The Hurricanes are heading into the Super Rugby playoffs in top spot, and are hosting the Melbourne Rebels in what is the Wellington franchise's first home playoff game in five years.
Hurricanes loose forward Peter Lakai joined Adam Cooper to discuss the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Starting in the number seven jersey this afternoon for the
Hurricanes is Peter Laco, who is with us now. Peter,
thanks for your time here on the Allsport Breakfast on
game day and well, the last two years the Hurricanes
have had unsuccessful trips to Canberra and the quarterfinals. It
must be nice to have a playoff one at home
this year.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Sort of different, but it's something we've had our eyes on.
At the start of the year, Clerk came in and
he highlighted, like you said, the last two years in
the league quarterfinals in Canbra and a Mangal coming into
the season was securing home home quarterfinal at least, And yeah,
(00:40):
we've done that, so you're happy with that.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And just on Clark, how has he driven things to
make that happen after he started in the role this.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Year, just just through he rings a lot of edge.
He's honestly with us boys, and he's he's just straight up,
which has which has allowed us to sort of everyone's
playing well and I'm playing for their potential And I
guess that's just down to him and how he's been
(01:13):
for us this year.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
And for a play like yourself, what's your relationship like
with the head coach, Like, do you have individual meetings
with him or is it more sort of group discussions
and things between players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, sort of a group thing of workd uh. Played
on the clerk in last years the PO and then
I was sort of familiar for questioning coming in and yeah,
he just created in a good environment where you know,
everyone's happy to come in on a Monday and you
get to work and everyone's aiming to be better each week.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Will in Peter, Hurricans finished the top spot, which I'm
sure you're all delighted with were you're watching on with
the Chiefs, got those last couple of tries against the
Blues to hand you guys top spot. And how happy
was he run with that top placing?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I was actually on my home from from the
game last ye then and I've seen the final score
and yeah sure, yeah, well happy, you know, for the
top of the table.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And you can't complain, Peter luck with us here on
the OS for Breakfast and Painter. You've played thirteen of
the hurricanes fourteen games this year, so a pretty full
on season. How is the body feeling, Uh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm feeling I'm feeling nice. And fresh. You know, we
got great Lucy's in our group, and you know sort
of been rotating as the year the year has gone on.
But yeah, I'm feeling fresh and really the reader role
come Saturday.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And what personal goals did you see yourself for this year?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I just wanted to Obviously last year played first half
of the season and then I have to go with
the twenties. My goal of coming into this year was
just I was intern at the start, so I was
just working on my rehab, and as soon as I
was out of my cast, I just wanted to to
(03:15):
play my best my best footing and put my my
hand up and yeah, Clark and the coaches and sort
of warning off opportunities, and I was just trying to
fade him back by playing well and just making the
most of my opportunities.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And Peter, what do you feel gives you a point
of difference compared with the other options the coaches have
and the loose forwards of the Canes.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm not to sure really, but I'd just like to
compete both sides of the ball and just be physical.
Really that sort of tells me if I've had a
good game or not. Is the way I compete and
how physical I am.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And in terms of playoff rugby, on the back of
a great Hurricanes round Robin, how does the mindset and
the camp change now that you're preparing for for knockout rugby?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Not much, but just in terms of preparation, we just
know that, you know, we really got to nil down
our detail because like you said, it's win or lose,
or win or lose and go home. So yeah, we've
just been nailing down our detail. Not much has changed,
but the boys are just a little bit more switched
(04:33):
switched on and.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Your coach, Clark said said is a press conference on Thursday.
There's always improvements to be made. What has been the
focus for you guys on the forward pact this week?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
For us, it's just on attack. Not much has changed
for us. We're sort of looking to our game model.
But on defense for us, the River's a good team.
They have a lot of variations, but for us, it's
just staying on our pose and bringing of us and
an adapt thing.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Come off and Peter, the last couple of weeks you've
played an impact role off the bench. You're back on
the starting side this week. Does that change your preparation
depending on sort of you know, coming off the bench
or starting in the game.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, obviously when you start you can sort of feel
fill the game out and and play that wave. But
off the bench, for me, obviously, they know when you're
going to get on. But when you do get on,
it's just trying to make an impact. And for me
that's just getting my hands on the ball and I'm
(05:38):
doing what I do and then everything after that comes naturally.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Well, you clearly love running with the ball. You've scored
four or so tries this season. A lot of the
forwards seem to enjoy having a run with the ball.
I don't they, especially the front rowers.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, it was like getting the hands on the ball
and plucking the head down and getting stuck.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Great to see number see it is that your preferred possession.
We've seen you in a few different jerseys over the years.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, I feel like at the moment, I'm playing well
at seven, and you know, I'm enjoying it. I've been playing.
I played for the eight as well. Obviously when Braids,
when Braids goes off with my game, but yeah, I'm
enduring seven at the moment, I feel I feel like
it fits my my style of play well.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And yeah, and what's your working relationship with someone like
Brandon Light.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
He'd say, like, we're both starting eight and seven and
we know that the games, the games that we we
do play well as a whole, Me and him have
a big impact on that. And that's just carries and physicality,
(06:54):
just the whole fact of seven and six. When we're
playing well, the games going well, so you know that
we've got to unpack the game as much as we can,
whether that's ball in hand or on defense.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And speaking of loose forwards, Brad Shields obviously has been
back this year. As if for what say brought to
the wider team, No.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
He's been good. He's been the main voice in our team.
Obviously not as experienced as last year, but bred it's
sort of coming and he's been their voice for us.
And yeah, everyone everyone respects him. When he's talks to
everyone listens. So yeah, he's been real good for us
(07:32):
in the in the space.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
And there's a great collection of guys have been through
the age group system together around Wellington, yourself included, Peter
played a lot of rugby together. Is that nice having
those other guys around you that have been on that
journey with you over the years.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah, like you said, it's been a journey coming through
age grades and then the academy and then proceed in
the you know, just to break you now. It's just yeah,
it's just good to see how far we've come as
players and also as people. And they're sort of hasant
(08:11):
for the footy as well. We sort of know each
other's tend and season and how we play and that's
just their chemistry see on the field.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, and Peter, we saw Wellington get behind the Phoenix
when they had their playoff game a few weeks ago.
How much with big crowds mean to the Hurricanes over
this playoff period that starts today.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Mess of in the crowd pumping, you know the boys,
the boys feed off it, and we've seen that. We've
seen that last week and the home games we've had,
and you know, hopefully more people get down to the
get down this week and hopefully we go through more
people get down for the rest of the season. So yeah,
(08:52):
it means a lot.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Awesome. Peter, Hey, appreciate your time on the All Sport
Breakfast here on news Talks. He'd be and wishing all
the best of luck for this afternoons game mate.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks for chatting, Cheers, Adam Chiers. Thank you for more
from News Talks, ed B.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Starting in the number seven jersey this afternoon for the
Hurricanes is Peter Laco, who is with us now. Peter,
thanks for your time here on the Allsport Breakfast on
game day and well, the last two years the Hurricanes
have had unsuccessful trips to Canberra and the quarterfinals. It
must be nice to have a playoff one at home
this year.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Sort of different, but it's something we've had our eyes on.
At the start of the year, Clerk came in and
he highlighted, like you said, the last two years in
the league quarterfinals in Canbra and a Mangal coming into
the season was securing home home quarterfinal at least, And yeah,
(00:40):
we've done that, so you're happy with that.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
And just on Clark, how has he driven things to
make that happen after he started in the role this.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Year, just just through he rings a lot of edge.
He's honestly with us boys, and he's he's just straight up,
which has which has allowed us to sort of everyone's
playing well and I'm playing for their potential And I
guess that's just down to him and how he's been
(01:13):
for us this year.
Speaker 1 (01:14):
And for a play like yourself, what's your relationship like
with the head coach, Like, do you have individual meetings
with him or is it more sort of group discussions
and things between players and coaches.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Yeah, sort of a group thing of workd uh. Played
on the clerk in last years the PO and then
I was sort of familiar for questioning coming in and yeah,
he just created in a good environment where you know,
everyone's happy to come in on a Monday and you
get to work and everyone's aiming to be better each week.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Will in Peter, Hurricans finished the top spot, which I'm
sure you're all delighted with were you're watching on with
the Chiefs, got those last couple of tries against the
Blues to hand you guys top spot. And how happy
was he run with that top placing?
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I was actually on my home from from the
game last ye then and I've seen the final score
and yeah sure, yeah, well happy, you know, for the
top of the table.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
And you can't complain, Peter luck with us here on
the OS for Breakfast and Painter. You've played thirteen of
the hurricanes fourteen games this year, so a pretty full
on season. How is the body feeling, Uh, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
I'm feeling I'm feeling nice. And fresh. You know, we
got great Lucy's in our group, and you know sort
of been rotating as the year the year has gone on.
But yeah, I'm feeling fresh and really the reader role
come Saturday.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
And what personal goals did you see yourself for this year?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
I just wanted to Obviously last year played first half
of the season and then I have to go with
the twenties. My goal of coming into this year was
just I was intern at the start, so I was
just working on my rehab, and as soon as I
was out of my cast, I just wanted to to
(03:15):
play my best my best footing and put my my
hand up and yeah, Clark and the coaches and sort
of warning off opportunities, and I was just trying to
fade him back by playing well and just making the
most of my opportunities.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And Peter, what do you feel gives you a point
of difference compared with the other options the coaches have
and the loose forwards of the Canes.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm not to sure really, but I'd just like to
compete both sides of the ball and just be physical.
Really that sort of tells me if I've had a
good game or not. Is the way I compete and
how physical I am.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And in terms of playoff rugby, on the back of
a great Hurricanes round Robin, how does the mindset and
the camp change now that you're preparing for for knockout rugby?
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Not much, but just in terms of preparation, we just
know that, you know, we really got to nil down
our detail because like you said, it's win or lose,
or win or lose and go home. So yeah, we've
just been nailing down our detail. Not much has changed,
but the boys are just a little bit more switched
(04:33):
switched on and.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
Your coach, Clark said said is a press conference on Thursday.
There's always improvements to be made. What has been the
focus for you guys on the forward pact this week?
Speaker 2 (04:43):
For us, it's just on attack. Not much has changed
for us. We're sort of looking to our game model.
But on defense for us, the River's a good team.
They have a lot of variations, but for us, it's
just staying on our pose and bringing of us and
an adapt thing.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Come off and Peter, the last couple of weeks you've
played an impact role off the bench. You're back on
the starting side this week. Does that change your preparation
depending on sort of you know, coming off the bench
or starting in the game.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Yeah, obviously when you start you can sort of feel
fill the game out and and play that wave. But
off the bench, for me, obviously, they know when you're
going to get on. But when you do get on,
it's just trying to make an impact. And for me
that's just getting my hands on the ball and I'm
(05:38):
doing what I do and then everything after that comes naturally.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
Well, you clearly love running with the ball. You've scored
four or so tries this season. A lot of the
forwards seem to enjoy having a run with the ball.
I don't they, especially the front rowers.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Yeah, it was like getting the hands on the ball
and plucking the head down and getting stuck.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Great to see number see it is that your preferred possession.
We've seen you in a few different jerseys over the years.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Yeah, I feel like at the moment, I'm playing well
at seven, and you know, I'm enjoying it. I've been playing.
I played for the eight as well. Obviously when Braids,
when Braids goes off with my game, but yeah, I'm
enduring seven at the moment, I feel I feel like
it fits my my style of play well.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And yeah, and what's your working relationship with someone like
Brandon Light.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
He'd say, like, we're both starting eight and seven and
we know that the games, the games that we we
do play well as a whole, Me and him have
a big impact on that. And that's just carries and physicality,
(06:54):
just the whole fact of seven and six. When we're
playing well, the games going well, so you know that
we've got to unpack the game as much as we can,
whether that's ball in hand or on defense.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
And speaking of loose forwards, Brad Shields obviously has been
back this year. As if for what say brought to
the wider team, No.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
He's been good. He's been the main voice in our team.
Obviously not as experienced as last year, but bred it's
sort of coming and he's been their voice for us.
And yeah, everyone everyone respects him. When he's talks to
everyone listens. So yeah, he's been real good for us
(07:32):
in the in the space.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
And there's a great collection of guys have been through
the age group system together around Wellington, yourself included, Peter
played a lot of rugby together. Is that nice having
those other guys around you that have been on that
journey with you over the years.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
Yeah, like you said, it's been a journey coming through
age grades and then the academy and then proceed in
the you know, just to break you now. It's just yeah,
it's just good to see how far we've come as
players and also as people. And they're sort of hasant
(08:11):
for the footy as well. We sort of know each
other's tend and season and how we play and that's
just their chemistry see on the field.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Yeah, and Peter, we saw Wellington get behind the Phoenix
when they had their playoff game a few weeks ago.
How much with big crowds mean to the Hurricanes over
this playoff period that starts today.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Mess of in the crowd pumping, you know the boys,
the boys feed off it, and we've seen that. We've
seen that last week and the home games we've had,
and you know, hopefully more people get down to the
get down this week and hopefully we go through more
people get down for the rest of the season. So yeah,
(08:52):
it means a lot.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Awesome. Peter, Hey, appreciate your time on the All Sport
Breakfast here on news Talks. He'd be and wishing all
the best of luck for this afternoons game mate.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
Thanks for chatting, Cheers, Adam Chiers. Thank you for more
from News Talks, ed B.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Listen live on air or online, and keep our shows
with you wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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