Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from News Talks ed B. Getting u set for your
sporting weekend. It's the Wellington Mornings Friday Sport kick guards
on News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
B joining us Friday Sports Today is News Talk Sead
B or Sports Breakfast host Adam Cooper. Good morning, Coop
mooning Nick and weekend sports host Jason Pine, who's currently
out at the Phoenix training session. Good morning Jason Pine.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Oh and Nick, He's just on our way back, so
the timing's impeccable. I've just got through the terrace tunnel.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Okay, tell us what you learned in the last hour
at the Phoenix training We'll start with that.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
Oh, not a heck of a lot, really. I mean,
they're they're out of playoffs contention. They want to finish
the season strongly. They're undefeated in their last three. Melbourne
Victory come to town tomorrow. I think I'll probably play
unincumbent as they have the last couple of games without
a final spot on the line, so hopefully an exciting game.
They've had some tussles with Melbourne Victory over the last
(01:17):
couple of seasons, which have normally been quite tight, so
I'm expecting some tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Actually, thanks Coops. Is it too early to start analyzing
the Phoenix season? And until we wait till the end
of the season or you know it, should we start
talking about it now? I mean a game where nothing
counts tomorrow on Saturday, apart from trying to get people
there to support them.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Yeah, I mean, it's I think the obviously the playoff
quest is over, so I mean you naturally sort of
look back at the themes that it might have caused
some of their season. Obviously, injuries have been a big
part of the year, and that the voids left by
a lot of those players who departed on the back
of last year's brilliant season, and you know, things just
really not clicking with the players that have needed to
click up front, in particular to score goals for the
(02:01):
Phoenix this year. Alongside Costa barbarusis obviously Marco Rojas. There
was so much talked about him coming back to the Phoenix.
They built their plans around him. He you know, I
just didn't work out with him. You know, he suffered
a couple of really disappointing injuries that prevented him from
playing many minutes and then all those players that were
sort of lined up to be playing around him didn't
get the chance to do so, and that's probably cost
(02:23):
them a number of chances through the year as well.
So it's so pretty disappointing. I don't think the reflection
of the year will be much different at the end
of the season as it is now.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Yeah, okay, let's talk about the big game tonight, because
you know, we never and I was reminiscenting about it
before the show this morning with you guys. How big
a game you know, fifteen twenty years ago when it
first started was the Hurricanes versus the Crusaders. I mean
I talked about people lining up at three o'clock in
the afternoon to get in and you know, ten tickets left,
(02:53):
all that stuff. I mean, it's a very very big
game in Super rugby and it's right now backyard, Piney,
what are your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (03:04):
Yeah, look, I think you're right Goes, you know, to
be on the Super Rugby days as well. Doesn't at
any time that Wellington played Canterbury at anything really particularly rugby.
We know how fierce the history is between the two sides.
From House City and from the Garden City. Look, I
still think this is a very very important game tonight,
(03:25):
probably more important actually for the Hurricanes than it is
for the Crusaders. The Crusaders are sort of up and
about the top, sort of two or three, and it
went over in fig last week and have been pretty
good actually this season. The Hurricanes, by contrast, our contrast,
have been very up and down. You know, a really
good win against the warre Task last time they played
(03:45):
at Sky Stadium, went up to Eden Park last week
and weren't able to get over the top of the Blues,
even though that was a bit of an arm wrestle.
I think this is quite an important game in the
context of the season tonight. Look, if they lose it,
it doesn't take them out of top six contention. We're
still only eight or nine rounds into a fourteen round season.
(04:05):
But I think it's quite important that the Hurricanes play
well tonight. It just seems to me as though they
haven't been able to find consistency and now is the
time to start finding it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Adam, they've been playing some very good looking rugby. I mean,
let's put things on the table. I really really enjoyed
watching Super rugby the standard's been really good. Hurricanes are
playing exciting, sciting rugby, just haven't quite won some of
the ones that we you know, like last week it
was close, but not there. They feel that they're coming
right tonight. I think I think Piney's underplaying it a
(04:40):
little bit. I think tonight's big for them. If they
beat the Crusaders at home, suddenly we're real again.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Yeah, they are. They need a winning streak is basically
what the Hurricanes need, and that's what they've struggled with.
As you say, there's been some moments of brilliance through
the year. You know, Reuben Love since he's been back,
has been outstanding. The forward pack finally you know, getting
some real wins there as a result of the likes
of a Saufferomura and Tyra Lomax coming back a little
bit later later on in the season, further from the
start of the season. So I think, you know, there's
(05:06):
been some great moments there, especially when they were last
at home a couple of weeks ago against the Warritars.
I think that was a real turning point in the season,
which showed they do have what it takes to be
at the top end of the top four, top seven,
top six, I should say when the playoffs come round,
they have what it takes to play great rugby. But
I think what's been missing this year is the ability
to do that consistently over two three weeks. You know,
(05:27):
there's been some disappointing losses the Moana, you know, the
Mowana defeat the Blues won last week. You know, they
were just outplayed in a very sort of you know,
physical game, which hadn't been the nature of a lot
of contests this year. So that they've got what it takes,
I believe they just haven't been able to quite gel
for prolonged periods of time. And they're no under no
illusions that that's what they need to do. And they
(05:49):
are circling this game tonight as a moment they do
need to win, but not just when tonight. The momentum
has to carry on from there. They've got a couple
of games over in Australia coming up over the next
few weeks, and again, you're not going to win Super Rugby.
You're not even going to make the playoffs if you
can't win your home games but also win a couple
over an Australia tours part of this comptwn.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I don't want to underplay the magnitude of tonight's game.
I think, you know, good opposition playing at home. If
you're real, you win those games.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
Yeah, And I also just want to say that, you know,
there's been a lot of talk this week about the
popularity of Super rugby, you know, the points scores, the
open play, the exciting battles, and the Hurricanes are doing
everything they can to make it attractive for people to
come along tonight and support them. There's fireworks apparently for
the first time in ten years on the field at
sky Stadiums. There's fireworks, there's a light show, there's DJs
(06:35):
playing there before the game as you walk through the
concourse and things like that. So the Hurricanes are doing
their bit to try and get fans through. So let's
see if they actually come along and support them. It's
a tough slot getting people to come along, but the
club themselves, I believe, is making every effort to make
people come along and enjoy it. So you see how
that goes.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
One hundred percent. Agree with you, Bums on seats come
on well in Toni and so it's a lovely night.
You know, We've got it's one week away from a
holiday weekend. Get off your asses and go along and
support and have a good night out. Talking about good
night out, Shay Eely is good. He returns to the
Saints who are now at the top of the table.
The Jason Pine I mean, people forget that he was
(07:13):
defensive Player of the Year and six Man of the
year or should have been six Man of the year
in the Australian League. He would have been six man
but he started too many games. He's a superstar in
this league.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Oh absolutely in his influence last night was tremendous. You know,
I think I saw a stat line he only played
nineteen minutes, didn't he but double figure points, double figure assists,
five or six rebounds. I mean he's close to a
close to a triples double and only nineteen minutes. I think, Look,
I've really enjoyed watching the Saints this year, you know,
(07:46):
I think like any any team, they you know, they
take a little bit of time to find their feet.
But the last two or three games that have been
very good Southland last night actually were quite disappointing for me.
I mean, open a team that's had some high highs
in recent seasons, but yeah, Look, I think the Saints
are real in Shale being there. I think maybe he's
(08:08):
the He's the one missing piece that they haven't had
at the start of this year. Who knows you might
be hanging it other one of those banners up at
c SB Arena.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Far too early to say that. But Shaley's coming on
your show, Coops, and isn't it.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
Hes texted me back said yes, and he's ready to
have a chat tomorrow morning. So I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Can I tell you that that almost annoys me because
he Nobody out there hasn't heard an interview with Shane
Shaley is the shiest guy, not arrogant, the shiest guy
you'll ever meet. For So for you to get that interview,
he wouldn't come on and talk to me.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
Well with you, it's a bit like a job interview,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Well, No, it's just that he's a shy guy.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
He's probably when you when your name comes up on
his phone, when any of you, when your name comes
up on any of those players' phones, they immediately ignore
it because they're worried that they're going to get the sack.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Can I tell you one thing about Shaleely. Can I
tell you one fact about him. He's not scared of anybody.
He's got the heart of a liar. You know, let's
talk about the Masters Piney because this is the world's
biggest sporting you know, golfing event, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Is it the biggest?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah? Yeah, I think I think it's the one. I
think if you asked, if you polled the top men's
golfers in the world and asked them which one they'd
like to win, I think the Green Jacket is a
piece of apparel that that every one of them would
say I want that more than anything else. Yeah. Maybe
the Open Championship might rival it, but man, what are
just the coverage of it is what gets me. You know,
(09:38):
you look at those greens, those perfectly manicured stairways. It's
like going to Disneyland. I reckon going to walcust not
a leaf out of place, not a you know, not
a single thing that hasn't been tended to. I would
love to see Rory McElroy win it. I haven't caught
up with his first round score you guys about to
tell me, but he was in contention. But I'd love
(09:58):
to see Rory win it on on Monday out time.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Has he He's never won it, has he? Goops?
Speaker 4 (10:02):
No, No, it's the one major that's eluded him. So big,
you know, a big time for him, and he hasn't
you know, won a major for quite some time, you know,
well and almost a decade, I think, so, yeah, quite bag.
But it is just the biggest event, and I think
it's the one time where you know, non golfing fans
actually take an interest in golf. You know, they put
aside all the you know, drama around live players and stuff.
(10:22):
They're all invited to come along and it is genuinely
the world's best golfers who come together and play for
this incredibly coveted prize. I mean, it's got an interesting history.
You know. Some people question some of the morals and
the ethics around the whole Augusta course, you know, and
that'll that will never change because it is just what
it is, and you know, they're very set in their ways.
But that's almost what makes it what it is. It's almost,
(10:44):
as Piney said, it's an alternative universe that everyone, you know,
the world of golf heads there. They get to play
and they all have a have a great time buying
on you know, a very tough course. You know, you
look at Justin Rose who's leading at the moment, just
six under for his opening round and not many players
close to him, so it's a very challenging course. And yeah,
great watching all weekend. It is just a perfect, perfect
(11:04):
sporting viewing experience on TV.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Something this morning I thought Rory McRoy must have I mean,
you know, must have won. He never won there, so
I've learned something with our listeners. Probably some of our
listeners would as well. Always great to chat with a
couple of my colleagues, Jason Pine who will be hosting
the weekend sports show on this actual station between twelve
and three Saturday and Sunday, and of course Adam Cooper
who will be hosting the All Sports Breakfast from seven
(11:30):
to nine. He's taken over the last thirty years since
me and Piney did it nineteen ninety nine. Party told
me this morning.
Speaker 4 (11:38):
You know that I used to listen to you guys
to head the cancelations in the morning when I was
when I was young.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
Alive tell it went even Alive. For more from Wellington
Mornings with Nick Mills, listen live to news talks, It'd
be Wellington from nine am week days, or follow the
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