May 16, 2026 • 10 mins
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw's faith in his players continues to rise after a 47-24 Super Rugby victory over the Blues.
The competition front-runners ran in seven tries to four to restore their lead over the second-placed Chiefs to five points.
Hurricanes winger Kini Naholo joined Piney to discuss further.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's go to Super Rugby. The Hurricanes have swept through
Eden Park. They have run out forty seven twenty four
winners over the Blues, their first win in Auckland since
twenty nineteen. It has moved them five points clear at
the top of the table with two rounds to play,
so only the Chiefs can now catch the Hurricanes as
(00:32):
regular season winners. And among the tri scorers last night
for the Hurricanes was returning winger in the last couple
of weeks Kenny Nahlo.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
They drive once, all comes before they can really get
going and Naughty down.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The shorter side of the parts. Kenny Nahlo gets the try.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Blues couldn't pick it.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Kenny Nahlo certainly could. Yeah, just one of the eye
catching tries for the Hurricanes last night. Kenny Naholo joins
us a good win for the Canes last night. Can
he look like one of the more complete performances of
the season. How happy with the coaching staff and the
players after the game last night?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah? I think they were pretty happy with our efforts
in the way we play the game. Yesterday and I
was pretty scapy towards the end there, But I guess
we're happy to come away with the winning obviously on
this point was messing for us.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, to go to Edon Park and put forty seven
points on them, it's quite the statement, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Did it?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Did it feel like a game? You know, it's just
like got to scrap at the end, But certainly in
the first half, in the first hour even, did it
feel like a game where where a lot was going
well and a lot was clicking for you?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, I was in for the first half. I feel
like everything was going well. Then at times they were.
They did pretty well to slow them right down for us,
so we couldn't We couldn't play on top of them
when we want to. But yeah, like we said, it's
not easy going up then get a win. But to
come away with the win and put the square that much,
(02:06):
and it was pretty good to.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Get the try at the end, which did get you
the bonus point, because what they came back with those
three tries, didn't they I don't think they were ever
going to win the game, but they did look as
though they were going to deny you the bonus points.
So How crucial was Peter Archive's late try which which
got you that bonus point and the five points for
your night's work.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, it was messive for us and were the where
we were sitting at the table, and I guess that
kind of gives us a bit of advantage. I guess
five points ahead of the or the Chiefs and yeah,
like it's pretty tight up up to the top to
top two, so we've just got to mix so get
(02:46):
as much points as we can every week. So getting
that was last night. It was pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Great to have you back as well after a long
time out with injury. How good has it been to
be back out there playing for you personally?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, it's been pretty good last couple of weeks, obviously
misplaying at their level and then I guess I've still
got a long way to go with some of the
things that I've missed, like specially with them a game,
fitness and and all that stuff. But like you said that,
like the boys are doing pretty well and it makes
(03:24):
it that return more exciting and some way to see
where we go from here.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
How challenging was the last year for you as you
as you're rehabbed from a pretty serious injury.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, sometimes it can gets a bit lonely, but I've
done I guess I've done my CEO twice now, so
I know what it feels like to go through that
their face, and and I'm pretty lucky with all the
staff members we have with the medical team, and in
(03:58):
some of the players they were I was doing rehab
with during last year, so makes the rehab more exciting
and enjoyable as well. So even though I prefer to
be playing, but I guess that's part of rugby, so
you can't really control that.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I've never heard rehab described as exciting and enjoyable. But
I know what you mean, not think you know. Yeah,
as you say, it was the second time you've done it,
So did that even though it was you know, I mean,
terrible luck to even do it once, let alone twice.
Did it give you kind of a frame of reference saying, Okay,
I've done this before, I know the markers I have
to hit. Was it in some ways helpful that you
had a bit of a frame of reference.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, it's sort of like, well, they just told me
that you've done this before, and you know what it's
going to be like. And like I said, the stuff.
The stuff that we've got pretty good and they sort
of gad me towards my rehab and that so mistake
to have them in the team. And yeah, like I said,
(04:58):
I was lucky to have some other or not lucky,
but not lucky for them, but it was good for
me that we see other players that are I was
doing rehead with. So I guess it kind of makes
it a little bit and doable going to the gym.
Would rather do rehead with five other players than doing
it on my own.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Indeed. Indeed, and you were on fire last year when
the injury happened. You were scoring tries for fun and
speaking of wingers who were doing that, you mate for
the young and norfol was grabbing the headlines another try
last night. That's the that equals the season try scoring record.
What have you made of the way he's been playing
this season and why has he been such a try
(05:38):
scoring threat?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
For him obviously in a great film and scoring a
lot of tries, which is great for the team and
there's a big part of why we're doing so well.
And at the moment, yeah, I guess we've got a
pretty good quite at the moment that I feel like
every week, there's always going to be a chance for
the outside outside so the wingers to score tries, which
(06:04):
is I guess exciting. We've got a pretty good forward
back and then and a backline to do all the
job for us. It makes it easy for the wingers
to score tries.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Do you start talking Actually, I think I know the answer.
You don't start talking about winning the whole thing, But
how do you make sure that you do focus week
to week? As you say, it's still tight at the
top between yourself and the chiefs. How do you make
sure you focus week to week for the remaining couple
of games ahead of the finals, rather than start thinking
about a Grand Final already.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Yeah, we try not to look too far forward, so
trying to take every week as it comes. So take
each week like Folcus are really big on nailing your
work every week. So I guess for us, who is
trying to I guess do a training well during the
(07:00):
week and I'll get too carried too far ahead with
what the people will says the Obviously we're doing pretty
well at the moment, but we're just trying to take
each it as it comes.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Ye're doing pretty well as an understatement, so Highlanders and
then Crusaders to finish. Just I mean, how cool is
it for you personally to come back into a side
that is playing so well, that are sitting up as
outside the way that it does. It must be a
really exciting prospect for you, you know, given the long rehab,
to come back into a team that's playing the way
that it is.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, it makes it your return, I guess sort of
look forward to it because when you see the wings
of us scoring tries and doing well that you want
to be a part of. And there's something that I
was looking forward to. And yeah, like I said, we've
got a pretty good depth in the squad which makes
it easy for US wingers to do a job. And yeah,
(07:56):
like I said, and hopefully we keep going like this,
and he knows, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We will see what happens. In deed, it's great to
have you back, Kenny. It's great to see you back
out there and Hurricanes Jersey with a smile on your face,
scoring tries. Congratulations on your rehab made. It must have
been a really challenging time, so good to see you back.
Thanks for chatting to us this afternoon. All the best
as you'd prepare for the Highlanders.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Thanks Pony, thank you all the.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Best to you. Can he thanks mate? Can he a
holo joining us there on weekend sport. Yeah, I mean
you forget how good he was going last year. You know,
you think Finny young and Alf was going well and
he is, but Canna hollow. I think he said something
like ten tries and twelve games last season before he
got injured. He was he was on fire, and I think, yeah,
(08:44):
he had eight tries in ten games. Sorry, I didn't
want to I don't want to overstate it, but he
had that season enning ACL injury, and he was reportedly
heading off shore at the end of last season, but
that put paid to that. There was you know, reports
around that he was off to Japan. That didn't happen, obviously,
so he signed a one year extension with the Hurricanes
(09:05):
instead to rehear and here he is back again now,
and I just love the fact that he's been looked
after and has now got himself back into the side
and is playing well again. I mean, goodness me. The
Hurricanes were frightening anyway, but Kenny Nahlo and fa Heir
Finnanga north fall on the wings. I mean, so where's
(09:27):
Josh Morbig gonna play. You know, he got four tries
last week against Moana. Maybe he goes to fallback. I
don't know. Callum Harkin's been playing pretty well there. And
then there's Balen Sullivan also in this In this mix,
I mean, we just set up for a Hurricanes Chiefs
Grand Final, aren't we. It just seems that these two
(09:47):
are so far ahead of everybody else they now can't
be knocked out of the top two spots. The table
now has the Hurricanes, as mentioned, at the top of
the table with fifty points five points Claire of the
Chiefs on forty five. The Blues are on thirty eight
after their lost last night. They've only got one game
to go, so they can't catch either the Hurricanes or
the Chiefs. Then it's the Crusaders on thirty two, Brumbies
(10:08):
twenty nine reach twenty eight. Highland isn't going to make
the six again, are they? Then? Unfortunately not going to
make the top six. Only got one game to go.
It's against the Hurricanes this week in Wellington. They're probably
not going to win that game. The Highland isn't going
to be in the top six, the other four should
be okay. See the Force won again last night like
(10:29):
a bit of a smoky. I'd have to win their
last two games probably to make it. But yeah, everything
points to a Hurricanes Chiefs Super Rugby Final, but still
a lot of still a lot of water to flow
under the bridge before we reach that point. Great to
hear from Kenningnahola on the show this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's go to Super Rugby. The Hurricanes have swept through
Eden Park. They have run out forty seven twenty four
winners over the Blues, their first win in Auckland since
twenty nineteen. It has moved them five points clear at
the top of the table with two rounds to play,
so only the Chiefs can now catch the Hurricanes as
(00:32):
regular season winners. And among the tri scorers last night
for the Hurricanes was returning winger in the last couple
of weeks Kenny Nahlo.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
They drive once, all comes before they can really get
going and Naughty down.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
The shorter side of the parts. Kenny Nahlo gets the try.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Blues couldn't pick it.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Kenny Nahlo certainly could. Yeah, just one of the eye
catching tries for the Hurricanes last night. Kenny Naholo joins
us a good win for the Canes last night. Can
he look like one of the more complete performances of
the season. How happy with the coaching staff and the
players after the game last night?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah? I think they were pretty happy with our efforts
in the way we play the game. Yesterday and I
was pretty scapy towards the end there, But I guess
we're happy to come away with the winning obviously on
this point was messing for us.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, to go to Edon Park and put forty seven
points on them, it's quite the statement, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Did it?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Did it feel like a game? You know, it's just
like got to scrap at the end, But certainly in
the first half, in the first hour even, did it
feel like a game where where a lot was going
well and a lot was clicking for you?
Speaker 3 (01:43):
Yeah, I was in for the first half. I feel
like everything was going well. Then at times they were.
They did pretty well to slow them right down for us,
so we couldn't We couldn't play on top of them
when we want to. But yeah, like we said, it's
not easy going up then get a win. But to
come away with the win and put the square that much,
(02:06):
and it was pretty good to.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Get the try at the end, which did get you
the bonus point, because what they came back with those
three tries, didn't they I don't think they were ever
going to win the game, but they did look as
though they were going to deny you the bonus points.
So How crucial was Peter Archive's late try which which
got you that bonus point and the five points for
your night's work.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Yeah, it was messive for us and were the where
we were sitting at the table, and I guess that
kind of gives us a bit of advantage. I guess
five points ahead of the or the Chiefs and yeah,
like it's pretty tight up up to the top to
top two, so we've just got to mix so get
(02:46):
as much points as we can every week. So getting
that was last night. It was pretty cool.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Great to have you back as well after a long
time out with injury. How good has it been to
be back out there playing for you personally?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, it's been pretty good last couple of weeks, obviously
misplaying at their level and then I guess I've still
got a long way to go with some of the
things that I've missed, like specially with them a game,
fitness and and all that stuff. But like you said that,
like the boys are doing pretty well and it makes
(03:24):
it that return more exciting and some way to see
where we go from here.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
How challenging was the last year for you as you
as you're rehabbed from a pretty serious injury.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
Yeah, sometimes it can gets a bit lonely, but I've
done I guess I've done my CEO twice now, so
I know what it feels like to go through that
their face, and and I'm pretty lucky with all the
staff members we have with the medical team, and in
(03:58):
some of the players they were I was doing rehab
with during last year, so makes the rehab more exciting
and enjoyable as well. So even though I prefer to
be playing, but I guess that's part of rugby, so
you can't really control that.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
I've never heard rehab described as exciting and enjoyable. But
I know what you mean, not think you know. Yeah,
as you say, it was the second time you've done it,
So did that even though it was you know, I mean,
terrible luck to even do it once, let alone twice.
Did it give you kind of a frame of reference saying, Okay,
I've done this before, I know the markers I have
to hit. Was it in some ways helpful that you
had a bit of a frame of reference.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
Yeah, it's sort of like, well, they just told me
that you've done this before, and you know what it's
going to be like. And like I said, the stuff.
The stuff that we've got pretty good and they sort
of gad me towards my rehab and that so mistake
to have them in the team. And yeah, like I said,
(04:58):
I was lucky to have some other or not lucky,
but not lucky for them, but it was good for
me that we see other players that are I was
doing rehead with. So I guess it kind of makes
it a little bit and doable going to the gym.
Would rather do rehead with five other players than doing
it on my own.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Indeed. Indeed, and you were on fire last year when
the injury happened. You were scoring tries for fun and
speaking of wingers who were doing that, you mate for
the young and norfol was grabbing the headlines another try
last night. That's the that equals the season try scoring record.
What have you made of the way he's been playing
this season and why has he been such a try
(05:38):
scoring threat?
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:42):
For him obviously in a great film and scoring a
lot of tries, which is great for the team and
there's a big part of why we're doing so well.
And at the moment, yeah, I guess we've got a
pretty good quite at the moment that I feel like
every week, there's always going to be a chance for
the outside outside so the wingers to score tries, which
(06:04):
is I guess exciting. We've got a pretty good forward
back and then and a backline to do all the
job for us. It makes it easy for the wingers
to score tries.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Do you start talking Actually, I think I know the answer.
You don't start talking about winning the whole thing, But
how do you make sure that you do focus week
to week? As you say, it's still tight at the
top between yourself and the chiefs. How do you make
sure you focus week to week for the remaining couple
of games ahead of the finals, rather than start thinking
about a Grand Final already.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Yeah, we try not to look too far forward, so
trying to take every week as it comes. So take
each week like Folcus are really big on nailing your
work every week. So I guess for us, who is
trying to I guess do a training well during the
(07:00):
week and I'll get too carried too far ahead with
what the people will says the Obviously we're doing pretty
well at the moment, but we're just trying to take
each it as it comes.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Ye're doing pretty well as an understatement, so Highlanders and
then Crusaders to finish. Just I mean, how cool is
it for you personally to come back into a side
that is playing so well, that are sitting up as
outside the way that it does. It must be a
really exciting prospect for you, you know, given the long rehab,
to come back into a team that's playing the way
that it is.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, it makes it your return, I guess sort of
look forward to it because when you see the wings
of us scoring tries and doing well that you want
to be a part of. And there's something that I
was looking forward to. And yeah, like I said, we've
got a pretty good depth in the squad which makes
it easy for US wingers to do a job. And yeah,
(07:56):
like I said, and hopefully we keep going like this,
and he knows, we'll see what happens.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
We will see what happens. In deed, it's great to
have you back, Kenny. It's great to see you back
out there and Hurricanes Jersey with a smile on your face,
scoring tries. Congratulations on your rehab made. It must have
been a really challenging time, so good to see you back.
Thanks for chatting to us this afternoon. All the best
as you'd prepare for the Highlanders.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Thanks Pony, thank you all the.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Best to you. Can he thanks mate? Can he a
holo joining us there on weekend sport. Yeah, I mean
you forget how good he was going last year. You know,
you think Finny young and Alf was going well and
he is, but Canna hollow. I think he said something
like ten tries and twelve games last season before he
got injured. He was he was on fire, and I think, yeah,
(08:44):
he had eight tries in ten games. Sorry, I didn't
want to I don't want to overstate it, but he
had that season enning ACL injury, and he was reportedly
heading off shore at the end of last season, but
that put paid to that. There was you know, reports
around that he was off to Japan. That didn't happen, obviously,
so he signed a one year extension with the Hurricanes
(09:05):
instead to rehear and here he is back again now,
and I just love the fact that he's been looked
after and has now got himself back into the side
and is playing well again. I mean, goodness me. The
Hurricanes were frightening anyway, but Kenny Nahlo and fa Heir
Finnanga north fall on the wings. I mean, so where's
(09:27):
Josh Morbig gonna play. You know, he got four tries
last week against Moana. Maybe he goes to fallback. I
don't know. Callum Harkin's been playing pretty well there. And
then there's Balen Sullivan also in this In this mix,
I mean, we just set up for a Hurricanes Chiefs
Grand Final, aren't we. It just seems that these two
(09:47):
are so far ahead of everybody else they now can't
be knocked out of the top two spots. The table
now has the Hurricanes, as mentioned, at the top of
the table with fifty points five points Claire of the
Chiefs on forty five. The Blues are on thirty eight
after their lost last night. They've only got one game
to go, so they can't catch either the Hurricanes or
the Chiefs. Then it's the Crusaders on thirty two, Brumbies
(10:08):
twenty nine reach twenty eight. Highland isn't going to make
the six again, are they? Then? Unfortunately not going to
make the top six. Only got one game to go.
It's against the Hurricanes this week in Wellington. They're probably
not going to win that game. The Highland isn't going
to be in the top six, the other four should
be okay. See the Force won again last night like
(10:29):
a bit of a smoky. I'd have to win their
last two games probably to make it. But yeah, everything
points to a Hurricanes Chiefs Super Rugby Final, but still
a lot of still a lot of water to flow
under the bridge before we reach that point. Great to
hear from Kenningnahola on the show this afternoon.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talks b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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