Full Show Podcast: 31 August 2025

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB. The only place for the big names,
the big issues, the big controversies and the big conversations.
It's all on Weekend Sport with Jason Vine on your
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Speaker 2 (00:28):
Ed B.

Speaker 3 (00:30):
Bhi, dank youod, Good afternoon. Welcome into the Sunday edition
of Weekend Sport on News Talks edby. Last day of August.
Happy birthday to former All Black swinger and pocket rocket
Grant Batty. Happy birthday French rugby legend Serge Bonco. I'm
Jason Pinees show producer Andy McDonald. We're talking sport with
you until three. We have Motorsport Royalty on the show

(00:53):
this afternoon. Australian legend Mark Winterbottom is with us after
two for an extended chat about his glittering career, which
included a Supercars Championship and a win at Bathurst in
twenty thirteen. Winter Bottom after the two o'clock News Today.
First Up Today, though, The ongoing issue of head injuries

(01:14):
and their effects on those who play collision sport brought
into sharp focus again in recent days with the death
of former Tasman Highlanders and New Zealand Moory rugby player
Shane Christi. He believed he was suffering from CTE, a
neuro degenerative brain condition. Shane Christi entered his life this week.

(01:35):
Former Welsh international Alex Popham was diagnosed with probable CTE
and early onset dementia in twenty twenty. He's been an
extremely vocal advocate for awareness and change in this area.
Alex Popham is with us on this shortly. I'm very
keen to chew it over with you as well. How
can effective and sustainable change be made in this very

(01:59):
important area? Other matters around today. Double dose of football
for you after one Auckland FC coach Steve Coricker with
us up to his side semi final defeat to semi
pro side Heidelberg United in the Australia Cup last night
and tough times at Manchester United right now although they
did get themselves and much needed three points this morning.

(02:20):
Going to drill down into the troubles at Old Trafford,
including their loss to fourth tier Grimsby Town during the week.
Southland looking to get their hands on the Log Awards
this afternoon for the first time since twenty eleven. They
challenged ranfully shieldholders White cutto in Hamilton. That's a four
thirty five kickoff Stag's legend. Jason Rutler just with us

(02:41):
to preview that one. James mccony as usual on a
Sunday as well live sport while we're on the air.
Round five of the Bunnings ENDPC continues. Wellington v Auckland,
couple of sides desperately searching for some form. They meet
from five past two at Jerry Collins Stadium in Pottydoer,
Round four of the Fara Palmer Cup. In the early
game actually in Pottydoer, Wellington making no race of it

(03:03):
against Taranaki, forty seven mill ahead after thirty five minutes
in that one. Why Cut will take on Canabury and
the Farah Palmer Cup at five past two and US
Tennis Open action as well. From the night session at
Flushing Meadows, Kiwi. Michael Venus has just started his first
round doubles match. He's partnering Indian player Yuki Bambrie. They

(03:24):
are the fourteenth seeds. They're playing the unseted US pair
of Marcus Jiron and Learner teen and they've started well
with a break early on Venus and Bambury lead Ziron
and teen two games to love in the first set.
This is your show as always to get involved in
if you would like to, oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty,
we'll get you. Throw on the phone nine two nine

(03:45):
two for your text messages and emails into Jason at
NEWSTALKZEDB dot co dot Nz. Coming up eleven past midday.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
Breaking down the Hail Marys and the epic fails weekend
sport with Jason yin News Talk ZENB.

Speaker 3 (04:02):
Very very sad news this week with the passing of
former New Zealand Moldi, the Highlanders and Tasman flanker Shane
Christie at the age of just thirty nine. He played
seventy three times for Tasman and captain the Markolf for
four seasons, leading them to their maiden title in twenty thirteen.
He also played twenty nine times for the Highlanders, including

(04:24):
being co captain of their twenty fifteen Super Rugby winning team,
and he earned eight caps for New Zealand Maori. Shane
Christie's playing career ended in twenty seventeen when he began
experiencing serious concussion symptoms. After his retirement from the game,
he said he believed he was suffering from CTE, a

(04:44):
neurodegenerative brain condition, having experienced symptoms including headaches, speech and
memory issues, depression and mood swings. He had been a
vocal advocate for greater awareness about rugby related head injuries.
Alex Popham is a former Welsh international rugby player thirty
three caps for Wales. He played in the t two

(05:06):
thousand and three and two thousand and seven Rugby World Cups,
and was a Grand Slam winner in two thousand and eight.
He retired in twenty eleven and in April of twenty twenty,
Alex Popham was diagnosed with probable ct and early onset
dementia as a result of traumatic brain injuries suffered during
his rugby career. He is the co founder of Head

(05:28):
four Change, a charity pioneering positive change to prioritize brain
health in sport. They also support X players who are
effective by affected rather by neuro degenerative disease as a
result of playing contact sport. Alex Popham is with US. Alex,
thanks for joining us. How did you hear of the
death of Shane Christy Well.

Speaker 4 (05:52):
I woke up on Wednesday morning with messages from Carl Heman.

Speaker 5 (05:58):
And just rung them straight away.

Speaker 4 (06:02):
It's been a very tough week and film feel pretty
numb if I'm miss with all of this.

Speaker 5 (06:10):
And it's very very hard.

Speaker 3 (06:14):
As I say, you've been a vocal advocate for greater
awareness around rugby related head injuries. I'm sure as you
say when you heard from Carl Hayman, I'm sure that
wasn't the only message you've received. What have the last
few days been like for you?

Speaker 5 (06:28):
Yeah, it's been really tough, and just just.

Speaker 4 (06:32):
Hearing all the and reading all the lover and support
for Shane. It's just such a stop myself from swearing.
But I'm just angry with this situation still still carrying on.
He was such a eloquent guy speaking.

Speaker 5 (06:50):
He spoke softly, but he spoke with real meaning.

Speaker 4 (06:53):
And what's gone on with him over the last few
years and and putting this message out there, and I
really think it comes.

Speaker 5 (07:03):
To its head where three weeks ago, four weeks ago.

Speaker 4 (07:07):
He released the recording of the CEO, Rob Nickel of
the Players Association, who's supposed to be there to look
after the players gaslight in this situation and downplaying the
seriousness of it. He was hoping that would be picked
up that recording of telling the current players that it's

(07:33):
down to the alcohol of the boys that are drinking
too many drugs, the lifestyle and all that rubbish and
really and then turning around and saying that rugby is
safer than soccer. It's just a load of rubbish and really,
for me, I think Shane thought that that was going
to be picked up and it wasn't. Now he's dead,

(07:55):
now we're talking about it, and that is just the
wrong way round. This message needs to get out there
to the current players, to the mums and dads, to
the coaches, because too many young men and women I
saw an appearance we've lost their child with this situation
because they've had traumatic brain injury from rugby and we're

(08:17):
not taking it serious enough and we're telling my votes.

Speaker 5 (08:21):
I'm angry because this.

Speaker 4 (08:23):
Man put his life on hold for the last three
years and no one was listening.

Speaker 3 (08:32):
I would I see you use a lot is denial
denial by the game's governing bodies. What do you want
to see from them?

Speaker 4 (08:43):
Well, what's happening now in rugby? It's legal denial to
what happened in the NFL. They're playing exactly the same
playbook the NFL did with their lawyers, with the governing bodies,
and they can't make the changes that need to be
made because legally, because of the legal case in the UK,
that opens up a can of worms. They know every hit,

(09:06):
every recontact, not just to the head, is causing small
amount of damage to the brain and that over a
player's career is resulting in CTE. So the big changes
and mostly off the pitch from limiting the amount of
contacts and training, but made that mandatory when there is
a traumatic brain injury and that player's being diagnosed, not

(09:27):
rushing them back in six bloody days. They need a
good twenty eight day so that brain to recover. But
there's a protocol that fits that. There's six steps that
fits into six days that these players don't miss a game.
And you've got rugby boys and rugby women who were warriors,
who were gladiators and want to be on that pitch.

Speaker 5 (09:47):
That power needs to be taken out of their hands.

Speaker 4 (09:51):
The other things that we would like is limit on
game time and annual medical scans that would pick up
at the damage to the brain from the previous season.
I think having those things in and they're checking out
gimmicks with bloody gum shields and this and that, it's

(10:12):
all smoke and mirrors to what really is happening.

Speaker 3 (10:16):
Well, you mentioned the smart mouth guards there and a
roundabout why trials of a lower techl heightened community rugby
will rugby side. They are putting measures in place to
alleviate the effis you don't believe that there's anywhere near.

Speaker 4 (10:30):
Enough, no nowhere near the good thing from it. We're
talking about it. It's getting out there, it's educating mums
and dads, it's educating people about this serious issue. But
the gum shields they've chosen, they've gone with the manufacturer
that doesn't show all the hits, so those gun shields

(10:51):
stop recording at seventy g. There was another manufacturer that
Harlequins were using and record over so show the full picture,
but that was too damn into the game of rugby
because a car crash was happening every single game.

Speaker 3 (11:05):
To most players, it's you say, Alex, these are warriors,
the men and women who go out and play rugby,
and not just those at elite level. But everybody who
plays the sport, you know, they enjoy the physicality of it,
and I'm sure many downplay the effect of hid knocks
in order to be able to play the following week.
What can we do about that?

Speaker 4 (11:26):
In again, it needs to be taken out of their hands.
So other sports that are very physical as well, and
so boxing. The same injury in boxing, you can't step
back in that ring for three months. I'm not saying
three months for rugby, but let's take it serious. Let's
give it the respect it needs and give it the
twenty eight days.

Speaker 5 (11:45):
Most of the changes we want and.

Speaker 4 (11:49):
Guidelines put in place, they're off the pitch to Monday
and Friday.

Speaker 5 (11:52):
We can have our gladiator.

Speaker 4 (11:56):
Spectacle on a match day, but we take that as
rugby players, but they need to be looked after during
the week.

Speaker 5 (12:05):
When there has been a traumatic brain injury.

Speaker 4 (12:07):
The length of the season, the number of games they're playing,
all of this You've got to look at the brain
as like the mileage on a car. These miles on
these boys brains and women's brains is just racking up
and we need to reduce it massively.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
Do you think player attitudes are changing Alex, do you
think there's a great realization among current players, those who
are still playing the game, you know, of the long
term fix that they could potentially face.

Speaker 5 (12:32):
Yeah, I think it is getting better.

Speaker 4 (12:34):
We saw it in the Lions series with Gary Ringrose
who pulled himself from a from a test match, and.

Speaker 5 (12:42):
That that was very brave of Gary.

Speaker 4 (12:44):
But I'd say ninety five percent of the players wouldn't
wouldn't do that because they wouldn't know if that situation
would would come up again and play for in such
a big game.

Speaker 5 (12:57):
So I think.

Speaker 4 (12:59):
Players off the records are speaking to me, but they're
not allowed to go on the record. They're not allowed
to talk bought publicly on this issue because it puts
the game in a bad light, and that's a tough one.

Speaker 5 (13:16):
It's a tough position to be in.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
How optimistic do you feel or not that change will
come and will come from the top.

Speaker 4 (13:28):
Well, I I don't think change will come until the
legal fight is over the changes I've I've been fighting
this now for over five years and the changes that
have been made, the smoke a mirror, the pr stunts
that they're they're checking out, that.

Speaker 5 (13:46):
They really care, if they really cared.

Speaker 4 (13:49):
You wouldn't have your CEO of the players Association, who's
supposed to be looking after these players, going around gas
lighting this situation. There's thousands of players in New Zealand
that are struggling. There's four all blacks who are part
of the legal case. There's boys who were played over
here and not to all black level were part of
the legal case and their brains are damage from rugby.

(14:11):
So until that is resolved, I don't think any real
change will happen.

Speaker 3 (14:17):
And you talk of the of the legal challenge. Eleven
hundred players have joined the lawsuit against the RIF, the
Welsh Rugby Union World Rugby. Is that case still on
track to potentially go to trial next year?

Speaker 5 (14:30):
Well, we hope.

Speaker 4 (14:31):
So the can keeps getting kicked down the road from
the other side and dragging it out and chucking mud
at not really important information and hoping we run out
of money as a as a as a legal team
or legal team does. But that's my understanding. It's been
a long time. We just want to be able to

(14:52):
support There's I say a lot, there's there's some real
drastic situations where boys have lost everything their marriage is
that they're home. Had a phone call last last month
with somebody was washed himself and his closed in a
stream because he had nowhere to go. We ended up
and we managed to get him some tempory accommodation.

Speaker 5 (15:14):
But it shouldn't be in this situation.

Speaker 3 (15:18):
It's a sobering, sobering topic of conversation and ded Alex
appreciate you're joining us. Do you have a message for
our listeners here in New Zealand, the rugby public here
in New Zealand and the loving rugby.

Speaker 5 (15:33):
I still love rugby.

Speaker 4 (15:34):
We can still make this game, this special game, carry on,
but just in a safer way. I really appreciate you
having me on. It's not a topic that is hard.
It is hard to talk about this exposure and telling
the truth. This is what Shane did and what we

(15:54):
will carry on.

Speaker 3 (15:56):
All the beast to you, Alex, thanks for your time today.

Speaker 5 (15:58):
Thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (15:59):
That is Alex Popham, former Welsh International co founder of
Hid for Change. Now. I know this is a pretty
heavy subject, but it's an important one to discuss and
to keep in the light, not in the shadows. I
do want to talk it through with you and get
your perspective. Eight hundred and eighty ten eighty. In very

(16:20):
simple terms, the time for denial is over, much as
it is a confronting conversation to have, we must now
accept the irrefutable link between collision sport and the long
term effects of traumatic head injury on the players and
those closest to them. You will never remove the physical

(16:42):
element from rugby, and no one wants to. That's not
what this is about. The physical battle is one of
the things that makes the sport what it is, why
we love to watch it, why millions of people around
the world want to play it. But the long term
effects of head collisions need to be unequivocally understood and

(17:02):
mitigated in any way possible. We need actual quantifye from
those in charge of the game. You heard some suggestions
there from Alex Popper. Mandatory standdowns must be longer, Full
contact trainings need to be reduced. To be honest, players
probably need to play fewer games, and decisions need to

(17:22):
be taken out of the player's hands because I'm almost
certain there's a feeling among many of our top players
that they would rather return to play as soon as possible,
and that's entirely natural. Who doesn't want to play. Who
wants to miss important matches? No one in the professional
era when this is their job. Who wants to give

(17:45):
up their spot to somebody else? Nobody? But at what cost?
When Billy Goton died, we said something had to be done.
Shane Christy tried to bring the issue into the spotlight,
but he came up against brick walls and resistance. And
I count many of us in the media in that
group that preferred to look the other way, preferred to

(18:09):
ignore some of the inconvenient truths of this issue. Shane
Christy wasn't the easiest guy to listen to, but he
needed to be listened to, and now he can't be
So what do we just wait for the next one now?
Or do we take action now? Twelve to twenty five

(18:30):
oh eight hundred eighty ten eighty Dallas, Good afternoon, Yeah.

Speaker 6 (18:35):
Hi Fannie, thanks for addressing this problem front on. Are
you saying that this should be fewer games?

Speaker 3 (18:46):
That was one suggestion was that players should play fewer matches. Yes, look,
I don't know how you do that, and I'm sure
players wouldn't be in favor of it either. I guess
if you zoom out on it, Dallas. The point that's
being made is that the fewer games you play, the
fewer head contacts you have. So yeah, fewer games. And

(19:06):
also I think the the more pertinent point was fewer
full contact training sessions between games.

Speaker 5 (19:15):
Mhm.

Speaker 6 (19:16):
Look, I just I don't think rugby sustainable long term
because yeah, it comes down to the almighty dollar and
you need to have your top team out there every
week and the pressure on that. I just think the
games in trouble just like boxing. Really, if he said,

(19:36):
this guy you had on he said, every game, every
play endure is like the equivalent of cracked car crash.

Speaker 7 (19:44):
Man.

Speaker 3 (19:44):
Yeah, yeah, that's and that's not all to the head, Dallas. Look,
I don't want this to I don't want to catastrophize this.
I think there are certainly the points of view all
the way along the scale. I remember speaking to and
I remember who it was, Ross Filippel when he was
part of the Chiefs coaching setup, and I remember the
interview so clearly. He said, you have the injuries that
that players suffer from a super rugby derby are a

(20:06):
kin to those of a minor car crash, not all
to the head, sometimes not to their head at all.
But you know, to the to their bodies and yours,
yours head coaches say, oh yeah, the boys are a
bit banged up. I think rugby is sustainable long term.
I honestly think that it is. And I don't think anybody,
Alex Popham or anybody involved in the advocacy of greater

(20:26):
awareness around this wants rugby to be depowered or to
go away. That's not what they're after it all. I
think it is sustainable long term, but there definitely needs
to be a greater understanding of the effects and ways
to mitigate them.

Speaker 6 (20:40):
Yeah, but the more understanding we have then the more
it seems like that unsustainable contact sports. You know, I
know in sport there's always risk anything, but yeah, I mean,
what's what's football doing. What's football doing with headers?

Speaker 5 (20:57):
You know?

Speaker 3 (20:58):
Yeah, well that's again different, Dallas, you know, I mean,
you know, and it's not a collision sport as such.
You're not being barreled into buy buy big blokes on
the other team. You know, you you're heading the ball,
but there's not the head contact as there is in
a rugby rugby league American football. There's been, certainly there's

(21:20):
been and I'm sure you've picked up on this. There's
been discussion around the heading of a football, particularly by
young players. I would hate to see that happen, if
I'm honest with you. I'm a huge fan of football,
as you may know, and I think hitting hitting the
football is a massive part of it. Look, if that
wasn't allowed, I wouldn't have I wouldn't have been able
to play the game at all. That was about the
only thing I was good at because I was six

(21:41):
foot four. But yeah, look, I not to joke about it,
but I think you know, within football there is a
lesser risk not to downplay any any you know effects
that and the players who played a long time ago
when the balls were a lot heavier as well, you
know those leather, heavy leather balls with the lacers in them.

(22:03):
I know there's been talk of players who played for
long periods using those footballs. Yeah, but I look like you,
but I can hear it in your voice. I'm not
sure what the answer is either. I know that there
has to be one, and the reason we talk about
it and continue to talk about it is because we
are all searching for one. Good to Chattiadellis. Thanks for

(22:24):
kicking us off. Mate, go well and Marie, Hi, oh.

Speaker 8 (22:27):
Hi there, how are you good?

Speaker 3 (22:29):
Thank you?

Speaker 8 (22:31):
Yeah, there's quite a lot of grief around this, isn't there.
I'm just thinking it's I mean, I'm not, I'm not.
I do love rugby, but I've to may the hea
injury talk and and just the realities of I guess
how how much of a physical game it is, I suppose,
and everyone seems to be getting bigger and heavier, and

(22:53):
that's like it's pretty full on and the workload's huge,
as we know. And so I guess I'm just reflecting
on I just I just heard the end of that
conversation with the Welsh guy and and I had two thoughts,
and one was just remembering, like around the woman's well,
the soccer World Cup and like the real I guess

(23:14):
the rise of soccer a few years ago and how
popular it was becoming, and the talk around it was
a bit of a panic was in the rugby because
I mean, the head injury topic was coming up as well,
and there was I remember hearing that, you know, kids
were choosing to play other sports more and that kind
of thing, and there was a panic. And I do

(23:35):
feel like there's been a real almost like a publicity
or what would you call it up, a push for
trying to get the game back again. And I just
sort of watching from the sidelines, not meaning to have
a pum there. But I'm not like following rugby like
I used to or anything like that. But I remember

(23:56):
feeling a couple of things around that soccer time that
because there are so many sports to choose from and
and sport Potocia participation is fantastic either way, and yet
there is a real just the money and everything behind rugby.
It's it's obviously it would be such a huge change,
and I'm not sure how that would look. And I

(24:18):
did hear him say at the end that he was
like a fan of rugby obviously and doesn't want it
to go away. And I think that's part of the panic,
is it's like the anxiety around how would this game
look if we were taking more care, Like what would
it look like? And I think there's probably a lot
of because it's unknown, do you know what I mean?
Like all the all the rugby fans, you know, the

(24:39):
people who love rugby, don't don't know what the game
would look like if you're if you're if you're being
more careful, if it means less games, and then that's
one thing that's we know you can probably live with that.
But at the end of the day, I just think, gosh,
it's about I wouldn't want any of these guys. They're
amazing people.

Speaker 7 (24:58):
I wouldn't it.

Speaker 8 (24:58):
It's not worth it. It's just not worth it.

Speaker 3 (25:02):
Yeah, No sport wants to place obstacles in the way
of participation. Amor they you.

Speaker 8 (25:06):
Say, voluntarily in a car crash, would you?

Speaker 3 (25:08):
I mean no, no, that's right. Yeah. But again, one
of the great attractions of rugby is it's physicality. And
I'm talking about participation as well as us watching from
the sidelines. I've never played rugby, but I love watching
the game for lots of reasons, not just the physicality,
but that's a big part of it. I don't want
to see, you know, there's been suggestions of only tackling

(25:31):
below the waist. I don't want to see that. I
don't want that. Of course, you can't just go around
taking people's heads off, and that's been addressed. But I
think rugby does face a challenge around participation, and particularly
with young people because their parents obviously have the biggest say,
do parents want to send their children into a sport
where there is the potential for long term damage? And

(25:52):
of course none of us do. None of us want
to put our kids in harm's way, do we?

Speaker 8 (25:57):
No? No, especially when not in other choices that do
give huge physicality to your personal body still still challenge involved.
There's still there's plenty of sport options for that. It's
just not the same from a spectator point of view.
And maybe we've just got to if it becomes something

(26:18):
that we can't solve, then I mean, I you know,
it's just it's a societal choice maybe where there'll be
a lot of grief that you know, on the upside
there's more money for other things. I don't know that.
I'm sorry.

Speaker 3 (26:31):
I'm sorry, but Marie, don't apologize. Your stream of consciousness
is extremely valuable. You know, often this is the way
we do talk things out. It's just by kicking it
around together, you know, talking about it. And we can't
always be as articulate or as eloquent as we would like.
I know I can't be, but it's important that we're
talking about it. Good for you, Thanks am, Marie, appreciate
your call twenty six away from one Luise. Please hold there.

(26:51):
I want to get your perspective and just a moment,
there is a speed line if you want to jump
aboard our eight hundred eighty ten eighty back in a moment.

Speaker 2 (26:58):
Don't get caught offside.

Speaker 1 (26:59):
Call eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekends for Us
with Jason Paine and GJ.

Speaker 2 (27:04):
Guvnerhomes New Zealand's most trust own builder.

Speaker 3 (27:08):
Twenty three away from one Luise. Thank you for holding.
You've got some real will experience in this area.

Speaker 9 (27:16):
Yeah, yeah, I do. I work in the area of
concussion rehabilitation and have done for decades, so I do.
I just want to say out for Amory spoke so well.
She just summed it up so well. There's no easy
solution to this. We don't want sport to be so

(27:41):
modified that it's no longer sport and contact sport does
have risk and it has excitement, and that's that's really
you know, while we watch it, it's how we manage it.

(28:01):
And I would say that I think in particular the
ins Are You has taken big steps towards managing concussion,
but I don't know that they've done it in a
holistic way. They've done it in a very physical, scientific way.

Speaker 3 (28:24):
So just unpack that first lais so how can they
be more holistic about it?

Speaker 9 (28:29):
Well, I found it very interesting. I didn't hear what
Rob Nichol said in terms of there being lifestyle choices
that these players make that have contributed to their cognitive
challenges and their paying challenges. I didn't hear any of that,

(28:51):
but I remember distinctly yesterday saying to my husband, Actually,
in that are you don't provide any allied health support
that don't provide any coology. And when you have constant headache,
constant pain, constant sleep disruption, and your job is relying

(29:16):
on you managing those symptoms, then you're going you risk
the challenge of looking at other ways of managing that.
And maybe some of these players have turned to alcohol
and drugs in gambling or whatever is a way of
alleviating those symptoms and distracting themselves from them. And that's

(29:41):
where you do need more than just doctors and exercise
physiologists determining what your heart rate is before you can
return to play, which is really standard of practice in
those realms. There's a lot more to it, and I
don't know that that is actually being employed in its entirety.

Speaker 3 (30:07):
There's also Louise that there's also because at the professional,
the elite level, you know, there is a responsibility from
New Zealand Rugby to look after their employees because that's
what they are effectively. But down in clubland, where you know,
players who play club rugby have all got jobs, but
they can get a whack on their head as well.

(30:30):
You know, ideally, if someone gets a whack on the
head and gets concussion playing club rugby, how long should
it be before they get back out there.

Speaker 9 (30:38):
It should be symptom based. It shouldn't be a time frame.
It actually should be symptom based. How do you actually feel,
not time? How do you actually feel? Okay? You go
and do this. Be it a physical you know, like
a training thing, or be it actually something like you say,
at a club leave or you're at work and you

(30:59):
can't concentrate on sending an email out of Joe blogs
in your business, you shouldn't really be going back to
play it should it's too It really should be more
nuanced than I think it is at this moment. And
that that's the challenge for sport is they just want

(31:21):
it to be you do this, this and this and
it's sorted, and it actually isn't that easy. And that's
where I thought Emory was so fabulous, is just saying
it's not easy.

Speaker 3 (31:34):
Loise. Thank you so much for your perspective. It's extremely valuable.
Thank you for calling through. Hello, Bill, good.

Speaker 10 (31:42):
Morning, good morning, Oh, good afternoon.

Speaker 3 (31:47):
Enough. It's close enough, Bill, we're only at twenty to one. Mate.
I think we can still say on a Sunday that
it's morning. Nice to hear from your mate.

Speaker 10 (31:53):
It could have been as a result of Mike could customers.
Hey listen, I I'll take you back to nineteen sixty two.
I was playing in Canterbury. I was at Lincoln College
the time, and I was playing. I'd had two seasons
up there. I'd played for Kenemy B and Captain Canaery Colts,

(32:17):
so I did play with a rugby there. I'd already
played for Target Colts. Came back to the farm and said,
toltago after the doctor I saw because what was happening
at the end of the nineteen sixty two seasons. If
I so much as had a sip of beer, I
got a raging headache, and I met a raging headache
and I just had to go home to bed. And

(32:39):
I did that for I don't know three four weeks,
and I finally went to see a doctor and he
was totally confused as to what it could be. He
had really had no idea as to what I was suffering,
and he thought about it, thought about it. He finally said, look, all,
I think I can recommend this, but you give up rugby.

(33:00):
So I headed back to the farm and to rugby
med community, of course, and I wasn't playing rugby, so
I wasn't popular, but that that was I put my
my the advice I had first. So I took the
whole year off and went back to rugby. The following
year played bit of rep rugby, and the following year

(33:22):
I was selected to play for Targo and and so
I was well. I was good enough to prop against
the spring Bucks, so it must have been reasonable. But
the bottom line is that I did not have a
relapse of problem, and I certainly was able to drink

(33:43):
beer after a game without any after any adverse effects.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
So you reckon it was the time off, Bill? Do
you reckon? It was the time off that did.

Speaker 10 (33:51):
That Uh yeah, well it was probably excessive because you know,
you were just listening to the woman before, you're saying
something like, you know, how do you assess what's going
on in the brain, how do you assess the damage
that's done? And so, as far as I'm concerned, that
twelve months oh well it was twelve months agoose, but

(34:12):
it was say six or seven months off was totally
invaluable to my brain recovering and and you know it.
And subsequently I took part in a as a volunteer
for the Brain Research Institute, New Zealand Brain Research Institute,

(34:34):
which was a full on research project and it involved
four hours of question and answers and remembering things for
twenty minutes for two hours and all sort of thing
full on. And the following the first year that was fine.
The second year I got better marks than the first year,

(34:58):
so they told me I didn't need to go back.
So I didn't have a lasting brain problem. And I'm
nearly a and I don't suffer any brain problem. And
so what I would suggest is that too many people

(35:20):
are looking at the effects, not the cause. The cause
of this problem is the physicality of the game of rugby.
And I have written to the rugby Union and suggested
that they get rid of this thing called them all,
which is an unsightly method of bodies that align themselves

(35:42):
up like torpedoes from both sides. And if there isn't
damage there that are going to be lasting, everlasting, I'll
go in because that is the craziest situation and it
is the most undignified way of playing a game where
everybody crashes into each other, lies on the ground until

(36:04):
the red blows the whistle and pedalo and that is
the nub of the problem.

Speaker 3 (36:11):
Well, I'm gonna have to leave it because I need
to move. But I mean, I'm I'm glad you took
the time off because who knows. If you hadn't, you
might not be calling us now. I appreciate your call
very much. I just want to read a text out
before we go to a break. It's from Campbell. What

(36:32):
a load of bs, says Campbell. This whole conversation is,
this woke, soft narrative is ruining the game just because
a few people have had problems, The majority, by far
do not have problems. Should we ban motorcycles because a
lot of them, a lot of people fall off them
get a grip denial. The time for denial is gone

(37:00):
thirteen to one. Back in a moment, the.

Speaker 1 (37:03):
Voice of Sport on Your Home of Sport cans forward
with Jason Vane and GJ. Gunn homes New Zealand's most
trusted own builder.

Speaker 3 (37:11):
News dogs tend to one get I.

Speaker 2 (37:14):
Paid up, Jackson?

Speaker 11 (37:17):
How we good?

Speaker 12 (37:18):
Thank you good?

Speaker 11 (37:20):
Yeah, a lot good conversation. But it looks so it's
a it's a full conclusion that there is a problem there,
and there's no two doubts about that. You've got the
medical fraternity saying it, and you also got players and
all the rest of it. The thing that I've got
my head can't trying to get my head around it.
Is why you can spend millions and billions of dollars

(37:41):
on protection in the car and other other forms of
machinery and pieces that can damage the body and everything else.
But it doesn't look as though the rugby but you
and I'm talking world rugby, not just New Zealand Rugby,
can't put money into trying to solve this problem. And
as satisfy satisfactory everybody, if they sit back and do nothing,

(38:02):
then they're always going to get blamed. For example, what
happened to headgear? Why isn't it impulsory? Why isn't the
homework Why isn't being homework done on a satisfactory head
gear with a geliner that can absorb thirty or forty
percent of the impact that takes place when these are
concussions occur. If you get it, they start to minimize

(38:25):
and spend the money on developing something that is satisfactory
and workable and usable by players. Doesn't change the rules
of the game or anything else that minimizes to a
large degree the severity of concussion impact.

Speaker 3 (38:41):
It's a good point, Peter, It's a good point. Look,
and I think we have to give World Rugby and
the individual unions some credit. They haven't They haven't completely
ignored this. Smart mouthguards for example, mandatory standowns, much tougher
penalties on those who make contact with the head during
a game. But I think more can be done. Absolutely

(39:02):
more can be done. Sorry to cut you sure, I
just wanted to get one more caller on the air Warakai.

Speaker 13 (39:07):
Yeah, I'll be quick as I can. I just wanted
to make the point of just people to look at
the athletes these days compared to even before it went professional.
You know, you had guys like Alan Uson, Grant Batty
and Bruce Robertson, guys that weigh unto hundred kilos playing
the game at the top level.

Speaker 11 (39:21):
Now these guys are.

Speaker 13 (39:22):
All the backs, are all built like bodybuilders. They are
massive and they're super fast. But you can't make your
brain stronger. You know, it's still vulnerable to these impacts.
And it's not even it doesn't even have to be
at the head. It can be just the concussions can
occur just from the brain moving inside the skull when
they stopped that are you know, hitting immovable object sort

(39:43):
of thing. So the athletes themselves and because they're professional,
of course, if they will professionally would have given it
away years ago because you know they've wrecked a lot
of them physically wrecked, but they keep playing because it's
their job. I don't know how you answer that, how
you get around it, but that's that's just the fact.
You know, you just look at the guys that are
playing the game. It's exciting to watch, but it's incredibly

(40:04):
dangerous at that level, incredible dangerous.

Speaker 3 (40:07):
Warick just so right, you know, I mean as you
were reeling off those names. I was thinking of Terry Wright.
He'd be lucky, you know. But you're right now. I mean, guys, guys,
you know, a big winger and as JK was a
big winger in his day, he'd be small now. It's
things have changed so much in terms of the size
of the athlete. You're so right and thanks for bringing

(40:29):
up text here on the same topic. Rugby's biggest issue
was Plaza twenty to thirty kilos heavier on average with
muscle than thirty years ago when all the old players
had had few problems. Bigger, heavier collisions mean more damage.
Seven to one News Talk said.

Speaker 2 (40:42):
Be when it's down to the line.

Speaker 1 (40:45):
You made a call on eight Weegen Sports with Jason
Hine News Talks.

Speaker 3 (40:51):
B great hour, folks, Thanks for all your calls and correspondence.
Just want to finish. There's a great columnant by David
Walsh in the Sunday Times on this very issue, which
includes this line near the end. A colleague said to me,
how can you write about the joys of sport one
minute and something terrible as brain damage the next? And
the answer from David Walsh's there is stuff you want

(41:12):
to write and there's stuff you need to write about
news next.

Speaker 1 (41:19):
True it's the only place to discuss the biggest sports
issues on and afterfield.

Speaker 2 (41:25):
It's all on Weekend's Forward with Jason Vade on your
home of Sport used Talk.

Speaker 3 (41:33):
Hello there, Welcome into the show. Welcome back to the show.
If you've been with us from the start or part
thereof one o seven. I'm Jason Pine. This is Weekend Sport.
Andy McDonald is the show producer. We're head till three
in an hour or so, joined by Mark Winterbottom. Really
looking forward to chatting to a super cars legend. I
had the chance to read his book. Look, I'm not
the biggest motorsport fan in the world, but I really

(41:57):
enjoyed his book. Devoured it. It's a really good read,
very insightful. So looking forward to chatting to Mark Winterbottom
about his book and about his career in motor racing,
which stretches across the last two decades, including a win
at Bathist in twenty thirteen. That's after two o'clock. Also
one to check in to Staggs Country where they going

(42:18):
to try and win the shield this afternoon. Not in
Stacks Country, but in Hamilton in the tron where the
current incarnation of the Southland Side are going to go
up and try and cries that log of what off
Whitekuttu who've only had it for eight days? Jason Rutledge
Southland Stags Leedgeen one hundred and forty three games for them.
He won the shield twice with them and lost it

(42:40):
twice with them, but he had a number of cracks
out at either side of all of that as well.
So how much would it mean if the most famous
trophy in New Zealand sport could head to win the Cargil?
A little bit later on this evening, Jason Rutledge after
two this hour James mccony and a double dose of
football coming your way with a look at the trials
and tribulations of Manchester United. And I know there are

(43:01):
a lot of United fans in New Zealand, so keen
to hear your view as well. I'm going to talk
to Jay Motty shortly. He's a co host of a
fan channel, a Manchester United fan channel which has close
to a million online subscribers. How is he feeling about life?
And Steve Corricks on the show too. Auckland f C coach.
They lost to Heidelberg United last night in the semi

(43:23):
finals of the Australia Cup. Heidelberg United are a non
professional team. However, Auckland FC have been added to their
list of victims. They beat Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney
and now I have beat an Auckland FC to move
into the final. Steve Coreic feeling about that and what
is now on the agenda between now in the new
Bay League season which starts in about six or seven

(43:44):
weeks time. Just updating you on Live sport Kievy. Michael
Venus has had a real impressive first outing at the
US Tennis Open. In his first round doubles match, he
and Indian playing partner Yuki Bambrie have beaten the unseated
US pair of Marcos Yuron and Learn a teen and
straight sets. Into the second round, they're the fourteenth seats
Michael Venus and Yuki Bambury so well unto them and

(44:06):
at Boty to a part Jerry Collins Stadium, we're in
the final minutes. Wellington have done it easily over Tallanhaki's
seventy six nil in the Farah Parmer Cup. The late
game at Jerry Collins Stadium as Wellington VI Auckland and
the NPC. You heard Caleb Clark during our news then
he'll be taking a part in this game. And a

(44:27):
number of players released to Wellington as well out of
the All Blacks. Looking forward to seeing how that one
plays out. You can get a full commentary incidentally on
Goldsport and iHeartRadio from five past two ten past one.
Its skipper Bruno Fernandez has kept his nerve to give
Manchester United a very important first win of the season.

Speaker 14 (44:48):
This is a moment of huge significance Flanchester United.

Speaker 15 (44:53):
Seven minutes into stoppage time, Bruno.

Speaker 14 (44:55):
Fernandest, here's your captain surely on that Twitter for Manchester.

Speaker 3 (45:03):
United, and yes it proved to be so. Bruno Fernandez
converting an injury time penalty to give United a three
to two victory over Burnley at Old Trafford. That came
after an opening day loss to Arsenal, a one Old
drawer at Fulham and midweek defeat to fourth tier Grimsby
on penalties in the League Cup. All of this off

(45:24):
the back of a fifteenth placed finish in the Premier
League last season by some distance, their lowest in the
Premier League ERA and their lowest since they were relegated
from the Old Division I all the way back in
the season of nineteen seventy three seventy four. Jay Motty
is co host of Stretford Paddock, an online Manchester United

(45:46):
fan channel with close to a million subscribers. Jay, let's
talk about today first. Was today just a matter of
getting the three points in whichever fashion they came?

Speaker 5 (45:58):
Yeah?

Speaker 16 (45:58):
Absolutely, I mean, look, we needed it when we know
obviously it's not been a great start at the season,
losing at home to Arsenal despite a decent performance than
the draw it Fullham and obviously that absolute horror show
away at Grimsby. The pressure is already on Rubin amer In,
which sounds insane just three games in, but this is
where we are.

Speaker 17 (46:15):
So to not be a.

Speaker 16 (46:17):
Newly promoted side at Old Trafford there would have been
no excuses and even though it was a bit such
and going, obviously we had to rely on a penalty.

Speaker 17 (46:23):
I'm just glad we got the three points.

Speaker 16 (46:25):
Was at the game and you know, the atmosphere would
have been toxic at the end if we not won.

Speaker 17 (46:29):
It really would have.

Speaker 16 (46:30):
But by the end everyone was sort of more relieved.
I think than celebratory. It's just a relief that we've
got those three points.

Speaker 5 (46:36):
You know.

Speaker 16 (46:36):
I'll go into this international break, hopefully in the next
forty hours, get a goalkeeper in and then take it
from there. Because it's not been the starts of the
season we wanted, especially after the disappointing campaign last time round.

Speaker 3 (46:50):
This seems like a very odd question to be asking
when we haven't even reached up Timber but his brunef
and Andy has saved his manager's job today.

Speaker 16 (46:59):
What I would say on that is, I don't think
necessarily that had we not won, Ruby Ameran gets sacked.
But I think that if or when Ruben Amering does
leave United, that would have been one of the games.

Speaker 17 (47:11):
You look back and go he needed a win then
and he didn't get it.

Speaker 16 (47:14):
Because we can't keep dropping points, you can't keep having
these disappointing results. So I don't know where any your
stand with Ruby Avum. I still feel like they're supporting him,
So I don't know necessarily whether they've gone right, that's it,
You've drawn ou obviously, Burny, you're done. But it would have
added more pressure on him and it might be one
of those games where when he does leave, you look
back and go, look if Bruno had scored that penalty

(47:35):
against Burnley, that would have helped him. Obviously he has done.
I just hope now we can sort of. I know
it's like a common theme at Manchester United and we
say all the time a bit of a reset. We
have a reset every single season, and now we're having
him three games in, but we need.

Speaker 17 (47:49):
To sort of take stock.

Speaker 16 (47:51):
Hopefully during this international break used it to sort of
I don't even know, maybe just get behind this manager
a little bit. Maybe the manager gets the players that
aren't in national duty, maybe he has a chat with them,
gets them a little bit more on board. And like
I said, there's still lot opportunities in the transfer window.
We've got a little time left there, but we need
to do something because the games after the the international break,

(48:12):
I think we've got Manchester City, We've got Chelsea, Brentford away,
and then I think we've got Liverpool. So it's not
going to get any easier for Rubina and it's going
to get a lot harder.

Speaker 3 (48:20):
Domin Chies. Do United fans like him? Do they on
the whole jay? Are they in support of your current boss?

Speaker 17 (48:28):
Yes, they do. We do.

Speaker 16 (48:29):
I mean I think that's the problem, if you can
call it a problem in terms of his personality and
where he comes across.

Speaker 17 (48:35):
I think everyone's buying into it.

Speaker 16 (48:36):
I think there was a lot of sympathy in the
seem inherited, the mess, inherited, the way he carries himself.

Speaker 17 (48:42):
He's honesty, which sometimes can be his undoing.

Speaker 16 (48:44):
If you saw him after the Grimsby game, some of
the things he was saying was maybe a little bit
too honest, if that's even a thing. But I think
most United fans I've spoken to, and certainly the ones
that get involved in the comments on the chat on
the channel back Rubinham. We like him, but you have
to win football matches, manch United manager. I know that's
probably the most obvious statement you've ever heard, but it's true.
We can't keep losing or keep dropping points or getting

(49:07):
not started Cup competitions. And just because you're good in
an interview or you're good in a press conference, people
are going to stick with you.

Speaker 17 (49:12):
Sooner or later you're going to lose the fans. And
I think there is a bit more of a divide
in the fan base now.

Speaker 16 (49:17):
I don't think it's as overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly supportive as it
has been. But I think by in large a lot
of people do like Rubin Adrian and listen, whether you
like ruberin Adrio or not, we want him to succeed,
want Man United to win games, and I think he'll
always have a sort of call backing in that respect.
But he has to do better because last season, okay,
you can say inherit a mess, and you can call
it a bit of a right off. But this season

(49:38):
he's had some signings, so we have to we have
to move forward.

Speaker 3 (49:42):
Since Sir Alex Ferguson left as your manager in twenty thirteen,
you've had David Moy's, Louis van Hale, Josey Mourinho, only
Goanna saw show, Eric tin Hagen their Ruben Emeron. Are
the shoes of Sir Alex simply too big to fill? Jay?

Speaker 16 (49:56):
In some respects, Yeah, because obviously fans of a certain age,
including my remember winning thirteen titles in twenty years, We
remember winning the tru remember winning another Champions League in Moscow.
So it does loom over any manager that sort of
big shadow. But you can't use that as an excuse
Sir Alex Ferguson retired twelve years ago. The club have

(50:18):
spent what nearly two billion pounds I think on transfers.
Managers have had opportunities. They've inherited squads who've got talented players,
and we've got talented players. Now, Manchester Unity might be
a lot of things, but this idea that the entire
team is terrible is just nonsense because you look at
some of the players that we've got and some of
the players we've brought in.

Speaker 17 (50:35):
There's a lot of talent there.

Speaker 16 (50:36):
So managers can't just use the excuse of say, oh, well,
Ferguie's boots are too big to fill. Eventually you have
to fill them. You have to have a level of
success at Manchester United. It's not necessarily you have to
be as good as Alex Ferguson. I don't think we'll
get another manager who wins thirteen titles in twenty years
or stays at the club for twenty six and a
half years like Sir Alex did. But I do think
we can have a manager that delivers a title. I

(50:58):
just don't know whether that is going to be Ruben Hammering.
I hope it is, but the minute a title challenge
or let alone, winning one is looking a million miles away,
it really is.

Speaker 3 (51:06):
You mentioned a goalkeeper as a point of business during
the international window before the trainsfer window closes. Are there
any other gips of your skips and the Manchester Do
you knowed squad at the moment and how do you
assist that you said just before good players?

Speaker 4 (51:21):
Hew?

Speaker 3 (51:21):
Do you assist the squad at the moment?

Speaker 16 (51:23):
I think the issue we've got with the squad mainly
is goalkeeper and midfield. We haven't got that right combination
in midfield that works.

Speaker 17 (51:30):
Listen. I'm a massive Cobby.

Speaker 16 (51:31):
Maine who found I absolutely love him, but has he
got the legs to work in a too man midfield?

Speaker 17 (51:36):
Probably not?

Speaker 16 (51:37):
Also Casimiro's he got the legs to be in a
too man midfield? I don't think he has. Are you
getting the best start of Bruno having him sitting deep
when he's alongside someone like Casamiro? I'm not sure you
are because that midfield sort of double pivot, it just
isn't working. That needs to be solved now. There was
Soker was going in for Carlos Belabor from bright who's
got that energy, He's got those legs that you need
if you're going to have a midfield that works in

(51:58):
this system. But it doesn't look like we're going to
get him in the January, sorry, in the summer transfer window,
so I don't know what you're going to do in
the meantime, maybe just keeps to shuffle the pack Manually.
Guy is not the player we were hoping he would be.
I mean, I know he's only into what his second season.
He's barely played this season, but from what we've seen
so far, it's just not been good enough.

Speaker 17 (52:18):
So that's the biggest issue for me. Obviously the goalkeeper.

Speaker 16 (52:20):
We saw it again against Burnley Alty Bay and Day
didn't cover himself in glory, just as Andre and Arna
didn't against Grimsby. So the goalkeeper situation is something that
needs addressing. Although I think the club are looking in
at getting the senes la Man's send Lamn sorry for
Ann Swerp. He should be coming in I think in
the next twenty four hours. And then you look at
the midfield though, are we going to get someone in

(52:41):
or are we going to have to just work with
what we've got. That's going to be a bit of
a headache for the manager, because I think in terms
of the lack of goals last season, we've obviously brought
in Brian Boom, Molmontes Kunia and Benjamin Sesco to address that.

Speaker 17 (52:51):
Look at the defense, Leonard.

Speaker 16 (52:53):
Rro Mattes, the Lakes, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire all very
talent defenders. Even though wingbacks you've got options there, but
in that midfield it is a little bit problemaic.

Speaker 3 (53:02):
I don't want to get too much to the EYD,
but I did see a third of this week. I'm
sure you saw it too. Pull goals might have bought
Appy actually if him Roy Kane, Ronaldo, Wayne Rudy, Ryan
Giggs in Rio third on end watching a penalty shoot.
Yet do you yearn for those days?

Speaker 17 (53:16):
Do you know what?

Speaker 5 (53:17):
Right?

Speaker 17 (53:17):
I always have an issue with that, folks. I remember
that day.

Speaker 16 (53:19):
It was the two thousand and five f A Cup
final where we lost those penalties to Arsenal. So that
just brings back that memory for me. So everyone uses
that picture as nostalgia and this just makes me angry
because I remember we batted Arsenal that day and then
we missed it. I think the schools he missed his
penalty and yeah, we ended up losing the FA Cup finals.

Speaker 17 (53:37):
So look, I get it.

Speaker 16 (53:39):
There's just a host of legendary players on that picture.
I do miss those those players. I do miss those times,
and I do look it and think we are a
long way away from it.

Speaker 17 (53:47):
But we've been here before.

Speaker 16 (53:49):
Manchester United have been through more than most clubs, and
we always surprise people. We always bounce back. It's going
to take a little while. I'm hoping that in he
us get it right and they have this planning place.
I think some of the more recent signings have been better.
Not all been perfect by any stretch, but you can
see what they're trying to do. So yeah, we've just
got to have a little bit of faith and I
hope that Manchester United can get back to where we
belong because the club the size of mans United, with

(54:10):
the history that you've mentioned, we should be challenging for
Premier League titles and back in the Champions League and
challenging for that. Not you know, relieve that we've got
a night seventh minute against ninety seventh minute winner against
Burnley to give us our first Premier League winning the season.

Speaker 3 (54:24):
All right, just to finish the joy. What is a
SETUS Factory Premier League season for Manchester United. This season,
I think.

Speaker 16 (54:32):
With all things considered, I think getting into Europe would
be a success.

Speaker 17 (54:37):
And I know, as a United fan who's.

Speaker 16 (54:38):
Seen a lot of Gloria over the years, that is
a bit, you know, bit sort of almost negative and
a bit too bit.

Speaker 17 (54:46):
But we have to remember where we were last season.
We finished fifteenth.

Speaker 16 (54:49):
This season we've still got a new new signings trying
to ingratiate themselves.

Speaker 17 (54:53):
I'm not saying they're not good players.

Speaker 16 (54:54):
They are, and I think you look at other teams
that are above and around us, they've all improved as well.
So I just think get back into Europe, whether that's
the Europa League. Hopefully I'd rather the Champions League, but
it might not be that, but that is a bare
for me. Gat Monchester buck into Europe and then you
can build on that from there.

Speaker 3 (55:10):
Thanks so much for your time across New Zealand today, Jay,
enjoy this win and the international break and we'll catch
up again soon.

Speaker 17 (55:16):
Seek thanks for chaining for us.

Speaker 3 (55:17):
No, thanks for joining us. JJ Motty, co host of
Stretford Paddock and online Manchester United Fan Channel. All Right,
man United fans, I know you're out there. I know
you are. I've seen your Riplica shirts, not as many
at the moment, but still I've seen you online. A
very rare opportunity to chat about your side now I

(55:38):
eight hundred eighty ten eighty. My predecessor, Martin Devlin, used
to talk about United all the time, mad passionate Manchester
United fan and he used to take us all on
a roller coaster of his own emotions around this football team.
Me less, so I'm not a United fan, but here's
your chance show yourselves. I've eight hundred eighty ten eighty

(56:01):
if you'd like to comment on where your side is
right now and how difficult it's been to be a
supporter of a team that on Wednesday was it Wednesday Thursday?
Mid week anyway, lost to Grimsby Town, a fourth tier
team whose goalkeeper is actually a Manchester United fan, and
he was one of the heroes of a penalty shootout

(56:24):
and said afterwards he's a little bit gutted because he's
a United fan and he's just knocked them out of
the League Cup. And if you don't support Manchester United,
why are they the team Everyone else seems to absolutely
delight in the failures of Is it just because they
have historically been so successful in the era of Sir

(56:48):
Alex Ferguson, from sort of that late eighties into the
nineties and the start of the Premier League and right
the way through the nineties and two thousands and even
beyond that they were so successful. Is that the reason
why we seem to luxuriate in these times where things
are not going well for them at all. Fifteenth in

(57:09):
the Premier League last season. Never he thought they were
going to get relegated, but certainly a million miles away
from the heights they used to scale, both domestically and
in Europe as well. Oh, eight hundred and eighty ten eighty,
if you want to chat about that. I've had a
question about the first fifteen rugby Final which has been
played right now actually between the lot to do a

(57:30):
boys high and fielding high. So we'll try and get
you some score updates from there. The last time I checked,
actually it was fifteen to seven to rot to Do
after thirty minutes, so that was about ten minutes ago.
So I think they've just gone to half time. In
fact they have. I'm just looking at the live stream

(57:52):
and they've gone to halftime, so I'll give you a
halftime score when and if I have it. Also, we've
got live rugby this afternoon from Pottydoor Park from Jerry
Collins Stadium where it's Wellington up against Auckland. Full commentary
that on gold Sport and iHeartRadio, Ross Bond and Matt Park.

(58:12):
What a pair if you want to flick across. If
you don't or you know, not because of them, but
if you'd rather stay with us, we'll update you after
two for the first half anyway. Colin, Hi, mate, Hey,
going well.

Speaker 7 (58:28):
I watched this morning's game and I'm like die heart
United supporter and it's been real frustrating for the last
two to three years the ways they've gone adult it.
I feel that they've thought badly. At the moment, we're
suffering because we don't have a structure that they can

(58:48):
stick to. He seems to change the side. Then when
he wants to this morning's game, the goal keeper yet
again cost us nearly.

Speaker 3 (59:01):
Yeah, no, no, you're right, you know you're right. I
mean you got the one at the end, Colin, But yeah,
that was an issue midweek as well, wasn't it. In
the league cap Another one today. To be fair, he
made the save, but it was parried into the path
of an on rushing striker who made it too too.

Speaker 7 (59:17):
It was so hard, you know. After Sir Alex Ferguson
was in charge, I worked with a guy. He supports
Liverpool and he's anti United and City. He's he's all.
He focuses on his team, and I think out there
people are pleased to see United failing at the moment.

Speaker 18 (59:41):
Will get direct.

Speaker 7 (59:42):
I'll never walk away from them, but as a supporter,
it is so frustrating at the malment. They can play
some nights football sometimes, but there are other times we
just we just don't deserve to be there.

Speaker 3 (59:57):
I don't think how did you become a United fan, Colin,
How did they become your team?

Speaker 2 (01:00:02):
Well?

Speaker 7 (01:00:05):
You know me, Georgie bas with plan for them.

Speaker 3 (01:00:09):
Yep.

Speaker 7 (01:00:09):
My late father and some of the boys from the
Lock soccer club. They went up to walk them to
watch the night of play and that name always.

Speaker 2 (01:00:24):
Stuck with me.

Speaker 7 (01:00:26):
And yeah, as I say I watched them, that goes
on my brother's place and I'm nearly screwing the roof
down sometimes, but yeah, I just loved them. I really
really do.

Speaker 3 (01:00:40):
Good on you, Colin, and you're right not to walk away.
You're right not to walk away from them. That's what
fandom is. Goodness only knows how many times I've said
this on the show. Fandom's a roller coaster. You're not
allowed to get off it. Once you nail your colors
to the mast, you are stuck with your team through

(01:01:00):
thick and thin, and sometimes there's an awful lot of thin.
Manchester United fans like you, Colind had some wonderful years,
just as Liverpool fans did in the eighties and into
the nineties, and then there was a long barren spell.
But you can't jump off. You can't be a fair
weather fan. Well you can, but you're not a real fan.

(01:01:21):
You're not a real fan. Good to chat to you, Colin.
You you talked about Manchester United coming to New Zealand. I
think it was in the late sixties, nineteen sixty seven.
I think they came to New Zealand and Georgie Best
would have been in the team. Then. What a player,
what a player he was, unbelievable. One twenty seven. Let's
take a bight come back and talk some domestic football

(01:01:42):
of sorts. Steve Crickett coach of Auckland FC.

Speaker 1 (01:01:45):
After this the big issues on and after fields call,
Oh eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sport with Jason.

Speaker 2 (01:01:53):
Fine and GJ.

Speaker 1 (01:01:54):
Gunnerhomes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder.

Speaker 2 (01:01:57):
News talks to Baby.

Speaker 3 (01:01:59):
One p thirty Steve Criker shortly Kevin Man you fan, Hello, mate.

Speaker 10 (01:02:04):
How are ye?

Speaker 12 (01:02:07):
Yeah?

Speaker 19 (01:02:07):
A long times ago to at that little station in Marsden.

Speaker 3 (01:02:11):
I remember it well, Kevin. Some of my fondest radio
days were the early ones, working on a Saturday afternoon
with you.

Speaker 19 (01:02:18):
Out in the field, mate, absolutely, and I think we
did that Christmas song. I think you took the lead
in one of those verses.

Speaker 11 (01:02:24):
I think it's.

Speaker 3 (01:02:24):
Amazing that a best seller, A best selling, no doubt.

Speaker 19 (01:02:30):
I think they only played it once.

Speaker 10 (01:02:31):
Yeah, they.

Speaker 19 (01:02:34):
I went to talking about ninety sixty seven. I didn't
go to the game, but a couple of guys I've
spoken to actually played on that game against MANU was
actually New Zealand and the minty moment was a guy
called Arthur Browd and Manchester.

Speaker 20 (01:02:48):
I had kicked off and he hadn't taken.

Speaker 10 (01:02:49):
A shirt off anyway.

Speaker 19 (01:02:51):
Bobby Charleston looked at and the first goal was scored
Stroud shirt over a little bit to pick the ball
up at the back of the dead so I think
it was about ten mil at the end and anyway,
but yeah, Georgie Best played that day and what wonderful occasion.
I'm told that the two guys who actually witnessed it,
but and he was, They were so noble after the
game too, you know, it glows about the fact they've

(01:03:12):
beaten Zealand. But they were lovely guys, you know, Nobbie
Styles and Bobby Chelton and Jack Charlton of course and
the great, the great, you know, George Best. Yeah, so yeah,
I just want to share that story of your priory.

Speaker 3 (01:03:26):
Yet love it, Kevin Good and what names they are, mate, Hey,
so good to hear your voice again, Kevin. All the
best to you and the family, mate, and those days
back in Marsterton in the early nineties will live long
with me, mate, Good to chat to you. Semi professional
Victorian football club Heidelberg United, meantime, have continued their remarkable
giant killing run, making the Australia Cup Final, this time

(01:03:48):
beating Auckland FC two nil for a third straight win
over a leagu opposition. They took the lead in the
seventy fifth and then scored a second in the eighty
fourth minute to claim it to nil victory. Auckland FC
coach Steve Criker is with us from the airport about
to fly out. Not your night, Steve, How do you
reflect on the game last night? Yeah, not our night.

Speaker 21 (01:04:08):
In in the two boxes, I think we we couldn't
break them down, and obviously we made a couple of
errors that cost goals.

Speaker 5 (01:04:16):
So I think.

Speaker 21 (01:04:17):
General play throughout the ninety minutes we will Obviously we dominated.
We we had most of the ball, We had our
chances as well to take the lead, and we didn't
capitalize on our opportunities.

Speaker 3 (01:04:31):
Are they easy fixers? The certainly, the attacking end. Is
that something that's relatively straightforward to work on.

Speaker 21 (01:04:38):
Yeah, of course, you know, some days it goes in,
some days it doesn't. You know, we created the chances defensively. Obviously,
a couple of errors individual players, you know, they can
be fixed. So obviously we've got a fair bit of
work to do before the start of the season. Still,
there's still plenty of time new players coming in and

(01:04:59):
adapting to the to the new style of play and.

Speaker 5 (01:05:03):
What we expect as well.

Speaker 21 (01:05:05):
But overall, obviously a disappointing night to to not have
gone through into a into a final was it was,
you know, and then you know we respected them. They've
obviously beat two other A League teams before before us
and we knew what was ahead and yeah, we couldn't
get the job done.

Speaker 3 (01:05:24):
How do they compare Heidelberg to some of the sides
you play in the A League?

Speaker 21 (01:05:30):
To be fair, they're a very disciplined team. The defensively
very strong. They're a big, big team as well, big
strong team at the back, and you know that you
can see them working very very well as a team.
So you know, they haven't considered a goal in the
cup and that's the big part of the reason why
they've they've gone through. Similar probably similar our game to

(01:05:50):
the Wanderers game. You know, the Wanderers had a lot
of the ball and couldn't break them down and get
and got caught on the counter and and that's similar
to what happened last night.

Speaker 3 (01:06:01):
Goalkeeper Michael Vaud probably thinks he might have done better
with one or both of the goals. Do you have
to get around him today?

Speaker 21 (01:06:08):
Well, I'm flying to Sydney today, so I won't be
getting around him. So yeah, I think he'd be probably disappointed.
Yeah he's not the only one that made mistakes for
the goal, but yeah, obviously he'd be disappointed in in
definitely the first goal, I think so.

Speaker 5 (01:06:24):
But again, you know this, this happens.

Speaker 21 (01:06:25):
We make mistakes and it's it's how he learns from
it and how he goes in the next games after that.

Speaker 3 (01:06:30):
You brought Olie Sail to the club obviously as well.
Is that a very much a live conversation around who
will start for you when the A League season begins.

Speaker 21 (01:06:40):
Well, obviously we've got two very good goalkeepers. We did
we did last year as well. Alex had a wonderful
year and Doris has gone on now to I think
he's sign in Poland, so.

Speaker 5 (01:06:51):
And yees this year is no different.

Speaker 21 (01:06:53):
We brought Olie in. Obviously, Michael's got first choice at
the moment, and you know, obviously he's he's got to
keep playing well and obviously the mistake last night probably
didn't help him, but you know.

Speaker 17 (01:07:08):
You know, it's only one mistake.

Speaker 21 (01:07:09):
He's played really well in the first couple of games
as well and kept clean sheets. Yeah, he'll continue in goals,
but Olie's obviously they're just in case.

Speaker 3 (01:07:19):
You've integrated a couple of outfield players and your side
as well. You alluded to it before English striker Sam
Cosgrove's come in Australian lockey Brook. How they fitted into
your environment early.

Speaker 21 (01:07:28):
On really good. I think the players have made them
feel really welcome. They've fitted in really well. Obviously Sam's
only been here two weeks and he's been away for
one of them, so it's yeah, so he hasn't seen
too much of Auckland, but Locke's fitted in really well
as well. I think one of the chances came from
both of them.

Speaker 3 (01:07:48):
Last night.

Speaker 21 (01:07:49):
Lockey Brook played a nice little bought through for Sam
and Sam probably should have scored, I think so, and
they probably would have got us one nill up. And
you know that's how you know the games. Games can
change like that, you know that. But yeah, obviously we
didn't take our chances when they came.

Speaker 3 (01:08:05):
Your preseason program was affected quite considerably by the rescheduling
of this game. It was brought forward by two weeks,
reportedly because Heidelwerg had booked an end of season trip
to Vegas. How disruptive has this been for Auckland FC.

Speaker 5 (01:08:21):
Yeah, obviously it's not ideal.

Speaker 21 (01:08:23):
We made it very clear we didn't want to play
the game this weekend because it's supposed to be into
another two weeks time. So you know, I've said it before,
it's poor planning from the FA. You know, I think
you can change the game for two or three days,
but if you're talking about three weeks or two weeks away,
it's not ideal for us, especially we've already sanctioned the

(01:08:44):
game against the wanders They knew that. Obviously it didn't
matter to them. They want to just make sure that
we played it on that weekend, so we had no
other choice. But obviously it was an ideal. We stayed
in Sydney the whole week. We didn't get to play
Wanderers either, so obviously they were not very happy with
us as well. And then you know, obviously we stayed

(01:09:08):
and we lost, so it's probably been a It hasn't
been the best of weeks.

Speaker 3 (01:09:12):
Western Sydney can't be annoyed with you can.

Speaker 17 (01:09:14):
It's not your decision, Yeah, of course not.

Speaker 21 (01:09:17):
It's not our it's not our decision. I think after
Terry explained it too. I think they understood so, but
you know, that's you know, we we try as a
professional club to plan in our pre season. It's obviously
difficult for us as well, being in Auckland. We to
go to Australia. It's costly as well, so we try

(01:09:37):
to try to make the most of it with obviously
the Sydney games and then follow it up by a
wondrous game. But yeah, it obviously didn't work out that way.
And now you know pre season, you know, there's no
Cup games for us anymore, so we have to obviously
start planning some other other games that we can we
can sort of get now until the start of the season.

Speaker 3 (01:09:57):
Yeah, well September tomorrow. Season starts in mid October, so ideally, Steve,
what will the next sux or seven weeks look like
for Auckland FC before the season starts.

Speaker 21 (01:10:07):
Well, the boys get a deserved five five days break
which they were supposed to get last week, so hopefully
they come back fresh and ready to go again for
pre season and you know, we'll play obviously some local
teams and then yeah, obviously if we can get to Sydney,
it would be it would be good as well to

(01:10:28):
get a couple of matches against that A league opposition
before we start the season.

Speaker 3 (01:10:33):
Well, some players don't get a break, do they five
all whites and your squad? Will they just go straight
to Canberra for Friday's game against Australia.

Speaker 21 (01:10:40):
Yeah, yeah, they'll be flying out from from Melbourne to Canberra.
So obviously the five four Whites and also Jake Brimmers
in the Maltese national team as well, So there's six
players that will you know, won't get a break. Maybe
they'll get one of one or two days off when
they get back, but obviously they won't get the longer
break that the boys other boys have.

Speaker 3 (01:10:59):
It's a former soccer rue but now boss of Auckland Deaf.
So do you cheer four in this upcoming series?

Speaker 21 (01:11:05):
Yeah, it's obviously I'm very pleased to have you know,
five players in the national team. But I am an Aussie,
even though they didn't really treat us that well in
this match against Heidelberg. But yeah, you know, I've represented
my country and I'm very proud ofsy and you know
I will be supporting Australia, but obviously with a keen

(01:11:26):
eye on our boys making sure they do really well
if they get opportunities as well, and.

Speaker 3 (01:11:30):
Not getting injured, obviously that's the other one. Not get injured.

Speaker 5 (01:11:33):
We not getting that's the main thing. Yeah, I said
that to him last night.

Speaker 21 (01:11:36):
Obviously, have all the best and you know, just come
back safe. That's that's my main concern, that these players
come back safe and and you know, ready for pre
season when we get back.

Speaker 3 (01:11:46):
Did you get a bit of verbal from the crowd last.

Speaker 21 (01:11:48):
Night, No, I'm talking about the fatcha.

Speaker 3 (01:11:54):
Good to know, good to clarify and have you Have
you managed to binge watch the entire eight episodes of
Forever Auckland FC on Sky.

Speaker 21 (01:12:03):
I haven't not yet.

Speaker 2 (01:12:04):
No.

Speaker 21 (01:12:05):
I think when I get back to Auckland I can
do that. My family's loving forward to it. But obviously
we can't get in a show at the moment. So
we'll see what when they come over on holidays and
they can watch it as well.

Speaker 5 (01:12:17):
Well.

Speaker 3 (01:12:17):
Enjoy it well and break Steve, thanks for joining us,
Mate'll see you back in Auckland.

Speaker 17 (01:12:20):
Thanks Piney.

Speaker 3 (01:12:21):
Cheers man, cheers mate. That is Steve Corricker, coach of
Aukland FC. On After this, James mcconey in his regular
Sunday Slot.

Speaker 1 (01:12:28):
One Grudge hold Ngage Weekend Sport with Jason Paine and
TJ gunder Homes, New Zealand's most trusted home builder News
talk to Baby.

Speaker 3 (01:12:38):
One for four and around this time every Sunday afternoon
we get the pleasure of the company of James mcconey
and today is no different. But if we fast forward
a week James and when we're speaking the day after
all Black spring Box at Eden Park, what do you
expect the conversation to consist of between the two of us?

Speaker 20 (01:12:57):
You know what it's going to be, like, Poney, It'll
be all around discipline, taking opportunities, kicks the goal, stuff
like that, because I think it's just going to be
such a titanic struggle. I haven't got a long range
forecast for you, but I think that'll have a huge
bearing on the game as well. But this is as
big as it gets outside of a World Cup indeed.

Speaker 3 (01:13:18):
So what do you expect Scott Robertson to do? Selection wise?
I think we can say, okay, Wallace the Ted, he
comes back into the starting side to Mighty Williams as well.
But I'm interested in your thoughts on back three and
potentially midfield as well.

Speaker 20 (01:13:31):
Yeah, well, back three. I think Caleb Clark should get
a chance to play in the back three. I mean,
he's an expert under the high ball. He is a
really good elite test player. He's had really a difficult
year because of you know, that motorcycle court case that
just you know, derailed him somewhat, and so I think
now he's probably had time to just sort of get

(01:13:54):
himself together and hopefully have a good game this afternoon.
I think he is playing, isn't he Piney? Yes, he is,
so we've got to watch have keep and eye on him.
I think he should play on the left wing. He's
got to get good left boot on him as well,
old Caleb. But the other thing is maybe at center.
Even though I'm a big Billy Proctor fan, I'm sure
you are too, is it is it better to be

(01:14:14):
conservative and say riquoe Yowani comes back in a really
good defensive center to play in that position for such
a big game.

Speaker 3 (01:14:23):
I wonder that too. You know I wonder that too,
And you're right, I'm a big fan of Billy Procter,
not just because he's from the same place in New
Zealand as me, But yeah, I wonder that too. So
selection will be a massive, a massive part of this.
It's absolutely pouring down on Wellington unfortunately, so it's not
gonna be yeah, not gonna be one of those games
of running rugby unfortunately at Potty or a park. Jerry

(01:14:43):
Collins study him today?

Speaker 20 (01:14:44):
Did you see? Also Tatava Nahwai is injured, so I'm thinking, yeah,
what does that mean Razor brings in you know, Leicester
fying a nutwo he need to go to the board
to get permission to bring him in earlier then they anticipated.
But then there's also Mark Talia's around right, so I
know he's been left out in the cold. But look,
this is you want to win the Rugby Championship? Do

(01:15:06):
you want pick the best players? There are some big
decisions for Razor to make and I know, you know,
he's got a beautiful mind raising he's one of those guys.
He thinks and lives in breeze rugby, so he'll leave
no stone unturned this week. But of course it's that
high ball issue which needs to be resolved a sap.

Speaker 3 (01:15:25):
They're only they're only only going to bend their own rules,
aren't they? Or break their own rules. You know, they
can be the rules that they enforced upon themselves New
Zealan Rugby and the All Black so they can change
them when they want to anyway. Yeah, yeah, let's go
to Hamilton. I've just received a text from our match
commentator up there, Graham Minty mead. It's twelve degrees in
pouring down Southam will feel right at home. Can Southam

(01:15:46):
take the shield back down to whom the cargol this afternoon?

Speaker 20 (01:15:50):
Well, not with me. I'm taking the cow bell. I'm
on the way and I hope that didn't blow out
your speakers. I loved it, but it's you know, I'm
I'm on the road soon to head down there to
see how it goes to be honest, you know, the
Southland have been doubt what a classic hospital passed by

(01:16:12):
all these all blacks being available for white cuts or so.
You've got Luke Jacobson at number eight antoonline and Brown
at center. Some of Penny female Oli Norris are both
starting as well. Initially they were named so it felt
like there was some kind of battle between Ross, Filippo
and Raisa going on, two old Crusaders teammates. So I
was just thinking okay, well now they're in right, So

(01:16:32):
that's that's all we can say is that it is
tough for Southland. They don't get Ethan degree or serve res,
which is a shame for them, but hey, they are
shield specialists. They care about the Logowood as much as
any province. So I think it's going to be an
awesome battle and the All Blacks might all be off
off the field at the business end. They might only
play fifty or sixty minutes. So you know, it's if

(01:16:56):
it rains, which it is at the moment. And like
you say, twelve degrees, I think that helps Southland, doesn't it?

Speaker 3 (01:17:01):
I think so. I think so. I'm just hoping for
another great battle and enjoyed wat Kindnike last week. I've
got no skin in the game. Got no skin in
this game this afternoon either, But I just love the
emotion that has wrapped around at Jason Rutlers, actually a
Southland store water. I'm sure you've seen play a few
times for them and also for the Islanders. Are going
to chat to with some about an hour or so,
so be kind to hear from him just how much

(01:17:21):
it means, because I think it does. Still mean mean
a lot. Hey, the schoolboy rugby finals on right now,
Fielding against rotaldu A Boys. Rot I have just scored
a try to go twenty seventeen ahead with twenty minutes
to go. I've just been watching it sort of off
to one side on the live stream.

Speaker 17 (01:17:37):
Man.

Speaker 3 (01:17:38):
The quality of rugby is good.

Speaker 20 (01:17:40):
It's incredible. These teams are the ones that didn't make
it as well. I mean, I may halts of boys
old boy, and I went and saw my old team
get beaten by and the dying Seecerds. So this team
is an incredible try from the fullback. I think we're
talking about a seventy meter try, aren't we here, Pony, Yeah, just.

Speaker 3 (01:17:57):
Watching the replays, he's beaten about seventeen guys.

Speaker 20 (01:18:00):
Yeah, the fullback is unbelievable. Sotsort are powerhouse and they
were probably anticipated the favorites in this top four. But
fielding they've beaten allcomers.

Speaker 5 (01:18:12):
Really.

Speaker 20 (01:18:12):
They've taken on Parmi boys here, who have had an
exceptional season. They beat Hastings as well on the way
here and Westlake the other day to make the final.
And I think that's just exceptional for what is really
you know a classic co ed school, sixteen hundred kids
from a country town. Although I'm very surprised to see
on Wikipedia that the population of Fielding is eighteen thousand.

(01:18:35):
Did you know a population of eighteen thousand? Is that correct?

Speaker 14 (01:18:38):
Oh?

Speaker 3 (01:18:38):
Well, if you'd ask me how many people live in
Fielding I would have been well down below ten thousand.
I would have said seven or one.

Speaker 20 (01:18:45):
Someone's gone on to Wikipedia and messed with that. Surely
it can't be. Please people from Fielding come and text
in and tell us what your actual population is because
it doesn't feel correct. But a I'm happy for them.
A school that produced Aaron Smith and the Whitelot brothers. Yeah,
they are good at Rugby, a powerhouse in the co
ed scene. But if they were to get up I

(01:19:05):
don't think they will. But if they were to get
up today there would be. It would really make history.
In this competition, which is always you know, the usual suspects.

Speaker 3 (01:19:13):
Text the population of Fielding to nine two ninety two
if you have the official word. Hey, now the Warriors
have dropped out of the top four because the Broncos
won last night. The Sharks play the Newcastle Knights later
and they'll absolutely win that so the Warriors are faced
with the with the it's a pretty simple equation really.
Now they've got to beat Manly and then they've got
to hope both the Broncos and the Sharks lose next

(01:19:34):
weekend to finish fourth. You reckon, yeah, I mean it's
I mean, how likely does that seem? All of that.

Speaker 20 (01:19:42):
Highly unlikely. I don't think the Warriors will make the
top four. I think you know it's daily cherry Evens
final game at Brookvale next week. That's the issue, right,
that's the passion for Daily Cheery Evens at Brookvale. Not
happy hunting around at all for the Warriors historically. So
I think there's there's going to be well, I think

(01:20:02):
Fielding about to scoring incredible try, I know almost. But
I think the what's happened is the Warriors have been
i'd say one of the most unconvincing top four teams
in history. You know, their points falling against is very low,
almost one hundred points down on the other teams. But
they've managed to do it really on the sniff of
an already rag. I mean, let's be honest, they're key
playmakers and just Luke Metcalf their best player is a

(01:20:25):
nineteen year old Lecquahalaesima, who mainly plays off the bench.
I mean, it's just the team that's probably just punching
above its weight, and I think at the moment they
really don't want to. I guess face one of those
teams who are hitting really good form. And I'm thinking
about the Roosters right now. You don't want to have
to play them in the playoffs.

Speaker 3 (01:20:46):
No, and that may well be the scenario that they face. Hey,
no one's texted the fielding population, but somebody is helpfully
texted through that at the moment to Ash Burton at
his six degrees. That's good to know, isn't it.

Speaker 20 (01:20:59):
I like that it gets a town roundup please, But yeah,
I went on a deep dive of populations of towns
last night. We can talk about it about that another time,
but I just did want to mention that the Wellington
Phoenix being left out of this Oceania competition is such
a massive snub. I bet you David Dome is absolutely fuming,
and he probably wouldn't even want to go on radio

(01:21:20):
because you probably start saying things that would backfire on
the side. But it just seems the biggest belief given
that Ukland they've seen now have a chance to qualify
for the World Club Final, which, of course you know
what it's like. You played Chelsea, you play Paris ndray Man,
it's immense. And for the Phoenix as a protein that's

(01:21:42):
been around for fifteen odd years, not to get invited
as just seems like a massive slap in the face.
But hey, we've all been there, Piney, whether it's a
wedding or a golf weekend where we feel that we
could have added value but we don't get a call up,
and you know you're just going to suck it up.

Speaker 3 (01:21:58):
I've been slapped in the face and snubbed numerous times
and lots of different scenarios. Fielding populations seventeen and a
half thousand, says this text. The school is a boarding
school which brings students in from all over the place.
Got to go, mate, but let's chat again next Sunday
after an all Black swins, shall.

Speaker 20 (01:22:14):
We jeers mate? Sounds good?

Speaker 3 (01:22:16):
Yeah, Go Fielding, Go Fielding and go James mcconey seven
to two news talks. I've had numerous texts confirming Fielding's
population of seven ten and a half thousand. I never
would have had it that high anyway, It's good to
clarify these these pertinent facts. On Weekend Sport after two,
Mark Winterbottom an extended interview with an absolute champion of

(01:22:40):
supercars and Jason Rutnage speaking of champions out of the stags,
looking at the Ramfilly Shield.

Speaker 1 (01:22:48):
It's the only place to discuss the biggest sports issues
on and after fields.

Speaker 2 (01:22:53):
It's all on week James Sport with Jason kaid on
your home of Sport.

Speaker 3 (01:22:59):
New Talks Weekend Sport on News Talks FB two O seven.
We're here till three. Then Tim Beveridge takes over winter
Bottom standing by the chat to us. An extended chat
with Mark about his book, his career and what he
thinks of Matt Pain. I think Mark Winterbottom has spent
quite a bit of time with Matt Pain in Supercar's land,

(01:23:20):
so be keen to know what he thinks of his prospects.
Jason Rutlege on the show this hour as well. Southland
Legend from Andy and Southland. Snowshowers down here this morning,
but it's now a solid nine degrees. People are out
mowing their lawns and their droves, killing time for the
big game. Yes, she'll challenge this afternoon, looking forward to that.
Wellington and Auckland underway and pottydo no score after ninety

(01:23:42):
seconds in that one. Without any further ado, we should
just rip straight into in case you missed it, because
Andy McDonald has compiled a bumper edition of the things
you might have missed in the last little while across
all sorts of different sports from all corners of the globe,
Starting at the Women's Rugby World Cup, England piling on

(01:24:02):
the points against some more great skirts.

Speaker 22 (01:24:05):
It over in England.

Speaker 18 (01:24:06):
The Hens do fancy another.

Speaker 22 (01:24:08):
They have got lone of us to bed lineing out
one after the other after the other. In Clavia Maloney
McDonald kicks the feet, stumbles of the line and another
first battled such adversity with injury ds.

Speaker 3 (01:24:24):
The Hens are final try for England, England winning ninety
two points to three. On the other end of the
competitiveness spectrum, Australia and the United States found themselves in
a very tight affair.

Speaker 15 (01:24:37):
Ticked over eighty minutes and they chicken out.

Speaker 2 (01:24:42):
And that will be full.

Speaker 3 (01:24:44):
Time, which aren'ts with them?

Speaker 15 (01:24:47):
What an incredible match and it ends Australia thirty one
USA thirty one.

Speaker 3 (01:24:56):
There's the drawer between those two nations. Across the rugby leg,
the Broncos have moved into the top four with a
win over the Cowboys.

Speaker 17 (01:25:03):
Smoothie to has.

Speaker 14 (01:25:07):
Depends his life.

Speaker 11 (01:25:12):
This is a fair.

Speaker 3 (01:25:15):
To the left off.

Speaker 14 (01:25:16):
The Giants paid huts, stramples any.

Speaker 2 (01:25:20):
One of his way.

Speaker 3 (01:25:21):
Meantime, in camera, the Raiders have secured the minor premiership.

Speaker 5 (01:25:26):
That is it.

Speaker 15 (01:25:28):
The craft tats it down.

Speaker 17 (01:25:32):
And this this.

Speaker 15 (01:25:34):
Camera Raiders outfit has done something very special. Yes, their
big games are still to come, but when you have
a one silver aware at thirty one years, days like
this are days to save.

Speaker 3 (01:25:47):
Here, wonderful day Camera twenty fourteen winners over the Tigers,
securing the silverware. The Sea Eagles keeping their slim top
eight hopes alive with a forty points to twenty four
went over the Dragons to Rugby's in PC. Tasman overcoming
Otago and are down to the wire.

Speaker 12 (01:26:02):
Finish time is up in Nelson, Tesma, down by three.

Speaker 2 (01:26:08):
The drive again.

Speaker 14 (01:26:09):
I think most of.

Speaker 3 (01:26:10):
The Tasman team are in there. William Howe Billies joined in.

Speaker 15 (01:26:14):
They're closing in on the touch line.

Speaker 23 (01:26:16):
Someone's got the ball out they've got the winning.

Speaker 3 (01:26:19):
Try thirty one twenty seven Tasman over Otago Northland. Meantime,
continue their strong form with a win over hawks Bay.

Speaker 15 (01:26:26):
Pretty determined defense there from the hawks Bay meg Pie
for support as a drive referee playing advantage, he's an.

Speaker 3 (01:26:33):
Opportunity follow the tunny and it's Sam Kid with ten
minutes to go twenty seven to twenty two, the tunny
fire over the Magpies. Other games Canterby too good for
Mona were two fifty three fourteen Taranaki beating County's Monaco
for forty three twenty two. Back to Europe and a
good day in the Netherlands for racing balls. At the
Grand Prix, the Dutch lion maximust happened to the line,

(01:26:57):
crosses the line, he misses out by two.

Speaker 17 (01:26:59):
And a half.

Speaker 2 (01:27:00):
Tense Look at this Paja fourth amazing effort.

Speaker 5 (01:27:05):
That is a super effort, Liam Lawson eight.

Speaker 4 (01:27:08):
And for that man there, Oscar Piastre, it is whole
position here.

Speaker 3 (01:27:13):
He raised herself tomorrow morning and finally to Premier League
football Bournemouth with a smash and grab at Tottenham.

Speaker 14 (01:27:20):
SINESSI look if rev Nielsen took it, well, take you Peically,
what a stunning start for the Cherries, their records signing
on target for just four minutes on the watch and
the Tottenham Hotspur stadium is stunned.

Speaker 3 (01:27:34):
Early on here and it finished one Niel the Bournemouth
in Sunderland's happy return to the Premier League continued. I
come from behind victory over Breenford.

Speaker 23 (01:27:43):
Okay, shacko with a swater, listen to the noise and
sell the Plasson had the where side will sit said.

Speaker 2 (01:27:58):
All may well have won it for Sutherland.

Speaker 5 (01:28:02):
At the Stadium of Lunch.

Speaker 2 (01:28:04):
He is passing too.

Speaker 23 (01:28:06):
Game's running fuck in the trill.

Speaker 2 (01:28:10):
When it's down to the line, you make the call.

Speaker 1 (01:28:13):
On eight hundred and eighty ten eighty Weekend Sports with
Jason Pine News Talks V.

Speaker 3 (01:28:19):
Twelve minutes past two. Mark Winterbottom is a motorsport legend.
His career included a Supercars Championship win in twenty fifteen,
thirty nine rate victories and one hundred and twenty podium
finishes overall, and a win in the iconic Bathhurst one
thousand and twenty thirteen.

Speaker 12 (01:28:38):
Mark winter Bottom has had to go toe to toe
with Jamie Wincup, who's been the standout driver.

Speaker 18 (01:28:45):
For the last few years in this game and firsty
has been winning s after more than a decade of.

Speaker 2 (01:28:55):
Trying, Mark win a Bottom will win.

Speaker 15 (01:28:57):
The Super Tea Porto bat this one thousand with Staved Richards.

Speaker 3 (01:29:07):
Last year, Mark Winterbottom retired from full time driving after
twenty one years, but he remained a mentor and in
dua co driver with Cam Waters for Tickford Driving. He's
also written his autobiography Frosty, The Incredible True Story of
the Boy from Duneside who became a Bathurst King. Mark
Winterbottom is with us. Welcome and mate, and congratulations on

(01:29:29):
this book. It's a cracker. How did you find the
exercise of reflecting on your life and your motor racing career?

Speaker 18 (01:29:36):
Yeah, thank you. I found it tough in some ways,
in therapeutic and others. It's funny. You hold on to
a lot, especially in the early years.

Speaker 5 (01:29:46):
You know.

Speaker 24 (01:29:48):
Of things that went on and I don't know, it
seems normal when you grow up a certain way. It's
normal because that's all you know. But once you start
talking and you realize that some of the stuff you
went through isn't normal. You know, some of the trauma
and whatever.

Speaker 18 (01:30:04):
When you start hating.

Speaker 24 (01:30:05):
It actually felt therapeutic because somehow I think I've bottled
it up for about forty years, some of that stuff,
and yeah, getting it down on paper and telling his
story was quite relieving. But and then yeah, obviously winning
a p Week fifty to start my motorsport career, and
I think, yeah, my story is quite unique, but when

(01:30:25):
you live it, it's normal, so you don't think it's
any different.

Speaker 18 (01:30:28):
You think everyone's living the same way, you know.

Speaker 5 (01:30:30):
So it was good.

Speaker 18 (01:30:32):
Once we started.

Speaker 24 (01:30:33):
Writing it and getting deep into it, I thought, you
have to go all in. You can't just you know,
tell her whatever story. You've got to be honest and
tell the whole thing.

Speaker 5 (01:30:43):
And it was good.

Speaker 18 (01:30:45):
I'm really happy with how it turned out. And I'm
an all in kind of guy. In the book, it's
definitely written that way, so I'm really proud of it.

Speaker 3 (01:30:52):
Yeah, it certainly is. And I want to touch on
that beginning part where you won the raffle, but can
I jump to chapter twenty Mountain Magic, which details you'll
win well, Stephen Ridgets at Bathurston twenty thirteen, and You're right.
Crossing the finish line was unlike anything I'd ever felt
before it wasn't just a race, when it was the
culmination of years of effort, heartbreak and frustration. After so

(01:31:16):
many close calls and near missus, Bathurst was finally ours.
And you also talk Mark about tough grown men these
you know, real grizzled motorsport mechanics crying afterwards. Can anything
in your sport possibly compare to winning at Bathurst?

Speaker 24 (01:31:34):
Well, I cried, and I wouldn't call myself a tough man,
but there weren't tough men there crying. But the thing
about Bathurst and winning that event, it's not just winning
on that day, it's the build up to winning it.
And I think anyone who wins it in the first
year has done himself for disservice because you've got to
have all those setbacks to get that big holy grail.

Speaker 18 (01:31:56):
And that's for me crossing that line.

Speaker 24 (01:31:58):
I think, you know, my journey started three I was
running second and blew an engine in my first every
year and I thought, I'm going to get a.

Speaker 18 (01:32:07):
Podium off first year.

Speaker 5 (01:32:08):
This is easy.

Speaker 24 (01:32:09):
This Bathurst thing is easy. And then it took another
ten years to stand on that podium. And every heartbreak
builds that appreciation for how hard that race is to win,
so you know, crossing that line and the team and
the you know, the driver and they're like you, They're
like your army that's behind you to win that race.

(01:32:29):
And when you go into battle and come out on top,
there's no better feeling, you know, you know you've arnted
and that the celebrations were amazing, you know, just kept
driving into pit lane after the win and seeing you know,
grown man christ Blokes that handshakes was enough for them,
hugging you and trying to skiss you and all that

(01:32:50):
sort of stuff.

Speaker 18 (01:32:51):
You know, it means a lot.

Speaker 24 (01:32:52):
And I've only ever won one, you know, I thought
it was going to be easy in the early years
and you realize how tough it was. So I'll hang
on to that one. Hopefully I can win a couple
more before before I'm done. But such a special race,
And like I said, you never appreciate how good it
is until you have heartbreak to appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (01:33:13):
After you won. Were you able to enjoy it in
the moment as it was happening and for the few
days afterwards or was it more just a blur?

Speaker 2 (01:33:22):
Yeah?

Speaker 24 (01:33:22):
I didn't because you win it and then the podiums
are blur. The press conference is a blur. Sunday nights
a blur for obvious reasons. When you celebrate and then
Monday morning you're into your media and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday,
Friday was media back to back, and you're like, like,
I didn't realize this race was so big and some

(01:33:43):
of these places didn't exist, you know, like you just
you were chatting about the race, and then Saturday Sunday
off and then literally you're on the plane to go
to Gold Coast to race two weeks later at that
the Gold Coast Race, so your mind then goes from oh,
that was awesome to how am I going to win
Gold Coast?

Speaker 18 (01:34:01):
Trying to win this championship, and you never get to
appreciate it.

Speaker 24 (01:34:05):
So we throw a party at the end of the
year for all the tick fit, all the people who
have helped us get to that Bathurst. When we threw
a party at home here and I think we had
like one hundred and something people here, it was really cool.

Speaker 18 (01:34:17):
We kind of celebrated and live the moment.

Speaker 24 (01:34:21):
But again, then you go into Christmas and you're focusing
on what engineer have I got?

Speaker 20 (01:34:26):
What this?

Speaker 24 (01:34:27):
What your mind never rests in motorsports, So you know,
you sit back now, and I still can't relax because
I know I'm at Tail and Bend and Bathurst in
the next couple of months. But it is a trophy
that sits in my pull room. I sound like a
real bogan here, that sits in my pull room, pride
and joy, and I do look at it and really

(01:34:49):
appreciate how much that trophy means. And but yeah, you
never celebrate till you hang the helmet up, I think,
and you become that that old bloke that sits back
and has nothing.

Speaker 18 (01:35:00):
Else to do.

Speaker 24 (01:35:00):
And I'll just sit and appreciate that race, but your
mind's always onto the next one. That's I don't know
something wide about sport. Even in life businessmen, whatever you
get one, you want another. You're just always thinking about
the next. So I haven't fully appreciated it yet. But
I do appreciate the win, but not enough, probably until
I fully retire.

Speaker 3 (01:35:21):
Six years earlier. Of course. Bathur's two thousand and seven.
You've got a ten second lead with fifteen laps to go,
so you know you're nearly there. Then another driver hits
the wall. Now comes the safety car, which brings everybody
back together. You've got a thirteen lap shootout basically to
the finish, during which you hit a painted white line.
You leave the track in spectacular fashion. I watch this

(01:35:43):
and the lead up to this chat mark and how
you didn't flip? I don't know. You somehow go back
on the track, but you've suffered well damage and you
end up in sixth place, having lead with fifteen laps
to go. How did you cope with that disappointment?

Speaker 18 (01:35:57):
That was tough?

Speaker 24 (01:35:58):
Like, I haven't had many moments in the car that
I felt that flat ever, you know, and I thought
we were going to win that race with fifteen laps
to go. We had, we had a massive lead, and
it was almost like you know, without getting ahead of yourself,
but driving around going I wonder what that champagne taste? Like,
we we're going to thank on the podium, like all
those sort of things going through your head.

Speaker 18 (01:36:19):
And then that's why.

Speaker 24 (01:36:20):
Bathurst is so tough, because safety car comes out and
you're bumper a bumper and which was fine, Like that
was fine. I'm like, yep, still easy. We've got these
cars fast, and then the rain starts and it's like, oh, man,
what else you going to throw at it? You know,
like it's it's it just kept coming. And you know
we had everything perfect that day, and you know, I

(01:36:43):
was in the car at the time. It was my
job to do the job. And I let the team down.
There's no doubt about it.

Speaker 18 (01:36:48):
I made a mistake.

Speaker 24 (01:36:49):
And that's tough because as a sportsman or as a
you always pride yourself on perfection. You never want to
make mistakes. If you're in the big moment, you've got
to deliver. And I didn't deliver that day, and I
let the team down. And I remember me in and
I just was super emotional, like you just feel it.

(01:37:11):
You know, it's not the race is done, the flags
and you just it's like, I don't know, just that
think hit you that you've you've done the wrong thing,
and yeah, you let the team down. But then when
I drove in, rich O was there and he was
the first to greet me. It's the drivers on the
area and he was there and he gave me a
big hug and he's like, right, you did awesome, Like

(01:37:33):
he was proud of how we got to that position.

Speaker 18 (01:37:36):
And that meant a lot because some drivers they wouldn't think.

Speaker 24 (01:37:41):
That way, you know, they think that you lost on
the race when you should have won and he didn't.

Speaker 18 (01:37:46):
And then I walked into the team and.

Speaker 24 (01:37:49):
So feeling that you never wanted you'd never want to
put anyone in because head down, you didn't want to
look at people in the eye, like just not embarrassed,
but you're just ashamed of letting the team down. And
but yeah, thankfully I had a good team around me.
They weren't ones that pointed the finger. They put their
arm around you. And we actually went on and won

(01:38:10):
the Gold Coast two weeks later, which was good redemption
because I was really angry. I turned from disappointment to anger.
And then when you're angry in a race car, it
either goes two ways. You're in the fence or you're
up the front. So yeah, it turned it around a
couple of weeks later. But toughest moment I've had in sport,
to be honest, and it makes or break sure, and

(01:38:32):
I think having good people around me, I'll learn a
lot from that lesson and I didn't make the same
mistake again.

Speaker 18 (01:38:40):
But yeah, that was a really tough moment for sure.

Speaker 3 (01:38:42):
So Bathurst is big, but you say in chapter twenty
two of your book that winning the Supercars Championship in
twenty fifteen meant more to you than winning Bathurst in
twenty thirteen. Was that simply because it was a product
of a whole year's worth of consistent racing.

Speaker 11 (01:39:00):
Yeah.

Speaker 24 (01:39:00):
I always prode myself on the year, Like I think
Bathurst emotionally for the day is you can't beat it
because there's twenty five people or twenty six whatever cars
that can win that day and it's not to the
last lab it's decided. But the championship, we all start
on zero points by round one. Five are probably gone
by round two and other five's gone right, and you

(01:39:22):
start to tell the story and by the end of
the year it becomes a great match.

Speaker 18 (01:39:26):
It was just myself versus Lounds, and I love that,
like grinding.

Speaker 24 (01:39:32):
Away and just eliminating people and then one on one
you just like right, you're it and I'm coming for you.

Speaker 18 (01:39:39):
And I love that.

Speaker 24 (01:39:41):
I'm just wide a bit different, I think in that
way where Bathost doesn't give you that. So to be
the best for twelve months consistency. When the car is good,
you attack, When the cars not, you survive, Like I
like that sort of strategy involved in the championship and
again we come really close for many years and.

Speaker 18 (01:40:02):
Fifteen to get it done was that was my proudest
moment in the sport.

Speaker 24 (01:40:07):
And to put that number one on your door is
I don't know, it's a really surreal feeling just to
know that you were the best for the year and
putting it on is an unbelievable feeling.

Speaker 18 (01:40:18):
The flip side, taking it off is one of the most.

Speaker 24 (01:40:20):
Moralizing feelings when someone else wins it and steals your
number one, but you get to represent it that whole
next year. Just proud of what you did. You know,
when you get to wear that number one with pride.
So I was really that was That's my best moment
winning Bathurst. I sorry, winning the championship for the year,

(01:40:41):
that was my proudest moment in the sport.

Speaker 3 (01:40:43):
Stay with us, Mark, I got some more questions for
you about the early part of your career. Our guest
as Mark winter Bottom as Bookers out Frosty The incredible
true story of the boy from Duneside who became a
Bathurst King. Just quick update from Jerry Colin Stadium and
potted Or Wellington out of the Blocks, seventeen mill ahead
after nineteen minutes over Auckland. Back in a secon with
Mark winter Bottom on New Stalks EP.

Speaker 2 (01:41:06):
You be the TMO.

Speaker 1 (01:41:07):
Have your say on eight hundred and eighty Weekend Sport
with Jason Hin and GJ. Guvnerholmes, New Zealand's most trusted
home builder news Dogs there'd.

Speaker 3 (01:41:17):
Be two twenty seven on Weekendsport. Our guest is Supercars
Legend Mark winter Bottom. Mark. When you were eight years old,
you begged your mum to buy a two dollars raffle
ticket and a shopping mall. The prize was a Yamaha
Peewee fifty bike. She did, You won the raffle and
your career in motorsport began. Now that can't just be luck.

(01:41:39):
I think the universe is at work here. There's a
wider force here. But how pivotal was that winning that
that bike in a two dollars raffle?

Speaker 24 (01:41:47):
Yeah, that's in a motorsport's expensive and we had we
had no money. Like the family were involved in motorsport,
but I think they realized how expensive it was, that
it wasn't realistic.

Speaker 20 (01:41:59):
So I never was.

Speaker 24 (01:42:01):
Boord a bike or a go kart. I played soccer
and and I think really sickly that was where I
was leading, you know. But a good lesson to kids.
I've got three of them. When you go to the
shops and you want something, just line the floor and
cry and make a scene and they'll always fold.

Speaker 18 (01:42:18):
The parents will always fold.

Speaker 24 (01:42:20):
So when I was eight, I played that card really
well because Mom wasn't going to buy me.

Speaker 5 (01:42:25):
A ticket, and.

Speaker 24 (01:42:28):
With a bit of misbehaving she bought me a ticket,
which was nice, and yeah, like, I don't know, I've
been lucky in my career. Things have happened by chance,
but right time, right place, and the timing is something
was meant to be, you know. And winning that p
wee fifty. There was other prizes in the in the raffle,

(01:42:49):
but I had no idea. There was just one bike
there that was in the middle, and that was like,
I'm winning that thing.

Speaker 18 (01:42:54):
That's what I want. And I said to Mum when
she bought the ticket, I'm like I've won, and she's like, she,
you know, do you want to let you down?

Speaker 20 (01:43:04):
You know hard?

Speaker 24 (01:43:05):
She wanted to support you, and you know, yet you're
a chance, but you never know. And I was like
I'm winning that thing, and every time the phone rang,
I was, you know, is that my bike?

Speaker 18 (01:43:13):
You know, sweetheart?

Speaker 24 (01:43:14):
As not?

Speaker 18 (01:43:14):
Is that my bike? And then two weeks later it
was my bike. And once you get that fuel and
that it wasn't just a bit.

Speaker 24 (01:43:22):
It was like a tool to kind of show what
you wanted, you know, what you can do and get
the fuel in the veins and it was the platform
I needed to kick start the career. And without that
I wouldn't have been racing today, you know, like that
was that was the moment of purpose, and.

Speaker 18 (01:43:41):
Yeah, kickstarted it all, so very lucky.

Speaker 24 (01:43:43):
The two dollars I ticket was was was was my
starter and without that, I hopefully I probably would have
been playing soccer if I maintained the path I was on.

Speaker 18 (01:43:54):
But once you get motor and fuel in the veins,
so addictive. It's a sport that grab your attention very quickly.
And that peewee was that was That was it for me.

Speaker 3 (01:44:03):
Now that leads nicely into a word you use a
lot in the book, and that is addiction. Motorsport is addictive.
It was even in your karting days. You're right, how
strong was its grip on you? How strong is its
grip still on you?

Speaker 18 (01:44:19):
Well, I loved it, like I loved team sport.

Speaker 24 (01:44:21):
But when I got into karting, it was like you
and machine and you had to I don't know, I've
got all your senses going. It's a sport that you
just you drive through your backside hear noted the engine,
you smell the fumes, you know when you get really
in sync with the machine. And then it's super competitive.
You know, you're talking tense of a second to make

(01:44:44):
or break you. And from an early age, I just
love that. Like I'd just I'd go in the garage
when I got home, I'd work all week, I'd pull
the axle out of the card, I'd spray the bearings.
If the berries didn't spin for long enough, I'd pull
them back out and I go again. I'll become obsessed
with just how to win, like how to beat your competition,

(01:45:05):
and it's man and machine and that's I love that,
Like I just got driven by literally what the sport was.
And yeah, I loved it, and even to today, like
you carry those early memories all the way through and
your work ethic and what you have to do to
win in motorsport's very tough and you can buy it

(01:45:27):
or you can earn it. And I think along the
way I had to earn it a lot and some
equipment that wasn't the best. And there was guys out
there with really nice looking helmets and transporters, and we
had a box trailer, I had a white house. I
actually had a motorbike helmet for a while. But I
realized that you can have all this stuff, but if
you don't work hard and have the right work ethic

(01:45:49):
and stuff, you didn't win.

Speaker 2 (01:45:50):
So I just love that.

Speaker 18 (01:45:52):
I love that part of the sport so super addictive.

Speaker 24 (01:45:55):
And when you're ten years old doing one hundred k
and hour with your butt, you know, inches from the ground,
get your attention.

Speaker 18 (01:46:03):
It's a bloody good sport.

Speaker 2 (01:46:04):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:46:05):
And you mentioned they are a bit out the hard
work versus how good the equipment is. And it seems
that success and motorsport is accommodation of driving skill and
the best equipment. So will an inferior driver in a
faster car usually beat a better driver in a slightly
slower one.

Speaker 18 (01:46:25):
That's a good question.

Speaker 24 (01:46:27):
I think in parting a good driver will win an
inferior equipment but when you get to supercars, for one IndyCar,
whatever it is, everyone's a good driver. So when you
have an inferior driver, it's still bloody good. So you know,
you look at Formula One for example, you know you

(01:46:49):
compete yourself against your teammate. That's the best reference. But
if you're in a McLaren, you're going to win at
the moment. If you're in a red Bull Max Fastap
is probably going to win and the other guy's going
to struggle.

Speaker 18 (01:47:02):
But you know, it's funny. The equipment makes it everything.

Speaker 24 (01:47:06):
But in motorsport, what's very important is the driver can
lead the progression of the team because engineers want to
work with certain people, Sponsors want to sponsor certain people,
team want to mold around certain people. It's very political
in some ways motorsport. That there's talent, but that gets

(01:47:27):
you so far. Then there's the work ethic, the relationships,
the structure, all that sort of stuff that goes with it.
So an inferior driver doesn't bring all those key traits.
A good driver will get that team to a position
that just takes time. So sort of two part answer.
But you need the whole skill set to win in

(01:47:49):
motorspoort and longevity then is very tough. That's how you've
got A good driver has a long career with good structure.
A talented driver that doesn't have all that. They float
in and out. They come when the team's good, they win.
When they don't they don't. So two part sort of
answer their long answer. But a good driver will always
have for the whole package.

Speaker 3 (01:48:09):
No great in fantastic inside Mark as Key, we motorsport fans.
We've loved watching Scotty McLoughlin and Shane van Gisberg and
compete in supercarstuff. Now of course both moved on to
two different classes and are doing very well in them.
But we are quite excited about young key We Matt
Paine who's in supercars at the moment only twenty two.
I know you've had the chance to spend a bit
of time with them. What do you predict for Matt pain.

Speaker 24 (01:48:33):
Yeah, you are so lucky over there with your depth
of drivers, you know, and I think what they have
is something very special. They're very talented, but they they
have that whole package.

Speaker 18 (01:48:46):
They're very.

Speaker 24 (01:48:49):
They're ready to go like they come and they're not
intimidated and they're ready to go and you know Scott
McLaughlin and Van Gisberg and have gone on to do
amazing things.

Speaker 18 (01:48:59):
Matt Pain's someone I rate really highly.

Speaker 24 (01:49:01):
I really like Matt and I think his skill set
is that he at the age twenty one, has a
head on his shoulders far above people are in their thirties,
and he's experienced. He's unfazed. You don't know if he's happy, angry, nervous,
whatever it is. And that's a skill that's very tough

(01:49:21):
to have because you look at your competition and to
beat them, you try and break them apart, like you
look at their weaknesses. And when I look at Matt Pain,
I can't tell what his weakness is. And that's scary
as a driver because when he's fast, he's on, like
ridiculously fast, and when he's not having the best weekend,
he still ends up up there somehow, And that's maturity

(01:49:43):
and very tough to do. So a lot of time
for that, and I think, yeah, he's a champion in
the future, if not this here, if he gets it done.
So he's got really good traits. People love him and
another thing he does very well he doesn't have enemies
and you need allies. When you raise you need allies.

(01:50:06):
Everyone loves him and he's a tough race He can
race you tougher than anyone.

Speaker 18 (01:50:10):
But your hot band. You just want to give him
a hug.

Speaker 24 (01:50:12):
He's not one of those blokes that's super likable, so
he's doing everything well on and off the track, which
is very tough to do.

Speaker 3 (01:50:19):
Can't wait to see what the future holds for Matt Pain.
Do you miss full time driving?

Speaker 18 (01:50:25):
Uh No, not really at the moment.

Speaker 24 (01:50:29):
I did drive the car the other day and got
the bug back. Like it's when you're in there and
on a test day and you're trying to wring its
neck And.

Speaker 18 (01:50:40):
I miss that no doubt.

Speaker 24 (01:50:41):
But it's been good going to the track with my
super two boys and just enjoying it, like you're going
there in a different mindset because when you race, you
get this, like I said, tear people are part type thing.
So you go to the track, you go to your garage,
you've got your group around you, you say hi to people,

(01:51:02):
but you're looking at things like or like how am
I going to beat that bloke today? And you're trying
to break them down. Where Now I go to the
track and everyone's my friend. They're not maning me at
the moment and till the next couple of weeks anyway.
But it's been nice to go and I don't know,
be part of an environment that's got a lot of
good people and you've seen good in everyone, which is

(01:51:23):
really nice. And watching some really good racing and yeah,
getting to commentate it rounds and help my super two
boys and just been around. I've been at every race anyway,
but not yet. But I think once you get back
in the car and you feel that start line and
you know the nerves at the start and the qualifying
and that's addictive, that stuff, and it'll trigger something in

(01:51:46):
there that's still there. But I'm pretty happy at the
moment with how everything's going.

Speaker 3 (01:51:51):
Well, there's that word again, addictive. Mark. The books are cracker, mate.
I hope you sell heaps of them. Congratulations on it
and I thoroughly enjoyed chatting to you this afternoon. Thanks
for taking the time.

Speaker 18 (01:52:02):
Really appreciate it.

Speaker 3 (01:52:03):
Thank you, no, thank you, mate. That is Mark winter Bottom,
his autobiography out now, frost Eat, the incredible true story
of the boy from Dunsaid who became a Bathurst King.
I can highly recommend it to you. Twenty one away
from three. We're off two in the cargo shortly where
one of Southland Rugby's favorite sons, Jason Rutledge is standing
by a chat to us out of the Shield Challenge

(01:52:25):
this afternoon for the Stags against Waitkuttle up in Hamilton
at a live sport Jerry Collins Stadium half an hour
gone Wellington seventeen, Auckland seven. And at the US Tennis Open,
third seed Alexander Zverev's in a bit of a battle
in his third round singles match. He's up against the
Canadian twenty fifth seed Felix Ogier ali Asim. Zverev won

(01:52:45):
the first set six to four. Oga Aliyashim has won
the second two. He has two sets to one ahead
of Zverev. Zverev with a three to two lead in
the fourth with matches going to serve. So are we
about to lose one of the top seeds in the tournament?
Alexander Verev with a little bit of work to do
twenty one to three. Jason Rutletje on the radio with

(01:53:08):
us after.

Speaker 2 (01:53:08):
This it's more than just a game.

Speaker 1 (01:53:11):
Weekend Sport with Jason Paine and TJ. Garnomes, New Zealand's.

Speaker 2 (01:53:16):
Most trusted home builder News Dogs, they'd.

Speaker 3 (01:53:18):
Be seventeen to three. Just before we get to the
ran Philly Shield. Just want to take you back twenty
four hours because on Saturdays we play a sporting chance
with the tab. This is where we offer a lucky
caller the choice of three bets and they decide which
one they want. We place a one hundred and fifty
dollars bonus bet on their behalf and if it comes home,

(01:53:38):
the winnings minus the initial one fifty are theirs. So
yesterday Robert was our lucky caller. I gave him as
three options. Cowboys to beat the Broncos. That pays you
two hundred and seventeen to fifty. Liam Lawson to qualify
in the top ten. That pays you three hundred and
seventy five. Burnley to beat Manchester United, that pays you
one thousand and fifty. Which one would you like?

Speaker 7 (01:54:02):
I think I would like the Liam Lawton one.

Speaker 3 (01:54:04):
A very wise decision from Robert twenty four hours ago, because,
as we now know, Liam Lawson did qualify inside the
top ten, eighth fastest. Therefore, Robert has profited to the
tune of three hundred and seventy five dollars which were
delighted to pass on to him. Congratulations mate, and thank
you to everybody who inquired about it. Yes, indeed we

(01:54:26):
had another winner on a sporting chance and it returns
next Saturday on the show bit Responsibly, the most famous
trophy in New Zealand sport goes on the line this afternoon. Meantime,
beg it comes Tiff Kiln's daving.

Speaker 14 (01:54:40):
He gets us as a judge, maybe says it's all over.

Speaker 3 (01:54:44):
Why Hello have won the Radvilly Shell twenty three twenty
two and a heart stopper and just eight days after
they won it from Taranaki White cut Or defend the
Ramfury Shield against Southland this afternoon four point thirty five
in Hamilton. The last time Southland had the Shield was

(01:55:05):
twenty eleven. They won it in the final game of
the two thousand and nine season, beating Canterbury nine three
in christ Church. They then held off six challenges before
Canterbury won it back from them late in the twenty
ten season. Southland then won it back in twenty eleven,
again beating Canterbury twenty two to nineteen and after two
successful defens as Taranaki took it from them in August

(01:55:27):
twenty eleven. The Stags haven't had their hands on it since,
with eight unsuccessful challenges in the fourteen years since then.
The closest they came are twenty all draw with Hawks
Bay in twenty fourteen. Hooker Jason Rutliche played one hundred
and forty three games for Southland over a twenty year
period from two thousand to the year twenty twenty. The

(01:55:49):
last of those was at the age of forty two,
making him the oldest player ever to play for Southland.
Jason rutlie is with US. Jason talked about that nine game.
You were part of that team that won the Shield
in two thousand and nine at the old Jade Stadium.
That was pre earthquake. I hadn't held in Southland since
nineteen fifty nine. So how memorable a day in your

(01:56:11):
rugby career and for the Southland Union was that?

Speaker 20 (01:56:15):
Oh?

Speaker 12 (01:56:15):
I know there was special pony. We've tried a number
of times before that and come close once or twice,
but we've also got a lot of hiding so yeah,
it was. Yeah, just as you got closer and closer
to full time, you start thinking, shit, this.

Speaker 20 (01:56:33):
Is going to happen, or.

Speaker 12 (01:56:36):
I'm going to be hard on a tack and then
we managed to turn over the ball and kick it
out and all of a sudden, yeah it actually happens.

Speaker 22 (01:56:43):
It was.

Speaker 12 (01:56:44):
It was very special time and to be able to
have the shield for the whole summer, it was awesome
for the province. And just as you said there, like
nineteen fifty nine was the last time, so that fifty
year gap to break the hoodoo was pretty unreal for
the province.

Speaker 3 (01:57:00):
A try this game nine to three, Robbie Robinson kicked
three penalties for you, Stephen Brett with a solitary drop
golf of Canterbury that day. Was it just a real
arm wrestle that day?

Speaker 12 (01:57:10):
Yeah, I think last those Back in those days, you
always heard about the Canterbury team talking about defense wins titles,
and I think we probably went down that road a
bit ourselves with their defense. We had some pretty low
scoring defenses. I think there was a six to three
game against aucklandm there. So we were a very tight

(01:57:30):
knitted sort of group of guys that all defended for
each other. And yeah, it was definitely an arm wrestle
and to come out on top. Obviously, Robbie kicked some
bloody good goals to put us in front and drove
us around. So that's when you have a good thought
back and a ten that's driving around the paddock can
be quite hard to stop.

Speaker 3 (01:57:50):
What was it like having it, as you say, over
the summer, because that was the last ren Philly Shield
game of nine, you had it right through the summer
and then for most of twenty ten as well. What
was it like having the log of wood in the
Southland province?

Speaker 12 (01:58:05):
That's I suppose every province probably tries their best to
get the shield out, but I think we just had
a We had a book at Rugby South and and
people were booking it up to take away the funerals
and weddings and birthday parties and all sorts. So it's
spent there. It got right round south and then probably
into parts of the Tago as well to get a

(01:58:25):
look around because it hadn't been Otago for a long time. Yeah,
it was great and then the whole planning of the
we could plan their their destiny the next year as
well with their three defenses against the Hartley and Champions
Wanganui and North Otago and then then into the big
one against Otago and to have I think it was

(01:58:49):
Rugby Park and the train parked out one hundred meters
away from the ground with full of the Tago ones
coming down. It was pretty awesome that we could have
planned that whole thing out and and as you say,
hold on to it for six or seven defenses as well.
So it was was pretty good.

Speaker 5 (01:59:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:59:07):
So you then lost it to Canterbury, won it back
off Canterbury, then lost it to Tallanaki. What what's it
like losing the shield as holder of the shield?

Speaker 12 (01:59:19):
Like that game we lost to Cannabary. Cannabury sent down
like all weak laden team and we weren't far away
and we threw everything at it. Like I think it's
the public still got right in behind us. They knew
you would thrown everything at it. And it's it's not easy,
but I think it's great for the for the whole.

(01:59:40):
Logger would to make sure it travels around a bit
and you, as as Wykado would have noticed this week,
it brings a whole new men into the game and
whole new vive to the province.

Speaker 3 (01:59:51):
Well, let's look at today's game. The Stags lost their
first two games this season, but have beat Mona wit
two at home. That was that come from behind when
and then they have Plenty away last weekend. What chance
do you give them, Joseph, of continuing that momentum and
bringing that log back to and v Cargo later today?

Speaker 12 (02:00:08):
Well, a really good chance. There's some really good X
factor in the back line that are scoring some pretty
sensational tries. But then you've also got some really hard
working forwards like Jack Taylor and Sean Whee. So me
see at number eight who's really dynamic and really hard
to stop. So I've got a really good balance at

(02:00:29):
the moment. Probably a wee bit of bad news, I
think Mika Mully owners had to pull out with a hamstring,
so really looking forward to having them at ten and
driving them around, so that that's a bit of a loss.
But yeah, and the young half back as well, he's
going well as well, so they're definitely planning some good footy.

(02:00:50):
Sort of been down twenty two and against Money or
two and then be able to bring themselves back into
that and when that was awesome, and then the same
against bay A plenty to come home at the end
and when that they're playing some good foot and yeah, jeez,
loga would do. Anyone's a chance, so yeah.

Speaker 20 (02:01:06):
Bring it on.

Speaker 3 (02:01:07):
Is that Mills Mulley owner's boy.

Speaker 12 (02:01:10):
No, No, that's his nephew.

Speaker 3 (02:01:11):
Nephew've got you.

Speaker 12 (02:01:13):
He actually played midfield for Southern as well his dad,
so he played, yeah back and what is he about
two thousand and two thousand and two. Yeah, so it
was good to keep him in the province. Actually, there'd
be a few people looking around New Zealand to try
and snap them, but yeah, we locked them in here.
So he's he's been going really good the first four games,

(02:01:33):
but it would be nice to see him out there today.

Speaker 3 (02:01:37):
Yeah, that's a shame. That is a shame. Now did
I read Are you still playing club rugby?

Speaker 12 (02:01:42):
I am yeh No. We we won the club final
this year actually, so that was my eleventh club title,
so it was it was pretty awesome. So still still
hanging in there because I saw it when you're when
you're hocker, we have to throw the ball and then
scrums makes it a bit easier.

Speaker 3 (02:01:58):
Well, you played eighty minutes in the final to win
the Girl Bright Shield, as you say, for the eleventh
of time with Woodlands. So what are we just sort
of do you just make a decision every sort of
January February there you'll go around again.

Speaker 7 (02:02:10):
Oh, I just.

Speaker 12 (02:02:15):
I'm not not too sure. I just I love playing
my footy. It's cold and dark and south in the
middle the winter. It's not much else to do. Get
you out of the house, get along the training, flavor
the footy and then enjoy a beer or two at
the clubrooms, catch up with people. So I think it's
good for me personally. I still love it and if
I can still so, yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:02:38):
Love it. Jase, Well, I think everybody outside of the
Waycata region hopes Southland wins it this afternoon. I think
it'll be nice to have it back down there for
the first time since twenty eleven. Thanks for chatting to us, mate,
and we look forward to seeing what plays out at
FMG Stadium in a few hours time. Good airs, Thanks Tonny, No,
thank you, Jason. Jason Rutled's there four to thirty five
kickoff in Hamilton as Southland try and win the shield off.

(02:03:00):
Wait cutthole eight to three new stalks.

Speaker 1 (02:03:01):
It me analyzing every view from every angle in the
Sporting World to Weekends for it with Jason Pie they
call eighty News Talk zenb.

Speaker 2 (02:03:12):
Five to three.

Speaker 3 (02:03:12):
That's Weekend Sport for today. Tim Beveridge is on your
radio after three o'clock with the Sunday edition of the
Weekend Collective. We're back tomorrow night on Sports Talk, wrapping
the weekend and of course rating the weekend as well
with Piney's Bower rankings around ten to eight tomorrow night.
Hughes thanks to Any McDonald for producing the show today,
thank you for listening in and for taking part lots

(02:03:34):
of great discussion to take us out today. The song
that Opshop leads singer Jason Kerison and a singing troop
of Southlanders wrote back in twenty seventeen to try and
breathe some new life and to Rugby Southland. It's called
the Southern Dream. And I think, as I said to
Jason Rutledge, unless you live in Whitehuttle, we're all teams

(02:03:56):
Southland this afternoon, aren't we get that shield? Back down
to in Vicago

Speaker 1 (02:04:36):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks it be Weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio,

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