All Blacks Travel on hospitality
dot com. And we're expecting the next couple of weeks
to have our packages all lined out at least in
a basic details to be able to purchase, and then
you know, we'll kind of continue to refine as we
get closer, as we know more information about different things
that are happening over there. We'll obviously have opportunities for

(39:47):
people to buy into extra things and that sort of stuff,
but base packages we're expecting to be online in the
next couple of weeks.

Speaker 3 (39:53):
Good Man, Nick, thanks for updating us.

Speaker 9 (39:54):
Mate.

Speaker 3 (39:54):
It's an exciting tour ahead for those who take the opportunity.
Always appreciate your time on Weekend Sport Perfect. Thanks Bony No,
Thank you, Nick. Nick Roland, head of Commercial for Sports
Travel and Hospitality Group US, on the Rugby's official travel
hospitality partner, the Greatest Rivalry Tour to South Africa twenty
twenty six seven Away from One News Talk said.

Speaker 7 (40:13):
Me breaking down the hail Mary's and the epic fails
Weekend's fort with Jason nine News Talk zenby.

Speaker 3 (40:23):
Four to one News at one, and then we're back
of at McCausland jury coach of the Silver Ferns. Do
we still call her interim coach? I guess we do
until this whole thing has resolved. Anyway, Vet McCausland jury
joining us after the first Constellation Cup Test last night.
The Silver Fern's well and t really in that until
three quarter time, but then a fourth quarter which I'm
sure they'll review pretty closely, was the undoing of them

(40:46):
and they ended up losing by seventeen goals to the
Diamonds and Constellation Cup Test one. So at McCausland jury
after one on that Dylan Pleasure turning heads everywhere as
part of the Otago side that's made it all the
way through to the Bunnings ENDBC Final. He'll join us
as well Adam Peacock out of Australia too. Don't forget
after midday tomorrow. Louv vi Inctant is our guest.

Speaker 1 (41:08):
The only place for the big names, the big issues,
the big controversies and the big conversations kids all on
Weekend Sport with Jason Lame are your home of Sport
News Talks.

Speaker 19 (41:23):
It'd be.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
One owait, welcome in, Welcome back, this is weekend Sport
on News Talks. It'd be until three Big Football Hour
after two. The A League men season back underway this weekend.
A couple of games last night. Both Auckland FC and
Wellington Phoenix open their seasons away tonight nine thirty five
New Zealand time. It's Auckland f C at Melbourne Victory.

(41:45):
They played Amy Park from nine thirty five and then
eleven forty five tonight the Wellington Phoenix up against Perth
Glory over in Western Australia. So after two we'll get
inside both camps, both their head coaches Steve Corriker and
Jim Couloertaliano, and a couple of key players Dan Hall
out of Auckland FC and goalkeeper Josh all Away in
the out of Wellington Phoenix. That's all after two o'clock.

(42:09):
We'll keep eyes on live sport as well, including the
Heartland Championship and the Meads Cup Final which is underway
at around two o'clock this afternoon. Mid Canterbury hosting Thames Valley.
This game is at the Ashburton Showgrounds in Ashburton. Mid
Canterbury finishing top of the regular season table Thames Valley
getting past South Canterbury in the semi finals last weekends.

(42:34):
This was a crazy game, was it? Did you see
this score? South Canterbury thirty one Thames Valley sixty one
sixty one. But the crazy thing was South Canterbury were
ahead thirty one twenty four, two minutes into the second
half thirty one twenty four, So what's that? Thirty seven

(42:58):
unanswered points by Thames Valley away from home to get
their get their spot in the final this afternoon of
the Meets Cup where they take on Mid Canterbury. So yeah,
we'll keep eyes on that for you after two o'clock
when it kicks off. Your causing correspondence always welcome on
the show. I one hundred and eighty ten eighty is
our number nine two nine to two for your texts

(43:19):
emails to Jason at Newstalk SEDB dot co dot nz.
We kick off this hour with netball. A dominant final
quarter performance from Australia has seen the Silver Ferns go
down to the Diamonds in the opening Constellation Cup netball
test in Melbourne last night.

Speaker 5 (43:35):
Seventeen goals ahead, the final hooter goes Australia winn it.
Australia take first blood in Constellation Cup twenty twenty five
fifty two New Zealand sixty nine to the Diamonds.

Speaker 3 (43:50):
If you hadn't watched the game, you think, man, that's
a bit of a hiding, but really it was all
based on the fourth quarter. New Zealand were just two
behind at halftime, only four back at three quarter time
before Australia outscored them twenty four to eleven in the
fourth quarter. Coach of at McCaw's lingurias with us of
what happened in that fourth quarter.

Speaker 19 (44:10):
Oh gosh, I've watched it three times. It's painful, isn't it.
A lot of things I think, you know, partly that
ability just to really continue with our basics under pressure
and fatigue and look, I think Australia that need to
put us under pressure, but there are a lot of
things that we just lost control of our funds. And
that's seven losses, that seven goals to them plus their

(44:32):
own center pass and that's out of you know, completely
out at that point. So yeah, that fourth quarter was
really frustrating. There was lots of good pieces, of course,
but that's a huge blowout at the back end.

Speaker 18 (44:43):
So yeah, we're really disappointed with that.

Speaker 3 (44:45):
Is that something that is straightforward to address and put right?

Speaker 18 (44:51):
It has to be.

Speaker 19 (44:52):
You know, we've only got a couple of days, so
we've got to look really hard at ourselves in terms
of individuals and to be fair that the mini skill
sets that people can change really quickly.

Speaker 18 (45:03):
There's a you know, a drop.

Speaker 19 (45:04):
Ball or a choice by a shot or you know,
just simple things not doing the work to get you
free and into space.

Speaker 18 (45:11):
So it gets contested.

Speaker 19 (45:12):
So you look, all of it's flexible because the delivery
was clearly there in the first part. So they had
the skill set, they had the ability to do it,
but it's just maintaining that, you know, that pace under
pressure and that mental fatigue that can build as well.

Speaker 3 (45:29):
How encouraged were you by the first three quarters?

Speaker 19 (45:33):
Yeah, really encouraging. I mean it was you know, a
couple of people first time they've played Australia and others.
They were containing in terms of their own skill set.
They were really working on executing well. And I think
we had plenty of opportunity. Again first quarter, you know,
gave up a few you know, just poor execution, poor catch,

(45:53):
all those.

Speaker 18 (45:54):
Sorts of things. So again it's flexible.

Speaker 19 (45:56):
I mean sometimes you can play a game and you think,
oh my gosh.

Speaker 18 (45:59):
There was just you know, they're just too good.

Speaker 19 (46:02):
But I actually do believe we have the ability to
compete in We've just got a tidy up on those
really little fine.

Speaker 3 (46:09):
Skills Martina Salmon. She grew up in Australia. Of course
took the goal attack bib it was just her fourth test.
How did you evaluate her performance?

Speaker 10 (46:17):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (46:18):
Good, Look, I mean she always gets really disappointed in
the South, but I agree she hasn't had a huge
amount of time, not just at international level but even
at an said premiership level this year, and I think
she has that ability to take shots and take the
pressure off we needed. She's got the ability to get
good ball in space. So I think for me, you know,
we just keep working on her defensive game and making

(46:40):
sure that she keeps confident because she's got a lot to.

Speaker 3 (46:43):
Offer just on her as an attacking weapon. How important
is it that whoever plays in the shooting circle with
Grace wiki is themselves a scoring threat to help take
that pressure off Grace.

Speaker 18 (46:55):
Yeah, you're absolutely right. It's key.

Speaker 19 (46:57):
You've got to have that ability to certainly look for
that offload if it's available and have really quality pass
and I think she did that well. She used both
a short in and outgame and she played with length.
But as you say, it's really critical that pressure comes on.
If there's two defenders on Grace, you're confident to take
the shot, and I thought she was smart with how
she worked her way much closer to the post, even

(47:20):
though she's got range and she can shoot with range.

Speaker 18 (47:22):
I thought she made some good decisions with that.

Speaker 3 (47:25):
Interesting that you talked about Martinez defensive game as well,
and you know, as a goal attack, I guess we
just assume that they know they're an attacking player and
that's what do you need to see from your goal attack. Defensively, Yeah,
for us all, I guess we talk a lot about
you know, we're all defenders and we're all attackers, and
it's similarly, you know, the Gold offense and wing defence.

Speaker 19 (47:44):
We've got to have that ability to get ball down
courts so we're not pulling our mid caught up too high.
And similarly for our Gold attacks and wing attacks, we
need them to keep you know, those Goldies and Windy's
further out of the play otherwise that gives them six
attackers and we've only got four defenders left in the
front line. So it's here, it's just about everybody contributing
across across the match, that they're pressure on every catch,

(48:07):
that there's the ability for people to be put in
spaces that don't give them really good lines to the ball.
So yeah, look, it's important for all of us to
make sure we're contributing across the game.

Speaker 3 (48:18):
How's the internal dynamic in the team right now of.

Speaker 19 (48:21):
Ed Yeah, look, they are disappointed in particularly that last
quarter and the inability just to hold that tight, but
overall really good. They've certainly looked at it last night.
We're pretty clear about the things that you know, you
can control and change. And there's a little group up
that didn't have a huge amount of court time. They

(48:41):
are up training already and everywhere. Head to Sydney straight
after that. So moving on to the next job, learning fast,
making sure we're clear, And I think the great thing
that I've found is I've just stayed really connected no
matter what.

Speaker 18 (48:56):
But this is you know, things like this really continue
to test. Just so here we go again, looking forward
to the next one.

Speaker 3 (49:02):
Though, How have you managed to keep the outside noise
to a minimum?

Speaker 20 (49:07):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (49:07):
Look for me, and for me personally, I've never been
engaged in social media or anything, so I guess I
find that a little bit easier. But for the players
it's been you know, obviously a challenge to make sure
they put that aside it and that's the bit that
I've been.

Speaker 18 (49:22):
Most impressed with.

Speaker 19 (49:23):
We know how much they love phones and that ability
to engage. So it's been not easy, but I've been
impressed with the way they've just seen we've got a
performance or we're paid professionals.

Speaker 18 (49:36):
We need to be able to do our job. And actually,
in the end, people will always have.

Speaker 19 (49:40):
A view on all sorts of things, but you've just
got to be able to say, look, can I look
at myself and say I've done the best I can
and in parts yesterday yes, and in other parts no.
So we've got to just own the bits that we
can control.

Speaker 3 (49:53):
And I know you've spoken about this publicly, but have
you had to internally address what is going on outside
the team or are you have you simply come in
and said to yourself, I've got a netball team to coach.

Speaker 21 (50:05):
Yeah, pretty much.

Speaker 18 (50:06):
It's really been for me about Nippel.

Speaker 19 (50:08):
So the high performance development managers and others have done that,
and the players have done that, and they've.

Speaker 18 (50:14):
Really settled themselves.

Speaker 19 (50:16):
They've had conversations a couple of reasonably you know, strong
moments together in meetings where they're like, right, Okay, this
is where we're at. We all understand where we're at.
That's good, that's a sign post. But this is what
we've got to do next. And that's made it really
so much easier for me just to stay focused on
the performance piece. And I don't know all the other

(50:37):
bits that are going on and have chosen not to,
whether that be blind or otherwise, but just yeah, we've
literally got a job to do and it's hard en
us without everything.

Speaker 18 (50:47):
Else that goes on.

Speaker 19 (50:48):
So I've been really impressed with them and they have
stayed really connected and you can see moments so that
you can't play well without that. So that's the bit
they're disappointed and as they've just worked so hard to
get to this point, and yep, but it's in our control,
so we'll be ready to go again.

Speaker 3 (51:05):
Exactly the right approach it. Thanks for your time today
or the best as you had to test to look
forward to seeing your back here in New Zealand soon,
cop right number he thank you so much. Indeed, evtna
Vet mcauland jury there coach of the Silver Fans. I
think I presume we just called her that interim coach
may be more accurate. I'm not sure, but she is
in charge and can I just say I continue to

(51:26):
be very impressed with Avet McCausland jury. She has basically
rescued Netball New Zealand from a very tight spot in
the midst of this chaotic, ongoing off court stoush with
Dame Nolen Totor which doesn't seem to have a resolution insight.
Just quietly, Evt McCausland jury has stepped in and very

(51:50):
calmly just focused on the nepple, focused on the nipple.
It must still be a very challenging environment to oversee
because it's obvious that some players want Dame Nolen Todo
back and some players don't. That has become very of Grayson.
Wicki in the media this week even said she should

(52:11):
have chosen her words more carefully when she took the
mic after that South African series and said we want
you back, Dan Noling, we want you back. She's obviously
been given the message that she doesn't speak for the
team when she says that, but divided opinion doesn't have

(52:31):
to mean a divided team. It would be fanciful for
us to think that every player in every team gets
on that they all share the same views about that team,
about its leadership, about its coaching, about its playing style,
about every aspect of it. It's fantasy to assume that

(52:55):
every player and every team is completely aligned. It's the
same with workplaces as compared it to something that we
can relate to. We absolutely do not love all of
our workmates. I mean some people in workplaces may do.
There may be the odd one where everybody is completely aligned.
Everybody gets on You're all on one another's Christmas card list,

(53:17):
You're socialized with each other outside, and it is just
like one big family. But that would be the exception
to the rule. But we get on with it. We
get on with it. We don't have to love the
people we work alongside to be effective. Divided opinion doesn't
have to mean a divided team. And I'm almost certain

(53:39):
that's the message that Avet McCausland jury has very calmly
given this team. She is not a ranter or a raver.
She's a very calm composed netball coach who has found
herself in a situation that she couldn't possibly have foreseen.
There's no way coaching the silver Ferns and the tiny Jamison,
the Constellation Cup and the Northern tour was on Avet

(54:00):
McCausland Jury's bingo cart. At the start of this year,
no way in the world she'd moved away from it.
She was into the next part of her life. She's
in the education sector and deeply invested in that. But
as answered, the sos come in and I think done
all she could possibly do to smooth things over, not

(54:21):
to ignore them. I don't think anybody's ignoring what's gone
on here, but I think netball in New Zealand of
at McCausland jury a huge debt of gratitude for her
ability to come in and steady the ship and guide
them again on your views o. Eight hundred and eighty
ten eighty and on the netball itself, I did think

(54:44):
it was interesting that the game was decided in the
fourth quarter, where fatigue sets in, where we find out
how fit players are, because as we know Dan no
Leane was is a stickler for fitness. She wants her

(55:04):
players to be at a certain level. And the reason
she wants them to be at a certain level is
exactly what happened last night in the fourth quarter. You'd
gotta be you can't play for three quarters and expect
to beat the best team in the world, you have
to be able to play for the four quarters. You
must be fit enough to do that. I'm not telling
you anything you don't already know. This is not This
is not revelation or revelatory stuff from me. Dave No

(55:29):
Leean was always big on fitness, always and will always be.
One two. We can talk some NIPPA. What did you
see last night? I was impressed with Martina Salmon. I
thought she gave it a good crack. I thought she
took some pressure off Grace Wiki and was taking shots
from further out. I mean, it must be so tempting
when you've got a player like Grace Wiki in the
team to just give it to her every time. I

(55:51):
know that Silver Furns used to do that with Irene
Van Dyke when she was their their main threat in
the shooting circle. You just look for Irene Grace Wiki
the same. The temptation will be just to look for
her every time. But having my ten of Salmon there
and there are other options to Amelia Warmsley came on
last night and played the back end of that game.

(56:13):
You must be able to take the pressure off otherwise
it's an easy, easier defensive assignment for whoever you're playing against.
They just double mark Grace Wiki one twenty three news
talks there, but we can talk to Nipall eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty nine two nine to two for
your text messages. We're back in a moment. It's your
journey today with a GJ Gardner home. The team at

(56:34):
GJ Gardner Homes are great supporters of sport from grassroots
through to the main stage. With GJ Gardner, you're dealing
with a local team, meaning you get the best of
both worlds, the attention you'd expect from a local owner
and the reliability and support of a national group. As
a network of locally owned and operated family businesses, the
GJ team are proud to support their fellow New Zealanders

(56:56):
on all the courts, tracks, fields and pitchers around the country.
Since nineteen ninety seven, GJ have built over twenty thousand
homes in New Zealand. So if you're looking to build,
choose New Zealand's most trusted building team, GJ Gardner Holmes.
GJ Gardner proud to be New Zealand's most trusted home builder.
Head to dub dub dub dot Gjgardner dot co dot nz,

(57:18):
or call and talk to one of their experienced team.
On eight hundred and forty two forty five forty six
that website again dub dub dub dot Gjgardner dot co
dot nz.

Speaker 1 (57:28):
We sorced.

Speaker 3 (57:31):
It is weekends sport on news Talks there B one
twenty seven talking some netball. Hello, John, Hey mate.

Speaker 21 (57:38):
Yeah, I just I just wanted to say that I
was just quite glad that no Lean wasn't coaching last night,
just because for the fact that if she was then
they lost like that, they would have said that, you know,
it was because of her that the girls have, you know,
lost because they were quite dominantly in South Africa. So yeah,
it was you know, I think it was quite good

(58:00):
for them to kind of see it like that.

Speaker 3 (58:02):
Yeah, I know what you're saying, John, I know what
you're saying, mate. Yeah, that she'd come back in and
I think I think most of us, and I'm sure
you agree, would would would know that Australia are a
much tougher proposition. But I get what you're saying. Made
I get what you're saying. She would have been in
a bit of a no win situation, had she come
back in and overseen a loss of that magnitude, would
they have lost by that many with Dame Noll in there.

(58:24):
I don't know the answer, but I get what you're saying.

Speaker 21 (58:26):
Yeah, but that's the thing. It's just like, regardless of
whether of how it swings, if she came in and
would have just been I lose lose on her. So yeah,
I think that's quite good. But hey, give the girls
another game, you know, give the girls another cook at it.
And you know this was just a one off, so
maybe they'll they'll come back on the second one.

Speaker 3 (58:45):
So we'll see the good man, John, Yeah, no, good point,
well made. And look, I think we all want the
team to win. There's no one out here wanting this
team to lose. We all want them to win. And
I was she just I just really enjoyed watching some
nipple goodness be This off field stuff has been but tiring,
hasn't it. Finally we got some some nipple to watch,
some nipple to analyze, and we land on that fourth

(59:07):
quarter because they were were off the pace in the
in the final quarter. If it mcauseland jury admitted it
mistakes under pressure we fatigued, So it's a work on
for the next one, Lily, Hello, Yeah, Hi, I'm.

Speaker 22 (59:21):
Just saying that the time they played, I mean it
was past their bed times, past mine as well. And
he went over there two days ago.

Speaker 2 (59:29):
That's right.

Speaker 3 (59:30):
At least they don't have to go to Perth, Lily,
that would have been worse. But I mean the.

Speaker 22 (59:34):
Obsies tend to do that, don't they. But I mean
in Sydney they probably play a better game because the
adjustice to the time difference, you know.

Speaker 3 (59:41):
Good point, good point.

Speaker 15 (59:42):
What about the fourth quarter?

Speaker 3 (59:43):
What about their fourth quarter?

Speaker 21 (59:44):
Though?

Speaker 3 (59:44):
Were you a bit concerned in the fourth quarter?

Speaker 22 (59:47):
Ah, year, I was, But I mean they actually made
their own mistakes. Yeah, they were out played, They threw
the ball away, they made their own mistakes.

Speaker 3 (59:58):
And I guess in that Regardlely, then if they can
stop doing that, then they should improve in the second test,
shouldn't they?

Speaker 22 (01:00:06):
Absolutely? And I think I think we've got to look
at the players that weren't available with Dame, you know,
with a team, so there was about five of them
that weren't available, So I mean I think those were
the ones that probably complained.

Speaker 3 (01:00:23):
Yeah, we don't know that Lili, we don't know who
who has made the complaints, and it's probably a little
but you know, I'm not sure it's that valuable to
assume anything in the absence of absolute knowledge. But I
know what you're saying, and I know a lot of
things have been said about you know, about who said what.
We'll take some more calls on the NEBUL eight hundred

(01:00:44):
and eighty ten eighty if you text through here Jason.
The silver firm's conceded sixteen points in the last quarter,
clearly indicating a lack of fitness. Do you need any
more proof they do not meet the fitness requirements that
Dame Noleine required. Look, Terry, thanks for your text. I
don't know that a player will stop trying to reach

(01:01:08):
fitness targets just because their coach isn't there to drive
them anymore. Maybe that is naive. Maybe I don't know.
Maybe there are players in the team who who do
need to have a hard task master driving them on.

Speaker 13 (01:01:23):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:01:24):
Maybe they do, but I'm not sure that a player's
personal and professional pride would stop them from wanting to
be as fit as they possibly could. Dame Noline says
this text from ra would have been totally annoyed at
the lack of fitness coming home to roost in the
fourth quarter, lack of oxygen going to the brain leading

(01:01:46):
to inexcusable mistakes and handling errors. Hello Heather, oh.

Speaker 23 (01:01:53):
Gosh, that was fast. Hello, I'm speaking with Jason am
I you are right. There's a lot of things I
could say, as I guess many people who don't ring
as well. But I do wish to remind people that
it is not a great big deal that we perhaps

(01:02:15):
lost this first game by seventeen goals, and I wish
to remind people of the following one. In the Commonwealth
Games we were third with under the tutelage of Nolentura,
we were third the most recent Commonwealth Games. Then in

(01:02:40):
the World Cup, which was in twenty twenty three, just
two years ago, we didn't even make the podium again
under the tutelage of Noline. Now, I wish not to
cast suspersions dispersions on her at all. I simply wish

(01:03:02):
to remind the netball people who bring in constantly that
in fact she's not the biggory that everyone is saying
she is. Nobody is in any sport and that the
failure is huge. Failure at the World Cup in twenty

(01:03:22):
twenty three is the first time in the history of
the game, our game here in New Zealand and the
World Cup that we have not been on the podium.
So that's what I'm bringing to the conversation. Just for
people to chew over things a bit and maybe just
a little bit of perspective will go a long way.

Speaker 3 (01:03:44):
Yeah, it's a very interesting point you make, And I
wonder whether if there was concern about Dame Nolene's performance
as a head coach of the Silver Ferns, why she
wasn't subjected to some performance management in that case, Why
did it take for this other outside stuff to come

(01:04:07):
to the fore for her to be taken out of there.
I guess what I'm saying is Neckborn, New Zealand back
to her as their head coach.

Speaker 23 (01:04:16):
Yeah, well I don't know that either, Jason, neither do you.
And you know I'm not one for conjecture, especially under
the circumstances where in fact we don't know, and where
in fact I have had respect for her and I
certainly have respect for the players, and to put one
side down against the other when people don't know. I

(01:04:38):
have found really, really, really frustrating. So that's all I
wanted to say on this point. With respect to everybody.

Speaker 3 (01:04:48):
Heather, thank you so much for calling no, and great
respect to you for calling. I think we can all
agree on that final point. It has been deeply frustrating
watching this all play out. I appreciate you taking the
time to call us, Heather, thank you for all your
calls and correspondence. Twenty six to two. Let's shift across
to RUGB. The Otago have stormed into the NPC Final

(01:05:10):
an emphatic forty one at seventeen win over Bay of
Plenty in their semi final last night in Dunedin. Otago
head twenty one twelve at the break and then overwhelm
the Steamers with a seventeen point surge to assert their dominance.
So I'm the advantage.

Speaker 2 (01:05:23):
I ain't fifteen out.

Speaker 3 (01:05:24):
Pleasure try to breach the defense.

Speaker 5 (01:05:26):
Bill A steps inside, Won steps inside two bag and tripe.

Speaker 4 (01:05:28):
Pleasure to try.

Speaker 5 (01:05:30):
Dylan Preacher scauses height to try this year there was
a mistackling there.

Speaker 3 (01:05:34):
Pleasure touches down and between the uprights. Otago extend their
halftime lead. So Otaga will play the winner of tonight's
second semi between Canterbury and Hawks Bay. Otago half back
Dylan Pledger is with us. Dylan, thanks for your time
and congratulations on another superb performance last night from you
and the Otago team. How much fun is it playing
for Otaga right now?

Speaker 2 (01:05:54):
Now? I'm loving it every weekend.

Speaker 24 (01:05:56):
It's just getting better and yeah, the boys are firing
at the moment, which is good to see it, and
you're just loving every moment of it.

Speaker 3 (01:06:03):
What has been going so well for you as a
team this season? What are the foundations of this this
excellent campaign that you've had.

Speaker 24 (01:06:10):
I think we've just trusted our just trusted our game,
tended our coaches have given us and I think that's
you know, we've reaped the rewards from that, and as
you can see, the results are going our way, which
is cool to see.

Speaker 3 (01:06:22):
I think when people were coming up with their NPC
favorites before the season started, not too many I'm sure
would have had Otago in their in their conversations. Did
you know though pre season that you were going to
be a pretty decent side?

Speaker 24 (01:06:34):
Yeah, well, I guess we've had We've had a tough
couple of years but we've had returning boys from the
last couple of seasons and I think it's really helped
when you build connections and stuff and just know that
we had us to hopefully go the whole way.

Speaker 3 (01:06:49):
A lot of you weren't even born the last time
Otago won the NPC back in nineteen ninety eight. Are
you all aware though, of the proud provincial rugby history
and you're part of the country.

Speaker 23 (01:07:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 24 (01:07:01):
Now I'm definitely talking about it lots and about just
playing for our region and we know that it's been
a long time since since the last final and I
think it's pretty special special to get him there and
you have a chance at winning the title.

Speaker 3 (01:07:17):
Another really good crowd there last night looked awesome on TV.
How's the energy under that roof on nights like last night?

Speaker 24 (01:07:25):
No, it's unreal. I think last night was pretty special
in front of a tapped out for syd And yeah,
they really helped us get over the line at the
U meal, which was cool to see.

Speaker 3 (01:07:36):
So this is your debut NPC season. Of course you've
got Christian Leo Willy there at number eight, pretty handy
first five and Cam Miller outside you how much help
have those guys in particular been to you as you
navigate your first MPC season.

Speaker 24 (01:07:50):
No, those two are very good players, and I think
they just yeah, it's pretty easy for me to do
my job. And I've got Christians and came outside me
just calling a shot, so that yeah, helps me just
play my game, which is yeah, pretty easy.

Speaker 3 (01:08:06):
Dylan, can you tell us a bit about your rugby journey?
Where did you grow up? Ma, where'd you go to school?

Speaker 24 (01:08:10):
I went to school at came to high school in
Doneda and yeah, just been in Dneda since I was
a dun kid and played all my footy and yeah, school,
done all my schooling in Doneda and come out of
school now I'm playing for Kite.

Speaker 3 (01:08:25):
Have you always been a halfback?

Speaker 24 (01:08:27):
Yeah, I played but a ten and fallback throughout throughout
the schooling grades. But yeah, kind of settled into the
nine position in about year twelve.

Speaker 3 (01:08:39):
And has rugby been an ambition in terms of playing
it at the elite level for a while. Is it
something that you have, you know, have thought about since
you were you know, I guess since you first started
running around.

Speaker 2 (01:08:52):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 24 (01:08:53):
I think by the age of two I was just
holding your rug people, and that's all I wanted to
do and loved it. And I think mom and dad
probably got sick of me. But I guess it's working
out now, which is cool.

Speaker 3 (01:09:04):
I think you played a bit of touch growing up
as well. Did you have those skills kind of been
helpful and things like, you know, sniping from the base
and stuff like that.

Speaker 4 (01:09:12):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 24 (01:09:13):
I think Township Kings really helped my game and rugby wise.
I think, yeah, we had a good team at Kings
and that helped me.

Speaker 7 (01:09:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 24 (01:09:21):
I guess what you're saying, pick the ball around, the
reaction stuff, which is what I try to do and
add into my rugby game as well.

Speaker 3 (01:09:28):
Did you feel ready for MPC at the start of
the season did you do you think, yep, this is
my time, I'm ready for this next step.

Speaker 7 (01:09:34):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:09:35):
I think.

Speaker 24 (01:09:37):
That the New Land twenties campaign definitely helped coming into
m PC. It's probably the closest thing to the NPC,
and I think, yeah, a good good twentieth them really
helped coming into the NPC season.

Speaker 3 (01:09:51):
I'm sure this hasn't escaped your attention, mate. There's a
lot of hype around about you right now. How are
you staying grounded.

Speaker 24 (01:10:00):
I kind of try to block that out and just yeah,
I just stick to my people and I'm just focused
on Target at the moment. And you haven't really thought
of anything else other than that.

Speaker 3 (01:10:10):
Can you block it out? I mean, you're you're I
mean you're a twenty year old young man. I know
social media is a big part of what everyone's about
it at your age, you can you block it out?

Speaker 22 (01:10:21):
Yeah?

Speaker 24 (01:10:22):
I've found raised to keep my mind off it and
not really focus on it. I'm just looking forward to
finishing the season with a target and then yeah, just
to break from footy after that.

Speaker 3 (01:10:33):
We had Jamie Joseph on the show earlier today. He
took us through the rationale of not picking you for
the All Blacks fifteen tour. Were you okay with that decision?

Speaker 2 (01:10:43):
Yeah, I'm happy.

Speaker 24 (01:10:44):
I wasn't expecting a call or anything. I think I've
got a quality n three quality nines in there, and yeah,
I guess maybe in a couple of years. That's that's
the goal. That just kind of taking it one set
at a time.

Speaker 18 (01:10:56):
At the moment, you.

Speaker 3 (01:10:57):
Look around the country and there's some pretty decent nines
running around yourself included obviously, and there's six that have
been chosen for the All Blacks, and there's All Blacks
fifteen squad that's about to head away. You must feel
as though you're part of a pretty pretty decent bunch
of halfbacks running around right now.

Speaker 13 (01:11:14):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:11:14):
No, it's good.

Speaker 2 (01:11:15):
It's cool to see.

Speaker 24 (01:11:18):
Good quality nines going around the country. And I think
it's just adds to the competition, I guess, and how
I want to play my game.

Speaker 3 (01:11:25):
We's often hurly. Come on last night I got to
try and then I saw him limp off. Is he okay?

Speaker 23 (01:11:29):
Yeah?

Speaker 24 (01:11:29):
I haven't heard very much, but I think you'd be sweet.
He's walking around and hopefully all the.

Speaker 3 (01:11:35):
News for some So I guess you just sit back
now and cheer for Hawk's Bay tonight. Do you so
you can host the final next week?

Speaker 24 (01:11:41):
Yeah, it'd be pretty unreal to have a home home
final under the stadium with another picked out crowd. It'd
be cool to see that. Whatever way that game goes,
I guess the boys have to prepare him, prepare.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
For whim and they talk about earning another Monday, which
you guys have obviously done with you with your win
last night. What do you think the weak ahead will
look like. Do you get the feeling that you'll try
as a playing group and think the coaches will encourage
you just to treat it like another week, or will
you actually embrace the fact that there's a massive game
at the end of it.

Speaker 24 (01:12:13):
Yeah, definitely, I think it'll be much the same as
any other week.

Speaker 18 (01:12:17):
I don't think we have to look at it two deep.

Speaker 24 (01:12:19):
It's obviously a big game, but if we trust ch
our game plan, I think we can get it done.

Speaker 3 (01:12:25):
He's starting to get recognized around the streets of Dunedin.

Speaker 25 (01:12:27):
Now No, not yet.

Speaker 3 (01:12:31):
No, you'd be very modest, mate, and I think there's
probably a hallmark of the way you're playing. Hey, Dylan,
congrats on last night. Another great performance from you and
the Otago boys. I actually, I think anyone outside Christy
which hopes that Hawks Bay win tonight so you guys
can host the final. But we'll see how it goes.
Thanks for taking the time for a chat. Thanks very much,
Thank you for joining us, Dylan Nego. Dylan Pledger, one
of the rising stars of New Zealand rugby pleasure has

(01:12:53):
Aaron Smith energy says this text. I can see him
in black for the twenty twenty seven Rugby World Cup. Yeah,
who knows that? Who knows? Second semi final tonight, Canterbury
against Hawks Bay seven to fifteen. Full commentary on Old
Sport and iHeartRadio eighteen away from two. Let's take a break, comeback.
You're across the Tasman with Adam Peacock.

Speaker 1 (01:13:12):
The Voice of Sport on your Home of Sport, Weekend
Sport with Jason Vain and GJ. Gunner, Homes, New Zealand's
most trusted home builder, News Talks.

Speaker 3 (01:13:24):
And Peacock with us. Big day at Randwick today, Adam
the everest set to jump around the four fifteen your time?

Speaker 25 (01:13:32):
Yeah, huge.

Speaker 12 (01:13:33):
It's quickly become the biggest day in Sydney racing and
it's vuying I think with Melbourne Cup for the biggest
day in racing full stop in Australia.

Speaker 2 (01:13:43):
It's mattally fifty.

Speaker 12 (01:13:44):
Thousand people at Randwick and they've got it right this
year because they've got the international influence. They've got the
best horse in Hong Kong who actually is a Kiwi.
It was brought out of New Zealand, Carying Rising. He's
the dominant favorite in a twenty million dollar Ossie Everest.
It's quite extraordinary when you say that sentence. But yeah,

(01:14:04):
which means that all upon will be watching as well,
and for betting, that means that pools are juiced up.
But in terms of the talk this, well, yeah, it's
been all about the Everest, which is Melbourne Cup.

Speaker 3 (01:14:16):
Like really, yeah, absolutely brilliant. I watering money. As you say,
when you say it, you got to say it quickly
otherwise it doesn't seem real, does it. But yeah, looking
forward to seeing what happens with Keyward connections. There other
metters around today, one of your all time great swimmers,
four time Olympic gold medalist, nine time World Championship middleist,
including four golds there as well, ari An Titmas, has

(01:14:36):
announced her retirement. What's her legacy?

Speaker 12 (01:14:39):
Yeah, it's just a fabulous swimmer and a really down
to worth human being obviously, but it's probably more important
in terms of what she did at the Games and
taking on Katie Ladecki, the great American swimmer. Some of
those battles at World Championship and Olympic Games level with
phenomenal and won't be forgotten soon. But yeah, she's only

(01:14:59):
in her mid twenties. But I guess she's after Paris
last year she decided, oh you know what, I'll have
a bit of a break and see where I'm at.
And then twelve months on, I think she's realized that
there's more to life than getting up at three thirty
in the morning and going looking at a black line
the whole time, so at the bottom of a pool.
So yeah, unreal legacy. She'll obviously transition into some kind

(01:15:22):
of public speaking and media role, a lot to offer
everything around tipness and yeah, it's a shame that she
goes and won't be around for LA But no real shock.

Speaker 3 (01:15:33):
I guess it's so funny, isn't she Watually twenty five,
she's done so much. I mean that's the swimming nature
of swimming, isn't it that they start so young, they
achieve so much, and then they've got a whole heap
of life left to do to do what they want with.
I'm not surprised she's decided to do something different.

Speaker 12 (01:15:48):
Yeah, and it is so physically taxic and mentally.

Speaker 17 (01:15:51):
As well, just the grind.

Speaker 12 (01:15:53):
There's no quick way to becoming an elite Olympic swimmer,
especially over the distances that she was swimming two hundred,
four hundred, four hundred probably a specialty.

Speaker 18 (01:16:03):
That's a lot of work.

Speaker 2 (01:16:04):
So yeah, she's.

Speaker 12 (01:16:06):
Decided that that's probably enough, thanks very much, and going
to something else with my life.

Speaker 3 (01:16:10):
We're about a month away from the Ashes getting underway.
The first Test starts on the twenty first and November
across in Perth. Stuart Broad has stoked the flames by
saying that he thinks this is the worst Australian team
in about a decade and a half. And imagine those
comments have gone down fairly well over there.

Speaker 12 (01:16:28):
Yeah, it's like you could see where he's coming from.
But I mean that's probably more a point at England
who haven't been able to win an Ashes in that
period where they've been so yeah, it's that they have
They've got near us on English soil, but on Australian Saul,

(01:16:49):
I've got nowhere near us in the last couple of occasions,
in particular what happened here four years ago. Look, it's
going to be an unreal series because it's really hard
to define exactly what's what Because England have got a
great batting line up, their bowling stocks are good, but
if they lose their too quick in Archer and Wood
that it looks pretty exposed, whereas our bowling stocks was

(01:17:10):
looking good before Pat complained about his back. So we're
still wedding on that. Pat come as our captain now
batting lineup, we're still jocking around. Look this week Manus
Lavashane scored another centur in Sheffield Shields, so I reckon
Marnus is definitely going to be in that top six
for Australia. Don't know exactly what spot, so that's good.
But Cameron Green has gone down with a side strain,
our big all rounder who you know from over there
from his center in New Zealand. So yeah, plenty of

(01:17:33):
plenty of questions, plenty of talking points, plenty of accusations
to come before the whole thing starts in about a
month's time in Perth.

Speaker 3 (01:17:39):
Absolutely, and speaking of getting started, the A League is
underway the A League Men's competition a couple of games
last night, Adelaide United beating SYDNEYFC two one in the
opening match. I think who forked Talay former Wellington Phoenix
coach of course and Sydney f C coach for the
last few seasons. I think he was under pressure anyway.
This won't help, will it.

Speaker 11 (01:17:57):
No?

Speaker 12 (01:17:57):
No, under big pressure and you can see Sydney's weird.
They've got some kids coming through. They've probably got on
this scene pretty well. They've probably got the best academy
in Sydney in terms of playing stocks with this youngster's
coming through. But then you look at that starting line
up last night and not one that I don't think
there's many academy graduates and they had an average starting

(01:18:18):
age of twenty seven and they still get beat. So
I don't know exactly where they're at Sydney. They've given
them or for a one year contract exactly, ringing endorsement
is it?

Speaker 17 (01:18:29):
So?

Speaker 12 (01:18:29):
Yeah, his first month is filled with a bit of pressure,
I reckon and as you say, last night doesn't help me.
Brisbane got a good first up win against MacArthur. I
thought MacArthur were one of the better sides in recruitment
stakes in the off season. But important for Britain. They're
trying to reset as a club full stop up there.

Speaker 3 (01:18:49):
Yeah, And Aukland FC and the Wellington Phoenix both in
action later on tonight. Auckland f C against Melbourne victory
the Phoenix over in Perth. Auckland f c. I mean,
we spoke a lot about them last year and their
maiden season. Look second season syndrome? Is it a thing?
And if it is, how do you avoid falling into it?

Speaker 12 (01:19:07):
I just think they've got they've got They've set their
structure really well straight away, in terms of recruitment, in
terms of personnel, in terms of connection to community. Look
at nothing to guarantee and Steph Kayak has got a
job in his hands to make sure that what you
said there doesn't happen. But you tell me, I see
on paper no reason to suggest that Auckland fall even once.

Speaker 17 (01:19:29):
But I've got them.

Speaker 6 (01:19:29):
As first pass the post for the season.

Speaker 18 (01:19:33):
But I don't know.

Speaker 12 (01:19:34):
Maybe personnel, a few an heroes might not be there
as and people who didn't get the attention pioneers as
last year. But I can't see too many reasons to
think that they're going to fall.

Speaker 3 (01:19:47):
I think outside a goalkeeper they're stronger, actually, But losing
Alex Paulson, two time A League goalkeeper of the Year,
that's the only question mark for me, and whether Oli
sale and or Michael Vaud can fill that void. Other
than that, I think you know the players they've brought
in and potentially upgrades on what they had. So yeah,
like you, I expect them to be in and around
the silverware. I guess you won't find out what we've

(01:20:07):
learned about the A League over twenty years. If nothing
is certain. It's the most mental league going around, isn't it.

Speaker 25 (01:20:13):
Yeah?

Speaker 12 (01:20:13):
Yeah, you think you've built a handle and then someone
goes off and recruits a couple of guys that you
look at their CV and you go oh yeah, and
they haven't really done the business in their career and
they come out here and they just love the sun
on their back or something. I don't know. I mean,
look at look at those guys in Adelaide. There were
people in Adelaide before last night. I was thinking, no,
now the club, where's are going? Blah blah blah blah blah.

(01:20:34):
But me and you see them play like that, You've
got probably good one back here that they'll be strong.

Speaker 17 (01:20:39):
I think the Reds.

Speaker 3 (01:20:40):
Always great chatting Australian Sport with you, Adam thinks, indeed
we'll catch up again next week.

Speaker 18 (01:20:44):
She is finey have we go one?

Speaker 3 (01:20:45):
They have a good one too, mate, Adam Peacock, Our
Australian Correspondents seven away from two.

Speaker 7 (01:20:49):
When it's down to the line, you make a call.
On ten eighty Weekend Sports with Jason Hyne, News Talks.

Speaker 3 (01:20:57):
EB coming up four to two. Just reminder our geest
after midday Tomorrow on Weekend Sport. Lou Vincent on being
lured into match fixing, has life ban from cricket, the
relaxing of that ban, his redemption story and his Test
Day bull against Australia at the whacker.

Speaker 6 (01:21:14):
Before my first ball you take gain, you look up
and you see Blem mcgrat at the top of us
run up and you can't see any of strains until
you look behind the stumps and there's seven slips all
clapping their hands, chewing the chewing gum and Steve Will
walks up to me and goes hey, Lou. Everybody gets
it back to their first game. I just remember walking
down to Rigrancy.

Speaker 2 (01:21:29):
Steve all knows my name.

Speaker 6 (01:21:30):
I'd like to get his autograph.

Speaker 3 (01:21:32):
Lou Vinston after a mid Day Tomorrow. Midday Tomorrow with
a wide ranging chat, looking very much forward to that.
After two, a football hour for you, we get inside
the Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix camps ahead of their
A League season. Openers later tonight.

Speaker 1 (01:21:48):
It's the only place to discuss the biggest sports issues
on and after field. It's all on weekends Ford with
Jason Vade on your Home of Sport.

Speaker 3 (01:22:00):
Or two o seven. Welcome back in or welcome into
the show. This is Weekend Sport until three Tim Beverage
to take over with the Weekend Collective. After that heeps
to get through Between now and three Big Football Our four.
You're going to get you inside the Auckland FC and
Wellington Phoenix camps ahead of their respective A League Football
openers or season openers tonight Auckland FC away at Melbourne Victory,

(01:22:21):
Wellington Phoenix away at Perth Glory. The head coaches and
a couple of key players on the show also this
hour want to play a sporting chance with you. If
you're new to this. What we do is we take
a lucky caller, give them a one hundred and fifty
dollars bonus bet from the tab and then give them
three options to choose from. Our lucky winner chooses which

(01:22:43):
of the three options they want, We place the bet
and if it comes in any winnings go straight to
our winner. Simple as that. Really, it's a pretty simple concept.
We tend to keep things fairly straightforward on the show.
A sporting chance will play that well before three o'clock
at a time yet to be determined, but we'll let
you know when is the time to call us for that.

(01:23:05):
You're our calls and chorus. Pondents on all matters are welcome.
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty ninet two ninety
two for your text messages. We'll keep an eye on
the Meads Cup final as well, which has just gotten
underway in Ashburton. The home side Mid Canterbury up against
Thames Valley just underway now for Meads Cup glory. But

(01:23:26):
as we always do it around about this time on
weekend support, it is time to bring you up today
with some of the stuff that may have escaped your attention,
some of the things that you might not have caught
up with. It's in case you missed it, Starting with
netball and the Constellation Cup Australia too good for the
Silver Ferns and Game one in Melbourne last.

Speaker 5 (01:23:45):
Night, seventeen goals ahead, the final hooter goes Australia winners.
Australia take first blood in Constellation Cup twenty twenty five
fifty two New Zealand sixty nine to the Diamonds.

Speaker 3 (01:24:01):
Game two in Sydney on Wednesday night to the NPC
Otago into the final. Another terrific performance against Bay of
Plenty in their semi final in Danita. There's the siren,
here's the crowd back, this time a hasty and it's
heading the touch and Paul william.

Speaker 14 (01:24:17):
Says that's that.

Speaker 3 (01:24:18):
O'tarago through to their fest MPC Grand Final to the
Australian National Basketball League. The Breakers getting the job done
against the Tasmania jack Jumpers at home last night.

Speaker 5 (01:24:30):
And the New Zealand Breakers are going to pick up
their second victory of NBL twifty six off the iron.

Speaker 8 (01:24:37):
That's all she wrote, The last place New Zealand Breakers
not anymore.

Speaker 3 (01:24:41):
Here they've climbed off the bottom of the table with
an eighty two to sixty five when at Spark Arena
last night. The Football's A League two games last night
to open the new season, Adelaide United beating Sydney FC.

Speaker 17 (01:24:52):
Cooley, it's a good run, it's a great finess ethan
other gits.

Speaker 4 (01:24:58):
He went and got the falls dap favor.

Speaker 17 (01:25:00):
Cooley continued his run and then beat Devinishmears all ends
up for the their post.

Speaker 3 (01:25:05):
Who won the final scored to Adelaide there Brisbane Raw
faced MacArthur in the late game last night, with a
penalty deciding the contest. It's a shade for the Raw.

Speaker 5 (01:25:17):
Brisbane bets are smiling and jumping in the stairs as
Jamo Shade gets the twenty five twenty six season off to.

Speaker 14 (01:25:25):
A perfect start.

Speaker 3 (01:25:26):
Brisbane won MacArthur. That was the final score. And South
Africa have continued their charge at the Women's Cricket World
Cup a ten wicket win over Sri Lanka in Paul
play set one hundred and twenty one for victory in
a rain affected match, South Africa cruised to victory inside
fifteen overs to required.

Speaker 26 (01:25:47):
Slaps it and South Africa yet again see the victory
with a six fifty to Tasman Brutes a third of
her career and South Africa are.

Speaker 20 (01:25:58):
Four winds in a row against the weather today they've
pulled off a strong one and Sri Lanka they win
by ten wickets.

Speaker 1 (01:26:09):
The Voice of Sport on your home of Sport Weekend
Sport with Jason Hine, News Talks.

Speaker 3 (01:26:16):
News Talks, Been Wicked Sport ten past two. Well, as
you've just heard as part of Incasha mister, the new
A League men's football season is finally here. Adelaide United
and Brisbane Raw with home wins to start their respective
campaigns last night. Reigning Premier's Auckland FC take on Melbourne
Victory at Amy Park and their season opener tonight from

(01:26:37):
nine to thirty five. New Zealand time head coach of
the team of Steve Corriker. He's with us, Steve, I'm
not actually sure if there is such a thing as
second season syndrome, but if there is, how do you
avoid it?

Speaker 27 (01:26:52):
Forget about the first year and just concentrate on the
second obviously, So yeah, obviously a lot of the teams
know us now.

Speaker 15 (01:26:59):
We're no surprise to anyone.

Speaker 27 (01:27:01):
But I'm more excited because the second year it's a
whether we can be as consistent as we were in
the first year. For me, if we could do that well,
then we've got a great chance of going back to
back for premierships and hopefully one better in the Grand Final.

Speaker 3 (01:27:17):
How have you managed to retain the hunger in the
playing group that you instilled so successfully in season one.

Speaker 27 (01:27:28):
I think we've brought in four really good players. Competition
for places is always a good way. Fresh faces and
no un certain really of their position, and you know
with new players coming in there's competition and it's been
really good, especially also you know, from the goalkeeper to
the strikers.

Speaker 15 (01:27:49):
Yeah, I'm looking forward to selecting my first team.

Speaker 27 (01:27:53):
We've had a couple of injuries as well along the
way in pre season, so we're starting to get players
back and then starting to fit for the start of
the season.

Speaker 3 (01:28:01):
I want to ask about a couple of those new faces.
The first English striker Sam Cosgrove. Tell us about him
and what he will bring to your side.

Speaker 15 (01:28:11):
Well, we looked at our squad last year.

Speaker 27 (01:28:13):
We get a lot of crosses into the box, so
we wanted obviously to go with a little bit of
a bigger striker, one that holds the ball up good
in the air that you know, when we do get
deliveries into.

Speaker 15 (01:28:22):
The box that he can go and score his goals.

Speaker 27 (01:28:25):
He links up well with player as well for you know,
getting other players into the game, So we looked at that.

Speaker 15 (01:28:32):
For him and you know, so far he's shown what
he can.

Speaker 2 (01:28:35):
Do and it's been.

Speaker 15 (01:28:38):
A good preseason for him.

Speaker 27 (01:28:40):
He's obviously starting to get a lot fitter now to
what we expect him to do because I ask a
lot from our strikers defensively, but he's looking at a
lot fit down and ready to go.

Speaker 3 (01:28:50):
And Lachlan Brook also comes in. Is he kind of
a like for like for Nate Armadino or is he
a different type of player a little bit different.

Speaker 28 (01:29:00):
I think he's you know, he's very comfortable on the ball,
very technical player, good goals. He's got a good cross
as well, which we looked at for Sam as well,
which could help him. He can play as a ten
or in the white areas as well, so it gives
us good flexibility with him as well.

Speaker 15 (01:29:22):
Obviously, Nada scored you know, numerous amount of goals last year.

Speaker 27 (01:29:26):
I think it was about nine I think he got,
so you know, he's got to try and chip in
as well with a lot of goals.

Speaker 15 (01:29:32):
The last time he was in the A League he
scored nine with Wonderers, so we're hoping we get much
of the same return from him.

Speaker 3 (01:29:38):
Who's going to play and goal for you in your
first game.

Speaker 15 (01:29:43):
We'll at the moment of Michael.

Speaker 27 (01:29:46):
Michael will be goals for the first game, so you
know he's waited a long time, Michael, He's had obviously
Alex in front of him and didn't get a sniff
last year.

Speaker 15 (01:29:56):
Obviously Alex played every game and that's his opportunity. So
the rest is up to him. I can only give
him the opportunity to do what we expect from.

Speaker 27 (01:30:06):
Him, and then you know that's it. I again, he will,
he will take it with both hands, and obviously you
know Olie's there to push him along all the way.
And you know we're we're happy to have Olie is
obviously an Auckland boy as well. It's great to have
two very good goalkeepers like we did last season.

Speaker 3 (01:30:26):
There's your message to Olie similar to what your message
watched to Michael last season. Just just keep the pressure on,
wait for the opportunity if and when it comes along.

Speaker 15 (01:30:34):
Yeah, exactly, you know that's all. And he knew that
from from the start. Oli did when he when he
came in, so you know, so.

Speaker 27 (01:30:42):
Secret he made it clear at the moment he's number one,
and then you know it's up to you to either
push him out or.

Speaker 15 (01:30:50):
Do everything you can too, you know, to keep him
on his toes at least so it's they get on
really well.

Speaker 27 (01:30:57):
They have a good combination. I think they're the good banter.
So I'm really pleased with both of them.

Speaker 3 (01:31:02):
Will you play in largely the same way as you
did last season?

Speaker 25 (01:31:09):
Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:31:09):
Possibly.

Speaker 27 (01:31:09):
I think we've got a few options, different options. Like
I said, we can play with the ten, we can
play with the two nines. When Cacemo plays, he's playing
like a ten anyway with now with Big Sam and
Jesse's had a very good pre season as well.

Speaker 15 (01:31:22):
Jesse Randall. So yeah, we've got a few different options
to choose from.

Speaker 27 (01:31:28):
We went with a back five also last season when
we needed to, and you know, that's an option.

Speaker 15 (01:31:35):
I think at some stage I would say.

Speaker 3 (01:31:38):
You have been around the league for a long time, Steve,
as we all know as a player and as a coach.
Did you learn anything new last season? Anything new about
the league? I guess from being in a startup club
or being in a different country that will be valuable
to you this time around.

Speaker 27 (01:31:53):
I just, you know, I just enjoyed the experience of
you know, coaching, and obviously in New Zealand starting our
new club, that was really.

Speaker 15 (01:32:03):
Exciting for me.

Speaker 27 (01:32:04):
And obviously, you know, try Doug. We all we've all enjoyed,
you know, putting a good old team together in the
first season. Like I said, for me, now it's about
I think.

Speaker 2 (01:32:18):
We've done that. We showed we've.

Speaker 27 (01:32:20):
Got very good players, good talented young locals as well,
and now it's time to show that we can do
it again.

Speaker 3 (01:32:26):
You mentioned a couple of injuries there. I think Nanda
Pinik is still a couple of weeks away as new
Phelipe Guy Gos. The other one, is it just those
two Steve anybody else not in contention week one?

Speaker 15 (01:32:37):
No, I think it should be only them two.

Speaker 27 (01:32:40):
You know, we had Pushamo out for four to five
weeks as well as Dan Hall. But they both played
last week against Melbourne City and a friendly, so they
they've come through and they should be fined for for
the weekend. But in a bit of the two that
you you mentioned there at the moment.

Speaker 3 (01:32:59):
In Melbourne victory. First up, how much extra spice on
this one given a with a side to deny you
a spot on the Grand Final last season?

Speaker 15 (01:33:08):
Yeah, obviously very spicy. We're looking forward to it.

Speaker 27 (01:33:12):
I think being away from home also puts a lot
of pressure on them. Being at home first game of season.
We want revenge, so I think it's going to be
a very good encounter.

Speaker 25 (01:33:22):
They're a good team.

Speaker 15 (01:33:23):
They've strengthened I think as well. They've They've had a
few players leave and.

Speaker 27 (01:33:27):
Go overseas and I think they've brought in some really
good players as well. So Arthur Dillis is doing a
good job there. And yeah, yeah, I'm looking forward to
the first game. Obviously, you want to get off to
a winning start, so hopefully we can do what we've
done down in Melbourne in recent times and get the
three points to come home with them.

Speaker 3 (01:33:48):
And I know you're very much a game at a
time kind of boss, but how keen are you to
continue your dominance and the Derby's against Wellington Phoenix this season, Well.

Speaker 2 (01:33:58):
I'm looking forward to them.

Speaker 15 (01:33:59):
They're very excited.

Speaker 27 (01:34:00):
The first thing you look at when the fixtures come out, Yeah,
that's it's another thing. You know, we've got two away
this year. We want to continue winning it not you
go as long as possible without them beat us. So
they're obviously going to be tough again. Derby's are always tough,

(01:34:21):
especially the first one, so hopefully we get similar results
that we did last season against them.

Speaker 3 (01:34:28):
All right, Steve, we'll leave it there mate, Thanks indeed
for joining us on game day. Steve Corika, head coach
of Auckland f C. Let's get you inside the plane
group now. Defender Dan Hall as with us, Dan, thanks
for taking time. Do you still feel the same hunger
as you did last season when everything about Auckland f
C was fresh and new?

Speaker 29 (01:34:47):
Of course, of course thanks for having me Piney. I
think you know in this situation even more so. Obviously
last year we did great things being minor premiers, but
we believe as a team we fell short and we
want to rectify that this year. So you know, we're
buzzing for the season to start and we can't wait
to be out there.

Speaker 3 (01:35:04):
You've got some experience of this type. You won the
Grand Final what the Mariners in twenty twenty two to
twenty three, and then back that up with an even
more successful season the following campaign. So what were the
keys to following one excellent season with another one?

Speaker 4 (01:35:20):
Good question?

Speaker 29 (01:35:21):
I think for me, obviously, I believe a lot of
team camaraderie is a huge point of improving each year
and just sticking together and a hard working, humble team
I think gets a lot of good results, so that's
definitely something we'll try to implement and obviously there's a
little bit of luck involved, but a lot of hard
work too.

Speaker 3 (01:35:41):
Your last league game was quite some time ago. I
know you've had Australia Cup and preseason games in the meantime,
but how do you best navigate this very long a
league off season.

Speaker 29 (01:35:51):
Yeah, obviously the Australian Football Leagues has like the world's
longest preseason, so after doing a couple I'm quite conditioned
to them now.

Speaker 4 (01:36:01):
So but no, for sure, it's all about.

Speaker 29 (01:36:04):
Just, you know, not building it up because obviously it's
a long season as well. But with a long preseason
you have plenty of time to get match fits. So
I think here at Auckland we did it very well.
We got a lot of preseason games in and just
got to try different combinations and work on what the
coach wants and hopefully come Saturday that's all there to see.

Speaker 3 (01:36:24):
And last season, of course you forged such a cohesive
central defensive partnership with Nando Pinnaker. He'll miss the first
month or so of the season as he puts the
final touches on his recovery from his injury. How strange
is it going to be they're looking out to your
lift and not seeing Nanda Pineker there.

Speaker 4 (01:36:40):
Yeah, for sure.

Speaker 29 (01:36:42):
Obviously Nando's a great player and a great person, so
I've really enjoyed my time playing next to him and
can't wait for when he's back out on the pitch.
But yeah, it's going to Obviously you make a good
connection with your center back partner. But luckily at Auckland FC,
you know we have great depth and whoever takes a
field on Saturday, I'm sure we'll do Auckland proud.

Speaker 3 (01:37:03):
And you talk about connections. A new goalkeeper behind you
as well, Alex Paulson has moved on a course and
we know how integral he was to your success last season.
So how do you go about building a good relationship
with new arrival Olie Sale and also Michael Voud who
didn't get to play last season.

Speaker 4 (01:37:19):
Yeah, I think just in training.

Speaker 29 (01:37:21):
You know, you're training with these boys every day, partnerships
start to form. You understand play strengths and weaknesses and
how you as a team member can help them in
their own football journey. So I think just with time
and a lot of training and week in week out
you get to understand everybody and yeah, hopefully come Saturday
that'll be able to show again.

Speaker 3 (01:37:41):
How much you're looking forward to getting a crack at
Melbourne Victory nice and early this season, given the fact
that they were the team that denied you entry into
the Grand Final last season.

Speaker 4 (01:37:51):
Yeah, super excited.

Speaker 29 (01:37:52):
I think you know, as you said, it's the longest
preseason ever, so you just want to get out there
and play again. But to be able to burse Melbourn
Victory straightaways. You know, you want to play the best
teams and I'm sure Melbourn Victory are going to be
a strong team this year, so can't wait to go
toe to toe with them and see how we end up.

Speaker 3 (01:38:08):
What about personally, Dan, are there still areas you feel
that our growth theory is in your own game personally?

Speaker 4 (01:38:15):
Yeah, definitely.

Speaker 29 (01:38:16):
I think for me personally, I've always had a growth
mindset and I feel like I still have lots of
things to learn personally for me this year, you know,
I want to try and be more of that leader
role and help guide my team and just be a
good team member.

Speaker 4 (01:38:32):
And obviously there's strengthen off the ball.

Speaker 29 (01:38:34):
On the ball that I can definitely try and improve
on as the season progresses, and.

Speaker 3 (01:38:39):
As far as the team is concerned. While you were
obviously well versed with the vagaries of the A League,
there were a number of players who hadn't played a
league before. Do you think as a team there have
been some good lessons to take from your first season
in the competition?

Speaker 29 (01:38:53):
Yeah, definitely, I think especially last year. Obviously a lot
of the boys hadn't played in the league before, so
coming into a second year, most players, if not all,
have had a taste of a league football, and they know,
you know, it's not just it's not just the intensity
of the matches. You know, you've got to take into
consideration things like the weather, the temperature and stuff like that.

(01:39:14):
So I feel like, off with one year under the belt,
the second year, it's only going to go up.

Speaker 3 (01:39:20):
And how good are you? And this doc? Oh, by
the way, amazing the star of the show.

Speaker 29 (01:39:26):
Oh yeah, they said to me, you know, football doesn't
work out.

Speaker 4 (01:39:30):
Maybe Hollywood or stuff out.

Speaker 3 (01:39:33):
Love it it is. It has been a really cool
little thing to sort of get us through. But the
last bit of the off season hasn't it. Do you
know if the cameras are following you for season two.
Has that been confirmed yet or not.

Speaker 29 (01:39:44):
I'm not sure if it's been confirmed, but I know
they're definitely in talks to see if season two can
get up and running.

Speaker 4 (01:39:50):
But I guess it was just we'll see with time.

Speaker 3 (01:39:53):
Indeed, and just to finish obviously in away game to start,
but then back home. We know just how how big
that crowd was last season in terms of it's it's
impact on you guys, and how they they you know,
were such a great support to you. How much looking
seeing the port back again and those big crowds at go.

Speaker 29 (01:40:09):
Media, Oh absolutely buzzing. I think I was not a
single person in the team would expect to see how
big the port really did turn out so that first
game against Brisbane last year, so you know, we just
can't wait to get out there again and feel feel
their twelfth man behind us as we hopefully go for
the three points against Wanderer's first time game.

Speaker 3 (01:40:30):
Good on you mate, thanks indeed, Dan, appreciate your time.
Dan Hall central defender or one of the central defenders
in Auckland FC's squad again this year, a huge part
of their success last season and said to be the
same again at this time around. Auckland f C open
their A League campaign tonight in Melbourne Amy Park. They
take on Melbourne Victory from nine to thirty five New
Zealand Time. It's two twenty five. We'll take a break

(01:40:52):
and then get inside. The other A League team based
on these Shaw's Wellington Phoenix. They're over in Western Australia
today on Perth Glory. They're head coach John Carlo Ataliano
will talk to us after this.

Speaker 1 (01:41:04):
The big issues on and after field call OH eight
hundred eighty ten eighty weekends Ford with Jason Fain and GJ.
Gunner homes New Zealand's first trustedo Milder News Talks ABBY.

Speaker 3 (01:41:16):
Two twenty nine on News Talks there'll be twenty one
minutes gone in ash Burton, the Homeside Mid Canterbury seven
points to three ahead of Thames Valley in the Heartland
Championship Meads Cup Final. Well we've heard from Aalkland FC.
The Wellington Phoenix open their A League men's campaign in
Western Australia tonight. They take on Perth Glory from eleven
forty five pm tonight. New Zealand Time. Head coaches gian

(01:41:38):
Colo Ataliano who joins US now John Color. How ready
do you feel for the start of the new season.

Speaker 17 (01:41:44):
Yeah, no, we're we're ready to go. Like it's been
a really good preseason. We've had good running games now
for a month and now we just want to get
into the season and start putting our work to play.

Speaker 3 (01:41:56):
What do you look for in preseason games that gives
you encouragement?

Speaker 17 (01:42:02):
Well, obviously, you know, I don't make any phones about it.
I'm like a principal based coach that you know that
I try to do that through all the coaching and
all I'm looking for a markers and certain small white
KPIs within games to see if if we hit them.
And then what I really love about their games is

(01:42:22):
we're trying something and then we'll go back and then
we'll refit it to to how you know, what the
system is. And that's probably the most enjoyful part of
the preseason is trying to bring this new style to life.
And it's it's been going very well. To be fair,
I think you know it'll be hard heart in mouth

(01:42:42):
sort of you know, sort of moments this year because
you know, we're doing some some different things but what
we've seen so far has been really good.

Speaker 3 (01:42:52):
Tell us about the changes you've made. You've signaled a
change of formation, and you've just outlined there a slightly
different way of playing. What are the foundations of your
of your different approach this season.

Speaker 17 (01:43:04):
Yeah, so I'll give you a bit of backstory because
I think it's important. I think most importantly, when I
took the job initially you know, and I transitioned from
you know, I already knew the players. I already knew
their limitations, already knew what they could do, and it
was more about just building on top of what had
been done for four years. So obviously I knew the

(01:43:25):
foundation of the team and all I needed to do
was really steer it where I thought I could take
the team. It wasn't too much change, So even like
implementing the Christmas tree, defending Laura and so on, there
weren't things that I felt were too out of norm
and I was able to evolve it. But I made

(01:43:45):
the decision after that first season I didn't want to
play that way. I wanted to be a little bit
more on the front foot. I wanted to be a
little bit more fluid in the way we did things,
and I try to evolve it last season. But what
killed me last season was, for a host of reasons
was the availability of players in pre season, so building
that foundation of the actual format and you know, trying

(01:44:08):
to evolve it. Maybe I did a little bit too
much too quickly, and then on top of that, didn't
have enough time. So if you look at the first
part of the season, even though we're getting results, there
were more results me plugging holes and trying to get
us competitive to a game, but we had no real
solid courts. So you know, we're a recess at the

(01:44:28):
end of last season. And you know, we obviously had
a lot of we had a host of problems that
I need to saw through. But one of the things
that were really evident was I was like, Okay, I
need to actually give the team a solid foundation now
on what we're going to grow for the next couple
of years. So you know, I made no secrets. You know,
I'm going to go to a three four three, and

(01:44:51):
we're going to have certain principles that are going to
stick within the team now for the next couple of
years that are going to be the foundation. So from that,
if I fast forward you know, let's say, you know,
a couple of years from down the track and the
team's doing well, then I can start manipulating that shape,
that foundation ideas and then do a host of things,

(01:45:11):
is which is what I did in that first year
when I took over. So that's the thinking. And I
think having a reference point for the players that they
understand fundamentally who we are, how we play, then all
the other stuff is easy to execute.

Speaker 3 (01:45:26):
So what are the key principles then of the way
you want to play?

Speaker 17 (01:45:30):
Yeah, so I think the most important thing is, you know,
we're going to press this season. We're going to be
a lot, you know, a lot more focused on keeping
the opposition in their defensive half. That'll be our primary focus.
Still adding on principles of like the way I want
to build up in terms of you know, you know,

(01:45:52):
I've got I've got low clear evidence. You know, I
like to be good with the ball, quick, quick combinations.
But there's a more focus emphasis now on final third
entries and so on. And the good thing about this
PRECS and restarting really with you know a good chunk
of players that have come in now is I've been
able to get those players that I feel like fit

(01:46:14):
the system more, whereas I had a crossover maybe over
the last couple of seasons of the team that was
before and so on. So it's been a slow process,
but it's been it's been actually really like it's really
raised my energy levels with the players that were brought
in that will been very fresh and good for the
group as well.

Speaker 3 (01:46:34):
So the recruitment strategy was was directly related to I
mean the sounds obvious, doesn't it, but directly related to
the way you wanted to play the players and they
fit the blueprint you're after.

Speaker 17 (01:46:44):
Yeah, So like you if you look at a player
like color Amiento that I brought in, you know, traditionally
not a defensive player, but I've converted him into more
of attacking wing back and that suits you style. It's
just more about getting his defensive output and to the
level that we need. And we brought in Rami Nazarene.

(01:47:09):
You know, he's a great poker player if you watch him,
like really excited when he plays. Is a nice player
to watch, and I think we missed that last season
and the one that I thought, you know, unfortunately he
got a bit of Australia, but he'll be back in
a couple of weeks. Is Nicola Mille using it?

Speaker 7 (01:47:25):
You know?

Speaker 17 (01:47:25):
I think if you watched him with Zi in the
first part of the pre season, I was so excited
because they were just different but the same sort of player.
But they worked really well together. So I've been really
happy with that.

Speaker 3 (01:47:39):
In terms of the recruitment, just a couple of about
this weekend, you've got Tim Payne and Lucas Kelly hild
returning from All Whites duty. Presumably they just meet you
in Perth. They've watched up okay term in particular, will
he will he be up for ninety minutes do you think?

Speaker 17 (01:47:55):
Yeah, we'll assess today to see how he is. I
think he came in last night, so I missed him.
I think he went straight to his hotel room. I
saw Lucas. He looked fine a little bit yet lagged
as expected. But we'll assess today. At training. They train
this evening, so it gives a bit of time to
recover and they can sleep in more so we acclimatize

(01:48:16):
also here without training towards game time, so we try
to keep him in back with their body clocks, so
hopefully that helps.

Speaker 3 (01:48:23):
So guys like those two Rufer Luke brook Smith who
have been in and around the all whites environment Snow Sacred.
There's a World Cup next year. Do you talk to
them about their all whites aspirations or are they just
a byproduct of playing well for you?

Speaker 17 (01:48:40):
I think I said this in my last interview, me
talking to them, I think does more is more detrimental
than it is, you know, a positive. They all those
players that are in contention put their own pressure on themselves.
They don't need me, you know, to double down. And
you know, obviously I've had conversations with the players in
terms of what targets are. You know, we do that

(01:49:03):
for all the players. You know, we make sure that
you know, we put a roadmap for the season successful play.
You know, they all want to go to a World Cup.
I keep saying, everyone looks towards painting in Ruff has
been obviously the obvious ones because they've been part part
of the squad. But I like to think there might
be one or two players that no one's thinking about
now that will jump you jump out in this season.
I've seen it so many times, and I try to

(01:49:24):
give belief to those players that anything is possible. You know,
you know the all whites as well. You know, they're
probably not getting the right run of results at the moment.
So sometimes that puts a little bit of in the
coach and the coaching stuff, and they might be looking,
you know, for different different options. And I think for me,

(01:49:47):
the most important thing is we play well. We play
a good style. Everyone loves watching us play. You know,
if we do well, then you know, it'd be like
a couple of years ago. You know, Oldie comes out,
you know has a breakout. You know Poulsen comes out
as a breakout inserment, So anything is possible.

Speaker 3 (01:50:04):
Do you feel any pressure.

Speaker 17 (01:50:07):
I think I felt more pressure last year in the
sense that wasn't the results that worried me. It was
more what was going on the pitch in terms of
performance that that really irks me. But I actually probably
felt even more pressure the year before because I'd win
a game, I'm still getting smashed by people, and then
I realized I can't do anything right even when I

(01:50:30):
win a game. So look, I think for a large
pub the pressure is the own pressure you create for yourself.
It's not from anyone else. Like you know, I'm a workaholic.
You know, I feel like I'm a perfectionist when it
comes to work. So when something doesn't work, it just compounds,

(01:50:51):
and you know, I get very frustrated and I give
one hundred percent. And you know, I've been very open
about you know, what happened last season as well, that
pressure of trying to protect the scene actually probably did
more harm to the team than than good. But I
was able to come away self reflect and this season,

(01:51:13):
I just get the feeling that with the group, you know,
they all have the same focus I do, and I
can't ask for anything else. I mean, you know, we
could lose the first four games of this season, play
unbelievably well you know, what does that mean? You know
what happens if we win the first four and we're terrible?
What does that mean?

Speaker 2 (01:51:32):
You know?

Speaker 17 (01:51:34):
But for me, I just again my focus this season
is as cheesy as it sounds. We want to entertain,
we want to be the best footballing team in the competition.
We'll do things that you know that our fans will
be very happy with and if we win games, fantastic,
you know, But again, you know it's going to be
a rollercoaster of a season. I'm looking forward to it.

Speaker 3 (01:51:55):
SIMI all the best against Perth Glory. First up, Jeffy,
thanks for chatting. We'll catch up, no doubt many times
throughout the season.

Speaker 4 (01:52:02):
Thanks Connie, Thank you.

Speaker 3 (01:52:03):
Chief Jihn calo A Taliallo. They're the head coach of
Wellington Phoenix, so tonight take on Perth Glory in their season.
Hope we'll get inside the playing squad with josh olawa
Emi before too much longer, Craig says Piney. Did last
week's sporting chants come in? I think they took the
lower odds on offer, but I can't remember what it was.
Was it Bathurst, Craig? It was it was our lucky

(01:52:25):
winner last week did go for the short option. It
was Brodiekostecki to win the top ten shootout. Brodiekostecki did
indeed win the top ten shootout, so he was a winner.
If you'd like to have a crack, let's play a
sporting chance with a tab. I'm going to offer you
the choice of three bets short, evens or long. You
decide which one you want. We will place a one

(01:52:47):
hundred and fifty dollars bonus bet on your behalf if
it comes home. The winnings minus the initial one to fifty,
of course, are all yours. You must be over eighteen
if you'd like to play call now, Oh eight hundred
and eighty ten eighty.

Speaker 7 (01:53:01):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:53:02):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty ten eighty
Weekends Sport Jason Tame and GJ. Gunnerholmes, New Zealand's most
trusted home builder, News Talks v It's time for a
sporting chance thanks to TV.

Speaker 3 (01:53:18):
Yes it is. As mentioned before the break, it's a
pretty easy concept. Really. We've got three options here, short,
evens or long. Gonna put Ivan on the air shortly.
Ivan's going to choose one of the three options. We'll
place it for him and if it comes home, any
winnings will be his. Pretty easy concept to understand, Ivan.

Speaker 4 (01:53:37):
Yeah, yeah, of course it is.

Speaker 13 (01:53:38):
Mate.

Speaker 3 (01:53:39):
All right, I'll give you three options. You can sort
of ruminate over them for a few seconds and tell
us which one you're after. Okay, Okay, here's the short option.
It's called the longest offseason is finally over special. It's
to do with a league football Melbourne victory Auckland FC tonight.
The bet is both teams to score. It's paying a

(01:54:00):
dollar sixty seven. You would win one hundred dollars and
fifty cents. That is your short option. Okay, okay. Even
is also an a league football option. It's Perth Glory
against Wellington Phoenix tonight. It's for the Phoenix to win.
They're paying three dollars sixty You would win three hundred

(01:54:21):
and ninety dollars if that happens. The long option NPC
Rugby Canterbury Hawks Bay tonight in christ Church. It's the
exact half full time double. What you would need to
happen is for Hawks Bay to be ahead at halftime,
for Canterbury to be ahead at full time. Just a

(01:54:42):
note that this is only regular time, not extra time
if that is needed. But it's paying six it's paying
six dollars fifty. You would win eight hundred and twenty
five dollars ivan So which do you choose? Both Auckland
FC and Melbourne Victory to score in their game tonight,
you'd win one hundred bucks and fifty cents. Phoenix to
beat Perth you'd win three hundred and ninety or Hawks

(01:55:04):
Bay ahead at halftime can at eighty minutes in the
MPC semi you would win eight hundred and twenty five dollars.
What are you going to go for?

Speaker 13 (01:55:13):
That's the one, that's the one of Canterbury Hawks beat all.

Speaker 3 (01:55:16):
Right, So Hawk's bayhead at halftime, Canterbury ahead after eighty minutes, Ivan,
you'd win eight hundred and twenty five dollars.

Speaker 13 (01:55:24):
I can feel it now.

Speaker 3 (01:55:25):
I can feel it now too, Mate. I can't feel
it now too, I can feel it. It's coming home, Ivan, Mate,
will place that. We'll place that bet for you. Keep
close eyes on the game and put you back on hold.
Every quick chant to Isaiah, make sure we got your
details all correct. We will place the bet for you
tonight and keep our fingers crossed. If you get a result,
the winnings minus the one fifty all yours eight hundred

(01:55:47):
and twenty five dollars coming your way. Ivan will do
it all again next week. Thanks to our mates at
the tab. As always, please bet responsibly. News talks here,
b it's coming up two forty six. Let's get you
inside the Wellington Phoenix camp ahead of their season open
in the night against Birth Glory. Goalkeeper Josh all Away.
Emmy is with us, Josh, Thanks for chatting mate, How
really does the team feel for the new campaign.

Speaker 25 (01:56:10):
The team's in a really good place. We've had a
strong preseason. Everybody's sharp and there's a good energy around
the group. So we're focused for the season and thankfully
it's been we've had a lot of fixtures, so it
should it should help us in the season.

Speaker 3 (01:56:25):
As you prepare for the season ahead, have you talked
much about last season or has that kind of been
left in the review mirror?

Speaker 25 (01:56:34):
One hundred percent. Early on in preseason, we've spoken about
last season and we've reflected on it and learned from it,
and now at this point the season's about to start,
so we're looking to move forward in the rest.

Speaker 3 (01:56:47):
How do you reflect personally on what was your first
season in the I League?

Speaker 25 (01:56:53):
For me, it was a great experience. You know, it's
all part of the journey. You're learning new things as
you go along. You know, it's been a season of
growth and learning for me personally. You know, adapting to
the travel, to the to the different style of the
league as well has been very good for my development
as well. So now going into this season, I just

(01:57:14):
learned from learned from the things of last season.

Speaker 3 (01:57:17):
Do you sort of feel better equipped after a season this,
I guess there'll be fewer surprises. You'll you know, you
will have been to all of these grounds before, played
all of these teams before, albeit some of them have
changed personnel. Do you feel as though you're better equipped
the second time around?

Speaker 25 (01:57:33):
Yeah, definitely, you know, you know what to expect sort
of thing. Although different seasons bring different challenges, you know,
no seasons the exact same, but it definitely, it definitely
plays a part, huge part in the in the familiarity
with how the league goes.

Speaker 3 (01:57:52):
So yeah, So Chief Egian Calotaliana, your head coach, has
signaled a change of formation this year, has been very
open about it. You're going to play a back three.
How does how does that change things for you? Josh?
From a goalkeeper's point of view, having a having a
back three and for in front of you rather than
a back four in front of you.

Speaker 2 (01:58:10):
Yeah, it changes a few things.

Speaker 25 (01:58:12):
You know, you have to adapt a bat three, like
the angles and the supporting angles that you'd give to
your center backs, the way you communicate as well, you know,
some tactical changes. The things that it helps, and there
are things that you have to stay a bit more
alert for you know, in a back three, so it
doesn't do too much, but it changes a little bit.

Speaker 3 (01:58:32):
And I presume also it'll be from what I've heard,
it'll be quite a high line that you play. So
are you being asked to play it from the back
as regularly as you did last season, but also be
a bit of a sweeper keeper on occasion?

Speaker 25 (01:58:47):
Yeah, definitely, Especially in this modern game, it's asked for
a lot of keepers to be able to do those things.

Speaker 23 (01:58:54):
You know.

Speaker 25 (01:58:56):
It's just about recognizing the moments to play out from
the back and recognizing the moments to go along, you know.
So that's what we plan to do this season, just
play the right moment in the game and produce the
right result.

Speaker 3 (01:59:09):
How important is it to start well to you know,
to get a win or two on the board nice
and early in the season.

Speaker 25 (01:59:18):
A strong start is really important. It builds momentum, builds
belief that sets the standards early. Every point matters in
the league. So we want to come out, focus and organize,
ready to perform from day one. But at the same time,
it's a very long season. So if we're doing great,
we have to keep it going. If we're not, then
we have to build upon that.

Speaker 3 (01:59:39):
And I know you're only going one game at a
time and tonight's game against Perth Glory is your immediate focus.
But how motivated is the team to have some success
in the derby's against Aukland FC this season?

Speaker 2 (01:59:51):
Oh?

Speaker 25 (01:59:52):
Extremely, those games been and locked us and the fans,
you know, So we plan to bring back pride and
make a statement for willing.

Speaker 3 (02:00:00):
And something I noticed about you last season, Josh, after
games it didn't make had a win, loss, draw, where
the things had gone well, whether things hadn't gone well,
you always took the time after the game to meet
the fans, to sign some autographs, to get a selfie.
It would have been easy for you to not do
that after a loss, for example, go down the tunnel

(02:00:22):
and just get out of there. What is it that
motivate you to make sure that you still connect with
the fans regardless.

Speaker 25 (02:00:29):
The fans make the game, to be honest, without the
fans we're seen in COVID, you know, it brings the
atmosphere out. If we don't have the fans, the fans
make the game, you know, And I feel like as players,
we owe it to every single fan, you know, to
keep us standards fair and to be model professionals, and

(02:00:51):
also to connect with them because we grew up and
are fans and wants work fans as well, you know.
So that's just the way I am and the way
I see things.

Speaker 3 (02:01:01):
The other thing about playing the A League is the
long the long off season. It'spent about five months until
last played a game. You must be looking for dectually
getting out there and playing a proper game, are you.

Speaker 24 (02:01:11):
I'm it?

Speaker 25 (02:01:12):
Chim it chim This is the longest reseason I've ever
had in my life.

Speaker 3 (02:01:17):
Well, it is all over, mate, it is all over.
The new season is finally here. Josh. Thanks for taking
the time for a chat to us. Made all the
best in game one tonight. Look forward to catching up
throughout the season.

Speaker 25 (02:01:26):
Thank you playing.

Speaker 18 (02:01:26):
It's a pleasure to be here now.

Speaker 3 (02:01:28):
It's good to have you on the show, Josh. Thanks indeed.
Josh Holloway me goalkeeper for the Phoenix eleven forty five
tonight against Perth Glory in their season opener. Just a reminder.
Midday tomorrow we're joined by lou Vincent for a wide
ranging chat about his well extraordinary life as a black
cap lured into match fixing a life ban and now

(02:01:48):
he is helping others, including speaking at a police conference
in Melbourne this past week.

Speaker 6 (02:01:55):
MCG. Last week, my introduction was to say it was
good to see back here. The last time was here.
I faced the world's fastest boor one hundred and sixty
one point five till he is an now from Sean
hit me twice in the league and I lift him
my pants and I drew it on with a vivid
and I said, look, I've still got the bruise to
prove it.

Speaker 2 (02:02:10):
That's great.

Speaker 6 (02:02:11):
I've got to smile. I've gotta smile out of the cops.
You don't have to get cops giggling. It's good to
share some fun stories as well as the dark stories.
All your listeners can relate to that. You know, you
need bad times to make the good times better and
grounds us when we at our lowest points in life,
to reassess life and where we want to get to.
And again that's that's my role in life now is
to help as many people as I can.

Speaker 3 (02:02:31):
Lou Vincent after midday tomorrow on Weekend Sports seven Away
from three.

Speaker 7 (02:02:35):
Analyzing every view from every angle in the sporting world.
Weekend Sport with Jason Pie they call eight hundred and
eighties and eighty News Talks.

Speaker 3 (02:02:44):
Envy four to three. That is us on Weekend Sport
for Today, Tim Beverage after three with the Weekend collect
A huge thanks to Wise for producing the Shaw Today.
Great work mate, Thanks indeed, thank you for listening in.
Don't forget tomorrow, lou Vincent after midday. We've got Paul
Cole on the show tomorrow as well, and a whole
heap of sport tonight to cover off as well, including
the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. For taking us out.

(02:03:07):
Someone with a fairly close connection to that part of
the world, Janus Joplin the out song today Me and
Bobby McGee.

Speaker 14 (02:03:14):
See tomorrow at midday.

Speaker 1 (02:03:30):
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

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

.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: 18 October 2025

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;}CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist

Crime Junkie

Stuff You Should Know

All Episodes

Full Show Podcast: 18 October 2025

CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist