March 7, 2026 • 6 mins
The Blues have moved to 4th on the Super Rugby tale after a rare win over the Crusaders.
The Brumbies still top the table, despite a three-point loss to the Reds.
Blues assistant coach Paul Tito 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 Newstalk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Siren Punaki kicks it into touch and.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
The Blues say, don't forget about us.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We're back on track in.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Super Rugby twenty twenty six with a statement win over
the defending champions twenty ninth thirteen and Eden.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Park Blues assistant coach Paul tetel Is whe us that
looked like one of the Blues' most complete performances of
the season. I know it's only early, Paul, but how
pleased were you and the rest of the coaching staff
with last night?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, you know, just to get the win against the
Crusader's team has been not easy to come by for
the Blues in the last few years. Obviously, Dults played
one hundredth game last weekend and that was a third win,
So you know, we've struggled to beat them. But I
feel that, you know, throughout the season we've been building
(00:57):
quite nicely and potentially hadn't been getting the results that
that came our way. But you know, we've been trusting
the pro and enjoying each other's company and building together
something nice and special, and you know, I think hopefully
there was a start of something from that result last night.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
After conceding late to lose to the Brumbies last week,
did you sense among the playing group that a response
was coming from that.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
That's what it felt like at training all week. You know,
we're just slowly building and putting those blocks in place,
and even last night we went perfect by any means,
but I feel we're building, which has been pleading.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
The Crusaders didn't score a single point in the second half.
How satisfied were you with the defense, of attitude and
the organization after halftime?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, it's important, you know, I mean, you know the
Cannabury teams, Crusader teams that you play, you know, they
normally score just before halftime and just after halftime. They
put a lot of pressure on you by doing so.
So for us to start well in that second half
and take control of the game was please them. A
massive cutos to Craig McGrath and the defense group that
(02:13):
are leading the space, and you know, I thought we
saw some real growth in our defense last night, and
then we're a willingness to work hard for each other.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Interesting you say that about the times the Crusaders are
most dangerous. They did score a couple of tries before
halftime when Caleb Clark was in the bin from nineteen
three to nineteen thirteen. Any worry lines at that point.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, potentially, just a couple of week moments that we had,
you know, a lost line out which was a miscall,
you know, I mean, just those those little things that
become big things and we just give them opportunity, and
we know how good they are. If you give these
teams a sniff or an opportunity, you know, they're more
than capable of scoring points. And they look pretty easy
(03:00):
when they did that. So yep, no, it's something that
we need to work on. And obviously playing with fifteen
men or help.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Us bone and Barrett was a late inclusion into the
starting fifteen. He was event initially slated to come off
the bench. How late a call was that? And a
Stephen petefecta okay.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, Stevie's he's sustaining another injuries, which is which is
disappointing for him. You know, he's bloody hard to get
back and you know, hopefully he won't be on the
sideline too long. But I don't know what the prognosis
is on that. But you know he's he's been He's
been good for us, Stevie, and we're going to need
him throughout the year, so we you know, we'll get
(03:39):
him back at some stage soon.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Not a bad guy to have coming in. It looked
like he hadn't been away boating. Barrett.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah. I actually spoke to him after the game and
he his legs were a bit heavy and his legs
were burning theres they always are. You know, it doesn't
actually matter how much work you've done in the preseason.
You know, that first game always hurts. So it was
good to have him back out there, and you know,
he controlled the game well and you know I'll be happy.
He'll be happy with that any minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And the other to the experienced scar we're seeing some
younger Blues players really grow into their time in the Jersey,
the likes of Torrian Barnes, Shay Clark, Cody Vai. How
encouraged are you by the depth that you're building in
the Blues.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It's exciting and you know, I go back surely. We
look at our development team too, Tim Tyre. They've been
going really well and performing and it's putting pressure on
the coaches to get the selection right. So it's a
good headache to have. Obviously, we've been in a few
things and there's other guys getting opportunities. You know, you
name Torian Barnes and Cody Vaile. I thought was outstanding
(04:41):
last night. You know, I put Josh Barry in that
bracket too, like he's really leading the charge for our
foods to share. His stats are high and his work
rates massive, and we're really enjoying this growth from this,
the younger generation that are coming through the Blues.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I heard Caleb Clark afterwards talk about Dot and Papale's
one hundredth, which you referenced before, and while he brought
it up a week ago, it was kind of celebrated.
I guess on home saw there last night. How how
much do you mark milestones like that internally?
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, it's a big thing at the Blues. You know,
to play one hundred games or of super rugby is
as a massive achievement adults, as a special man. And
you know, he surely missed when he when he leaves
after this year, but I know that he's you know,
he's really he's really leading away and rolling the troops
a share to make sure he goes out with a bang,
and you know where he's a He's a highly respected
(05:36):
man in our group on and off the field. He's
a great leader, and you know, we love him to bits,
and you know, whatever has happened, and you know, at
the higher at the higher teams for the last couple
of years, it's it's bloody sad to see him go.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Indeed, one of Pacific are up next for you someday
afternoons a week today back at Eton Park. They've had
a challenging season, haven't they. Will there be a chance
to rest some guys, maybe give some other guys a
few minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I think the key will be our willingness to, you know,
just get out there and put the Blues dnal and
on the park. You know, I mean, I'm sure there'll
be a couple of changes, but you know, we know
what it's like. And with Mona, you know, they tipped
us up last year. So we're under no illusions how
tough the game will be. And we're going to have
(06:23):
to be on our game and we want to keep
growing what we've done the last couple of weeks. We
know we don't want to be going two steps forward
and one back. So we need to keep growing what
we're doing and become better every week. So you know,
I mean, I'm sure there'll be a couple, but hopefully,
you know, we've just got to keep going.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
All right. Hey, thanks Paul, appreciate you taking the time
to chat to us.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Paul Tital For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine,
Listen live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk sed B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Siren Punaki kicks it into touch and.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
The Blues say, don't forget about us.
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We're back on track in.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Super Rugby twenty twenty six with a statement win over
the defending champions twenty ninth thirteen and Eden.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Park Blues assistant coach Paul tetel Is whe us that
looked like one of the Blues' most complete performances of
the season. I know it's only early, Paul, but how
pleased were you and the rest of the coaching staff
with last night?
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, you know, just to get the win against the
Crusader's team has been not easy to come by for
the Blues in the last few years. Obviously, Dults played
one hundredth game last weekend and that was a third win,
So you know, we've struggled to beat them. But I
feel that, you know, throughout the season we've been building
(00:57):
quite nicely and potentially hadn't been getting the results that
that came our way. But you know, we've been trusting
the pro and enjoying each other's company and building together
something nice and special, and you know, I think hopefully
there was a start of something from that result last night.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
After conceding late to lose to the Brumbies last week,
did you sense among the playing group that a response
was coming from that.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
That's what it felt like at training all week. You know,
we're just slowly building and putting those blocks in place,
and even last night we went perfect by any means,
but I feel we're building, which has been pleading.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
The Crusaders didn't score a single point in the second half.
How satisfied were you with the defense, of attitude and
the organization after halftime?
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, it's important, you know, I mean, you know the
Cannabury teams, Crusader teams that you play, you know, they
normally score just before halftime and just after halftime. They
put a lot of pressure on you by doing so.
So for us to start well in that second half
and take control of the game was please them. A
massive cutos to Craig McGrath and the defense group that
(02:13):
are leading the space, and you know, I thought we
saw some real growth in our defense last night, and
then we're a willingness to work hard for each other.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Interesting you say that about the times the Crusaders are
most dangerous. They did score a couple of tries before
halftime when Caleb Clark was in the bin from nineteen
three to nineteen thirteen. Any worry lines at that point.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Yeah, potentially, just a couple of week moments that we had,
you know, a lost line out which was a miscall,
you know, I mean, just those those little things that
become big things and we just give them opportunity, and
we know how good they are. If you give these
teams a sniff or an opportunity, you know, they're more
than capable of scoring points. And they look pretty easy
(03:00):
when they did that. So yep, no, it's something that
we need to work on. And obviously playing with fifteen
men or help.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Us bone and Barrett was a late inclusion into the
starting fifteen. He was event initially slated to come off
the bench. How late a call was that? And a
Stephen petefecta okay.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, Stevie's he's sustaining another injuries, which is which is
disappointing for him. You know, he's bloody hard to get
back and you know, hopefully he won't be on the
sideline too long. But I don't know what the prognosis
is on that. But you know he's he's been He's
been good for us, Stevie, and we're going to need
him throughout the year, so we you know, we'll get
(03:39):
him back at some stage soon.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Not a bad guy to have coming in. It looked
like he hadn't been away boating. Barrett.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Yeah. I actually spoke to him after the game and
he his legs were a bit heavy and his legs
were burning theres they always are. You know, it doesn't
actually matter how much work you've done in the preseason.
You know, that first game always hurts. So it was
good to have him back out there, and you know,
he controlled the game well and you know I'll be happy.
He'll be happy with that any minutes.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
And the other to the experienced scar we're seeing some
younger Blues players really grow into their time in the Jersey,
the likes of Torrian Barnes, Shay Clark, Cody Vai. How
encouraged are you by the depth that you're building in
the Blues.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
It's exciting and you know, I go back surely. We
look at our development team too, Tim Tyre. They've been
going really well and performing and it's putting pressure on
the coaches to get the selection right. So it's a
good headache to have. Obviously, we've been in a few
things and there's other guys getting opportunities. You know, you
name Torian Barnes and Cody Vaile. I thought was outstanding
(04:41):
last night. You know, I put Josh Barry in that
bracket too, like he's really leading the charge for our
foods to share. His stats are high and his work
rates massive, and we're really enjoying this growth from this,
the younger generation that are coming through the Blues.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
I heard Caleb Clark afterwards talk about Dot and Papale's
one hundredth, which you referenced before, and while he brought
it up a week ago, it was kind of celebrated.
I guess on home saw there last night. How how
much do you mark milestones like that internally?
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, it's a big thing at the Blues. You know,
to play one hundred games or of super rugby is
as a massive achievement adults, as a special man. And
you know, he surely missed when he when he leaves
after this year, but I know that he's you know,
he's really he's really leading away and rolling the troops
a share to make sure he goes out with a bang,
and you know where he's a He's a highly respected
(05:36):
man in our group on and off the field. He's
a great leader, and you know, we love him to bits,
and you know, whatever has happened, and you know, at
the higher at the higher teams for the last couple
of years, it's it's bloody sad to see him go.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Indeed, one of Pacific are up next for you someday
afternoons a week today back at Eton Park. They've had
a challenging season, haven't they. Will there be a chance
to rest some guys, maybe give some other guys a
few minutes.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
I think the key will be our willingness to, you know,
just get out there and put the Blues dnal and
on the park. You know, I mean, I'm sure there'll
be a couple of changes, but you know, we know
what it's like. And with Mona, you know, they tipped
us up last year. So we're under no illusions how
tough the game will be. And we're going to have
(06:23):
to be on our game and we want to keep
growing what we've done the last couple of weeks. We
know we don't want to be going two steps forward
and one back. So we need to keep growing what
we're doing and become better every week. So you know,
I mean, I'm sure there'll be a couple, but hopefully,
you know, we've just got to keep going.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
All right. Hey, thanks Paul, appreciate you taking the time
to chat to us.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Paul Tital For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine,
Listen live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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