December 5, 2025 • 6 mins
The Wellington Phoenix are yet to secure a win over Auckland FC in their four A-League derbies to date.
Captain Alex Rufer joined Adam Cooper ahead of the fifth match-up between the two sides in Auckland on Saturday.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Counting down the hours to derby number five in the
A League between the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC. This
was always such an exciting prospect before these derbies took
place in the A League and in terms of the
tension that the battles, the drama, they have certainly lived
up to everything. That one at sky Stadium a month
ago just had it all, doesn't It didn't. It just
(00:22):
hasn't had a Phoenix win yet. So Auckland are looking
for win number five today from five derbies and they're
at home. So it certainly has been something that despite
the competitive matches, despite the tension and the high intensity,
the Wellington Phoenix have not yet been able to deliver
a victory in these Kiwi derbies. Will that change today? Well, yesterday,
(00:42):
just before the Phoenix flew out, I went out to
their training base at ends at CIS and spoke to
captain Alex Rufer. Not long ago now, I know last
week would have been a big confidence boost. How's the
week played out before another another chapter in this this
derby series.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Look, it's been a positive week after the result last weekend.
You know, our mentality and our focus was straight away
on the neck game, which is Auckland, and we've had
a really positive training week, really good mentality, and we're
looking forward to the game.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
How much of a gut punch has each of these
defeats to Auckland been so far? These have been exciting
derby's ones that everyone's looked forward to. Obviously results haven't
tipped in the favor. How tough has it been kind
of absorbing the results?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I think obviously losing first and foremost is obviously difficult,
especially in a derby. You know you want to win
those games when every game, but more importantly you want
to win derbies. I think probably the way we lost
the last game was why it was such a frustrating result,
purely because we started slowly and they're a good team.
(01:39):
They punished us and then we had them under pressure
but we couldn't capitalize. But also credit to them for
defending really well. So now look that's in the past.
We need to focus on the game this weekend and
we're really looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
How much more challenging would have the preparation for this
week been if you hadn't had that confidence boost with
the great win on Saturday at sky State last week?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
No, I think regardless of that result, I think your
focus is shrad away on the next game. So I
think the focus is there. I think obviously getting a
result against Adelaide gave us or gave the group more
confidence and you know, positivity after that. So look again
that's done. We can't you think about that too much.
We have to stay level headed and feed on the
(02:21):
ground and we have done that. So you know, like
I said, it's all about this week.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
You've played in some big international matches and I'm sure
had some hostile crowds against you, but just the whole
mental preparation for this battle, you know, just seeing how
intense it was only a month or so ago in Wellington,
how do you guess sort of mentally prepare for such
a high intense battle.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Oh, look, I mean every player wants to play in
the big games, big atmospheres, big crowds, hostile Look, if
you can't get up for these games, then I think
you're in the wrong field of work. So look, every
player has their own ambition and their own drive and
what drives them for these games, and they have to
find that and use that as fuel.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Chief you talked a bit about press conference a moment
ago just about the leaders and not not just yourself
as skipper, but the collective leadership group. Tell us about
I guess how that's played out in the last few
weeks as you get ready for this big one again.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I think it's just we You know, you don't change anything.
You lead by action, you lead by example, and we
know that, so we need to make sure we just
keep doing that day every day, wanting to be better,
wanting to improve, and you know, keeping standards side.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Is the mutual respect between the two playing groups or
is there a bit of animosity around sort of you
know that there's a lot of trash talk that seems
to happen in the public eye, but you know what
about you know a lot of these players, Well, how's
that sort of vibe between the two playing groups.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I think the obviously the media and the public eye.
Obviously they can you know, have a bit of fire
between them. You know, we don't play into that too much.
I think the most important thing is the game and
there's respect between the players. Of course, we played together.
A few of us played together with the national team.
A few of us have known each other for years
(04:00):
and played together at the Phoenix, So you know there's friendship,
but also when you cross the white line, there's there's
no friendship. You know, it's all about winning the game
and you know, doing the best you can you can.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Straight back from international duty a couple of weeks ago,
Full ninety, another solid performance. Just the other just on
Saturday has gone as well. How is that the body?
How's that the physicality? Head of what?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
No doubt will be another big one. I feel really
good now. The two weeks obviously post the last two
games are very difficult. I think the second game after
coming back from that is always difficult with the you know,
time difference and things like that. But look, I'm through
that now and I feel much better for it. So
look I'm in a good place mentally and physically, and
you know I'll be ready and I know the boys
(04:40):
will be ready for the game.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
What do you believe you need to do to get
a win or a good result up there?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
We need to be extremely aggressive. We need to play
our game, focus on what we need to do, and
you know, play the game, not the occasion. I think
if we limit our mistakes, it'll give us a massive,
massive chance to win the game.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
A lot was talked about man Drac all the start
of the season, the experience he brings. You've got him
for this Dervy unlike the last one. What kind of
extras I mentioned can he give the squad Both of
us like his ability, but but as leadership credentials, look,
I think you just sit it there.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
You know, experience, it's a big one. He's played in
some big games, you know, for some big teams, so
this is just another game for him, but also brings
a lot of quality with him without the balls, so
that's massive for us. He talks a lot and like
I said, just being having another calm presence, a calm
player for these games is always a bonus as.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
A career Phoenix player, a proud Phoenix player. So we
all know that how how much needed is just a
win in these derbies?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, look at as massive you know, we as a
club and as players need to realize that we haven't
won yet, which we have. We need to make sure
that we do our best this weekend to change that
and you know, give our fans something performance they can
be proud about.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
All the very best.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Awesome, thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
For more from News Talk, said listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Counting down the hours to derby number five in the
A League between the Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC. This
was always such an exciting prospect before these derbies took
place in the A League and in terms of the
tension that the battles, the drama, they have certainly lived
up to everything. That one at sky Stadium a month
ago just had it all, doesn't It didn't. It just
(00:22):
hasn't had a Phoenix win yet. So Auckland are looking
for win number five today from five derbies and they're
at home. So it certainly has been something that despite
the competitive matches, despite the tension and the high intensity,
the Wellington Phoenix have not yet been able to deliver
a victory in these Kiwi derbies. Will that change today? Well, yesterday,
(00:42):
just before the Phoenix flew out, I went out to
their training base at ends at CIS and spoke to
captain Alex Rufer. Not long ago now, I know last
week would have been a big confidence boost. How's the
week played out before another another chapter in this this
derby series.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Look, it's been a positive week after the result last weekend.
You know, our mentality and our focus was straight away
on the neck game, which is Auckland, and we've had
a really positive training week, really good mentality, and we're
looking forward to the game.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
How much of a gut punch has each of these
defeats to Auckland been so far? These have been exciting
derby's ones that everyone's looked forward to. Obviously results haven't
tipped in the favor. How tough has it been kind
of absorbing the results?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
I think obviously losing first and foremost is obviously difficult,
especially in a derby. You know you want to win
those games when every game, but more importantly you want
to win derbies. I think probably the way we lost
the last game was why it was such a frustrating result,
purely because we started slowly and they're a good team.
(01:39):
They punished us and then we had them under pressure
but we couldn't capitalize. But also credit to them for
defending really well. So now look that's in the past.
We need to focus on the game this weekend and
we're really looking forward to it.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
How much more challenging would have the preparation for this
week been if you hadn't had that confidence boost with
the great win on Saturday at sky State last week?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
No, I think regardless of that result, I think your
focus is shrad away on the next game. So I
think the focus is there. I think obviously getting a
result against Adelaide gave us or gave the group more
confidence and you know, positivity after that. So look again
that's done. We can't you think about that too much.
We have to stay level headed and feed on the
(02:21):
ground and we have done that. So you know, like
I said, it's all about this week.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
You've played in some big international matches and I'm sure
had some hostile crowds against you, but just the whole
mental preparation for this battle, you know, just seeing how
intense it was only a month or so ago in Wellington,
how do you guess sort of mentally prepare for such
a high intense battle.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Oh, look, I mean every player wants to play in
the big games, big atmospheres, big crowds, hostile Look, if
you can't get up for these games, then I think
you're in the wrong field of work. So look, every
player has their own ambition and their own drive and
what drives them for these games, and they have to
find that and use that as fuel.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Chief you talked a bit about press conference a moment
ago just about the leaders and not not just yourself
as skipper, but the collective leadership group. Tell us about
I guess how that's played out in the last few
weeks as you get ready for this big one again.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
I think it's just we You know, you don't change anything.
You lead by action, you lead by example, and we
know that, so we need to make sure we just
keep doing that day every day, wanting to be better,
wanting to improve, and you know, keeping standards side.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Is the mutual respect between the two playing groups or
is there a bit of animosity around sort of you
know that there's a lot of trash talk that seems
to happen in the public eye, but you know what
about you know a lot of these players, Well, how's
that sort of vibe between the two playing groups.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
I think the obviously the media and the public eye.
Obviously they can you know, have a bit of fire
between them. You know, we don't play into that too much.
I think the most important thing is the game and
there's respect between the players. Of course, we played together.
A few of us played together with the national team.
A few of us have known each other for years
(04:00):
and played together at the Phoenix, So you know there's friendship,
but also when you cross the white line, there's there's
no friendship. You know, it's all about winning the game
and you know, doing the best you can you can.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Straight back from international duty a couple of weeks ago,
Full ninety, another solid performance. Just the other just on
Saturday has gone as well. How is that the body?
How's that the physicality? Head of what?
Speaker 2 (04:20):
No doubt will be another big one. I feel really
good now. The two weeks obviously post the last two
games are very difficult. I think the second game after
coming back from that is always difficult with the you know,
time difference and things like that. But look, I'm through
that now and I feel much better for it. So
look I'm in a good place mentally and physically, and
you know I'll be ready and I know the boys
(04:40):
will be ready for the game.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
What do you believe you need to do to get
a win or a good result up there?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
We need to be extremely aggressive. We need to play
our game, focus on what we need to do, and
you know, play the game, not the occasion. I think
if we limit our mistakes, it'll give us a massive,
massive chance to win the game.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
A lot was talked about man Drac all the start
of the season, the experience he brings. You've got him
for this Dervy unlike the last one. What kind of
extras I mentioned can he give the squad Both of
us like his ability, but but as leadership credentials, look,
I think you just sit it there.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
You know, experience, it's a big one. He's played in
some big games, you know, for some big teams, so
this is just another game for him, but also brings
a lot of quality with him without the balls, so
that's massive for us. He talks a lot and like
I said, just being having another calm presence, a calm
player for these games is always a bonus as.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
A career Phoenix player, a proud Phoenix player. So we
all know that how how much needed is just a
win in these derbies?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Yeah, look at as massive you know, we as a
club and as players need to realize that we haven't
won yet, which we have. We need to make sure
that we do our best this weekend to change that
and you know, give our fans something performance they can
be proud about.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
All the very best.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Awesome, thank you.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
For more from News Talk, said listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
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