October 4, 2024 • 8 mins
The Wellington Lions have overhauled their team for Saturday's NPC match against Hawke's Bay as the Lions look to book a top two spot in the final round.
Peter Lakai has replaced Peter Umaga-Jensen as captain, with Riley Higgins and returning All Black Billy Proctor linking up in the midfield.
Lakai joined Adam Cooper to discuss the team's struggles over the past few weeks, and his reaction to being appointed captain.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well. After a hammering Byke Counties Monaco last week, the
Wellington Lions have rung in some changes to the team
to meet Hawks Bay in the final rounds match, where
the Lions simply need to win to lock away a
home quarter final next week. Otherwise they'll have to rely
on some other results to go their way to finish
in the top four and get that home quarter most
significant changes come in the midfields Peter Umonger Jensen, who's
(00:23):
been captaining this team for the past months since Duplas
Kadifi was out injured with a broken jaw. Who Minger
Jensen's been demoted to the bench and had the captaincy
taken off and so captaining the Lions will be loose
forward Peter Larkey and into the midfields number twelve Riley Higgins,
(00:46):
and its center back from the All Blacks is Billy Proctor.
So they are the most significant changes to the Wellington
Lions as they look to wrap things up in the
NPC round robin. Two points back from leaders Townsman, so
brand new captain for the Lions today, Let's bring in
Peter Larkite who joins us now here on the show
(01:06):
Morning to Your Peter, congratulations on the captain c A
real honor, I'm sure being a proud Wellingtonian. Tell us
what it means to you to be leading the lines
out this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Again, it's a special grew up watching this province and
the Lions, and you know it's special to even get
someone out every week and represent my province. But you know,
to captain is you know, it's a privilege and an
experience I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And what if you try to work on through the
week to make sure you're all set to go and
and lead this team strongly this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Not too much. You know, we've got a great bunch
of leaders within the team, good experience. I just try
and leap leap through my actions and you know, tip
where I can And yeah, I got good, good support
from the coaches and the leaders within the team.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And you play a lot of your rugby on the
park right by dupless Could he feed the regular captain
who's been missing over the past month or so? But
what have you learned from him about leadership over the
years that you've played alongside him.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? No, Like like you said, you know, Bots is
a strong captain. He just leads well through his actions.
And when you know someone someone who's leading the team,
you know, when he can now his role in his game,
you know that someone you want to follow. So yeah,
that's the main thing I've taken from Dukes, and yeah,
I'm just going to try and go out there and
(02:34):
just lead through my actions and hopefully the boys will follow.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
All right with Peter, let's talk last week's game and
pook A Coe. A tough night for the Lions against
Counties Monaco. A lot of points conceded and not too
many scores. How have you reflected on that this week
and the hope you can fix things up today against
Talks Bay.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, a lot of points, like you said, conceded. I
guess for us it's just just foots. You know, we
came out a bit flat, consider ten points in that
first half, and then they got a late try and
that the end of that first half, and then you know,
by halftime twenty four zero, it was just hard, hard
to come back from that. So the lessons we've learned
(03:17):
this week is just finding solutions early and just our
effort areas around the park. So we've been tripping away
at that and yeah, hopefully we can implement it.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, what's the biggest area of focus across I guess
either defense or attack.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, a bit of both attack and D but mainly
just just just stuff we can you know, all contribute
individually and just the connection piece I touched on just
finding solutions as a team, not trying to solve problem
problems on our own. So yeah, it's been a solution
(03:57):
focused week.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And individually, Peter, right through the rugby year, you've played
across the several different loose forward positions, so you've got
to move back to number eight today while also taking
on the captaincy. How do you find it there at
the back of the scrum.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, no, it's quite fun, get a lot more carries
when I got that eight jersey on, and you know,
it's just real easy for me to find my way
into the game because I'm just carrying off the back
of the scrum or off the back of goal line
dropouts or kickoffs. Just real easy way for me to
find my way into the game.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, and Peter, can you just sort of talk to
us a few weeks. I've been in a tough few weeks,
so that that's the shield challenge down in Tasman Golden
Point went over Bay of Plenty and then last weekend
against Counties Seat of Yeah, can you just talk us
through I guess the vibe of the team is yet
you sort of stay in this fight at the top
end of the table for the title hopefully.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, yeah, sort of up and down. Season started off well,
but yeah, towards these letter rounds, we've been quite flat
as a team. And here's been a few injuries within
our squad and young guys having to step up. But yeah,
(05:10):
like we talked, talked about the whole season, it's going
to take the whole squad, so you know, hopefully win
win this championship, and you know it's up to us
and so also you know, guys who weren't initially and
that's all of playing twenty three to you know, step up,
and yeah, everyone's just gonna I guess league individually and
(05:36):
hopefully you know, we can turn it around for what
has been the past few weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And Brad shields the light us to get all that
injured list. We know what he brings. How much extra
do you feel you, someone like you has to step
up to just simply that leadership role that he plays
on the.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Top Yeah, yeah, quite a bit there as an exceptional
leader through the actions and through his message messages. But
you know, someone like Caliperlaney and the full pack definitely
definitely helps, and Lenny Lenny Uppy Side and the meal
(06:11):
just seven days days around, you know, just chipping in
where they can. You know, it's massive help, especially for
our young.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Force path And in terms of the back line, Billy Procter,
he's been in and out of a bit this year
through all lax Ju days and slotted into into Wellington
on and off. What kind of prisons does he bring
to the team through the week at training and and
then back and for a start this week.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, Billy's Billy's massive for us. You know, he leaves
nothing out there and you know he can live a
live a question as the effort. Yeah, having him back,
you know he's played fifty fifty plus games for the province.
Just the added added leadership and at a leadership you
(06:54):
know it's going to be crucial for us coming into
this game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And you know, yeah, Hawks Bay a couple of tough
sort of results for them in the last month or
so as well. Have you sort of been able to
take a bit of a look at them these last
couple of weeks. What are you expecting from them at
the stadium this weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, someone's asked, you know, they've had a tough few weeks,
but you know, as you know, wanting some wanting some versts.
Hawks spins always a bit of a grudge match, so
you know, we'll we're expecting them to get off for it.
You know it's gonna it's going to be a grudge
match like the last time we played them. So yeah,
they've got a good, good team all across the park expector,
(07:33):
so you know, you can't prodict what they're going to bring,
so we're just expecting the grudge match.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, there's been some great battles between Wellington and Hawk's
Bay the last couple of years. They seem to just
just really fire up when they get disguised. Stadium run.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, yeah, a lot of a lot of boys were
playing with them again, so yeah, put of bad blood,
but it's always good as good playing hawksby.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, nice and Peter, we know that sort to come.
The next to a couple of weeks, there's going to
be an All Blacks interview tour squad name there's going
to be an All Blacks fifteen squad name to tour
as well. How how do you feel you're able to,
you know, try and put your best foot forward to
be considered for maybe the next step up of your
rugby at some stage.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, no, I just I just try and control what
I can control, and it's just through my performances and
I'll handle myself on and off the field, and yeah,
whatever happens happens, but yeah, I just focus on putting
the good performances on week and week after the lines.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Nice beat up, well, thanks for chatting and all the
best with the game today and also that you know
All Black team and the second fifteen as well for
the All Blacks that will be named Monday, Peter Laco.
They're captaining the Wellington Lions today against Hawks Bay Are
four p thirty five kickoff at the stadium. For more
from news talks, there'd be listen live on air or
online and keep our shows with you wherever you go
(08:55):
with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
Well. After a hammering Byke Counties Monaco last week, the
Wellington Lions have rung in some changes to the team
to meet Hawks Bay in the final rounds match, where
the Lions simply need to win to lock away a
home quarter final next week. Otherwise they'll have to rely
on some other results to go their way to finish
in the top four and get that home quarter most
significant changes come in the midfields Peter Umonger Jensen, who's
(00:23):
been captaining this team for the past months since Duplas
Kadifi was out injured with a broken jaw. Who Minger
Jensen's been demoted to the bench and had the captaincy
taken off and so captaining the Lions will be loose
forward Peter Larkey and into the midfields number twelve Riley Higgins,
(00:46):
and its center back from the All Blacks is Billy Proctor.
So they are the most significant changes to the Wellington
Lions as they look to wrap things up in the
NPC round robin. Two points back from leaders Townsman, so
brand new captain for the Lions today, Let's bring in
Peter Larkite who joins us now here on the show
(01:06):
Morning to Your Peter, congratulations on the captain c A
real honor, I'm sure being a proud Wellingtonian. Tell us
what it means to you to be leading the lines
out this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Again, it's a special grew up watching this province and
the Lions, and you know it's special to even get
someone out every week and represent my province. But you know,
to captain is you know, it's a privilege and an
experience I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
And what if you try to work on through the
week to make sure you're all set to go and
and lead this team strongly this afternoon.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Not too much. You know, we've got a great bunch
of leaders within the team, good experience. I just try
and leap leap through my actions and you know, tip
where I can And yeah, I got good, good support
from the coaches and the leaders within the team.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And you play a lot of your rugby on the
park right by dupless Could he feed the regular captain
who's been missing over the past month or so? But
what have you learned from him about leadership over the
years that you've played alongside him.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yeah? No, Like like you said, you know, Bots is
a strong captain. He just leads well through his actions.
And when you know someone someone who's leading the team,
you know, when he can now his role in his game,
you know that someone you want to follow. So yeah,
that's the main thing I've taken from Dukes, and yeah,
I'm just going to try and go out there and
(02:34):
just lead through my actions and hopefully the boys will follow.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
All right with Peter, let's talk last week's game and
pook A Coe. A tough night for the Lions against
Counties Monaco. A lot of points conceded and not too
many scores. How have you reflected on that this week
and the hope you can fix things up today against
Talks Bay.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Yeah, a lot of points, like you said, conceded. I
guess for us it's just just foots. You know, we
came out a bit flat, consider ten points in that
first half, and then they got a late try and
that the end of that first half, and then you know,
by halftime twenty four zero, it was just hard, hard
to come back from that. So the lessons we've learned
(03:17):
this week is just finding solutions early and just our
effort areas around the park. So we've been tripping away
at that and yeah, hopefully we can implement it.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, what's the biggest area of focus across I guess
either defense or attack.
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah, a bit of both attack and D but mainly
just just just stuff we can you know, all contribute
individually and just the connection piece I touched on just
finding solutions as a team, not trying to solve problem
problems on our own. So yeah, it's been a solution
(03:57):
focused week.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
And individually, Peter, right through the rugby year, you've played
across the several different loose forward positions, so you've got
to move back to number eight today while also taking
on the captaincy. How do you find it there at
the back of the scrum.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Yeah, no, it's quite fun, get a lot more carries
when I got that eight jersey on, and you know,
it's just real easy for me to find my way
into the game because I'm just carrying off the back
of the scrum or off the back of goal line
dropouts or kickoffs. Just real easy way for me to
find my way into the game.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Yeah, and Peter, can you just sort of talk to
us a few weeks. I've been in a tough few weeks,
so that that's the shield challenge down in Tasman Golden
Point went over Bay of Plenty and then last weekend
against Counties Seat of Yeah, can you just talk us
through I guess the vibe of the team is yet
you sort of stay in this fight at the top
end of the table for the title hopefully.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, yeah, sort of up and down. Season started off well,
but yeah, towards these letter rounds, we've been quite flat
as a team. And here's been a few injuries within
our squad and young guys having to step up. But yeah,
(05:10):
like we talked, talked about the whole season, it's going
to take the whole squad, so you know, hopefully win
win this championship, and you know it's up to us
and so also you know, guys who weren't initially and
that's all of playing twenty three to you know, step up,
and yeah, everyone's just gonna I guess league individually and
(05:36):
hopefully you know, we can turn it around for what
has been the past few weeks.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And Brad shields the light us to get all that
injured list. We know what he brings. How much extra
do you feel you, someone like you has to step
up to just simply that leadership role that he plays
on the.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Top Yeah, yeah, quite a bit there as an exceptional
leader through the actions and through his message messages. But
you know, someone like Caliperlaney and the full pack definitely
definitely helps, and Lenny Lenny Uppy Side and the meal
(06:11):
just seven days days around, you know, just chipping in
where they can. You know, it's massive help, especially for
our young.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Force path And in terms of the back line, Billy Procter,
he's been in and out of a bit this year
through all lax Ju days and slotted into into Wellington
on and off. What kind of prisons does he bring
to the team through the week at training and and
then back and for a start this week.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, Billy's Billy's massive for us. You know, he leaves
nothing out there and you know he can live a
live a question as the effort. Yeah, having him back,
you know he's played fifty fifty plus games for the province.
Just the added added leadership and at a leadership you
(06:54):
know it's going to be crucial for us coming into
this game.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
And you know, yeah, Hawks Bay a couple of tough
sort of results for them in the last month or
so as well. Have you sort of been able to
take a bit of a look at them these last
couple of weeks. What are you expecting from them at
the stadium this weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Yeah, someone's asked, you know, they've had a tough few weeks,
but you know, as you know, wanting some wanting some versts.
Hawks spins always a bit of a grudge match, so
you know, we'll we're expecting them to get off for it.
You know it's gonna it's going to be a grudge
match like the last time we played them. So yeah,
they've got a good, good team all across the park expector,
(07:33):
so you know, you can't prodict what they're going to bring,
so we're just expecting the grudge match.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
Yeah, there's been some great battles between Wellington and Hawk's
Bay the last couple of years. They seem to just
just really fire up when they get disguised. Stadium run.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, yeah, a lot of a lot of boys were
playing with them again, so yeah, put of bad blood,
but it's always good as good playing hawksby.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, nice and Peter, we know that sort to come.
The next to a couple of weeks, there's going to
be an All Blacks interview tour squad name there's going
to be an All Blacks fifteen squad name to tour
as well. How how do you feel you're able to,
you know, try and put your best foot forward to
be considered for maybe the next step up of your
rugby at some stage.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, no, I just I just try and control what
I can control, and it's just through my performances and
I'll handle myself on and off the field, and yeah,
whatever happens happens, but yeah, I just focus on putting
the good performances on week and week after the lines.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Nice beat up, well, thanks for chatting and all the
best with the game today and also that you know
All Black team and the second fifteen as well for
the All Blacks that will be named Monday, Peter Laco.
They're captaining the Wellington Lions today against Hawks Bay Are
four p thirty five kickoff at the stadium. For more
from news talks, there'd be listen live on air or
online and keep our shows with you wherever you go
(08:55):
with our podcast on iHeartRadio.
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