August 1, 2025 • 5 mins
Rob Penney is sticking with the Crusaders for another season.
The head coach has committed to another year at the helm following the success of the 2025 Super Rugby season – the Crusaders claiming the title again after a disappointing 2024 season.
Penney joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about what convinced him to stick around and what the club means to him personally.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
News during the week that Crusader's head coach Roby and
he has resigned for another year with the franchise, which
is good news. Rob, He joins us. Congratulations on the extension.
But I have to ask, first of all, have you
had a decent break since that June twenty first match
six weeks on?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah? Thanks very much, Leaslie. It's a great honor and
I'm very humbled by the opportunity. Again, Look, how do
we break but the family and I heading to VG
about ten days. Yep, there'll be a moment of reflection
and satisfaction, I guess. But I've been doing quite a
bit around the preparation for becoming season so in watching
(00:41):
the start of the MPC, so it's yeah, back.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Into it, fantastic and the good news to your coaching
group is back with you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah. The continuity there is going to be great for us.
We've had a couple of changes positionally in the last
two campaigns. Having the solidity there and the continuity, as
I see, it's going to be something that we haven't
had the you know, the ability to have until this year.
And that's that's going to be massaporus as is the
kind of nuity of the playing group. You know, there's
(01:09):
a real stability about it, excited about what twenty six
will bring them all culminating under the roof at some
point and yeah, it's going to be a great one.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, a couple of things about that. But first of all,
just a year extension.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah is it your design? Oh? People please sick of
me by the end of the year. Yeah, it's where
we got to.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yep, one hundred percent right, and you're happy with that
absolutely Yet well, looking at the fact that at some
stage next year you will be under that t krhad roof,
will let change the style of rugby?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Look, it's a very interesting question. It's something that we're exploring.
You know, we're chatting to people around the globe actually
about the implications of standardized playing services week in, week out.
But I think the main thing will be the joy
that the spectators are going to have be sitting in
a comfortable seat and a comfortable environment and allowing people
(02:04):
to enjoy the spectacle. Whatever happens, you know, whatever happens
on the field is part of the whole package. Yeah,
it'll just there'll be some interesting discussions around how a
game might alter, but Ultimately, what you're getting is a
dry ball, no wind, so you're pretty much master of
your own destiny every time you go out there. And
(02:25):
that consistency of being able to do that, hopefully we'll
allow our athletes to really far.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Can't come quickly enough, ken it And it's all on track,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Seems to be. The word we're getting is you know,
the workers are doing a great job and the grass
is going down shortly, which will be a special moment
and looking forward to as you say, looking forward to
getting in it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, very special. Well, you mentioned earlier you can sit
back and relax a little bit and watch in PC.
Are there any spots open on your squad that you're
looking at, any areas of the game in particular.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, there's a couple of spots. And it's such a
great competition. You know, the kickoff game Walkland White Kadow
was a beauty.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
So you can't tell us where in the squad.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Most of our core squad is, as I said, is
coming back. There's a few hybriding positions like you might
say loose wardlocked one and there, and there's a couple
of spots in terms of our wider training group. Most
of our full contracts are now solidified. Good news, Yeah,
there's great news. Yeah, We've got a great group.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
As I said, well, you know, there is so much
to look forward to. It is going to be a
boomer year, isn't it? Twenty twenty six in this city
for a variety of reasons. None of us know, you know,
the exquisite tension and what you go through on a
day by day, week by week, month by month while
you're in the campaign. And boy, I don't know that
(03:46):
I'd ever want to take on being a head coach.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It's a great honor and privilege. You know, It's a
lot of responsibility and small margins. Last year, you know,
we ended up nights away from being six and we
were getting a bit of momentum. We got some players
back towards the back end and had a couple of
nice performances, and we would have been dangerous had we
got on the playoffs. You know, there was a lot
of vitriol and a lot of I guess uninformed opinions
(04:14):
out there. But working for this organization who supported me
to the HILP was was unreal and the players support
was obviously paramount. And then being able to get all
of that going in a really positive way last last year,
and just to see the crowd at Eddington for those
last three weeks in the playoffs, We're just unbelievable. The
(04:35):
emotion and the I guess the love for the for
the group everyone in that was at the game was
just something to behold and very very special and something
that will be with me forever. And been able to
I guess send Addington off in that way, and then
being able to transfer to Kaha and with a bit
of momentum and starting from stretch once again and at
(04:57):
very exciting times. But then he coach as someone one says,
the best of times in the worst of times, but
it's also it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Yeah, well, it's very well pought that you made a
lot of people extremely happy and proud, and we just
look forward to next year big time and wish you
a very very relaxing holiday.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Thanks very much, Luisa. I really appreciate the support you've
provided for the duration that's been You've been special, So
thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
No, well, just keep doing the great work that you're
doing and roll on twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
There it is.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
For more from News Talks ed B Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
News during the week that Crusader's head coach Roby and
he has resigned for another year with the franchise, which
is good news. Rob, He joins us. Congratulations on the extension.
But I have to ask, first of all, have you
had a decent break since that June twenty first match
six weeks on?
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Yeah? Thanks very much, Leaslie. It's a great honor and
I'm very humbled by the opportunity. Again, Look, how do
we break but the family and I heading to VG
about ten days. Yep, there'll be a moment of reflection
and satisfaction, I guess. But I've been doing quite a
bit around the preparation for becoming season so in watching
(00:41):
the start of the MPC, so it's yeah, back.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
Into it, fantastic and the good news to your coaching
group is back with you.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah. The continuity there is going to be great for us.
We've had a couple of changes positionally in the last
two campaigns. Having the solidity there and the continuity, as
I see, it's going to be something that we haven't
had the you know, the ability to have until this year.
And that's that's going to be massaporus as is the
kind of nuity of the playing group. You know, there's
(01:09):
a real stability about it, excited about what twenty six
will bring them all culminating under the roof at some
point and yeah, it's going to be a great one.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
Yeah, a couple of things about that. But first of all,
just a year extension.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah is it your design? Oh? People please sick of
me by the end of the year. Yeah, it's where
we got to.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Yep, one hundred percent right, and you're happy with that
absolutely Yet well, looking at the fact that at some
stage next year you will be under that t krhad roof,
will let change the style of rugby?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Look, it's a very interesting question. It's something that we're exploring.
You know, we're chatting to people around the globe actually
about the implications of standardized playing services week in, week out.
But I think the main thing will be the joy
that the spectators are going to have be sitting in
a comfortable seat and a comfortable environment and allowing people
(02:04):
to enjoy the spectacle. Whatever happens, you know, whatever happens
on the field is part of the whole package. Yeah,
it'll just there'll be some interesting discussions around how a
game might alter, but Ultimately, what you're getting is a
dry ball, no wind, so you're pretty much master of
your own destiny every time you go out there. And
(02:25):
that consistency of being able to do that, hopefully we'll
allow our athletes to really far.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Can't come quickly enough, ken it And it's all on track,
isn't it.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
Seems to be. The word we're getting is you know,
the workers are doing a great job and the grass
is going down shortly, which will be a special moment
and looking forward to as you say, looking forward to
getting in it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Yeah, very special. Well, you mentioned earlier you can sit
back and relax a little bit and watch in PC.
Are there any spots open on your squad that you're
looking at, any areas of the game in particular.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Yeah, there's a couple of spots. And it's such a
great competition. You know, the kickoff game Walkland White Kadow
was a beauty.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
So you can't tell us where in the squad.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Most of our core squad is, as I said, is
coming back. There's a few hybriding positions like you might
say loose wardlocked one and there, and there's a couple
of spots in terms of our wider training group. Most
of our full contracts are now solidified. Good news, Yeah,
there's great news. Yeah, We've got a great group.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
As I said, well, you know, there is so much
to look forward to. It is going to be a
boomer year, isn't it? Twenty twenty six in this city
for a variety of reasons. None of us know, you know,
the exquisite tension and what you go through on a
day by day, week by week, month by month while
you're in the campaign. And boy, I don't know that
(03:46):
I'd ever want to take on being a head coach.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It's a great honor and privilege. You know, It's a
lot of responsibility and small margins. Last year, you know,
we ended up nights away from being six and we
were getting a bit of momentum. We got some players
back towards the back end and had a couple of
nice performances, and we would have been dangerous had we
got on the playoffs. You know, there was a lot
of vitriol and a lot of I guess uninformed opinions
(04:14):
out there. But working for this organization who supported me
to the HILP was was unreal and the players support
was obviously paramount. And then being able to get all
of that going in a really positive way last last year,
and just to see the crowd at Eddington for those
last three weeks in the playoffs, We're just unbelievable. The
(04:35):
emotion and the I guess the love for the for
the group everyone in that was at the game was
just something to behold and very very special and something
that will be with me forever. And been able to
I guess send Addington off in that way, and then
being able to transfer to Kaha and with a bit
of momentum and starting from stretch once again and at
(04:57):
very exciting times. But then he coach as someone one says,
the best of times in the worst of times, but
it's also it's an honor.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Yeah, well, it's very well pought that you made a
lot of people extremely happy and proud, and we just
look forward to next year big time and wish you
a very very relaxing holiday.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Thanks very much, Luisa. I really appreciate the support you've
provided for the duration that's been You've been special, So
thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
No, well, just keep doing the great work that you're
doing and roll on twenty twenty six.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
There it is.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
For more from News Talks ed B Listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.